Tint, Binning, and CRI Explained (For XM-L LEDs)

Added a list of links to buy different XM-Ls based on tint.

Thanks for the link.

Mouser’s shipping is $20 for an $8 LED, so I think I’ll wait for FastTech to stock them. :slight_smile:

Thanks scaru for the effort. I understand simple.

Thanks scaru! I vote that this should be stickied…

Thank you scaru! Very well written. Nice reference and links!

Thank you

Thanks a lot for doing this Scaru, I like the way you put links to vendors of each of the tints available, I think this thread should be stickied

Thank you!

That’s what I don’t understand. If it is more blue and brighter the less phosphor, why are blue xml dimmer? I don’t think there is any way to “redome” an led after stripping the phosphor is there?

I doubt one could do it without losing even more light.

Just found an explanation on wikipedia.
"For example, the efficiency of a typical...yellow phosphor based white LED ranges from 3 to 5 times the efficiency of the original blue LED because of the greater luminous efficacy of yellow compared to blue light."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode#Phosphor-based_LEDs
Basically, human eyes are much more sensitive to white (or yellow) light which is the cause of all this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminosity_function
The blue light produced is at 450 nm while the white light (after going through the phosphor) is around 575-600. So if you look at the graph, the human eye is very sensitive to white light, but not the blue light.
So now I understand it. :D

I do too, but its already in the one stop mod reference shop, so easy to find. :wink:

Excellent resource. Now if you could do one on the meaning of “XM-L” vs “XP-G” etc. It would be neat to know more behind the naming and designation of each.

What do you mean? The number of bond wires, size, efficiency, etc? Maybe if I get a chance I'll do that but this one was prompted by a few people PMing me in the past about tint, along with Nitro's question about where to get a neutral LED.

What surprises me is I was able to do 90% of this with out having to look anything up, I guess that's what happens when I spend so much time here.

I’m beginning to worry about how much I soak up on something I take an interest in, six months ago, I didn’t know what an xm-l was….know I’m growing bored of them…not bored as in not using them, just want to play with other things, I’m going backwards though, starting playing with xp-g’s etc. Bothering about modes and tint more than total output.

Sometimes a q5 in a suitable host with a good 1.4a driver is more usefull than an over driven xm-l lumen monster.

I’m a heretic, stone me :*

Ok, a comparison LED post is in the works.

I think I’m in the same boat as you. I have drawers full of lumens and sheer output isn’t a real big deal to me any more. I’m now more drawn to different tints and their visual relation with different beam profiles. If I see a flashlight with a choice of an XP-G 4C - 450Lm or an XM-L U2 - 800Lm, I will probably go with the XP-G 4C.

…And thanks so much Scaru. I hope you don’t mind that I copied and pasted your post right into my Evernote flashlight file.

Ouchyfoot, I don't mind in the least and am happy to be able to contribute back to the forum in this way. :)

I noticed you don’t have any links for 4C tints, which is my favorite right now, although I have yet to try a 5C.

The bad thing is, I should get a p60 host, build many pills, then its half scientific. That’s not going to happen though, I just don’t like p60’s so common sense is out the window…