Does anyone know what type of bulb is in the "King of Throw" Maxa Beam and the bulbs price? Also I'm thinking..why can't you buy the bulb, apply the appropiate voltage/current, mount it in a good reflector and get similiar performance as the $1600.00 Maxa Beam?
Homemade Maxa Beam?
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MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
Well, the cost of the bulb, ballast, and reflector are very expensive. The performance of the Maxabeam is actually very good for the price. If you were to try to build one yourself with seperate parts, it would probably wind up being more expensive than the Maxabeam is already built with a battery and other features that would be hard to builkd yourself. It would most likely be better just to buy a MaxaBeam and not build your own.
It uses a 75watt xenon short arc light. I don't know the specific brand but there are quite a few places around that you can buy them from.
It uses a 75watt xenon short arc light. I don't know the specific brand but there are quite a few places around that you can buy them from.
I found the replacement bulf for the maxa beam (75w xenon short arc) for $280.00 . Now if I could come up with the ballast to run it at least I would have the same illumination engine as in the Maxa Beam. I realize the Maxa Beam has some awesome feaures but I was interested in duplicating just the light engine part realizing of course I wouldn't have the Maxa Beams excellant reflector...
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
Well, give it your best shot and I hope for the best /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Zelandeth
Flashlight Enthusiast
Think you'll find that just getting the bulb lit in this case is very much less than half the battle. The main thing with the MaxaBeam is the combination of that small a light source and a very, very well designed reflector, with the specific function in existence of working with that source to produce that laser-like beam we're all used to seeing.
Would be interesting to see what'd happen with a source like that in a Thor reflector though...hmm....there's an idea.
If I remember rightly, the actual luminous output from the MB's bulb (which is actually manufactured by Osram if I remember correctly - which I probably don't) isn't as huge as you might imagine - the actual figures I don't have to hang though. Short arc sources aren't hugely efficient, the reason that was used in the MB was specifically the miniscule size of the source so that it could be focused easily.
Good luck though, will be interesting to see what could be done here though.
Would be interesting to see what'd happen with a source like that in a Thor reflector though...hmm....there's an idea.
If I remember rightly, the actual luminous output from the MB's bulb (which is actually manufactured by Osram if I remember correctly - which I probably don't) isn't as huge as you might imagine - the actual figures I don't have to hang though. Short arc sources aren't hugely efficient, the reason that was used in the MB was specifically the miniscule size of the source so that it could be focused easily.
Good luck though, will be interesting to see what could be done here though.
cratz2
Flashlight Enthusiast
I don't know anything about the Maxabeam but if I were inclined to take on such a project, the first reflector I'd probably try to use would be the reflector from this or this .
I just got the rechargeable one and am quite impressed with how nicely defined the spot is. I'm sure there are better out there, but if taking this on a budget, you could probably do a lot worse for $10.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I just got the rechargeable one and am quite impressed with how nicely defined the spot is. I'm sure there are better out there, but if taking this on a budget, you could probably do a lot worse for $10.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
The problem is, the reflector the Maxabeam uses is very specialized and very expensive. If you were to put a xenon short arc bulb into a Thor reflector, it would most likely turn out to be a dim viel of a light because the Thor's reflector is not designed to work with the advantages of a xenon short arc. Therefore, you would only have 1000 lumens not being used the best and/or most efficient way. That then equals a great loss in performance.
Just putting a regular 35watt HID mod into a Thor would put out a lot more light and would throw a lot further than a xenon short arc Thor would.
I don't remember exactly why, but it has something to do with the materials the maxabeam reflector is made of. (oh ya, the reflector of the MaxaBeam seperatly would cost you AT LEAST $200. You'd probably wind up paying about $300 for one.)
There used to be an optical engineer on CPF by the name of RA. He knows exactly what I'm trying to say. Putting a xenon short arc in any old reflector would probably be a waste of time and money. Unless of course, you put out big bucks to get the right kind of reflector.
Just putting a regular 35watt HID mod into a Thor would put out a lot more light and would throw a lot further than a xenon short arc Thor would.
I don't remember exactly why, but it has something to do with the materials the maxabeam reflector is made of. (oh ya, the reflector of the MaxaBeam seperatly would cost you AT LEAST $200. You'd probably wind up paying about $300 for one.)
There used to be an optical engineer on CPF by the name of RA. He knows exactly what I'm trying to say. Putting a xenon short arc in any old reflector would probably be a waste of time and money. Unless of course, you put out big bucks to get the right kind of reflector.
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
delete. making diff. link.
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
Read the comments from Ra and the others to get a better understanding of what I mean. Careful, it's confusing!!!
Reflector info
Reflector info
scudinc
Enlightened
The cheapest option would be the Thor Boost. Runtime is irrelevant.
cheesehead
Flashlight Enthusiast
The HID mod isn't more expensive, and if runtime IS relevant, it's the perfect solution.
With the MB reflector, it's only about 70% effiecient, even less than a Thor, because it has to be very resitant to UV light, which the short arc throws out a lot of. It has some rare earth or other rare element coating that makes it expensive (but perhaps not as stupid expensive as the Maxbeam is as a package-heck, even the regulated charger is like 400 bucks, which would make even Surefire blush). Another thing is, it's just not that bright. Thor HID is much brighter and if you were using the light to look for someone, the Thor is much much much more useful. The MB just has a tiny little spot which you need binoculars to look at (if and only if, the night is clear). Finally, the Thor HID is better than the X990 (having both, the small reflector of the X990 is not as good).
