Hi guys,
As some of you know there has been work by RUSH on a design for a converter that fits in the light engines I use for the "E-series lights" I offer, namely, the Mule, SunDrop, Haiku and Makai. It's time to add this converter to the confusion/ options available. It can be considered an alternative to the 3S converter which has been the mainstay and default converter now for a number of years. The 3S will remain the default and continues to be available. For sake of identification, I will refer to this new converter as the HIVE converter. So this becomes the fourth converter used in these light engines. It joins the AA, 3S and 6V converters. In short hand, I will refer to it as the HV.
So what is the deal with this HIVE converter? Well it is very similar in design performance and versatility to the RUSH converter used in the Aqua and Terra Lights. It is designed primarily to be coupled with a RCR123 battery but it can also be driven by a CR123 or even 2xAA. Minimum input voltage is 1.8V. The Converter is set with a default of four output levels; 12, 114, 391, 1000 mA. Like the other converters, level shifting is accomplished with a short off cycle. I built light engines with the HIVE and the three LED's I will be using with it, XP-G2, 119V and XM-L2. I put these light engines in a Mule head and took relative measurements of lumens in my integrating sphere.
LED: XP-G2 119V XM-L2
LL 2.8 .8 2.8
L 29 13 37
M 104 70 133
H 240 172 318
In comparison to the 3S converter, the real noticeable difference with the HIVE is the new first level of Low Low and the higher outputs of the other three levels.
Like the other HIVE converter from RUSH that I use in the Aqua/Terra lights, this HIVE converter can be programmed for different outputs and number of outputs. I don't want to get involved in the discussions or become proficient at programming or offer alternative programming with the lights. I leave this entirely up to the end user and to add a barrier to my involvement as I did with the other converter, I asked RUSH to design in a bridge that needs to be jumpered to get into program mode. In the photo below, you can see the two gold rectangles at "6 o'clock" that require a solder bridge to allow programming:
This HIVE converter option is now available in my light offerings and it has a $10 additional cost over the equivalent light using a 3S converter. I will do my best in the coming days to clean up some other threads and information to not only add this new converter to the options but hopefully clear up some of the confusion as well.
This converter has been in the works and under some trials now for a fair amount of time. I think it definitely has something of value to offer some of you depending on your requirements.
EDIT: 10-30-15 See post #35 for explanation for temporary hold on this offering.
EDIT: 12-2-15 COnverters have been reprogrammed and hold now removed.
As some of you know there has been work by RUSH on a design for a converter that fits in the light engines I use for the "E-series lights" I offer, namely, the Mule, SunDrop, Haiku and Makai. It's time to add this converter to the confusion/ options available. It can be considered an alternative to the 3S converter which has been the mainstay and default converter now for a number of years. The 3S will remain the default and continues to be available. For sake of identification, I will refer to this new converter as the HIVE converter. So this becomes the fourth converter used in these light engines. It joins the AA, 3S and 6V converters. In short hand, I will refer to it as the HV.
So what is the deal with this HIVE converter? Well it is very similar in design performance and versatility to the RUSH converter used in the Aqua and Terra Lights. It is designed primarily to be coupled with a RCR123 battery but it can also be driven by a CR123 or even 2xAA. Minimum input voltage is 1.8V. The Converter is set with a default of four output levels; 12, 114, 391, 1000 mA. Like the other converters, level shifting is accomplished with a short off cycle. I built light engines with the HIVE and the three LED's I will be using with it, XP-G2, 119V and XM-L2. I put these light engines in a Mule head and took relative measurements of lumens in my integrating sphere.
LED: XP-G2 119V XM-L2
LL 2.8 .8 2.8
L 29 13 37
M 104 70 133
H 240 172 318
In comparison to the 3S converter, the real noticeable difference with the HIVE is the new first level of Low Low and the higher outputs of the other three levels.
Like the other HIVE converter from RUSH that I use in the Aqua/Terra lights, this HIVE converter can be programmed for different outputs and number of outputs. I don't want to get involved in the discussions or become proficient at programming or offer alternative programming with the lights. I leave this entirely up to the end user and to add a barrier to my involvement as I did with the other converter, I asked RUSH to design in a bridge that needs to be jumpered to get into program mode. In the photo below, you can see the two gold rectangles at "6 o'clock" that require a solder bridge to allow programming:
This HIVE converter option is now available in my light offerings and it has a $10 additional cost over the equivalent light using a 3S converter. I will do my best in the coming days to clean up some other threads and information to not only add this new converter to the options but hopefully clear up some of the confusion as well.
This converter has been in the works and under some trials now for a fair amount of time. I think it definitely has something of value to offer some of you depending on your requirements.
EDIT: 10-30-15 See post #35 for explanation for temporary hold on this offering.
EDIT: 12-2-15 COnverters have been reprogrammed and hold now removed.
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