kz1000s1
Enlightened
My Luminous Devices SST-90 emitter arrived from Photonfanatic a
few days ago and I finally had a chance to test it out. This is an
evaluation piece with an unknown flux bin. Most people here seem
to think these are a lower bin, I'll presume it's something like a WL.
The test light is a 2D Mag with a modified Britelumens deluxe P7 heatsink
running DD. Heatsink modifications are grinding the top flat then grinding a
relief on each side so that the + and -solder pads underneath the
emitter have clearance for the wires. One end of each side relief is aligned
with an existing wire hole. I covered the side reliefs with a layer of AA
for insulation in case the wires come unsoldered. Nailbender's SST got
so hot the solder melted and the wires came loose. One observation
from when I was soldering the wires to the emitter is that I had trouble
getting the solder hot because the emitter passes the heat so quickly
to my soldering clamp.
Unlike a P7, the center solder pad is electrically isolated, so I used
a AA layer to adhere the emitter to the bare aluminum. You just
have to make sure the + pad isn't touching and grounding out.
The rest of the build was the usual P7 mod procedure. A smooth
Mag reflector with a cut cam is used. The original hole size will
just clear the emitter corners. Reflector position may not be optimal
yet. It seems best when the head is in as far as it can go until the
reflector bottoms on the inside lip of the heatsink. I'm not sure if
it could focus any tighter or not. A DX flat bottomed P7 reflector
was tried for fit next. The head bottoms out before the LED is
fully seated in the hole. It might work if I pull the heatsink out slightly.
The light used for comparison to this build is my Mag 1C with a
CSXPI bin P7 running DD through a D2Flex board. Power is an
AW IMR18650 providing 3.4A. DX textured reflector. This a
bright C bin because I replaced it once with a DSWOI, but the
D wasn't any brighter and I liked the CSXPI tint better (whiter).
According to tests of a Nailbender built, 18650 powered, P7 Mag
by MrGman that had 703 peak lumens, my light should have an
output in that same area.
I started out with 3xC NiMh for power, just some cheapo 2500 Energizers
for now to take it easy at first. With a fresh charge the current draw
was 3.2 A. Performance is good. All comparisons are to the above P7 l
ight. A ceiling bounce test shows a noticeable improvement in output.
After dark the testing went outdoors. The beam seems smoother, though
still some colored artifacts. Although current results may change when
the reflector gets dialed in better. Hot spot is a little bigger and more pronounced.
Spill has a similar increase in size and is brighter. Throw is the same. Tint is
greenish on a white wall, though not that noticeable otherwise. This could change
as I pump up the power. Heat doesn't seem to be an issue at this level.
Barely warm at the body after a few minutes.
Next will running on an AW IMR18650. I'm trying out what I have
available to determine what the final power source will be. If this
causes any problems, some better quality C NiMhs will be procured.
If it works, the Batteryspace 26650 IMR would be my choice. AW
has his M6 running on an F cell Li-ion. Nailbender used a D Li-ion that
worked well, then tried an IMR C cell that overheated things. I have
to wonder if IMR cells don't have enough voltage drop under load to
run the SST-90 safely.
The manufacturer, Luminous Devices does not seem to bin for
forward voltage or give an actual spec for it that I've seen. Just
testing points of 3.1V, 3.6V and a chart that stops at around
3.8V.
We're still looking for the limits.
few days ago and I finally had a chance to test it out. This is an
evaluation piece with an unknown flux bin. Most people here seem
to think these are a lower bin, I'll presume it's something like a WL.
The test light is a 2D Mag with a modified Britelumens deluxe P7 heatsink
running DD. Heatsink modifications are grinding the top flat then grinding a
relief on each side so that the + and -solder pads underneath the
emitter have clearance for the wires. One end of each side relief is aligned
with an existing wire hole. I covered the side reliefs with a layer of AA
for insulation in case the wires come unsoldered. Nailbender's SST got
so hot the solder melted and the wires came loose. One observation
from when I was soldering the wires to the emitter is that I had trouble
getting the solder hot because the emitter passes the heat so quickly
to my soldering clamp.
Unlike a P7, the center solder pad is electrically isolated, so I used
a AA layer to adhere the emitter to the bare aluminum. You just
have to make sure the + pad isn't touching and grounding out.
The rest of the build was the usual P7 mod procedure. A smooth
Mag reflector with a cut cam is used. The original hole size will
just clear the emitter corners. Reflector position may not be optimal
yet. It seems best when the head is in as far as it can go until the
reflector bottoms on the inside lip of the heatsink. I'm not sure if
it could focus any tighter or not. A DX flat bottomed P7 reflector
was tried for fit next. The head bottoms out before the LED is
fully seated in the hole. It might work if I pull the heatsink out slightly.
The light used for comparison to this build is my Mag 1C with a
CSXPI bin P7 running DD through a D2Flex board. Power is an
AW IMR18650 providing 3.4A. DX textured reflector. This a
bright C bin because I replaced it once with a DSWOI, but the
D wasn't any brighter and I liked the CSXPI tint better (whiter).
According to tests of a Nailbender built, 18650 powered, P7 Mag
by MrGman that had 703 peak lumens, my light should have an
output in that same area.
I started out with 3xC NiMh for power, just some cheapo 2500 Energizers
for now to take it easy at first. With a fresh charge the current draw
was 3.2 A. Performance is good. All comparisons are to the above P7 l
ight. A ceiling bounce test shows a noticeable improvement in output.
After dark the testing went outdoors. The beam seems smoother, though
still some colored artifacts. Although current results may change when
the reflector gets dialed in better. Hot spot is a little bigger and more pronounced.
Spill has a similar increase in size and is brighter. Throw is the same. Tint is
greenish on a white wall, though not that noticeable otherwise. This could change
as I pump up the power. Heat doesn't seem to be an issue at this level.
Barely warm at the body after a few minutes.
Next will running on an AW IMR18650. I'm trying out what I have
available to determine what the final power source will be. If this
causes any problems, some better quality C NiMhs will be procured.
If it works, the Batteryspace 26650 IMR would be my choice. AW
has his M6 running on an F cell Li-ion. Nailbender used a D Li-ion that
worked well, then tried an IMR C cell that overheated things. I have
to wonder if IMR cells don't have enough voltage drop under load to
run the SST-90 safely.
The manufacturer, Luminous Devices does not seem to bin for
forward voltage or give an actual spec for it that I've seen. Just
testing points of 3.1V, 3.6V and a chart that stops at around
3.8V.
We're still looking for the limits.
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