Narrow angle LED to wide angle

[jmsanchezny]

Question can I take a narrow angle 10mm led and turn it to a wide angle by filing down the dome ?

I'm looking to put some LEDS in my overheads console , to replace the crappy weak lights and on EBAY there are FLUX LED LAMP @ 17,000mcd or I can buy 10mm 40° 5-Chips LED 100mA @ 180,000mcd..

17k v 180k ?? 180k is much brighter but very focused

The 17k has 140 deg and the 180k has 40deg.

140deg would (i think) light up the interior very nice..

what do ya think.... I need some help ....

 

[TorchBoy]

Yes. I've flattened the top of several 5mm LEDs and they end up quite nicely wide angle. Some LED rope lights come with flat-top LEDs.

Edit:

I've just reread your post. The millicandela is a unit of intensity, so two LEDs which are otherwise identical will have different millicandela ratings if they have different beam angles. If you make a "bright" and well focused LED into a wide angle LED you will drop its intensity markedly.

If you do a search you can find various really bright solutions that people (including myself) have come up with.

:welcome:

 

[Ken_McE]

If the spider/piranha style would fit in the overhead you would find they were wide angle right out of the box.