Having seen the pics, and the scorched earth, why not make a smaller lightweight double ?
We already have the landing light on offer from the other LED developer . Why not go down a slightly different route. I think many riders like having a bar mount and a lid mount, you get redundancy if one fails, you can see where you look , as opposed to where you bars are pointing . This will help to spot the axeman in the treeline quicker .
Then you could run 600 lumen 's from the bars and 600 lumens from your helmet. 1200 lumen is enough , you get exteneded run times, less heat produced , and therefore less heat to loose, less weight, less cost (4 LED units , not 6 and less Ah's rqd)
I appreciate that you have not intended to sell to the mass market, but ifthe market is there for a sexy D cell sized light , then why not make a few ££ , pays for holidays .
HAving typed all that, then why not use 2 x MTE p7's , although they are a little large and weighty , 2 P7 without teh internal battery and proper mounts , and without having to scroll throughthe flash flash modes would be a superb set up.
Bike Forum
Bike light......XP-Gs arrived today...
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Posted 2 years ago #
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STM.
Thats an interesting post. Thanks.
I am an Engineer by profession, I did approach Chris with an offer to work with him. I had already given him some useful advice, some of which he used to produce the Trout light, as it is today. So in some small way, the Trout light people are buying from Chris at the moment, has some of my input in it.
Anyway, Chris wanted to continue working on his own and that was fair enough. Although there seems to be one or two more bods helping him now.Anyway, I still felt I had something to give, so I have worked to produce a bar light, as I feel it offers something that one does not get from the Trout light.
Myself and the people I am building this for, wanted something different to the Trout light.So here I am with a bar light that I believe to be postively different to the Trout light, a light that I think ticks alot of the correct boxes. Quick release, excellent connector tech, battery status light, waterproof (yet to be tested), stored easily and neatly in your pocket or backpack, no awkward clamps or cables dangling from the light and adjustable for both pitch and yaw.
If money and resource were no object, then the light would be even better, but I have to keep my feet, and the budget, on the ground
The final design does look better than this light and it has potential.
Perhaps we need an agreement on new camera settings for night pics of these LEDs.
As I sit here, I am progressing my design of my all-in-one light, on the CAD. The AI1. It should be both bar or helmet mount.
Thanks for your thoughts on the subject.
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi, saw your light in the car park at brandon when you returned from a ride thursday night, it was very impressive and i have now been inspired into looking into making my own design. I have a toolmaking / manufacturing background so, making the caseing and soldering operations are simple.......but I am lacking in knowledge of what electronics are required to drive LED's. Could you give me any advice as to what electronics I would require to power 4 of the XPG led's please? Hopefully I will see you again at Brandon so we can chat more about lighting.
Posted 2 years ago # -
RJ.
Hi. Welcome, and thanks for joining "the fray" here on STW. Good luck
Good to meet you and the rest of your party , the other night.
Theres loads of info around on homemade lights, but if you wish to mail me, then perhaps I can help you.
Cheers.
In the meanwhile, I have received a quote for a larger run of machined housings and I could make more of the new version available, should enough interest materialize.
This light has features such as connector tech from the Aerospace and Marine sector, the lens is supplied from a world leading company specializing is display plastics and plastic treatments. The lens has an optical efficency into the 90s%.
The design of this light is compact, quick release, with no awkward bar-clamps or cables dangling from it.
It is adjustable for both up-down AND Left-Right positioning and doesn't clutter the stem area, which is useful if you run something like a Garmin Edge on the stem, as I do.
RJ.
You are the first person here, on STW, to actually see this light. L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Luminous - Member
TJ.
Yeah, I don't suppose we'll ever gain a consensus on what is sufficient to ride with. But its interesting making lights
Yup - I have 7 diffent led lamps I have made. From long run time 150 l ones to 900 l ones.
Posted 2 years ago # -
How much would you sell a complete light battery set-up for?
Posted 2 years ago # -
TJ.
Hey, hi. Yes, I have amassed a collection of old school HB lights too. I'll never sell them and they are all still upto the job. Cool
In fact, some of them may become "loaners". One of my group, the other night, was out with his new DX magicshine. But it failed 5 mins into the ride, so I'm going to lend him one of my triple XR-E Q5s at 675 lumens, until he gets his Magicshine back.
WD.
Thanks for your post, however, thats a loaded Question...
Judging by whats occured elsewhere on this forum, it may be better if you mail me.
