MAXABLASTER BEAMSHOTS

[ez78]

Ra,

Did you ever consider modding the Maxabeam before making the Maxablaster? I read somewhere that the 200W Emarc bulb is about the same size as the UXL-75XE. Would it fit in the Maxabeam and how might is possibly work with the reflector? Of cource one would have to swap the original electronics for new inverter+ballast combo that would no longer fit inside the light I think.

 

[Ra]

Yep ez,

The Emarc 200watt bulb would fit, but you already concluded: The electronics would never fit inside Maxabeam! So that was no option!

However, I considered the option putting a HBO 103/W2 (Maxablasterbulb..) in Maxabeam: That would tripple the lumens output and almost double the throw !
But same here: Fitting electronics would be a problem.

I wanted a huge increase of throw, so not only a higher surface brightness source, but bigger reflector as well: When I saw the Platinum Thor 15M, I immidiately thought "That's the host I need to fullfill my most powerfull dream ever!!"

And so it did...:duck::duck:




Regards,


Ra.

 

[Nitro]

Yep ez,

The Emarc 200watt bulb would fit, but you already concluded: The electronics would never fit inside Maxabeam! So that was no option!

However, I considered the option putting a HBO 103/W2 (Maxablasterbulb..) in Maxabeam: That would tripple the lumens output and almost double the throw !
But same here: Fitting electronics would be a problem.

I wanted a huge increase of throw, so not only a higher surface brightness source, but bigger reflector as well: When I saw the Platinum Thor 15M, I immidiately thought "That's the host I need to fullfill my most powerfull dream ever!!"

And so it did...:duck::duck:




Regards,


Ra.

And the rest is history.

I have a small question about your Reflector. Where did you get it? :grin2:

 

[Tempora]

And how do you recharge 50 sub-c cells?

 

[Ra]

And how do you recharge 50 sub-c cells?

VERY CAREFULLY !!!...

With a constant current charger at 2amp, with current decreasing when the temperature of the cells rise. Charger stops when the cells reach 40 degrees C.


And Nitro,

The reflector is a rhodium coated, nickel-based high precision parabolic: 02-RPM-018 by Melles Griot..



Regards,


Ra.

 

[Nitro]

And Nitro,

The reflector is a rhodium coated, nickel-based high precision parabolic: 02-RPM-018 by Melles Griot..

I was looking to upgrade my CC's 8" reflector, but I'm not sure I need that high quality of one for an HID bulb. Any comments?

Also, how much improvment in beam quality/throw would you guess there would be by switching to a high quality reflector?

Thanks

 

[Ra]

I was looking to upgrade my CC's 8" reflector, but I'm not sure I need that high quality of one for an HID bulb. Any comments?

Also, how much improvment in beam quality/throw would you guess there would be by switching to a high quality reflector?

Thanks

With HID you don't need a super high quality reflector like in Maxablaster: The HID-arc is about 50 times bigger than the mercury-arc of Maxablaster. You will however get a nice, uniform beampattern without much artifacts.

But at +600 $, they are expensive..

And: Rhodium reflects "only" 76% of visible light! I needed rhodium because it can withstand the huge amount of UV-radiation produced by the lamp. The reflection of an aluminum reflector will decrease in matter of months.


Regards,

Ra.

 

[Nitro]

With HID you don't need a super high quality reflector like in Maxablaster: The HID-arc is about 50 times bigger than the mercury-arc of Maxablaster. You will however get a nice, uniform beampattern without much artifacts.

But at +600 $, they are expensive..

And: Rhodium reflects "only" 76% of visible light! I needed rhodium because it can withstand the huge amount of UV-radiation produced by the lamp. The reflection of an aluminum reflector will decrease in matter of months.


Regards,

Ra.

I kinda thought that one might be overkill for HID. After seeing the high quality reflector in my MaxaBeam, the Coleman looks pretty bad in comparison. Any other sources for quality reflectors that would be more suited for an HID?

