Fellows lamps forum.· Page 13 · AditNow Community

sinker
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Newbie

10 years ago

#241

Does the new "RedBand" pack work with the EcoStar? :flowers:

Yma O Hyd....

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#242

"sinker" wrote:
Does the new "RedBand" pack work with the EcoStar? :flowers:

Eco is a low voltage lamp and I will be testing a low voltage pack later this week, I cant see any issues.
Answer to your question is yes, most definitely. I would expect standard mode to sustain output for about 20 hours before diminishing into the 'slow death' routine. As I said, testing will be a soul destroying job.

Mmm, 200 lumens for 20 hours from a matchbox size battery, what's he been drinking?
:lol:

My avatar is a poor likeness.

sinker
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Newbie

10 years ago

#243

"royfellows" wrote:

Eco is a low voltage lamp and I will be testing a low voltage pack later this week, I cant see any issues.
Answer to your question is yes, most definitely.....

what's he been drinking?
:lol:

:thumbup: Ok Roy I'll give it a whirl. I'll e-mail you later.

Yma O Hyd....

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#244

Hi again
This is a very crude attempt at a graph showing discharge performance of the D1200 with the new power pack. I say crude as an accurate representation would require a constant monitoring and automated data feed. Also lumens are estimated as best as I can from Cree data sheet.

It was interesting to observe the current flow at the point where battery voltage falls to the forward voltage of the LEDs. There was a rise in the current in to a peak point and then a falling back. I should get a life.

You will have to double click the image to get a clear picture, sorry.

I will start on a low voltage pack shortly and upload results.

Four cell high voltage packs will be weeks away, so anyone purchasing a bat cooker will have to have existing tech, but I will probably discount a new pack when they become available.

🔗102096[linkphoto]102096[/linkphoto][/link]

My avatar is a poor likeness.

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#245

I have a low voltage red band pack on charge, soon be ready to put on test.

Anyway, I really would like to reminisce a bit.

My original lamp thread is still on here, started thus: My Oldham conversions 11/02/2009
Later in the year this was built:

🔗40867[linkphoto]40867[/linkphoto][/link]

Eventually developed into the UniStar and the first was sold to Peter Jackson. Its still going strong isn't it Peter?

Same year the first MagnumStar:

🔗40865[linkphoto]40865[/linkphoto][/link]

5 Cree Q5 XREs and I was the first person to put over 1000 lumens on someone's head, long before the Chinese Bike lamps and headtorches

From the original thread, September 2009:
"I tested the MagnumStar underground in 3 mines this weekend, a slate mine, Ystrad Einion, and Goginan 26 fathom level; the upper adit. (Please note that the last is currently padlocked as I have one of my digging ops on the go in there and it’s a bit dodgy at the working end)"

and its still locked and dig going on six years later!

First EcoStar was May 2010 and used XPGs, these came out before the XMLs.

First Trigon was June 2010 utilising 2 X XPGs and an alternative XRE.

For some time I was waffling on about my heatsinking utilising some mysterious thermodynamic effect, looking back this is not entirely BS. The effectiveness of the old MagnumStars heatsinking, considering the job it was doing compares with the 12V aluminium Lynx X6000. Although I have to say that the Lynx X3000 is sustainable under most underground conditions, now an all aluminium handlamp that I built driving 3 XMLs at full chat from a 12V supply heats up very fast, the old Maggie beats it on getting rid of the heat.

It the double heat track that makes the Lynx, no doubt about it.

Anyway, I like to go on a bit now and again, hope this provides some entertainment.

EDIT
Here's that handlamp

🔗97468[linkphoto]97468[/linkphoto][/link]

My avatar is a poor likeness.

ant89
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#246

Reading through your old thread, and you said on page six

"The only thing is, a lamp that is ultra light and no bigger than a matchbox, but outshines car headlamps, is an impossibility at the current state of technology."

How far off this are you now?

ttxela
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#247

"royfellows" wrote:

Same year the first MagnumStar:

🔗40865[linkphoto]40865[/linkphoto][/link]

5 Cree Q5 XREs and I was the first person to put over 1000 lumens on someone's head, long before the Chinese Bike lamps and headtorches

And mine is still going strong, hopefully in use this weekend :thumbup:

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#248

Thank you all for your kind support, I only do it because I'm interested in it.
Don't make a lot of money, but get a kick out of seeing people using my lamps.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#249

"ant89" wrote:
Reading through your old thread, and you said on page six

"The only thing is, a lamp that is ultra light and no bigger than a matchbox, but outshines car headlamps, is an impossibility at the current state of technology."

How far off this are you now?

I think that depends on where LED technology goes. There is only so much you can do with the lamp. The trend is towards lower forward voltages with more light and less heat. The old Q5 XRE was a fierce little heat producer.

The latest XPG, XML, XPL etc produces useful light at silly low currents, impossible to calculate from the data sheet cause its off the scale, but its there to be seen. Start connecting them up in arrays and you get a surprising amount of light at a few milliamps

My avatar is a poor likeness.

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#250

I have just completed testing a D800 on standard 200 lumens and got a remarkable 18 hours before any fall in output, its still burning now over 22 hours later.

I will be testing on full and medium next week and putting a graph up.

The Dragon D800 is same electronics as the Lynx X1000, basically 7135 linear chips controlled by an Atmel microcontroller. One of the 7135s is external to the controller as a failsafe, if the controller goes it will still output its 350 mA. Standard is 400 mA, Full is 1800 mA, the sum of the 7135s plus a bit the controller adds on.

Apart from that Iin is same as Iout which make it easy to monitor

A couple of other things, cause the higher voltage pack is serial it charges twice as fast as the low voltage, 2S against 2P dividing the input current, also the 'slow death' of the higher voltage serial pack seems slower then the other.
A bit of cross dressing methinks
:lol:

EDIT
I think I may have set a new record for burn times here!