Eh, so what am I trying to say, er, well, the Thor HID is probably the closest thing to a homemade Maxabeam (esp, if price is a consideration) this side of the Blitz 240 (but that's another story).
With the MB reflector, it's only about 70% effiecient, even less than a Thor, because it has to be very resitant to UV light, which the short arc throws out a lot of. It has some rare earth or other rare element coating that makes it expensive (but perhaps not as stupid expensive as the Maxbeam is as a package-heck, even the regulated charger is like 400 bucks, which would make even Surefire blush). Another thing is, it's just not that bright. Thor HID is much brighter and if you were using the light to look for someone, the Thor is much much much more useful. The MB just has a tiny little spot which you need binoculars to look at (if and only if, the night is clear). Finally, the Thor HID is better than the X990 (having both, the small reflector of the X990 is not as good).
Eh, so what am I trying to say, er, well, the Thor HID is probably the closest thing to a homemade Maxabeam (esp, if price is a consideration) this side of the Blitz 240 (but that's another story).
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
I don't want to stop you or anybody from building a 35w HID Thor (just to let you know), I am just trying to show that a xenon short arc Thor would be HIGHLY dissapointing if you wanted any real bright or far throwing light. Plus, it's more expensive for a XSA Thor anyway.
Off topic: kinda miss having an optical engineer around. Even if Ra wasn't here for long, it was cool having someone here that REALLY knew too much about lights. And yes, that's a good thing /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Off topic: kinda miss having an optical engineer around. Even if Ra wasn't here for long, it was cool having someone here that REALLY knew too much about lights. And yes, that's a good thing /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
cheesehead
Flashlight Enthusiast
I loved Ra's reasoning, but it was the results I had trouble with. The Maxabeam had better throw than the higher powered Megaray, despite all the arguments why it shouldn't, i.e. the proof was in the beamshots.
XSA thor would be great until the reflector blistered and fell apart from the UV.
XSA thor would be great until the reflector blistered and fell apart from the UV.
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
[ QUOTE ]
cheesehead said:
XSA thor would be great until the reflector blistered and fell apart from the UV.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, what do you mean by great? Supposedly, a XSA bulb in a Thor would throw scattered light everywhere. Not really any special throw. And throw is just about the only excelling thing about XSA. Without throw, a XSA is just a dim (er) white light not even comparable to metal hilide lights. (such as HID Thor)
cheesehead said:
XSA thor would be great until the reflector blistered and fell apart from the UV.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, what do you mean by great? Supposedly, a XSA bulb in a Thor would throw scattered light everywhere. Not really any special throw. And throw is just about the only excelling thing about XSA. Without throw, a XSA is just a dim (er) white light not even comparable to metal hilide lights. (such as HID Thor)
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'd really like to make one of those also Raybo, but I don't think I am experienced enough to build one yet. I love MaxaBeams (can you tell by my username? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif ), and those Blitz's are about as close as you can get to one without massacreing your wallet supposedly. Good Luck with it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
cheesehead
Flashlight Enthusiast
Why would an XSA scatter in a Thor? A Thor has a pretty good parabolic reflector and scatter is more a function of the light source (HIDs and Incans being big sloppy light sources and XSA relatively small). When you use a larger light reflector of the Thor, it allows even a sloppy fat light source to be well focused. SO,...if you use a nice small XSA lightsource in a huge reflector like the Thor, I would expect the light focus to be VERY VERY good. Eh, anyway, that's all I know. Last time I read all the posts here, it seemed the Maxabeam reflector isn't perfect but works well with the tiny light source of the XSA. Also, the MB is too expensive to gut and stuff in the Thor.
Still, the biggest problem with the MB is that it's just not that bright (compared to the 35 watt HID).
Still, the biggest problem with the MB is that it's just not that bright (compared to the 35 watt HID).
Sway
Flashlight Enthusiast
Buying a Maxa Beam will be way less expensive than trying to make one sure the lamps can be found on ebay for almost nothing compared to retail. The ballast and igniter is the killer most of them are the size of a home stereo receiver and designed to run off AC and lots of it and their not cheap even on ebay.
KenRad has a small portable DC short arc ballast but for some reason it not for sale to the public and my guess it's very expensive also.
FYI There are two different types of short arc lamps for AC and DC ballast the easiest way to identify them is look at the electrodes in the arc chamber, AC lamps both ends are pointed, DC lamps one end is pointed and the other flat for Anode and Cathode.
Later
Kelly
KenRad has a small portable DC short arc ballast but for some reason it not for sale to the public and my guess it's very expensive also.
FYI There are two different types of short arc lamps for AC and DC ballast the easiest way to identify them is look at the electrodes in the arc chamber, AC lamps both ends are pointed, DC lamps one end is pointed and the other flat for Anode and Cathode.
Later
Kelly
MaxaBaker
Flashlight Enthusiast
cheese, if you wave a dim light over the Thor reflector and look at the right angle, you can see that the reflector in it is no where near perfect. It has many uneven parts and imperfections. Even though the MaxaBeam's reflector isn't perfect either, you could/can definitly see that it is a much better, smoother, expensive reflector. Also, it dosn't always have to be about surface area of the light engine, rather in this case, it's about surface brightness. I myself am no expert and this stuff is on the very edge of my knowledge, I am simply relaying information from the expert, even if I do not fully understand it.
