Powering an XR-E to its max. Driver options?

I have the EZ900 die R2 1.5A pill coming from Dereelight. Quite cheap just over 20 bucks shipped. I mean yeah it's not budgetlight realm but heck it has no PWM. LOL!

Supposed to get 90k on the DBS. Saabluster got 107k. Hmmm....

Ive had a lot more than 10 MRV's when I used to mod and resell them. They do great when you mod with a 8 x 7135 boards and remove 3 of the 7135's, netting 1750 mAh. Its to bad these boards max out at 6V. I agree that getting a great performing XR-E is a crap shoot with Chinese sourced LED's. Ive had enough of them to know that later iterations seem to be much more consistent in delivering high output than earlier versions. I have not noted any real advantages of the EZ900 over the EZ1000 dice.

I think the XR-E R2's incorporated the latest in technology (phosphors and materials) but were based on the same EZ900 dice as all the other second generation XR-E's. There was yet another test I read a while back that confirmed how the R2 outgunned previous iterations of the XR-E when driven @2A, but I couldnt find it. Crees data sheet clearly shows the R2 as the most efficient, but Im sure we all know that.

There are many situations where the XR-E's potential far reach and sheer pencil beam have an advantage over any other emitter. Especially when trying to spotlight something at a great distance without losing your night vision or the often unwanted distraction of a bright spill beam.

Ive followed Lambda's creations closely and recently sold one of his 3 x XML 2D (hydra) mags. Ive noted that he gets many more sustained lumens when bonding the SST90's directly to copper. The latest hydra 3 x XM-L also has the emitters bonded directly to copper. DX also sells an XM-L bonded to a copper star, although I wonder if there are really any significant advantages with an XM-L driven to 3A and mounted on copper versus aluminum; the XM-L is said to have outstanding heat convection transmitted through its large ceramic pads. Most (if not all) other power led's are not as efficient in transmitting heat through their mounting pads, thus the advantage of mounting those others to copper.

That is a good price for quality. Got a link to the one you've ordered? I wonder if these buck/boost regulate on 4.2V and if they also run regulated at 8.4V?

I almost ripped apart my Olight M20 warrior for my project because it has such a great driver, but its to large to fit the intended host. DARNIT!! The M20 would be a cool little light with the guts from a 3 mode trustfire p60 XML transplant.

They have a lot of options. 1 mode. 3 modes. single cell voltage, multiple cell voltages. It's a bit confusing. hehe... Yes it is regulated with 2 cells. XR-E has pretty high Vf so it does not stay regulated much esp at 1.5A....even with the best cells.

http://www.dereelight.com/pills.htm

Absolutely no PWM detectable on the DMM.

Which driver is this? Link, please...

Or is a butchered 8*7135 the only way?

Thanks for sharing that experience, FlashPilot, as I have an UltraOK (MRV clone) running the XR-E Q5 at 1750mA as well, and was a bit concerned.

With regard to spotlighting at a great distance: yes, that's the issue I have with my TrustFire X9, even with the underdriven XM-L at 1.8A. It seems that air here is never dry enough to eliminate the "noise" from the beam trial in my path of vision. Holding the light at arm's lenght does increase on-target contrast considerably, but is impractical of course.

I was thinking of replacing the XM-L emitter with an XR-E R2, but, since the X9 reflector is 47mm wide (internally), an XP-G R5 might be a better lux/spot_size compromise for 100-200m use.

I don't own a light with an R5 to try, so any advice wold be much appreciated.

When spotting huge distances, you are supposed to be using a telescope (an APO refractor one would be nice!) or at least a pair of binos. Else how would HIDs with huge reflectors and those searchlights with hundreds of million candelas work? hehe....

Here's a nice one..

asd

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-599-2-83-1032-15503

Bookmarked, lol, but I have to resolve my lighting problem first... Laughing

Enjoy.... Flashlights is actually a pretty affordable hobby, esp the budget lights.

2100,

Be a pal and delete that picture - my wife is hovering around here. Wink

I already have a Zeiss Diascope 85 (that gets no use) on my conscience.

Ok....something more affordable.

asd

Ouch!

Tint has a lot to do with the way that light travels through misty saturated air. The whiter the light, the more reflection that will be created under these types of conditions. You might want to try a warmer tint XML and see how well that works for you rather than swapping the type of emitter. Dont expect miracles but there should definitely be a very noticeable improvement.

Hopefully others will chime in with their experiences under these conditions and trying different tints.

Ive had my eye on a used huge pro series Celestron for some time but just cant justify it.

Having lived close to Lick Observatory for several years (then - the worlds second largest optical) Ive had my fill of astounding star gazing; often accompanied by a full symphony orchestra, wine and cheese.

Today, this accompanies me on all my outdoor travels:

Leupold Gr 12-40X60Mm Hd Spottingscope


I noticed a small focus Zoom by Yezl that uses an R5 emitter and noticed that it is rated up to 1.5 amps.

Meaning it can be overdriven to 2.0 or more with still Lumens increase to a point.

If this emitter is also small but very intense up to 400 lumens- would this be a great emitter for aspheric throwers?

It also seems to have a nice shape softer square in the beamshots I've seen but maybe that was editing.

Thoughts on R5?

I really like the R5 it's like a mini XML. If you push it to 2 amps the corona is the same brightness as the XML at 3 amps only smaller. Sometimes a huge wall of light isn't necessary and this is were the XPG excels, the more I use them the more I like them.

So - people have told me that Cree Q5 is great for aspheric thrower and I have 2 different ones that throw very far at about .7 and .85 amps.

Is the R2 and R5 just a variation of Cree Q5 with a small forward projecting die great for throw OR are the R@ and R5 a different die , or merely a bin or variation of a Cree Q5 ?

What I'm getting at is the best for aspheric throw- NOT for Lumens.

The Q5 and the R2 refer to the bin of an XR-E or XP-E. When people say R4 or R5 they are referring to the bin of an XP-G.

http://flashlight-wiki.com/Brightness_Bins

Cree XR-E, XP-E (max bin for XP-E is R3, XR-E is R2)
Bin 350mA
100%
1000mA
220%
P4 80.6-87.4 177-192
Q2 87.4-93.9 192-207
Q3 93.9-100 207-220
Q4 100-107 220-233
Q5 107-114 233-251
R2* 114-122 251-268

The XR-E R2 is the best thrower I have, my XP-E Q5 comes in second.

Thanks 1320.

Seems I read that the R2 does get brighter all the way up to 2 amps, where the Q5 doesn't get much brighter above 1.5 amps or so.

Does the XR-E R2 have a small die that has the angle of light projecting forward like the XP E-Q5 and works just as well in aspherics but brighter and better ?