Ta
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
H-mmm, sorry!!!!!!!
YGM
Posted 2 years ago # -
hello Lumnous
i have sent you an email for more details about youre light, is it waterproof especially saltwater proof?
ta
neilPosted 2 years ago # -
Are you able to give any more details on the optics? Wondering whether to go for an XP-G with my next build, but no good if I can't get an optic which works well with lots of throw (still really like the original Cree XR-E optic which I'm currently using). Given the lower surface brightness of the XP-G there is the worry that I might actually get less throw, but more spill, which wouldn't actually be that useful given I already feel I have plenty of spill.
Posted 2 years ago # -
BB.
Hi
AR.
Yes, you aren't the first person I've come across who has felt that the current XP-G LED and optic combo could do with a little more "throw".
Perhaps a few of us need to drop a line to Carlco asking for a 10 or even an 8 degree optic.But, with 6 LEDs, I get what I feel is a good pattern for ST. I think it helps that I "bunch" my LEDs into 2 rows of three
and it wouldn't be impossible to shoe-horn an extra LED into the head space available.
But my "Super-7" light needs more work and I'm busy finishing the 6 LED light.
Personally I do like a good spot pattern for cycling ST and like you I have been pleased with my results using the star based XR-E.
Must be two years and more now since they came onto the homebrew scene.
And we thought that they were hot at 230 lumens per star !
In fact, Tuesday night I went on a 3 hour ride to gain a few figures for runs times with my 6 x XP-G light and I took along my Triple XR-E at 675 lumens, as back-up for when the battery ran out on the XP-G light.
While I was drifting along the dark country back roads I switched the triple on and was pleasantly surprized to find that actually, the triple provided a tighter spot at a greater distance.
But this was at the expense of much less spill.So depending on your preferance, you may find that the current optics for the XP-G may not give the ultra spot pattern you might desire.
For all round light performance the XP-G light still has the edge, but my 675 lumen triple was a nice surprize.
I have plans to run tests on all types of stuff, but its getting the time.
I can only do so much in a day and the other XP-Gs (R5s) I've ordered still haven't arrived....
But then again, the first batch of drivers have all been bought so I'm having to wait in line for my little order to be filled
I still hope to have my light on my bars in November though
If I get time I may post a few pics of my triple XR-E, just for old-times-sake.
Thanks.
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yes, you aren't the first person I've come across who has felt that the current XP-G LED and optic combo could do with a little more "throw".
Perhaps a few of us need to drop a line to Carlco asking for a 10 or even an 8 degree optic.
The trouble is, because of the difference in the physical proprties of the XP-G, it's not necessarily as easy to focus all the light to a spot with an optic as it is for an XR-E. I suspect Carlco (or whoever) will be busy trying to make as tight a spot as they can anyway, and if they've not got it as tight as an XR-E already, it may be that it's simply not possible. The suggestion seems to be though that for a good spot with this LED the way forward may be a reflector.In fact, Tuesday night I went on a 3 hour ride to gain a few figures for runs times with my 6 x XP-G light and I took along my Triple XR-E at 675 lumens, as back-up for when the battery ran out on the XP-G light.
While I was drifting along the dark country back roads I switched the triple on and was pleasantly surprized to find that actually, the triple provided a tighter spot at a greater distance.
But this was at the expense of much less spill.
Thanks for that - tends to suggest it's not worth me switching to the XP-G, given I reckon I have plenty of spill already. Then again I suppose it may just be I don't have as tight a spot with the optic I'm using as I think I do!Posted 2 years ago # -
AR.
I think that if the will is there, then a narrower optic for the XP-G may be made available.
But bare in mind that the XP-G is a very bright and very useable LED which provides some good features such as small physical size and "foot-print".
When I finish my light, me and my mates will all be using the XP-G LED light.
All I can tell you is that I'm using the Carlco optics from cutter. And for personal preferrence, I'm using 6 "narrow" optics in my light.
Its a bit like the "how much light do you need to ride with" debate.
Flood Vs Spill is just another area where I dont think you will ever find a clear consensus between all riders/users.
I prefer a narrow, spot type beam pattern when on the ST. But if you read the light review article in WMTB recently, then you might have noticed they were considering spill from the lights, as a way for some riders to gain an idea of speed.
Horse for Courses mate !
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
But bare in mind that the XP-G is a very bright and very useable LED which provides some good features such as small physical size and "foot-print".