My avatar is a poor likeness.

PeteJ
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Newbie

10 years ago

#251

Yes Roy! And the light colour is good for photos underground

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#252

Here is the discharge graph for the D800.

🔗102177[linkphoto]102177[/linkphoto][/link]

As can be seen the burn time on the standard mode is ridiculous, 18 hours at the full 200 lumens and then the slow death. Power settings not impressive with a rapid fall off.

D800 is the lamp for those who just want a sensible reliable lamp for use in company, plus advantage of a powerful flood for photos.
D1200 for those who want sustainable power settings, but now also has the reliability of the slow death rather than a sudden immediate loss of light when the battery goes.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#253

Just an update.

The good news: I have now fully depleted my old stocks of power packs so all power packs supplied with everything except X6000s including Oldham conversions are red band with the ridiculous long burn times.

X6000 belt packs are now Sanyo cells, fewer cells for virtually same burn times = lighter battery

The bad news: Stocks have run low, sorry.

Also, a lot of outdated info on the website, sorry again.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Vanoord
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Newbie

9 years ago

#254

"royfellows" wrote:

I think that depends on where LED technology goes. There is only so much you can do with the lamp. The trend is towards lower forward voltages with more light and less heat. The old Q5 XRE was a fierce little heat producer.

The latest XPG, XML, XPL etc produces useful light at silly low currents, impossible to calculate from the data sheet cause its off the scale, but its there to be seen. Start connecting them up in arrays and you get a surprising amount of light at a few milliamps

We seem to be on the brink of another leap in outputs - unless my eyes are deceiving me, 1,000 lumens from two AAs is about to be hit by Fenix. Impressive enough, but what can that sort of emitter manage with a couple of 18650s?

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#255

"Vanoord" wrote:

"royfellows" wrote:

I think that depends on where LED technology goes. There is only so much you can do with the lamp. The trend is towards lower forward voltages with more light and less heat. The old Q5 XRE was a fierce little heat producer.

The latest XPG, XML, XPL etc produces useful light at silly low currents, impossible to calculate from the data sheet cause its off the scale, but its there to be seen. Start connecting them up in arrays and you get a surprising amount of light at a few milliamps

We seem to be on the brink of another leap in outputs - unless my eyes are deceiving me, 1,000 lumens from two AAs is about to be hit by Fenix. Impressive enough, but what can that sort of emitter manage with a couple of 18650s?

Boost circuit
Works well with NiMH because they can be run dry. This is a no no with Li Ion.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#256

This is just a heads up to the customers I have on here.
I have just been advised that the "Contact Us" email address on the lighting website is the now defunct iriscom domain. It looked the right one but defaulted to the old, I am thinking the software may have something to do with it. Mmm.

This has now been corrected, apologies to anyone who has been after me off the website.

Its now [email protected]

Emails answered within the hour, unless its evening and I'm training somewhere.

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royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#257

I am announcing a new 'Flat pack' version of my 8V series 4 cell power pack. Its 7 Ah with same cells announced as 'red band' and is explosion proof, water proof, shock proof and caver proof same as old. Its flat profile should be a lot less obtrusive than the old, its also lighter at 300 grams.

I believe that I am the only lamp manufacturer currently offering power packs of this type, whereby they can just be unplugged and swapped underground with a spare. They can be changed under water if you want.

🔗103066[linkphoto]103066[/linkphoto][/link]

Bad new is the only one in stock is sold with a lamp, awaiting components at the moment.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

NewStuff
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Newbie

9 years ago

#258

"royfellows" wrote:
Boost circuit
Works well with NiMH because they can be run dry. This is a no no with Li Ion.

Well, you can if you're monitoring input voltage (under load). 3v per cell warning, 2.8v cut-off.

One day I will stop the feature creep, and put my driver into a lamp. As it is, I doubt the breadboard and associated rats nest will fit into an oldham 😞

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#259

"NewStuff" wrote:

"royfellows" wrote:
Boost circuit
Works well with NiMH because they can be run dry. This is a no no with Li Ion.

Well, you can if you're monitoring input voltage (under load). 3v per cell warning, 2.8v cut-off.

One day I will stop the feature creep, and put my driver into a lamp. As it is, I doubt the breadboard and associated rats nest will fit into an oldham :(

The "No no" bit referred to running dry.
My cut off and other figures are on the website, you can actually safely go a bit under 2.8V, refer to cell manufacturers data sheet.

No one seems to have the knack of being misunderstood as I do
:(

As an afterthought, in some circumstances (the older LEDs) you can dispense with electronic cell protection, LEDs going out before the over discharge limit, and a good dedicated charger will not overcharge.

BUT
If one tests the newer ones in the lab, although the LED is out just above the safe over discharge limit, a meter will indicate that there is actually still some current flowing with some LEDs although they are out.

Crees latest and best, the XP-L glows faintly at 2.4V. The current trend of lower forward voltages.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

royfellows
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#260

Thanks for this, I respect your honesty.
Oss!

I am about to announce my wham- bammy and am toying with the idea of sending you my own to try out for an honest appraisal, me pay you postage back. Its on my website already, but no photos as yet.

Its obvious where I am going to now, light and small.
The first Trigons were 1600 lumens and weighed about 350 grams, the later all aluminium ones brought weight down to about 280 grams with power up to 1750 lumens.

I think maybe I am about to set a new standard in lightness and power! Watch this space.
;D

Scurrion was the first to provide high quality LED lighting, but I was the first to put 1K on peoples heads.

EDIT
Mr S, don't forget you can carry spare helmet power packs for my lamps and change them underground or under water even. No messing with loose cells or opening battery cases.

My avatar is a poor likeness.