Red LS 1w question on Max current.

flash....

Enlightened
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
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366
Location
Winter Springs FL
Just curious to get a sound out from everyone on the maximum current you have sucessfully driven a 1watt Red LS with? 400ma, 600ma?? etc...
Can I drive one without damage using a BB700?? I have not messed with Red much.
Thanks in advance for any experiences. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

evan9162

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Boise, ID
Don't bother overdriving a red luxeon. The performance degridation due to heat outweighs any extra light you'll get past 400mA. The red has a higher thermal resistance to the slug than a white does, and suffers much more from a high junction temperature too.

For instance, at Tj=80C, a red is only producing 60% of the light it would produce if the junction were at 25C. A white, on the other hand, will still produce 80% of the light as at 25C.

The Vf of a red will also increase faster than a white. I tested a red-orange at 600mA, and its Vf went up to 4V.

So, let's assume you want to run it at 600mA. Let's also assume you have a perfect heat sink to the star board (20C/W J-A thermal resistance), with an ambient of 25C

At 1W (350mA), Tj=25C, you would produce 44 lumens. However, your Tj would be 45C (25C + 20C thermal resistance), so (looking at the derating graph) you would be putting out 0.8 * 44 = 35 lumens.

Now, let's run it at 600mA. Your Vf will probably be 3.8V. Your junction temp will be 2.28*20 + 25 = 70C. Let's assume that at 600mA, you're putting out 1.3 times the light. So at Tj=25C, output would be 57 lumens. But, if we factor in a Tj of 70+25=95C. At 95C, output is reduced to 50%, so an output of about 29 lumens. By overdriving, you're actually reducing the light output.
 

flash....

Enlightened
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Messages
366
Location
Winter Springs FL
Holy cow!
Ask, and ye shaw recieve /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So... translation would be, slightly overdrive and keep it really cool with lots of heatsink. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks Evan! understood.
 

evan9162

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Boise, ID
One of these days, I'll make a chart of expected light output vs. current for whites and reds. Can't tonight, the fiance's over /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 

Lux Luthor

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Connecticut
[ QUOTE ]
evan9162 said:
One of these days, I'll make a chart of expected light output vs. current for whites and reds. Can't tonight, the fiance's over /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like the perfect opportunity to give her a lecture on dynamic resistance. Although you run the risk of having the wedding called off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I haven't overdriven reds, but I've overdriven ambers. They don't get much brighter. They just get ouchy hot, and the color shifts to orange a bit. Not a pretty sight.
 
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