Sold/Expired Regulated OSTAR mod 6.5W on "Golston 7W" host using

Finally I had the time to build a first mod using the OSRAM OSTAR LE W E3B star. My first impressions of the LED module can be found here: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/115286

During testing, one of the six elements died (overheating). I'm not sure if the remaining five elements aren't permanently damaged, too.

The host is a "Golston 7W" (nice-looking 2 CR123 flashlight with a 3W luxeon star clone driven with a resistor).

I had to modify the reflector to make the OSRAM star fit at all. I wouldn't call the reflector optimized for the OSRAM star

Here are some beamshots (exp. time: 1/350s, aperture 5.6, autom. white bal.)



OSTAR mod left - Fenix L2P MillerMod 3W right




OSTAR mod left - Surefire L7 right


Notice the big donut effect ... it's because the reflector is ideal for a punctiform light source - but certainly not for a big die of about 3x2 mm... have to work on that..

The technical data:

The driver is a Shark step-up converter board from The Sandwich Shoppe, doing very well on the OSTAR with the J1 jumper connected, thus providing up to 21V.

Vf is about 15.5V, output current is 420 mA, drawing 2A from the 2x CR123 batteries. The OSTAR is underdriven @ 6.5 watts.

I think that the converter cannot feed the star with more than 420mA because the batteries cannot provide more than 2A. I should try to install more powerful batteries or change the host, maybe a Mag serves better.

Next project could be to convert my old Surefire 9N into a 15W LED monster ... we'll see.

Best regards

Luminator

Interesting! :thumbsup: Where did you buy the Osram led? :thinking:

Icarus said:

Interesting! :thumbsup: Where did you buy the Osram led? :thinking:

Click to expand...

I bought mine at http://www.reichelt.de.

Thanks for the link! :thumbsup:

Interesting!

Hello Lumintor

Any more updates on this project?

Were you able to find more powerful batteries to drive the ostar at a higher level?
I took a look at the specs of the shark board and the 6-chip ostar and it looks as if the Vf is right on the limit of what the shark can output. If you were unlucky enough to get a high Vf bin ostar, you would not be able to drive at high current. Perhaps the 4-chip version would be better suited to the driver.

If you were able to transplant the ostar into a golston, does this mean you managed to remove the emitter from the star?

monkeyboy said:

Hello Lumintor

Any more updates on this project?

Click to expand...

Not really, to be frank.

monkeyboy said:

Were you able to find more powerful batteries to drive the ostar at a higher level?

Click to expand...

Batteries are not the issue, mine were just weak during the first tests. I'm more concerned about getting a reflector suitable for the OSTAR. Throw is bad, at least with the 6-die version.

monkeyboy said:

I took a look at the specs of the shark board and the 6-chip ostar and it looks as if the Vf is right on the limit of what the shark can output. If you were unlucky enough to get a high Vf bin ostar, you would not be able to drive at high current. Perhaps the 4-chip version would be better suited to the driver.

Click to expand...

You're right, that's what I'm currently evaluating.

monkeyboy said:

If you were able to transplant the ostar into a golston, does this mean you managed to remove the emitter from the star?

Click to expand...

Since the OSTAR has the same dimensions as the luxeon star I didn't have to remove it.

In general, I believe that I could better serve the CPF community by getting some OSTAR samples for a reasonable price here in germany and pass it over to some interested folks whereever in the world having more time to spend on building custom lights.

I'm sure there would be a lot of interest in a group buy for osram ostars. Does anyone know if there is a better driver for this than the shark i.e. one with a vf of up to 30V? (maximum vf at 1000ma is 29.5V) Is it possible to connect two drivers in series? I read a previous thread saying that two sharks could be connected in parallel.

Has anyone tried removing the ostar emitter from the board? If this is possible, it would make an excellent maglite mod.

The new FatFlex will have upper limit at 24 volts...