Overdrive Luxeons on bike dynamo? *Moved*

[Bandgap]

I now have 4 Luxeon 1W Star/O leds and am putting together a front bike light which will run from a generator (variable frequency AC, approx 600mA constant rms current - rectified to DC)

I have them in 2 parallel strings, each of two LS in series.

Am I being too conservative? Could I just run the LS at 600mA as some people appear to? - cutting the number of LS to just two connected in series?

- as if this is true, I may try all four in series as the generator is capable of putting out over 12V rms at 600mA rms when speed is high enough.

Note, I seem to have two sorts of LS/O, the older type is dimmer with a lower V-drop,

AND
Can a simple lens be applied to narrow the beam of a LS/O?

+/- 5 degree would be better than the existing +/-10 degree

Thanks-in-advance for your wisdom

 

[Bandgap]

Bandgap again...

Is this the best forum to have posted this question on?

 

[Slick]

Originally posted by Bandgap:
Bandgap again...

Is this the best forum to have posted this question on?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">You'd probably get better results posting on the homemade / mods forum.

On your question, I think 600Ma is safe with proper heatsinking. My Brinkmann mods are pulling 800-900Ma and are still alive.. However I'm uncertain about using 12 volts. Using resistors would probably work best / cheapest since you're not having to worry about batteries.

 

[Empath]

Moved to Homemade and Modified Lights Forum.