Outside LEDs and weather
- Thread starter lonesouth
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bshanahan14rulz
Flashlight Enthusiast
crees are fragile, it is definitely recommended that these be put in a water-resistant enclosure. the glass domes on the LEDs are being held on with the metal ring, but the dome is NOT sitting on anything. it is floating on a layer of gel.
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- Jul 15, 2007
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LEDninja
Flashlight Enthusiast
IP is an international standard. The American standard is NEMA and the Canadian standard is CEMA.
IPX8 is roughly equivalent to NEMA/CEMA 4X.
But these standards were designed with electrical cabinets in mind so a IP8X/NEMA4X box would be opaque steel or plastic and not let light out.
It is best to pick an outdoor light fitting that is UL or CSA rated FOR WET LOCATIONS.
Not all outdoor lamp assemblies can be exposed to the weather. Some types assume you are installing them in a porch where the roof would give them protection.
IPX8 is roughly equivalent to NEMA/CEMA 4X.
But these standards were designed with electrical cabinets in mind so a IP8X/NEMA4X box would be opaque steel or plastic and not let light out.
It is best to pick an outdoor light fitting that is UL or CSA rated FOR WET LOCATIONS.
Not all outdoor lamp assemblies can be exposed to the weather. Some types assume you are installing them in a porch where the roof would give them protection.
searched and searched...looking for a cheap fixture, pipe/pvc/copper to mount 1 cree star and lens, maybe a reflector. can I just AA the star to the inside of a tail cap and glue a lens to the front? think I'll run to the hardware store during lunch to look at options.
EDIT:
I'll answer my own question here:
http://bikeled.org/copperhead/Copperhead.html
looks like exactly what I want to do! maybe glue two caps back to back to allow room for power wires to be sealed and provide a larger mounting surface. Hopefully I'll follow through on this!
FOLLOWING UP:
I've looked through DX and KAI and a bunch of CPF threads and am still wondering what optic/reflector you guys like for a flood application? Max diameter is ~21mm and max height is about the same. What is the minimum angle for a flood, 60* or so, please mention what you like as I am aware this is subjective. The proposed use is exterior house flood lighting.
EDIT:
I'll answer my own question here:
http://bikeled.org/copperhead/Copperhead.html
looks like exactly what I want to do! maybe glue two caps back to back to allow room for power wires to be sealed and provide a larger mounting surface. Hopefully I'll follow through on this!
FOLLOWING UP:
I've looked through DX and KAI and a bunch of CPF threads and am still wondering what optic/reflector you guys like for a flood application? Max diameter is ~21mm and max height is about the same. What is the minimum angle for a flood, 60* or so, please mention what you like as I am aware this is subjective. The proposed use is exterior house flood lighting.
Last edited:
blasterman
Flashlight Enthusiast
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- Jul 17, 2008
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- 1,802
None - bare emitter - best flood there is :naughty:
I'm not sure if I agree with the fragility of stars. Assuming they aren't immersed in water, I can't see how *mild* environmental conditions would wreak them. Obviously if you leave a star face up in the outdoors for a year you'll almost certainly see some etching/frosting from chemicals/acid in rain. Just look at what happens to the plastic on top of solar lights.
My biggest concern with stars would be moisture creeping inside them, and then constant re-freeze cycles gradually breaking contact wires and solders lose. If kept moderately dry and away from constant rain I have more optimism towards the durability of stars - IMHO.
Brief discussion about thermal management. most of the copper cap lights I've seen are for use in mobile applications, i.e. moving air. Will three end caps be sufficient for heat management of a Q5 at 1000ma in a fixed lighting setup?