 

[Ra]

I kinda thought that one might be overkill for HID. After seeing the high quality reflector in my MaxaBeam, the Coleman looks pretty bad in comparison. Any other sources for quality reflectors that would be more suited for an HID?

A bigger arc overcomes imperfections in the reflector-shape to certain extend; From your beamshots, I can tell that the CC-reflector does it's job well..

As for other reflector-sources: I don't know any: The stock-reflectors of the Thors I have, are of decent enough quality for use with HID.


Regards,

Ra.

 

[Nitro]

A bigger arc overcomes imperfections in the reflector-shape to sertain extend; From your beamshots, I can tell that the CC-reflector does it's job well..

As for other reflector-sources: I don't know any: The stock-reflectors of the Thors I have, are of decent enough quality for use with HID.


Regards,

Ra.

Maybe I'm just being picky. But If I thought I'd gain another foot or two in throw, I'd switch the reflector in a heartbeat. :grin2:

 

[Tempora]

The RELFECTOR
http://shop.mellesgriot.com/products/optics/detail.asp?pf_id=02 RPM 018&plga=178712&mscssid=

 

[Patriot]

The RELFECTOR
http://shop.mellesgriot.com/products/optics/detail.asp?pf_id=02 RPM 018&plga=178712&mscssid=

The lamp hole looks huge.

 

[Ra]

The lamp hole looks huge.

Yep ! Desighned for much bigger, high-wattage short-acs: It's 33mm diameter. I needed to find a way to live with that :(!
I ofcource wanted a hole like in the Maxabeam reflector..
Can you beleve that I actually wanted to buy another, smaller reflector and use a 35mm section around its hole to fill the hole of the Maxablaster-reflector: I could not find one with a small hole and the same radius of curvature!

But no need for it anyway: With 33mm focal length, the shadow of the short-arc-electrode closest to the reflector already is some 30mm wide. So I woudn't gain much anyway!

But if you would caculate the throw-loss caused by this, you'd see that it's not much. I more than compensated this loss by coating the front window..

Because of their design, (two opposite electrodes, one very big!) these short-arcs put out most of the lumens to the side, these reflectors are desighned to grab about 90% of the lumens-output of these bulbs..



Regards,

Ra.

 

[mrmike]

Ra,

I've seen reflectors like that at Surplus Shed's store. I asked if they were aluminum, and all I remember is they're made of one of the more exotic elements.

I think they're parabolic reflectors for military searchlights. I remember being told they went for about $600-$800, but they sell them for $80 (brand new too).

It may be worth your trouble to give them a call.

 

[ez78]

I just asked Surplus Shed by email if they had those reflectors. Not that I would start building Maxablaster but just out of curiosity. They replied that this is the closest match that they have:

http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/pm1074.html

EDIT: Some thoughts: The center hole is too large, light would be wasted. The overall diameter also too large so would not fit in the Thor 15mcp? Some other things might be wrong too...

 

[Ra]

ez,

The RPM017 at your link is the (olther?) brother of my RPM018.. Indeed the only difference is a bigger center-hole.

So its the 017 with a somewhat bigger hole for $175.. Or the 018 with a bit smaller hole for $700...


Regards,

Ra.

 

[Nitro]

ez,

The RPM017 at your link is the (olther?) brother of my RPM018.. Indeed the only difference is a bigger center-hole.

So its the 017 with a somewhat bigger hole for $175.. Or the 018 with a bit smaller hole for $700...


Regards,

Ra.

I'd have picked the smaller hole too. :twothumbs

 

[Ra]

I'd have picked the smaller hole too. :twothumbs

My thought exactly !!!



Regards,

Ra.

 

[Flashanator]

Just finished looking at all the maxablaster beamshoots, for my first time. This is unprecedented. Ra, Im not gonna be able to sleep 2nite, just thinking about that awsome handheld light you made. You dont relize just how much I need a light like the maxablaster for were I live. So much open room, so much throw.

 

[rizky_p]

:wow::wtf::bow::bow::bow: