NiteFLUX + MCE equip. lights?

[Phaethon]

I was checking out the 2009 NiteFLUX range and it appears they are using the cree MCE ledsin two of their models, Photon 8 and [URL="http://www.niteflux.com/Products_photonMaxExtreme.aspx#39"] [URL="http://www.niteflux.com/Products_photonMaxExtreme.aspx#39"]Photon Max Extreme. Can anybody contribute more details, review etc????

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[marcopolo]

The onlly thing I can comment on is that some of these new lights, BR lights included seem to be running the MC-E/ P7 LED's at a lower current than they are rated for. So it would seem that the housings they are using are not up to the job of cooling a fully driven multi-emitter given that they are trying to squeeze the size of these housing right down.

Lupine tesla is rated to 800 lumins-ish for a single emitter but you will notice that it is a much larger light unit diameter.

Make it big and ugly - say 50mm diameter with slots/rills and your cooling gets a whole lot better.

Trout has the right idea in using his bike chassis as heatsink. Maybe we'll start seeing handlebars with LED arrays built into them!!

Marco.

 

[Phaethon]

.........

Trout has the right idea in using his bike chassis as heatsink. Maybe we'll start seeing handlebars with LED arrays built into them!!

Marco.

I agree, with the only reservation being the extra weight you'll have to carry all day. Nevertheless, you don't really need to run the leds at max amperage as efficiency decreases. Niteflux claim 1350 lumns for their top shot light which makes senses with two MCE's and one XRE they seem to be using....

 

[Wicho]

I'd like to see bike bars with four LED's built in - a flood, two medium floods and a spot. Make them nice and bright, and have the bars have a jack the power cable plugs into to keep things nice and clean when you aren't running the lights. Then, just strap on a battery when you need it, plug the power lead in, and voila! No power switch to complicate things, just plug the battery in and the lights come on, like the old Ay-Ups. I'll deal with climbing at full brightness.

Another option would be do have a switch and dimmer plug into the bar power jack, and have the battery plug into the switch. Strap the switch onto the bars like the Lupines or old halogen NiteRiders.

If anyone does this, I want royalties!

 

[trout]

This was going to be for 2 MCE but it was ready way before the mce came to market so I put 2 R2s in and it is an ace light

some mega small lights are now possible with the XPE you could really do something radical now

 

[dbastians]

Hi,

I am a director at NiteFlux and I have been meaning to join this forum for a while (number of years). I have a lot of experience in bike lights and hand torches on both a small and large scale. I don't know how many industry reps are members of this forum but I will try and keep my own posts away from brand promotion. I won't try and compare our band with other brands but I am always happy to answer any questions about NiteFlux.

I can say that we do use 2 Cree MCEs plus 1 XRE in the new Photon Max Extreme. That is 9 emitters in total in a 3S3P configuration. We use a constant power driver to push 20W through on high beam which is 600-700mA per emitter depending on forward voltage drop. Remember that Vf goes down as the emitters heat up. 700mA is the maximum specified current for the new MCEs and we are confident we are getting the maximum benefit out of them. They sit on a custom aluminium PCB which is in direct contact with an elaborate vented heat sink. It works very well when the rider is in motion and will easily take full power but it heats up fast when stationary. An integrated temperature controller kicks in after about 1 minute.

The maths is similar for the Photon 8 which has a single MCE in 2S2P config. Again temperature fold back is necessary when stationary but it soon cools down once riding along.

These lights are very new and I cant point to any online reviews at this time. Australia readers can see a review of both in the current edition of Mountain Biking Australia magazine. I believe they will both be on MTBR soon but not yet.

Although it does have a certain neatness, I'm not at all sure it will become popular to use the entire bike or handlebar as a heat-sink. What if you want to use that light on a different bike? Also MTB riders don't want to wear metal helmets. Portable is the way to go but just remember to include active temperature control in the design, or if this adds too much complexity, then remember to turn it down when you stop.

Cheers,

David.

 

[marcopolo]

Welcome David,

interesting to hear comments from an actual manufacturer.

Of course bespoke design like integrated headlights make system switching awkward! I guess a lot of us here are builders (not generally selling to others.)

About your spec on the niteflux - I would have put the lumens rating a bit higher but I suppose you've taken into account emitter efficiency drop off with temperature and a lot of other manufacturers don't include this drop off, - they quote off the LED spec at 25degC, so cudos to you.

regards,

Marco.

 

[dbastians]

Welcome David,

About your spec on the niteflux - I would have put the lumens rating a bit higher but I suppose you've taken into account emitter efficiency drop off with temperature and a lot of other manufacturers don't include this drop off, - they quote off the LED spec at 25degC, so cudos to you.

Thanks Marco,

we happen to think it is cheating to quote the 25degC figures. Not many will go and get actual photometry done but most data sheets have curves that will tell you what happens at elevated current, and elevated temperature. Plus the optics will also quote their maximum efficiency. If you know the actual operating temperature and operating current then these three factors are all you need to get a fairly realistic set of numbers.

Cheers,

David.

 

[csshih]

Welcome to CPF, David.

It's nice to hear from someone high up.

I agree, I don't think the LED built into handlebar idea would go over so well, except for, maybe the elite elite of the population that try to get the best looking stuff for the highest price

Also, just wondering, what voltage are you charging the Li-ion battery pack to?



psstt: david, got any old stuff lying around? I need a bike light,

 

[dbastians]

Welcome to CPF, David.
Also, just wondering, what voltage are you charging the Li-ion battery pack to?

psstt: david, got any old stuff lying around? I need a bike light,

Hi csshih,

we charge to 4.2V per cell and implement cell balancing for any cell that is out by more than 0.5%. We use a small load to take some charge out of any cell(s) that are higher, and therefore put relatively more charge into remaining cell(s) that are lower, until they all match.

We have lots of old stuff laying around but we dont sell it. We use it for free demos at events like 24hr MTB races etc. Or for people that want to try night riding for first time or that want to try before they buy.

Cheers,

David.

 

[cheaplx]

To dbastians; any plans to put xpg in the enduro 8