TheMechanic
Newly Enlightened
This week I received the Lumapower SSC upgrade package for the M1 Cree light. The upgrade consists of a new SSC module with an OP reflector originally designed for the Luxeon emitters.
Background: When I first received the M1 Cree, I was - like many others - impressed with its output, even with the OP reflector installed. Tremendous throw with a big spill circle - yet the hotspot was still smaller and sharper than what I like. When Ricky announced the SSC upgrade for the older Luxeon model of the M1, I asked if he could provide a module AND reflector to upgrade the Cree-based light. He said yes, and $28 later I was the proud owner of the package.
Installation was simple: unscrew the bezel, take out the old reflector and module, and screw in the new equivalents. Turning the light on confirmed my hopes: the light now had a larger and "softer" hotspot, with a large spill area. Still, it could be better...
Unscrewing the bezel (which carries the reflector) allowed a bit of "focusing" to occur. Unscrewing the bezel a couple of turns made a "wall of light" effect - no discernible hotspot, just a big circle of light. There was a trade-off, of course: much less throw and a horrid doughnut on any distance closer than a couple of feet.
I compromised by adjusting the bezel to just about one turn out from bottom; this gave me a nice large hotspot, while preventing the close-in "doughnut". It now is perfectly smooth from about 10 inches on out, and still has decent throw. To keep the bezel in this position, I machined a small spacer ring that goes inside the bezel and keeps the head from being screwed all the way down. (The O-rings are still covered, so water resistance should not be compromised.)
Color of the SSC is quite white when viewed absolutely; compared side by side with the D-Mini Cree, however, it is slightly bluish. This is actually a bit surprising, since by itself it appears to have no cast at all. Apparently my D-Mini is slightly on the "warm" side.
(Sorry for no beamshots - can't find a decent wall on which to do them!)
Conclusion: a great buy if flood is more important to you than throw. With the upcoming "tactical" switch, this will make a superb duty light. Ricky says that the SSC module is "limited production", so if you want one you'd better get it now.
I'd like to see Lumapower make the "old" M1 body style with this reflector and SSC module combination as standard, and the "new" M1 with the Cree for throw. It would make a good combination of products, and the best part is that they have all the parts and engineering done - no wait!
(The only thing I would suggest is that they increase the thickness of the ring which holds the reflector in, to make the bezel "bottom out" further than it currently does - that's what gives it the great flood characteristics.)
How about it, Lumapower? Ready for another killer product - call it the "M1 Flood"!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Background: When I first received the M1 Cree, I was - like many others - impressed with its output, even with the OP reflector installed. Tremendous throw with a big spill circle - yet the hotspot was still smaller and sharper than what I like. When Ricky announced the SSC upgrade for the older Luxeon model of the M1, I asked if he could provide a module AND reflector to upgrade the Cree-based light. He said yes, and $28 later I was the proud owner of the package.
Installation was simple: unscrew the bezel, take out the old reflector and module, and screw in the new equivalents. Turning the light on confirmed my hopes: the light now had a larger and "softer" hotspot, with a large spill area. Still, it could be better...
Unscrewing the bezel (which carries the reflector) allowed a bit of "focusing" to occur. Unscrewing the bezel a couple of turns made a "wall of light" effect - no discernible hotspot, just a big circle of light. There was a trade-off, of course: much less throw and a horrid doughnut on any distance closer than a couple of feet.
I compromised by adjusting the bezel to just about one turn out from bottom; this gave me a nice large hotspot, while preventing the close-in "doughnut". It now is perfectly smooth from about 10 inches on out, and still has decent throw. To keep the bezel in this position, I machined a small spacer ring that goes inside the bezel and keeps the head from being screwed all the way down. (The O-rings are still covered, so water resistance should not be compromised.)
Color of the SSC is quite white when viewed absolutely; compared side by side with the D-Mini Cree, however, it is slightly bluish. This is actually a bit surprising, since by itself it appears to have no cast at all. Apparently my D-Mini is slightly on the "warm" side.
(Sorry for no beamshots - can't find a decent wall on which to do them!)
Conclusion: a great buy if flood is more important to you than throw. With the upcoming "tactical" switch, this will make a superb duty light. Ricky says that the SSC module is "limited production", so if you want one you'd better get it now.
I'd like to see Lumapower make the "old" M1 body style with this reflector and SSC module combination as standard, and the "new" M1 with the Cree for throw. It would make a good combination of products, and the best part is that they have all the parts and engineering done - no wait!
(The only thing I would suggest is that they increase the thickness of the ring which holds the reflector in, to make the bezel "bottom out" further than it currently does - that's what gives it the great flood characteristics.)
How about it, Lumapower? Ready for another killer product - call it the "M1 Flood"!
-=[ Grant ]=-
