Heat sinks arrived today. I bought these from Speedy Metals.
They measure 1.316-1.317" OD and a typical Maglite ID is from 1.340-1.344", so I will need anywhere from .010-.012" shim/sleeve, to make it tight in the tube.
They are 1-5/16" aluminum rod stock. It's as close as I am going to get for a Maglite heat sink, unless I have some machined. I will tell you why I do not have some machined. These are about $2.00 each, shipping included. I can live with having to sleeve them with 0.010" copper or aluminum sheet, to make them work. It's close enough for me and it works for the budget. That's what it's all about here isn't it? Trying to make something that works, with what you can afford. Even if it is just a shelf queen.
This week-end, hopefully, I will get to work on finishing this build up.
I would say that I’m surprised the couple of extra chips would do so much to overheat. I haven’t experienced that yet, but there’s always a first time. The drivers will have a heatsink, but I wasn’t planning on a heatsink sandwich. I guess I will find out fairly quickly. Thanks for the heads up.
I also plan to include 3 dummy AA NiMHs, just in case I need to do the pack as 3S/3P, instead of 4S/3P.
Very interesting idea regarding the LED on copper: reminds me of a Led Lenser H7 knockoff I pulled apart a couple of days ago, the leads were wired on the bottom (XR-E) and the center of the LED was pressed (no solder) onto a central plateau.
If you could find a way to electrically isolate 3 pieces of copper while still allowing them to shed heat-easily you could potentially have a quick and easy way of making direct copper bonded LEDs… something like this would work well for isolation and heat transfer: http://www.e6cvd.com/cvd/page.jsp?pageid=309&prod=16 might get a pit expensive though
Are there any real benefits to in increasing heat conductivity to the cathode and anode of the LED?
Its looking really promising. You will be in trouble when the people who were talking about the bright light find out who it is. Looking forward to your night shots.
ha, loved the comment about the neighbours commenting about the light - can’t get a better complement than that! Some of my neighbours told me they thought aliens had landed in my garden one night when I was doing beamshots. They seemed disappointed when I told them it was just some of my lights
Depends on the led as far as electrically isolating. The crees and the SST don't have to be isolated, at least on the center strip that the die is on. That's where the majority of the heat comes from. I think I remember that the SSC leds had to be isolated on the die plate. As far as the +/-lead strips, I don't worry about heat dissipation from them. Maybe I should, but I don't think it's needed.
There are a few cree XML leds out there, on a copper star, but not too many.
LOL! I love that last bit about shining it on the garage door! I once did something similar with a SST-50 in a homemade reflector driven at 7 amps.
My house is painted with chalk - I think you call that whitewashed in the states - and I just walked 10 meters from the wall and pointed the light directly at the wall, think 90° directly, and turned that thing on! I nearly dropped the thing. Ha ha. Still makes me laugh when i think about it!
Anyway I just wanted to say that so far it sounds really impressive. I've never had me one of those SST-90's to work with so I've no idea about how nice they are. But I sure do look forward to some beamshots.
never mind the amazing searchlight beam that will scare doggers for miles around, I’m just trying to figure out what’s reflected in that aspheric. Looks like a clock next to a balloon on the ceiling. I’m very intrigued!
