What's your favorite emitter?

SBT 90.2 for big lights and Nichia 219b for small lights.

I was using those two datasets as reference. I didn’t realize TAs numbers were that much higher… I have tested multiple SST20s and my results line up with maukkas very well. I’m ordering some 219Bs from Simon and will test those in the future apples to apples.

Effective die size on the SST20 is 1.75mm² according to my spreadsheet. Natively it’s 2mm², but the bond wire pads block some. I have some sliced 219Bs in my stash I could measure later but I’m fairly certain it’s just under 2mm² from memory. Nothing recorded in my notes. I’m getting about 1.5mm * 1.5mm so 2.25mm²

Also, my thoughts on use of 219B is as follows. If per emitter current is below ~2A the majority of the time (aka triples quads etc) and especially if there is a buck or boost (for AA lights) driver then I’ll take it over SST20 all day. By the time you tint correct or pwm a FET on the SST20, efficacy is at or below a 219B.

SST20w is a throw king though and wins out in single emitter lights with anything larger than 1*14500

Yeah they got the same area here for the 219B : LED Package/ Die Sizes - WIP -

Personnaly I like sliced 90CRI LH351D, especially 3500K : virtually no angle tint shift, neutral tint/slightly under the BBL at low/high output, R9 close to 80, while keeping a higher efficiency than an SST-20.

Also B35AM 9080 : neutral/slightly rosy at low/high current, virtually no angle tint shift, very high CRI, higher power 3535 sized LED.

For the 219B I would prefer a sw40k or sw35k since I prefer warmer CCTs, still like the sw45k though.

Favorite emitter? That’s a tough one. Either the 219B or E17A. Currently it’s the quad E17As.

Sliced and diced XHP70.2 at 12volts, 8amps, 8500 lumens.

MT-G2 4000K was a good one for a long time —- I’m liking LH351D 3500k I bought from some one on BLF

One that works. Having anything else is rather pointless :stuck_out_tongue:

219B 4500K (sw45k) all day everyday. Most of my lights are of the EDC variety so it fits the bill.

Was SST40 6500K & LH351D 5000K. Now that I’m all grown-up,

It’s SFT40 for stompin around & 219b obsession!!

I’m sure in a year from now it’ll be different.

Oh man, this is a great thread question! I haven't been around long enough to know obscure awesome leds like many folks here, but I have a couple I really like, and I also have my first sw35 and sw30 219b's coming in on order from Simon, so I can't say either of those yet though I'm hoping the sw30 makes it to the top of the list, especially since I wasn't overly impressed with the sw45k from emisar (I just like warmer tints too much and it felt too cool was all really, the color was nice of course).

  • xpl-hi 5D (the rosy one from emisar 8 months ago when he did NOT have them in stock or as an option on his site but still had them in his store and sent me a KR4 with them and they are perfect - rosy, bright and awesome, thought a little more like 4200k).
  • xhp35 HI 4000k (like in my skilhunt from mbplitt and/or id30209 :), or my k1 from Noctigon- perfect)
  • osram CULPM1 (bright, throws very well, and nice tint for a throwing led)
  • sbt90.2 (just impressive in every way, including a decent tint)
  • sft40 (just, wow. And coming out in 5000k?! Awesome)
  • xpl-hi 2850k 8A (rosy, bright, nice tint and decent cri. It's a great all-arounder)

I have my first gt fc40 light coming in, so that is HIGHLY anticipated as well as the sw30 219b. I have a feeling one of or both of them may be on this list.

Naw, the TIP31. Twice the fun…

Oh yeh, the MT-G2. Creamy white goodness…

This one in my D4V1
XP G2 S4 3D 4885

yes, yes, and I need one of those sc600 HI ! Lol. Will ZL ever release them again?

I also always liked the old MT-G2. I think all of mine were 5000k. Great tint.

219b is a classic. My current favorite all around is LH351D 3500k or 4000k.

My favorite for power include SBT90.2 and W2 for power! Favorite host for each are the GT94vn and D4SV2.

For CRI the 219B Nichia sw35 and sw45k; and GT-FC40 A4 4500k. The host each are SC64c and D4v2; and the rainbow titanium E70 for the Getian.

Thanks. That’s encouraging to know. Maybe at some point down the road, we’ll have enough of this info culminated into a chart of some kind. Would be great to understand the relative characteristics of emitters across the gamut, their features and limitations.

Yay! LoL

@xevious
There are a few scattered places to find a lot of this info, but it’s not perfect. Different equipment and methods and sample to sample variation keep it from being a precise science. When I get to my pc, I’ll link a few databases that are helpful. But there is often legwork to get the comparison results you are looking for.

In my book, tint (absolute and homogeneity) and CRI (for me R9 and Rg) are most important in anything but a dedicated thrower. Unless output or throw differences exceed 20%, then lumens are a distant second in the calculus. Combine smaller differences with ramping UIs with no reference points and linear or pwm based drivers, lm/w can be next to meaningless in practicality. Unless you are caving, climbing, or S&R with limited resources once you set out, then many of the details us nerds like to stress about really have no discernable effect on casual use.

I am also a fan of the LH351D dogfat and dogfart emitters.

SPHWHTL3DA0GF4TPP6 (4000K)
SPHWHTL3DA0GF4RTR6 (5000K)

I went from a street lighted by sodium lamps ~1800k to the total darkness of the countryside
As soon I turn on my lh351d 2700k,I was surprised how harsh colder light was compared. First seconds seemed like 5000k and I wanted turn it off.
Maybe because I was adapted to the previous Pleasant orange light.
I prefer super warm/orange emitters but on high cri (still rare in common sizes) on night time for most situation