Lambda Illuminator LS Mod

[The_LED_Museum]

Has anyone else seen this insanely bright Legend 2-AA + DC-DC booster + Luxeon Star /O mod Lambda has put together?

It's really something. It kicks the Arc LS clear to the curb, then stomps on it and flushes the pieces down the can! I'm currently setting up for a more controlled test, but a quickie test I did this afternoon showed the Arc-LS at 121,000+mcd and Lambda's mod at an incredible 256,000+mcd. Darn near burnt the dome right off my illuminance probe!!

This is what I just now got after setting up, measuring the 12 inches carefully, and allowing the lights to run for about a minute:

Arc-LS with CR123A tube: 112,000mcd
Lambda Illuminator 2-AA: 259,000mcd

I started a page for it on my website. Just snag it off the What's New page, or click here if you don't mind directly viewing the page in a non intended format.

 

[ElektroLumens]

Wow! Totally awesome!

Wayne www.elektrolumens.com

 

[LEDagent]

THat's what i said! I'm waiting in line for this baby!

Craig...let me know when you get a rough estimate on the runtime for this lite. I don't really care if it's only 1-2 or 3 hours...just as long as it's bright. I'll be using my NiMH's for sure.

I have a money order for you Lambda.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Man-I want one too.Outstanding work Lambda!
Put me on the list for one of these.
troy

 

[Wits' End]

Looks great!! E-mail sent

 

[Sean]

Yea, that is pretty much what my ZLT+ mini mag mod looked like compared to my ARC LS. Not surprised one bit. It was so bright I was afraid to put alkalines in it.

I would say these would be a great but for someone who wants a superbright LED flashlight. Highly recommended!

 

[yclo]

Does that mean it won't last as long as the Arc LS?

YC

 

[Klaus]

Craig,

so this is pretty much coming back to my question on the difference between an ARC-LS and an ZLT+LS-MiniMag - and the ARC-LS runtime with NiMhs - and the question to lambda which DC-DC regulator he is using at what efficiency .....

I think as we have now three really nice LS flashlights all more or less based on CPF work and/or input (ARC-LS, ZLT+LS-Mag, Lambdas Brinkmann-LS) a direct comparison of those would make much sense and be of high interest to CPF members (at least to me).

Klaus

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
Craig,

so this is pretty much coming back to my question on the difference between an ARC-LS and an ZLT+LS-MiniMag - and the ARC-LS runtime with NiMhs - and the question to lambda which DC-DC regulator he is using at what efficiency .....
Klaus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, that I don't know. I've never seen or used a ZLT equipped light - unless that's what's inside Lambda's booster Legend LS mods.

I've also never tried NiMH technology in the Arc-LS. I only recently got my hands on a set of 1600mAh NiMH AAs, but I can't do anything with them until I figure out what I did with the charger. :-/

 

[Klaus]

Up late Craig ?

Thanks - I kind of remembered you posting about NiMhs a while ago - I didn´t wanted to sound strange - I wasn´t exactly yelling at you though

for not testing it yet .......

But I still think those three lights compared would be of very high interest - possibly adding runtime/brightness charts with all three using the same cells ....

Maybe one of the guys having designed the ZLT+ or someone having a spare ZLT+LS-Mag could provide you a sample - then you would have all three to do some toliet - eh - torture - testing ......

Did lambda tell you about the DC-DC stuff ? Is this such a secret ?

Thx again

Klaus

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
Up late Craig ?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yup, dyeing my hair. It was supposed to come out fluorescent pink on top with purple stripes to each side, and bleach blonde the rest of the way down. Something I haven't done in four or five years.

Turns out the darker purple colored dye I used for a highlight came out the exact same shade as the lighter pink dye I used on the top, and a part I didn't want to color at all managed to pick up an unwanted colorant transfer while rinsing the whole thing in the shower. So I've been up for the last hour repairing my seriously botched dye job.

