Match's Mods: Homemade Integrating Sphere

[quote=Flashlight Foy]

Is it important that no outside light (other than from the light being tested) enter the sphere? What if I get the baffle size wrong, is that a big deal?

[/quote]

Yes, the only light entering the sphere should be from the torch being tested, which is why I used stiff white cardstock with tight fitting hole that matches the head to cover the the sphere entrance.

Baffle size was trial and error for me. What I did was use a torch shining into the input port of the sphere and tried various sized baffles until I found the smallest one that would cast a perfect shadow over the luxmeter sensor. Then I confirmed it by using other torches with various beam patterns. I made good use of a FTT here.

Hey, nice work! If you can still open that up, take a look at

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?312940-Improving-the-DIY-integrating-sphere

A very good coating, for just 6 bucks apparently. Problem is you have to paint first, then dust powder on.

awesomethanksFoy

Need to make one of these from a nice globe

Did you say ...6000 lumens ?? diggety ...

> You forgot one more reason .. to impress your BLF buddies ... Very cool

You are a good Dad ...Now go out there and give that lil girl a set of new streamers for her bike and 2000lumen bike light that will make the neighbor kids cry .

WOW .

Simply outstanding job as usual , Match .

Very nice work as usual.

That's awesome Match!

Now I just have to convince my self that I need a luxmeter more than I need an other torch :P

Nice tutorial! Superb approach with the ball and newspaper. I'm still fiddling with fish transport stryofoam boxes... that reeks... :/

Trying to get one just like this one. :)

Match

Barium Meals.. mmmm... Wonder if I can get the stuff from radiology departments?

THats one HAWT sphere! seriously, I love it ! I should make one and calibrate it against a 120P before I emitter mod it.

Great work as usual !

I thought about a plastic ball but the papier mache solution is way better.

Measuring things is the only way to develop this stuff otherwise wrong conclusions are commons. Many people think that the difference between say, 250L and 300L is huge but actually is barely noticeable even side by side.

Brilliant idea match! That took more than a little creativity and artistic resources to produce. I'm seriously impressed how well it turned out. Your typical style transformation of common-->exquisite. Thanks for the clear write-up!

Frontpage'd and Sticky'd, I re-added one of your pics for the teaser pic, hope you don't mind. :)

It seems that your experiences with working with paper mache as a child were put to great use! Thanks for sharing! Is the size of the sphere going to be sufficient in preventing your light meter from maxing out with higher powered LED's (XM-L - SST90)?

Seems so since he already got a lumen reading of 5000+ form his fireball wand. A good driven SST90 does not make half of those lumens ideally.

Nice easy to follow write up. Great Job! Is there any differences to using a bigger sphere like an exercise ball(more distance between light and meter). different readings?

Essentially the maximum reading of the meter will "go farther" in a larger sphere. The bigger the sphere, the higher the lumens you can measure.

Very well done, match!
You might want to study this article that I mensioned in my own IS review.

What I mean is that if the sensor can "see" the "first strike" (that is the hot spot on the wall opposite the light input) then you will get problems measuring a "thrower" light against a "flooder". If you still have the plastic dome on the luxmeter then it will be sensitive to that "first strike" and the thrower light will give a number that is too high.
The remedy is to make the sensor less sensitive to "sideways" light by removing the dome and/or make a baffle hide the hotspot.

Keep up the good work

Love it! I'm going to call it "my tape" from now on....

If it moves and it shouldn't use duct tape on it.

If it doesn't move and it should, spray WD40 on it!

I've actually seen a guy trying to fix a puncture on a motorcycle tyre with duct tape. It wasn't a good idea......

But do you know why the stuff is like the Force?

Thanks for the nice comments guys. I was worried my "art class meets BLF" may have been too far off the mark !