[Blakey]

Iv been making some LED lights for my Jimny.

but iv come down to a decision whether i should put in some reflectors or a collimator.

here are some pics of them.







my home made reflectors.




and here is the difference in light on the ceiling between one with the reflectors and one without.

With


Without


What do you think is the best to go with?

with them or without. or get a collimator

[Fatzook]

Depends what sort of range you want out of them.

[Blakey]

Fatzook wrote:

Depends what sort of range you want out of them.

well id rather longer range for when i do beach driving as that's about the only time ill be out at night and using them. I'm guessing reflected is better for a more spot beam, rather then the flood beam they are with out them.

[JrZook]

Why didn't you turn your ceiling light off in the second comparison?

[Blakey]

its on in both and didn't realize it was on at the time.

I'm gonna get some better shots of it tonight. so its easier to make a comparison.

[just_cruizin]

Honestly, save the tinfoil for your hat. I think you need it.

Your reflector is useless. The shape of the reflector won't be correct and foil does reflect the light in a manner that would be of benefit. The LED light bars have a very tight parabolic curve due to the very unidirectional nature of LEDs

[Blakey]

just_cruizin wrote:

Honestly, save the tinfoil for your hat. I think you need it.

Your reflector is useless. The shape of the reflector won't be correct and foil does reflect the light in a manner that would be of benefit. The LED light bars have a very tight parabolic curve due to the very unidirectional nature of LEDs

They where shaped off a proper reflector from a torch that is made specifically for LED's so the shape is correct.

and it would reflect light much the same as a non smooth proper reflector but not as efficiently.

plus i have proper ones coming in the mail with new glass optics as i was sent the wrong ones originally.

they where just test ones to see the difference

[Sandez]

What LEDs are you using?

I would strongly suggest using purpose built optics, considering proper ones are only 90% efficient, can't imagine what the foil would do to it. If you haven't got all ur LEDs yet and are building more lights, I would suggest getting the 3UP XML LEDs instead, since u can get purpose made optics to suit it properly, rather than having 4 single optics and trying to secure them properly. I've got 9.5° and 12.5° and find they have almost too much spread (would go 9.5° and somewhere around 5° if I did it again).

Since I have the same case, 4 LEDs might get a bit too hot too fast, I'm finding 3 is pushing it a bit (still needs active cooling (i.e. radiator fan, moving vehicle)). I hope you got a smooth glass lens for the front as well. I got the same convex (concave?) lens and found it didnt do anything beneficial to the light (due to the LED not being in the dead centre).

Have a look at my guide here to see what I have done

Also a tip when taking comparison photos, particularly if using a compact digital. Take a control shot of the area with the light on first. Then with the light still on, hold the camera button down half way, so that it picks up the same ISO settings and all, turn the light off and turn the spotlight on, then take the picture. That way the camera has the same settings for both shots and will give you a true comparison

[Blakey]

i have proper reflectors coming and flat glass optics coming as i bought the housings with the flat glass but they gave me the convex ones instead.

as with 4 LED's i get 4 bright spots from my convex lens.

as for better throw it would really benefit having a lens that centers all LED's then using the convex lens as it is far superior for throw then any reflector.

as for heat iv had them on for a bit about 20min, and they got reasonably hot but its more the drivers (considering they are running at approx 20W) that got hot and not the LED's from what i can tell. but after 20min they where hot to the touch but still holdable quite easily. and well below there max junction temp.

[Sandez]

How many are you planning on running? Where are you gonna mount them?

20W? Are you running 2 drivers? (2x2?) Are they mounted to the case?

I had mine running for about 40 mins before they started to flicker.

[Blakey]

Yer they are 2x2 in each and Iv only made 2 complete lights as a test if they work well I'm making 2 more.

So really my driver is running less then yours as your running 3 off of one driver.

Plus mine are running at around 2.7A through the leds. And i forgot to mention they are cree t6. I was gonna get U2's but the T6's where cheaper for only a fraction less lumens.

[DR_JOSH]

What drivers are you using? mind throwing up a link or something

And where did you buy all your other stuff? I have been looking into making something similar but could only really find buck puck drivers for my uses

[Sandez]

They look to be the same as these http://www.dealextreme.com/p/6-18v-3000ma-3-mode-circuit-board-for-xm-lt60-emitters-57779 (the pic is different to the current ones they sell, which look identical to Blakey's

You should be able to get them from different sites