What is "pill" and "mule"?

[ImGeo]

I did a google search here and on the generic internet, and was trying to understand what flashlight-modders were talking about when referring to "pill" and "mule".

Thanks in advance for explaining.

New question regarding pill in post # 9

 

[Trashman]

A mule is an LED flashlight without a reflector, I believe. It is pure flood. A pill is a light engine, made up of the LED and the driver, both attached to the heatsink.

 

[Kiessling]

Our very own McGizmo coined the term "Mule" for the reflectorless pure flood light, and it was quickly adopted in the forums. Outside CPF. no one will understand.

The original mule, made by McGizmo (the lower light):

An Aleph Mule, also by McGizmo:

The evolution of the Mule is the SunDrop, where a HighCRI LED uses a special sapphire lens for some collimation to a perfectly even "focussed flood":

bernie

 

[Kiessling]

Another Mule with a pink glow-disk in a pink bag on a pink paper

 

[Gunner12]

Mule = LED light with no reflector, very floody and essentially no hotspot.

Pill = light engine, usually LED + driver + part of the heatsink (for the LED and driver to attach to).

 

[Sgt. LED]

The pink Mule disk still lives! :tinfoil:

 

[csshih]

ooh! you learn something new everyday...
thanks for the enlightenment!

pink mule disc?
I want one. q_q.

nah. scratch that... I just want a mule.

 

[Onuris]

The brass part with the LED is a pill.

 

[ImGeo]

On this deal extreme DIY flashlight (which looks a lot like the Fenix P3D)
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14880

People complain that it does not include a pill. In that case, what would someone like me have to get it order to make it work (driver, bare emitter, emitter on star) ? And how hard would it be to find the "pill" (or heatsink) that fits properly?

 

[gsxrac]

Onuris, is that an E series head? sorry if im missing the size representation, if so I want a Room Sweeper :twothumbs

 

[Onuris]

Onuris, is that an E series head? sorry if im missing the size representation, if so I want a Room Sweeper :twothumbs

Yes it is an E series incan head, modded by Milky. Check out more on the Room Sweeper here-


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2943805#post2943805


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=209239

 

[aEx155]

People complain that it does not include a pill. In that case, what would someone like me have to get it order to make it work (driver, bare emitter, emitter on star) ?

Well...I'm no one of the most experienced around here...but I'm guessing I've read enough to saythat you would need a driver of some sort, and an emitter of some sort.

Getting the driver is the easier (not necessarily "easiest"). There are a bunch of drivers on DX that you could use, but there are also some from the Sandwiche Shoppe, and there is also the possibility making your own.

The harder part is getting an emitter; on DX it's listed as having a reflector customized for a Cree XR-E emitter so if you were to get one you'd probably look for that. Along with that, you'd also need a heatsink, which might have to be custom made.

Someone can probably correct me on some stuff, but I'm guessing that's a general idea.

 

[greenlight]

This is from the original thread.

These lights are the antithesis of an exotic or "super" flashlight, I decided to call the series the Mules. Stocky in appearance and dependable for the mundane.

So, what is it? Is it an all-flood flashlight, or a non-exotic type light?