Re: I need monster throw - Whats the best way?
SubtleIrony,
To clarify, the light you mention is not an Aleph nor will it be compatable with E series lights.
The light has a 45 mm reflector based on the same parabolic curve (same focal length) as the McR27 and McR38. I have put together a few now and I was disappointed in lux readings at one meter as they were not really that much higher than the 38 with the exception of one with a UY0J that measured 8100 lux at one meter. With a target down range, this reflector is obviously brighter and tighter than the 38 mm.
Upon further consideration and inspection, I have come to the conclusion or realization that some of these larger reflector lights and really many of the lights should be measured at distances greater than a meter as well to get a feel for the amont of divergence of the beam.
If you look straight into a LED reflector, you can see the yellow gold of the phosphor. On the 45 mm light, you need to be about 6 feet away before you see the complete reflector filled with gold. I have understood all along that measuring the lux at a fixed distance could be somewhat misleading due to posible convergence as well as divergence of the beam. Experimenting with this light has really driven that point home to me! The more colimated or parallel a beam is, the less its lux reading will drop over distance.
This light has a completely new design with a new converter, new means of contacts and a new reflector. Until the production parts are in hand and tested, it's premature to discuss it in any real detail. The converter is an efficient buck/ boost of Wayne's design with two levels of constant current output; probably start with 100 and 1000 mA. The battery tube is designed to host 2x123 or 1x18650. There may be an issue with the anode contact of the 18650 and until we can test production parts, the viability of use with the 18650 is uncertain. The LED drops into a pocket in an integral bulknead so the head itself is the heatsink as was the case with the McLux and PR series; no removable light engine here.
This light is not designed for in close work in the dark! It does have outstanding range in the dark as well as intensity to overcome shadows in ambient light. It's interesting to me that this light has the same beam that the 27 mm does but in addition, a significant amount of light that was spill in the 27's beam is collumated and overlays the center beam as well as a reduced diameter of spill. The spill on the 45 is significantly and noticibly brighter than that of the 27. To a lesser extent, the same can be said in comparison to the 38 mm reflector.
If you want more throw than the Aleph 3, this 45HD might fit your needs. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif Realistically, I hope some of these will be going out in mid June. It could be sooner if Murphy is asleep.
