Luxeon question

[sunspot]

I trying to understand the LS better so I may try some mod's but the options on LS's are not clear to me at this time. Some questions.
What is a collimator? Where is it on the LS?
What is the differance between the Lambertian and the Batwing? From the part number LXHL-NW98, it seems most use the Batwing in the 1W mod's, yet on the 5W group buy, they are talking about the Lambertian.
TIA, Dana

 

[Jonathan]

The collimator is the lens which sits atop the emitter, and produces a narrow, bright beam. The basic emitter itself spreads light over a rather broad field, and wouldn't be a particularly good flashlight...though a nice 'candle'.

'Batwing' versus 'Lambertian' refers to the directional pattern of the light coming out of the emitter. If you were to graph the intensity of light versus direction, then the batwing luxeons have a double peak that is off to the sides, whereas the lampertian versions have a single peak on center. As a separate issue from the _direction_ which the light is emitted, it happens to be the case that the Lambertian emitters are more efficient than the Batwing emitters.

Presently people use the batwing emitters, because the white lambertian emitters are not yet available...However they are awaited eagerly. I believe that the anticipated 5W units are only available as lambertian and 'side' emitters.

-Jon

 

[Wits' End]

First Dana thanks for the PM sometimes things like that happen.

Thanks for the response Jonathan clear and concise.
Now my add on question--I seem to remember someone having modded a Mag (or Mag like) light with a luxeon emiter and attaching the collimator to the reflector so the emiter would be focusable as the collimator moved up and down. Does anyone remember/know about this I couldn't find it on a search. Is the collimator available as a separate unit? If I remember correctly the collimator used was from a fried LS/o. Any info would be a help.

 

[sunspot]

Thank you Jonathan. That helps in my ongoing quest for information. I would like to add, if the collminator narrows the beam, than what do the optics do? I'm still a bit fuzzy. Also what is the difference between high and low dome LS's as far as light output or use? Side emitters? What are those for? As witsend said, can a collimator be added?
TIA again.

witsend, you are quite welcome for the PM. I think we are going in similar paths judging from some of posts.

 

[Vegeta]

The collimator IS the optics

 

[r2]

Low dome and high dome are batwing and lambertian, respectively. Isn't nice to have all this redundant terminology?

- Russ

[corrected]

 

[treek13]

I have no idea myself, so here's what Peter Gransee had to say: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>1W batwing (Low dome) whites <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
So I think you might have got it backwards in your post r2, but I really don't know for sure. I'm just repeating someone else's words by rote....hmmm reminds me of being back in school for some reason.

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by phred:
Thank you Jonathan. That helps in my ongoing quest for information. I would like to add, if the collminator narrows the beam, than what do the optics do? I'm still a bit fuzzy. Also what is the difference between high and low dome LS's as far as light output or use? Side emitters? What are those for? As witsend said, can a collimator be added?
TIA again.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
One other thing that might help (if you have both an Early Luxeon, and a later one)....

I have noticed that looking at the center "little eye" on the lens, that the later one is smaller (1/8") in dia., and it's beam is much more focused to an intense spot, and also a lot less "blotchy" than the one I purchased 7 months ago.

 

[Zephyr]

Is the cyan or blue green LS brighter than the white LS? Or is just because of the color that makes one brighter than the other?

Thanks,
ZEPH

 

[Wits' End]

Hey there is so much to know about Luxeons how about another new forum

Then we would have to decide if mods w/LS's would go in there, and....
Ok bad idea but I'd like to keep this topic active for those of us who are wanting more answers about LS's

 

[sunspot]

Thanks all. Things are clearing up thanks to the vey kind CPF members. LD=Batwing, HD=Lambertian, collminator=optics or part #NX05. One more question (haa).
Star/o
star/c
star
emitter
I know te star-o has optics/collminator. What is the difference betweeen the others especially the star/c?
TIA, keep em coming.

 

[hotfoot]

phred,

the star/c is actually just the bare luxeon emitter mounted on a star-shaped hexagonal aluminium heatsink/pcb. the pcb has soldering pads (also called connectors) to which you can solder wires to, that's why its called the "star/c", the 'c' being the connectors.

Here's how they are organized (from the most basic luxeon lighting unit, to the more complex ones):

- Bare luxeon emitter (no pcb, no optics)

- Luxeon Star/C (bare emitter mounted on a pcb + connectors)

- Luxeon Star/O (bare emitter on a square pcb + connectors + optics)

- Luxeon Star Line (multi luxeon star/O mounted and arranged in a straight line on a single mount

- Luxeon Star Ring (6 or 12 luxeon star/O arranged and mounted on a donut-shaped pcb/heatsink)

- Luxeon Star Flood (up to 18 luxeon bare emitters in a tight cluster on a single PCB, but no optics)

- Custom - you can actually contract lumileds to design a luxeon-based lighting solution according to your individual requirements. Prepare to pay big $$$$ !

For more info, why don't you try downloading their product guide on their website? There you can see everything you'd like to know.
www.luxeon.com

 

[sunspot]

Thanks hotfoot. I think I have a "go" now. I had gone to www.lumileds.com but it's a crappy site (IMHO). I'm off to your link now.