Yes, but even with a wide beam, it only means a larger hotspot (to the detriment of spill), not a brighter one, similar to xp-e vs xr-e. It does, however, change the distance to the image of die.
I was already assuming optimal focus for the remarks about hotspot/size. I said that he got the measurements he did because it wasn't focused as well for the domed measurement as the de-domed one.
The other possibility is given the measurement are made at non-infinite distance, one is focused to the meter better to provide the larger number.
LOL! I just read it again and still believe the dedomed (say that 3 times fast) was stable at 3A but got killed at 4A. Yeah I know... it needs much more testing on the bench, and over a much longer duration. For the price of XM-L's, a few shortened hours of life wouldnt matter much to me. Besides, im beginning to love my soldering iron! I have a MRV that I popped the dome off of (XR-E) and it has lived many hours of continuous use at 1.6A. Maybe its the luck of the draw, and also how well sinked the emitter is. Either way, this new emitter seems to be putting some of the anticipation back into our hopeless sick disease.
For the price of XM-L's, a few shortened hours of life wouldnt matter much to me.
I think the more immediate risk to de-doming is that the gelatenous stuff that's the under dome becomes unprotected and also host to the phosphor. I de-domed a cree and even after immediately putting it back on, it wasn't quite the same as before.
Like you, I removed my dome by accident and tried to stick it back on. The beam was so ugly that I just removed it completely. I took a toothpick to the gelatinous stuff and it was easily removed.
What kind of beam pattern is that? Just a big hotspot with no spill? Or all spill with no hotspot? Or just a bad picture? I'm not sure what you get with a flat-bottomed reflector like that and a big LED like this.
Bad picture. It's the same type of reflector as any other. The flat base does nothing. The hotspot will be small because the apparent area is large, if the emitter is well focused.
Know the problem. A DX order on October 11th left HK on 2nd December and will now be in a PO truck somewhere here. But an order from Australia arrived in under a week.
To all of you much more experienced: I do not want a new flashlight now, but will probably buy one in the not so distant future. Will the price go down in the next 6 months?
Also, is there any hope for a well driven XML 14500? Or the 14550 is simply not powerful enought?
with 14500 you will not have the full power of the XML. With 14500 you will have to use IMR cells... and the runtime will be poor.
However, a 14500 flahslight, with a driver limiting current at 2A with 14500 and XML is possible, More than 2A on an standard 14500 cell .... possible but not recommended
I will put a XML into my A20 [ 16340 ] , for a pocket rocket .. @ 2A ?? Hopefully 1.5A as it does 1.5 with the Q5 ATM , so if I can get 2A with my better 16340's .. It will rock for a EDC ..