ToyTank
Enlightened
I'm a longtime flashaholic and I recently started messing with simple mods and 5mm LEDs. I made something very similar to anapplesnail's minimag forever mod.
Just out of curiosity I started a runtime test on Sept01 mainly as an experiment and it made a handy nightlight-at the time it was drawing 2-3ma and I wanted to see how long it would run. It has now been 4 months and it is running strong @2.456v <1ma. I can no longer detect current on my DMM. I'm not sure at what voltage it will quit emitting visible light.
I decided to do some 4 month in beam shots and it occurred to me when comparing it to my new ZL H502
It seems to me I'm getting MUCH higher lumen per watt with this 5mm LED. (EDIT:at the sub lumen level)I know a part of that is due to direct driving it, and also the efficiency of running twice the voltage and halving the load per cell, but I would think being a high end CW LED the XM-L would still out perform the $.55 HCRI LED.(EDIT:at the sub lumen levels)
I know I can't lump all 5mm LEDs together with all the different makes and models, but is there any general information or even some rating I should be looking for when it comes to underdriving?
I've listed the tail cap current I've measured on the different modes and the manufactures rated output and runtime. Brand new gen 2 eneloops, opened and charged on a BC-700.
Is there a informative thread or something I've missed? Am I missing something obvious in my assumptions?
One of my next projects will be making a light box or sphere, I see some different DIY threads if you want to recommend one, please do.
beamshots
Just out of curiosity I started a runtime test on Sept01 mainly as an experiment and it made a handy nightlight-at the time it was drawing 2-3ma and I wanted to see how long it would run. It has now been 4 months and it is running strong @2.456v <1ma. I can no longer detect current on my DMM. I'm not sure at what voltage it will quit emitting visible light.
I decided to do some 4 month in beam shots and it occurred to me when comparing it to my new ZL H502
It seems to me I'm getting MUCH higher lumen per watt with this 5mm LED. (EDIT:at the sub lumen level)I know a part of that is due to direct driving it, and also the efficiency of running twice the voltage and halving the load per cell, but I would think being a high end CW LED the XM-L would still out perform the $.55 HCRI LED.(EDIT:at the sub lumen levels)
I know I can't lump all 5mm LEDs together with all the different makes and models, but is there any general information or even some rating I should be looking for when it comes to underdriving?
I've listed the tail cap current I've measured on the different modes and the manufactures rated output and runtime. Brand new gen 2 eneloops, opened and charged on a BC-700.
I get 2.7lm=17ma--.34lm=5ma--.06lm=2ma--.01lm=1ma(solid 1ma)Low: L1 2.7 Lm (4 days) or L2 0.34 Lm (3 weeks) / 0.06 Lm (2 months) / 0.01 Lm (3 months)
Is there a informative thread or something I've missed? Am I missing something obvious in my assumptions?
One of my next projects will be making a light box or sphere, I see some different DIY threads if you want to recommend one, please do.
beamshots
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