Inretech Beam?

Rebus · Mar 30, 2003

I just got my first LS based light (Inretech Cyan).
Brightness and runtime are good. The beam however
does not focus to a smooth spot. When first turned
on the 4 bars in the emmiter are visible with an
uncentered hot spot on them. Further turning causes
a larger hotspot that nearly covers the bars but
has artifacts. Is this normal for this light?

This is a nice light for the price and is very
useable even with this beam.

-Rebus

radellaf · Mar 30, 2003

That's what mine does as well, though the hotspot is pretty close to centered, or at least it doesn't extend beyond the 4-bars pattern.

I suppose it's an imperfection, but it looks pretty cool.

The amber I have right now is a bit canted to one side (replacement should be on its way) and the square pattern it projects is like a 2nd hotspot adjacent to the first, touching only on the edge. Also, it _may_ be too low a Vf...I have to use 1.2V or less alkalines in it to keep the current draw in the sub-200mA range.

I do love the colored LEDs...these inretech 2aas are the most fun I've had since buying the spectrum of Photon IIs. And, some day, the set of 6 everleds I ordered will show up...

PJD · Mar 30, 2003

This is normal...Put a little WriteRight on it and it will be SMOOOOOTH!!! Also, if you're not using lithium AA's, use them...the difference in brightness will amaze you!

PJD

Sigman · Mar 30, 2003

Well I was going to try some beamshots, but don't know how to fiddle with the parameters to show what you are describing in the first post. Yes mine is pretty much as you describe with the NX-05 optics. WriteRight helps really does indeed smooth it out (duh - didn't take a picture with that applied to my optics). A McFlood reflector really spreads out the beam, that's what I prefer.

Here's a couple quick shots with no color adjustments about 5' from the wall:

InReTech Cyan 2AA w/Stock NX-05 optics (the torch was fairly centered/horizontal to the floor)

InReTech Cyan 2AA w/McFlood reflector (the torch was angled "slightly" upwards, hence the "off center" looking hotspot, but it's actually fairly well centered)

Larry1582 · Mar 30, 2003

I had the same beam with mine. Inretech said that it was normal.

Roy · Mar 30, 2003

It is my understanding that the 05 optics are not designed to be variable focus.

INRETECH · Mar 31, 2003

The 05 optics are designed to rest on top of the Luxeon and gather all the light from all of the sides of the LED; moving them away from the LED doesn't really change the focus but gives less light