Texas_Ace BLF Calibrated Lumen tube / Sphere No math skills needed - Several spheres still available

Also be sure to clean all the contact surfaces in the driver area of the MT09/MT03 lights, I have been amazed how much this can effect output. I noticed my own MT09 had dropped almost 5k lumens and could not figure it out.

I cleaned it out real good, even removed the driver and cleaned both sides of the contact ring (be very careful if you do this) and boom, it was back to full power.

OMG, this advice is so useful. Today I was wondering why my TC20 immediately shuts off everything I click to turbo when using my Xtar protected 26650 cell. I cleaned all contact surfaces including battery with alcohol and it works perfectly again. I also tried very hard to figure out why my Emisar D4 was measuring like 25% lower lumens than before even after swapping many different batteries. I then cleaned all contact surfaces and the lumens is now just 10% less than before but batteries is probably not fully charged.

If PayPal did not send a Tracking Number, can it just be assumed it is a glitch in the system or the system is running behind/not updated??

Just curious… Nothing more. :wink:

I agree… it’s good practice to clean the contact surfaces. I even clean the threads with alcohol and grease it…

It depends on a few factors. The ones I shipped using the built in paypal shipping system should automatically get a tracking number.

The ones I did manually (those sent as gifts or the ones that went UPS) I am not so sure about. I assumed they would send an email to the address I put into the information but I am not sure if they actually do.

It is kind of hard to look up the manual shipments.

If anyone does not have their sphere by Tuesday, please let me know and I will track it down.

I still have about 8 available here so if I missed one I can still ship it.

No paypal tracking number, but usps says mine will be delivered tomorrow. :laughing:

I haven’t received any tracking number, but I’m not worried about it.

Thanks TA, sounds good. I was just curious. I don’t need one, like I said.

I’ll probably have mine tomorrow or Saturday either way. :wink:

The Texas Ace U-tube has arrived! :slight_smile:

Great! I figured they would start showing up today.

Congratulations… mine will arrive on the tuesday… can you post some photos?

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So to use the Tube Sphere we just set the meter to Lux / 2000 / Auto?

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Is accuracy affected since the bezel of the light sets on top of a cutout (that could be smaller than the reflector), as opposed to setting directly on glass?

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And what about a light like this: (kind of a square-ish shape)
(77mm at its widest point)

Yes, just set the meter to auto, it should have the correct settings every time you turn it off and back on. Also note that these meters do not have an auto-shut off timer, so make sure you turn them off after using them.

The lights should be held flush with the centering rings, you will see after a little use how the numbers change if you insert them too far or not far enough.

The better the seal on the light the better the readings. If you are testing a lot of lights that need a specific size ring, I recommend making one out of cardboard and coating it in aluminum tape like the ones I have.

A light like that is an edge case and will indeed read low but this effects any sphere. Even an ANSI sphere would have issues with that.

Sorry I guess I don’t understand these terms in reference to how to set the light:

“held flush / insert too far or not far enough / better seal”

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In this photo it looks like the light is setting on top of the centering ring:

It that correct or is the head of the light suppose to drop down through the hole in the ring?

By “held flush” do you mean we need to hold it just through the hole and even with the plate?

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In the old thread about making these tubes they were setting the light directly on a glass and using foam with a cutout around the head of the light.
But on this tube we need to be holding the light down through / even with the cutout? Sorry I’m so confused!

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Also you mentioned making our own cardboard rings with foil tape if needed…
That made me wonder if the included centering rings already have reflective tape on the inside like this, or isn’t that needed?

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For the “edge case” light I asked about would it be best to make a special “square-ish” or custom fit ring out of cardboard and foil tape?

From Texas to the burbs of Portland Oregon, received today. I didn't get a shipping notice, but discovered that if I looked at the details of recent PayPal payments, there was in fact a tracking number.

A monetary tip sent to Texas Ace via PayPal.

Will try measuring some Zebralights later and play over the weekend.

Wow. USPS is fast…

You are correct, the other tubes you are thinking of use a different design and do not apply to this design. If you stick the light back the centering ring too far you will see the lumens drop as the body of the light will absorb light.

You you will simply hold it roughly flush with the centering ring, move it up and down until you get the best reading.

It is really pretty simple once you try it, move the light up and down until the numbers are best. It is pretty intuitive once you try it.

Yes, (as you can see above) the rings it comes with have reflective foil already installed. That took for stinking ever even though it looks simple!

For that edge case light, a custom ring with 4 cutouts would be the only real way to get good numbers.

Very nice! It is kind of strange seeing pictures like that of someone I was making a few days ago lol.

You can twist the “input” end up 90 degrees so that it will free-stand and make it easier to take readings.

I hope those poor photons are not claustrophobic… :smiley:

Made a correction in my original post about tracking.

If any of you didn't get a tracking number from PayPal (automatically), check the transaction details in your PayPal account. That's where I found the tracking number today. Had I known it was there, I could have tracked it all the way.