The datasheet shows the Vf at 25C, where not even at 3A you will have 25C
Some CPF testing showed 3.75V at 7A for SST-90
In being honest with myself do I have to admit I’m less efficient at 51 than I was at 21?
Is the Nichia 219 with it’s High CRI 92 rating an efficient emitter?
Is chocolate actually “good” for you?
Sex is an efficient exercise for young people, dangerous when we get old. 
Not always about efficiency my good man, nor is it always about anything other than “want”.
Is it “efficient” to chop up someone else’s designs rather than create your own? Money and time spent on money and time. I was always taught that’s highly inefficient. No double work, said the foreman. Work smart, not hard, said the CEO. (Then he cracked the whip to get more for less)
I don’t have 50+ lights because I need them, highly inefficient of me I know, but each has something about it that I like, all inferior in some way to the others while besting them in some other way. And such is the nature of the beast. The addiction.
Edit: Now see, you’ve ruined it for me! After this one, I’m quitting.
If someone really wants to go nuts and buy 50 of the CBT 90 version:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LUMINUS-PHLATLIGHT-CBT-90-W65S-C11-GQ101-6500K-WHITE-LED-LIGHT-PACK-OF-50-/141242662203?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e2b7fd3b
I havent checked the BIN flux efficiency, but with a best buy offer they could probably be had for $6-7 ea. Group buy? :bigsmile:
Interesting thought, can it be reflowed off of that board or is it stuck? Those boards are a giant pain to work with.
I’m pretty sure it’s stuck, unfortunately.
Got my SST-90’s a few minutes ago. Wasted zero time re-flowing one to an Noctigon MT-G2 star. And then putting it in my Bucket modified Convoy C8 with it’s 8 ounce copper heat sink/pill that has the exposed fins, like the M8 in my Avatar.
I’ve got an early FET driver in this light, modified Qlite. And I’m using a Samsung 20R for my tests and initial lumens run. This is a well rested cell that’s now sitting at 4.08V. Ok? Sit down for this one folks, new record for single cell amperage!
15.48A at the tail!!! 1625 lumens in the lightbox, at start-up on this cell that needs a charge!! Holy Smokes!
Edit: On a fresh off the charger Efest 35A cell, it draws 16.01A and makes 1635.3 at start, 1559.4 at 30 seconds. 
wow!
that is a number!
Holy cow. That's wildly inefficient though...you sure about that lumens reading?
I used a smooth C8 reflector and bored out the emitter opening. The beam profile isn’t pretty. Not the worst I’ve had but certainly not the best either. Could be that the smallish reflector is not focusing the light properly for the lightbox to show efficient numbers.
The SST-90 easily mounts to a 20mm Noctigon intended for the Cree MT-G2. I used a solder paste mask, dropped the SST-90 right on top, and it self centered when the solder melted. Works fine. Maybe inefficient as all get out but it works fine.
With the original 35A still in, I ran a series and got this information…
Moon is .86 lumens
Low is 17 lumens
Medium is 149 lumens
High is 794 lumens
And Turbo at start is 1673 after this run showing the lower levels, and at start.
at 30 sec it had dropped to 1491
at 60 sec showing 1456
at 90 sec showing 1442
and at 120 sec 1404.
At this point the copper finned pill is HOT! Don’t have a reading on it as I’m not sure how to set my IR gun for dull copper. 119º at the black head just above the copper but the copper is considerably hotter, in the 130º range according to my hand. 
Do I like it? YES!
I like the look of the Luminus big dies, especially the SBT series with no dome and their flat glass lens. I have no idea why the SBT series are so ridiculously expensive but may end up with one someday just because I like em. Might even put one in my upcoming micro chopped AA mini mag, just because.
And they’re made in USA!
Maybe try it in a DST?
Here’s my little SST-90
If your interested I have a micro K-type thermocouple you can have. I’ll send it to you for free (with a DMM adapter) if your DMM is capable of reading them. If you’d like it PM me, I can drop it in the mail tomorrow.
Not sure if my DMM can use it or not. Never used one before. My Velleman DMM has an hFE slot, with an 8 pin NPN PNP plug, also says ECBE above it…is that the place? Other than that it’s just got the standard settings on it. It’s a Velleman DVM850BL
Ah, nevermind. Just learned that’s for testing transistors.
These are what I have, I don’t think either will work with the temp thermocouple. Thanks anyway, nice offer.
Five of my Lambda mods are Luminous 90s. (The 2 silver ones on the left, the 2 right-most turbo mods, and the camo turbo mod in the center. The camo has SBT90, MB flux bin 1485-1590 lm@9.0A. Currently I see Digikey has the NB flux bin SBTs available (1710-1830 lumens at 9A) digikey. Even with the big SBT90 LED it still measured 302K lux @ 15-16A.
I put an Orange Peel reflector in it and the beam is now very nice. Tint looks very much like an MT-G2 as does the profile. Now making some 1760 lumens from a 20R. On this reflector, I opened it up very wide so that it almost goes around the “X” pattern of the SST-90, it lets that pattern show that it’s a Luminus emitter and it takes away almost all of the flat that surrounds the opening. Very nice now, loving it!
Have you got any beam shots DBCstm? I would be interested to see
charlestt - the heatsink in your photo looks like it doesn’t touch the host??
The sst I showed earlier is one of my fav’s, even with the ugly green tint. I took it camping once and all (3 families) went for a night walk along the creek. We saw fish that weren’t visible at day, bats and a few other things we hadn’t noticed in daytime. The creek was excellent for cooling the light when it got uncomfortable to hold. It’s a keeper.
Amazing results Dale! That's going to be a lot of fun with multiple emitters. Expensive though.