The only way to salvage it now is to dye the whole top and my long tail (the part I didn't want dyed, but picked up a color transfer in the shower anyway) the same bright pink. I didn't f**k up the sides, so it'll still come out alright. And I can completely conceal it with a hat if needed.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
Thanks - I kind of remembered you posting about NiMhs a while ago - I didn´t wanted to sound strange - I wasn´t exactly yelling at you though

for not testing it yet<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, I actually *have* them in my possession now, but I misplaced the little charger I got about a year earlier when I got NiMH AAA's for my green laser.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
But I still think those three lights compared would be of very high interest - <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree. Anything with "LS" in the name is a hot little item these days, whether commercially made or not.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
Maybe one of the guys having designed the ZLT+ or someone having a spare ZLT+LS-Mag could provide you a sample - then you would have all three to do some toliet - eh - torture - testing ......<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

User mods do not get drowned in the toilet. Too much of a risk of ruining it and not being able to procure a replacement. But I can still do some physical testing that doesn't end up in delicate electronic components being douched.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
Did lambda tell you about the DC-DC stuff ? Is this such a secret ?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't know a thing about the inverter yet. May be secret - he did after all, glue the bezel on.

 

[Klaus]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The LED Museum:
Turns out the darker purple colored dye I used for a highlight came out the exact same shade as the lighter pink dye I used on the top, and a part I didn't want to color at all managed to pick up an unwanted colorant transfer while rinsing the whole thing in the shower. So I've been up for the last hour repairing my seriously botched dye job. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We want Pics !!

Klaus

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
We want Pics !!


Klaus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, let me go rinse out the fix-up job, and if it came out alright I'll send up a quick snapshot.

(edit)

Pink and purple Manic Panic dye.

Turned out pink and pink.

My ponytail isn't visible in this picture, but it's pink too. It was supposed to stay bleach blond.

Well, you did ask!!! :O

 

[lambda]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The LED Museum:
Well, let me go rinse out the fix-up job, and if it came out alright I'll send up a quick snapshot.
Pink and purple Manic Panic dye.
Turned out pink and pink.

My ponytail isn't visible in this picture, but it's pink too. It was supposed to stay bleach blond.

Well, you did ask!!! :O<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Man, I should of sent you a Royal Blue Luxeon; it would probably make the hair glow pretty good!

Gota go to work, but will answer questions latter when I get home this afternoon.

 

[Mr. Blue]

email sent

 

[Bushman]

OOOOhhhhhhh! I missed it i missed it. I got my illumintaor yesterday and just got outside last night to test it out. Epletive lambda this sucker is brighter than i thought... I guess Craig and i Got ours at the same time...Ive had mine now for 24 hours and i already have people e-mailing me wanting me to trade it off or something... sorry guys this ones a keeper...now to go read Craigs posts.. LAmbda you better get to work!!!

 

[Harrkev]

Lambda,

Do you have any more to sell?? I would like one, please.

 

[Chris M.]

Damn Craig, you look just like our postman now! The only postman in the whole UK with a bright pink mohican! It used to be dayglo-yellow about a month ago.

My CCTV cams are all b/w or I`d snap a stillshot next time he`s here- which would probably be tomorrow, I`ve got a new Zip drive arriving with luck.

It`s, er....unique

 

[lambda]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The LED Museum:
I don't know a thing about the inverter yet. May be secret - he did after all, glue the bezel on.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Craig, the bezel is not glued on (yes, the head is thermal bonded to the body); you can unscrew the front ring/bezel and remove the front window and collamator lens. Just be very careful when re-assembling the light; any small dust particles on the lens or inside front window will cause scratches when you tighten it back down.

The DC/DC circuit is not ZLT or Max; it's a rather unconventional implementation of a circuit desinged to get the most out of the Luxeon without destroying it.

 

[Klaus]

I would still love to see the Lambda Illuminator compared runtime/brightness-wise against an ARC-LS and ZLT+LS-mag (using the same cells).

Lambda - what is your point "getting out the most" - Brightness ? Brightness/runtime ? Efficiency ? [Any data on that] ?

Craig - how do the two you have compare using the same cells ? You did use one CR123 for the ARC-LS but I kind of remember that 2xAA Lithiums which seemed to have been in Lambdas light would be brighter in the ALS too.

And thinking of lambdas direct driven LS/mag mods it makes me no wonder that its brighter than an ARC-LS which most of the time is at 250ma - as also others wrote a ZLT+ at 350ma is way brighter too - so again - a direct comparison with runtime/brightness might be the only fair way to compare the three.

In the end IMO it comes down to the efficiency of the circuit - given the same efficiency a brighter light will run shorter and vice versa - where both (bright&short vs dimm&long) will find its friends - so we have to keep both in mind when comparing the parts. The real bottom line design-wise will be the circuit and its efficiency.

Klaus