"Throwiest" LED?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
26

If you are after the most throw check out the black flat LED. It is a domeless LED with 1mm x 1mm size (XPL HI is 2mm x 2mm). You can run it direct drive and it will have significantly more throw than the XPL HI. But be aware it has an unusual footprint; I think it doesn’t have a neutral thermal pad.

27

Realistically I see 3 options:

  1. Wait for a suitable boost driver and use XHP35 HI. It will provide the highest lumens, but will overheat shortly and need to step down. Once it cools down you can get output again. Such driver should become available sooner than X, but it is not yet, so you never know. Expect roughly $30 for LED+driver.
  2. Use XP-G2 with FET+linear or pure linear driver. It will produce less lumens. XP-G2 will probably have higher throw than XHP35, but not much. XP-L HI will be similar. Little to no overheating problems, but your output will slowly diminish as the battery discharges. Much cheaper than XHP35.
  3. Boost the stock driver, maybe replace the stock LED. We don’t know if it’s a feasible option.

Do note that if you want XP-G2, buy it from
https://intl-outdoor.com/cree-xpg2-s4-2b-bare-led-p-885.html
and buy it NOW as this is the last known-good batch and may run-out any time.

And, BTW, why Cree?
You may be better off with Osram Oslon Black. VERY throwy, but few lumens. Somewhat harder to use than other emitters too. EDIT: I see I was not the first to suggest that. :slight_smile:

28

Thanks for the help, I'll probably go with your first option

29

Need more output though, might go with an XHP35 HI even though it isn't as throwy

30

All the answers given in the thread are assuming he is going to drive it at higher currents than spec.
The XP-L HI is still the best “factory dedomed” LED from cree, with XHP35 HI being second and giving more lumens.

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By the way, does anyone know what voltage the XP-L HI run off? I haven't been able to find anything on Mountain Electronics or Fasttech's websites.

32

3.xxV depending on the current.

33

Thanks. That means I can run it off a direct driver FET driver?

34

Thanks Agro. I had no idea anyone still had these for sale. Just ordered 5. :+1:

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I did not mean running stock.
It’s just that both XP-G2 and XP-L HI have Vf at their peaks exceeding 4.2 V and therefore for best performance need 2s input and a buck driver. Which happens sometimes, but nevertheless is a rare option.
XHP35 HI needs boost driver regardless of how hard it’s driven (or rare 4+s), but few drivers are capable of running it at the peak.

See XP-L HI 1A V2 LED Output test by Texas_Ace, Well, you have seen the HD, this is the HI. It is exactly what you expect. and XHP35 output and death test + PWM efficiency test by Texas_Ace

You can run it with FET to get about 90% peak performance. With a fully charged battery. At this point it will offer about the same cd as XHP35 HI driven to the max, but with less heat. And far less lumens.

36

Thanks

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Does anyone know an LED that can run off of 5v @ 2a? I want to use one on my racing drone but I can only use the onboard power distribution board unless I add some sort of onboard regulator.

38

I would figure that a very small dc dc boost or buck converter that can handle your LED’s wattage would do, they are very lightweight, easy to wire up.

39

Would you be able to give me a suggestion for one?

40

What is your RC’s battery pack voltage?

41

16.8v

42

This should do it.

43

Thanks SO much

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This or this will be significantly smaller and lighter than what steve500 suggested.

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You’re not wrong, it’d depending on the current draw of your LED you’re wanting to run, I didn’t want to suggest anything under-powered.