The Next Big Thing

[applevision]

Guys,

I am a junkie and my fix is LIGHTS! I'm excited about getting my SS LD01 but I don't think that will hold me over long... What's the next BIG thing in lights? I'm interested in the P7 but it seems like we have a little ways to go before we see it in more mainstream lights. What else is on the horizon? Any really cool technology around the corner? I'm looking for something much brighter/more efficient or tiny and brilliant than the cream of the crop today... I was excited about the Invictus which may or may not be coming now... What are YOU excited about?

 

[1996alnl]

I'm still exited about the invictus and optimus,when they finally are released i think these lights will take the market by storm as Surefire rediculously underates their outputs.
In reality its the Emitter technology that really has me impressed and how it's evolved over the years.
Right now a Q5 LED has an efficiency of approx. 110 lm@350mh . It won't be long before we'll see 350 lumens driven with only 110 mh.

Take care

 

[txgp17]

I'm excited about a new line of lights from Fenix with Cree MC-E emitters.

Zebra lights with MC-E's.

And what Gene Malkoff's M-series drop-in will excell to with MC-E emitters.

Or a line of drop-ins for Surefire lights using a SSC P7 emitter.

 

[orcinus]

Zebra lights with MC-E's.

You want to wear a pound of aluminium on your forehead?

 

[StarHalo]

I'd wager the next few months will be all about the Cree MC-E and AW LiMN batteries. The MC-E is basically just going to be the P7 all over again, and the LiMN cell means that there's going to be a hotwire revolution in the 6"-and-under category..

 

[txgp17]

You want to wear a pound of aluminium on your forehead?

If the MC-E is the same size as a XR-E, then I don't see how a MC-E equipped Z30/50 would weigh a pound.

And for the record, the LARGE Z60 only weighs 3.5 oz, with battery & headband. That's less than 1/4 lb.

The H50 only weighs 58 grams, or 1/8th of a pound.

 

[csshih]

heatsinking?

 

[LukeA]

More mass for more heatsink surface area or a headlamp-shaped forehead burn.

 

[txgp17]

A MC-E putting out the same amount of lumens as a Q5 would be far more efficient, thus requiring less heat sinking.

An 800 lumen headlamp would serve no useful purpose.

 

[csshih]

I like that headlamp shaped burn comment


edit: but brighter is better, isn't it? hahaaaa. (my light is brighter than yours )

 

[rtt]

I am really excited about the new IMR batteries and LF ican bulbs that are designed for these batteries. Looks like we can have 6P size lights with 500-600 bulb lumens for short runtimes. IMR 16340 batteries available now and LF bulbs to be available soon! AW softstart tailcaps with 3 level output control are also available now.:naughty:

I know this thread is in the LED section.....but I think this is the next big thing.

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

I am really excited about the new IMR batteries and LF ican bulbs that are designed for these batteries. Looks like we can have 6P size lights with 500-600 bulb lumens for short runtimes. IMR 16340 batteries available now and LF bulbs to be available soon! AW softstart tailcaps with 3 level output control are also available now.:naughty:

I know this thread is in the LED section.....but I think this is the next big thing.

How have I not heard anything about this? Please give some more information or a link. Thanks!

 

[ja10]

I think seeing P7's and MC-E's in a lot of lights ... and with quality beams. Not that there aren't some now, but many of them leave something to be desired.

I remember right when the Cree XR-E came out, there were several early adopters who had lights with great output, but the reflectors/optics weren't quite right. Now, there are tons of choices between lots of throw, lots of spill, or some of each. I'm looking forward to seeing some great lights (Inviticus/Optimus and others) with all the promised output, but with a high quality beam.

Also, of course, I'm looking forward to the next single die LED that has a vf of 3.5 and matches the output of the new quad dies.

 

[Jarl]

High CRI.

 

[WadeF]

A MC-E putting out the same amount of lumens as a Q5 would be far more efficient, thus requiring less heat sinking.

An 800 lumen headlamp would serve no useful purpose.

+1

 

[rtt]

How have I not heard anything about this? Please give some more information or a link. Thanks!

The following links on CPF provide additional info on the IMR batteries and applications.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=184887


http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=185415


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=211090

 

[applevision]

High CRI.

Jarl,

I think this is really a neat point. When I think about the "megapixel war" in digital cameras, it reminds me of the "lumens war" in lights; basically, that above a certain point, more lumens isn't necessarily better. (Caveat: I'm a lumenophile/luxwhore so this is VERY hard for me to admit!)

The point is that perhaps focusing on things like awesome beams, adjustable beams (like the Optimus) and excellent color--something I have really enjoyed with my warm-tinted Lummi Wee--could be as good or <gulp!> better than just making brighter lights. <Whew!> That was hard for me to say!

I keep going back to that little Fenix E01, a light that I love but that makes a beam that I don't really care for. If we could find a way to improve the color and brightness just a bit, and keep the physical light the same, I think it could be a legendary light. I adore my LD01 (black; awaiting stainless steel), but it is just not as silky smooth in the hand as the E01.

Neat discussion, guys!

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

The following links on CPF provide additional info on the IMR batteries and applications.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=184887


http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=185415


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=211090

Thanks for the links. :thumbsup:

There should be some seriously killer setups coming in the coming months. I never even thought anything like this would even be possible.

 

[orcinus]

A MC-E putting out the same amount of lumens as a Q5 would be far more efficient, thus requiring less heat sinking.

It would?
An MC-E outputs about 400 lumens per all four dice at 350 mA of current per die.
That's about a 100 lumens per die @ 350 mA.

How is that "far more efficient" than an XR-E?

 

[txgp17]

It would?
An MC-E outputs about 400 lumens per all four dice at 350 mA of current per die.
That's about a 100 lumens per die @ 350 mA.

How is that "far more efficient" than an XR-E?

The efficiency is found by running the MC-E at a low level to equal XR-E output, not at equal current levels. The Zebra H30 is only rated at 80 lumens, and that's about all I'd want in a headlamp.

LED output is not directly proportional to current input. Thus if I double current, light output increases by a factor less than 2. Likewise, if I reduce current by ½, light output is reduced by a factor less than ½ (meaning it will remain higher than ½ of the original).

But if I run an MC-E at a level high enough to equal XR-E output, it is more efficient, because each die will require less than ¼th the current required to power a XR-E at the same output level.

Notice that the performance curves are not straight lines, they turn more towards the horizontal as current increases. Meaning they become more inefficient as current increases.

XR-E

MC-E