Is being small really a significant advantage for these for our use? I mean the optics are what constrains the size of your housing, and most of us are busy putting them on star bases anyway!Posted 2 years ago # -
Interesting stuff as always - could you guys give me a quick league table on who make the most efficient LEDs? I looked into this last year and I think the XR-E was the best, but those darn boffins keep outdoing themselves
Posted 2 years ago # -
Luminous
Do you know if the light unit works with Lumicycle Li-ion supplied battery packs? I'm not entirely sure, but I think their batteries leads are reversed or reverse polarity or something of that nature. I might be completely confused however. They are also over volted I believe.Posted 2 years ago # -
so how does this xp-g compare to the P7?
Posted 2 years ago # -
AR.
In the end I don't think theres any good or bad, but just what works for some. If you're getting what you need from XR-Es then thats good.
I am a fan of the XR-E.
ooOOoo.
I haven't had time to look into it on a comparison basis.
As above, the XR-E is still a good LED, IMO, and if you sort a good optic, then you really can get what seems to be every last lumen off the chip and into the trail.B.A.nana.
I haven't encountered any Lumicycle stuff for investigation, but IIRC I think I've seen some stuff on hear about them being reverse Polarity.I tend to defer Battery Qs to our resident Battery Guru, Smudge.
Us lot on here are lucky to have him.
Search on here and you'll find him. You couldn't ask to deal with a better chap !.
Ta.
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
SS92.
I think Trout has done some comparison work, as I think he was experimenting with the MCE before he discovered and brought us all the XP-E.
Another homebrew good guy, so I'm sure he'll lend his opinion, when he has a minute.
Try CPF also, he has posted some of his work there and you might find some pics too. CPF is a good place for more MCE info.
Cheers.
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yep Lumi stuff is arse about face polarity wise .
P7 4 dies on one board = 900 lumens
xpg R5 0ne die = 351 lumens
XRE R2 one die = 300 lumens some players tell you Posted 2 years ago # -
Trout.
Thanks for that.
I'm busy and I don't have anything to build-up yet, so goodness only knows how busy you must be, especially with that handy camera work of yours
I've only just noticed the bar that you mounted your 3 in a row on.
What is that stuff ?.Cheers
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cheers L no not busy now as no drivers from George yet.
the Bar is some acrylic I got last year to have a go at machining some optics from but the results were not good , but it did give me a greater understanding of how they work ,
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yeah, where are all the drivers ?.
G told me that the first 60 were already spoken-for.
Naturally, after the take up of your lights, I had assumed that you had them. But you're saying you've only had a few.
So now I'm wondering where that first 60 have gone.
Anyway, doesn't matter. Hopefully.....drivers should be avaiable for order next week. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Ta
L.
EDIT: Ooo. Thats just showin off now (just seen your front view pic)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Just thought I'd give a pre-view of how the ALL-IN-ONE is coming on.
Here is a screen-shot of the CAD
Cheers
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
is it going to be folded?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Wors.
No, CNC'd
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
£££££££
Posted 2 years ago # -
Wors.
Not essentially. Its the bought components that cost, when making lights these days.
Do you have a manufacturing backround ?.
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'll have mine SLSed in titanium please
Posted 2 years ago # -
Do you have a manufacturing backround
aye.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Well, this wouldn't be the 1st light housing to be CNC'd to create a cavity for the internals, but I thought I'd give my effort a bit of shape.
Ta.
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
not knocking it, looks good. Just saying that to machine out the shape you want would take longer than a rectangular or cylindrical housing.
Sheet metal would look good though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Can't really get a sense of scale in that pic - how many leds and roughly how long is it?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yeah, bending is an option, but then there is the consideration of jigs and fixtures, surface condition, additional post-bending ops, etc. And all you get is a shell.
CNC, while having its draw backs, in this case provides some useful advantages.
As you will know, theres always more than one way to make something and sometimes the "apparent" cost can be deceptive/distracting.
L.
Posted 2 years ago # -
ooOOoo.
Yes, that is a disadvantage of CAD, in some cases.
Currently designed to carry 3 LEDs and some 18650 cells.
Obviously, lights that carry batteries within the housing will have to deal with the extra physical size. But if people want an all-in-one, then these are the limitations we face.
Unless you are a large manuf and you can get some battery supplier to construct a paricular shape and size battery just for your product.
L.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
