Techjunkie
Enlightened
Introducing... The XX-Ray
So-named for its 20 LED emitter dies (XX = Roman numeral twenty)
----====::::EDIT #3::::====---- (June 27, 2009)
The replacement Sharks from Wayne came in today (Thanks, Wayne!). These make Sharks 7, 8 & 9 to enter this torch.
Well, they say the third time's a charm (knock wood), and now finally, three matched, tested blue sharks running in parallel are running this torch at just the right current.
---===:::Edit of the Edit:::===--- (June 5, 2009)
The increased current as measured below was due to one of the sharks malfunctioning. Tested alone, it was pushing 1.5A instead of 1A. I thought it would continue to only push that much more and was expecing 3.5A total. The total 4.89A current was measured after it and the other two were permanently affixed to the sinks with AAA. Unfortunately, after an "extended" run of about three minutes constant, the one bad shark took the other two down with it and all three fried. Lesson learned: don't fully assemble if ANYTHING is out of spec.
The XX-Ray is "in the shop" again, awaiting replacement sharks and now I also have to replace one of the MC-E emitters as I damaged the dome while unassembling/reassembling to get to the 2nd course of toasted shark. The replacement will be a 4A tint - I couldn't find any more 4B.
-=:Edit:=-
I replaced the sharks I torched by reversing polarity. For reasons unbeknown to me, they crank out more than 3A combined. I'm not complaining though, 'cause the LEDs are liking the extra juice. Here'sa quick photo insert and then some new beamshot photos down around post #20.
(Photos removed, see update above)
-=:End Edit:=-
---===:::End Edit of the Edit:::===---
----====::::END EDIT #3::::====----
Specs:
This one's a bit of a sleeper, considering the stock Mag head and short body. It started out on a budget too, the only exravagence being the modded body in favor of a 4C or 3D, until the need for 3 sharks became apparent.
After modding the distance between the base end the reflector bottom, focus gives a much tighter hotspot than the 20mm narrow boom reflcetors I've used on one of my 3xMC-E torches. There is a bit of a small donut in the hotspot, thanks to the smooth reflectors, but the rotation of each emitter purposely varies to avoid lining them up and eliminate plus sign in beam pattern.
Some pics:
I got tired of searching for a 2x2x18650 battery carrier and building my own with only 16mm to spare was a daunting task, so I took an old shortcut. The nylon washer insert takes advantage of the fact that the milled out battery channel is conductive by mating the negative battery termianal to the channel (and the positive terminal to the spring. At the tailcap, another custom fit washer is used to make a contact board to bridge the two stacks of batteries. Yet another insulates it from the low pressure modded tail spring. No electrical contact is made to the spring when running 4 x 18650 in series this way. The Sharks which have to push 18V @ 3A to the emitters can accept either 3.7V IMR batteries or 3.0-3.2V LiFePO4 batteries. Take the washers out and there's just enough room for a 4x3 12AA Eneloop pack (if I could ever find one).
As it will be a while before the sharks are added, I've added some preliminary beam shots in post #17, with the XX-Ray underdriven at ~1.6A or about half power. (Or just checkout the slideshow on photobucket.)
So-named for its 20 LED emitter dies (XX = Roman numeral twenty)
----====::::EDIT #3::::====---- (June 27, 2009)
The replacement Sharks from Wayne came in today (Thanks, Wayne!). These make Sharks 7, 8 & 9 to enter this torch.
Well, they say the third time's a charm (knock wood), and now finally, three matched, tested blue sharks running in parallel are running this torch at just the right current.
---===:::Edit of the Edit:::===--- (June 5, 2009)
The increased current as measured below was due to one of the sharks malfunctioning. Tested alone, it was pushing 1.5A instead of 1A. I thought it would continue to only push that much more and was expecing 3.5A total. The total 4.89A current was measured after it and the other two were permanently affixed to the sinks with AAA. Unfortunately, after an "extended" run of about three minutes constant, the one bad shark took the other two down with it and all three fried. Lesson learned: don't fully assemble if ANYTHING is out of spec.
The XX-Ray is "in the shop" again, awaiting replacement sharks and now I also have to replace one of the MC-E emitters as I damaged the dome while unassembling/reassembling to get to the 2nd course of toasted shark. The replacement will be a 4A tint - I couldn't find any more 4B.
-=:Edit:=-
I replaced the sharks I torched by reversing polarity. For reasons unbeknown to me, they crank out more than 3A combined. I'm not complaining though, 'cause the LEDs are liking the extra juice. Here'sa quick photo insert and then some new beamshot photos down around post #20.
(Photos removed, see update above)
-=:End Edit:=-
---===:::End Edit of the Edit:::===---
----====::::END EDIT #3::::====----
Specs:
- 5 x CREE MC-E neutral white 4B tint emitters
- Solid Aluminum reflector and base (both modifid for fit and focus)
- Silver Mag 2.25D Dual and Quad bored, cut and rethreaded, head modded inside for fit
- Carrier-less battery design will accommodate 4 IMR or LiFePO4 18650 batteries or a 12AA NiMH pack
- 3 Blue Shark drivers (remora removed from original design)
- Emitters wired 5s4p with stranded 20ga copper
- Estimated > 3000 Lumens of neutral white LED light!
This one's a bit of a sleeper, considering the stock Mag head and short body. It started out on a budget too, the only exravagence being the modded body in favor of a 4C or 3D, until the need for 3 sharks became apparent.
After modding the distance between the base end the reflector bottom, focus gives a much tighter hotspot than the 20mm narrow boom reflcetors I've used on one of my 3xMC-E torches. There is a bit of a small donut in the hotspot, thanks to the smooth reflectors, but the rotation of each emitter purposely varies to avoid lining them up and eliminate plus sign in beam pattern.
Some pics:
I got tired of searching for a 2x2x18650 battery carrier and building my own with only 16mm to spare was a daunting task, so I took an old shortcut. The nylon washer insert takes advantage of the fact that the milled out battery channel is conductive by mating the negative battery termianal to the channel (and the positive terminal to the spring. At the tailcap, another custom fit washer is used to make a contact board to bridge the two stacks of batteries. Yet another insulates it from the low pressure modded tail spring. No electrical contact is made to the spring when running 4 x 18650 in series this way. The Sharks which have to push 18V @ 3A to the emitters can accept either 3.7V IMR batteries or 3.0-3.2V LiFePO4 batteries. Take the washers out and there's just enough room for a 4x3 12AA Eneloop pack (if I could ever find one).
As it will be a while before the sharks are added, I've added some preliminary beam shots in post #17, with the XX-Ray underdriven at ~1.6A or about half power. (Or just checkout the slideshow on photobucket.)
Last edited:
:twothumbs
That is the one that is on DX right? Correct me if I'm wrong. I think there was a comment about p7's being to big to fit in that reflector setup. That made me think about using MC-E's. You've also solved the power source issue that didn't exist till now. This is really an inspiring build. I hope to complete something like your build someday. This thing must be crazy bright. Awesome build! 
