The Legendary BLF Integrating Sphere starts here! (Delivered)

Hmmm… That’s more than quite a few lumens off. I think you should try my method again with maybe some more known value lights. U have any stock lights? Or maybe even try something with less lumens. Like something easy. Something with only a single emitter. This way we know what the max that single emitter can do.

Oh, and I shined the light to the left of the hole…. On the same side as the opening. The meter and bracket is on the right side

Hmmm... I wonder is it possible to get an accurate reading(with doing all the math of course) just with a one inch thick piece of styrofoam? Flashlight on one side sensor on the other?

blueb8llz, pretty sure Josh said to use the opposite side for through wall to make use of the baffles internally. The video shows spinning the ball around so the meter is physically on the opposite side in the box, then shining the light on the middle of the ball exactly opposite the plugged hole.

Perhaps if you try it that way, your .238 number will change.

Edit: Since a multiplier of .422 equals my other method of testing, I will try a few other lights to see how it compares. Stock? Huh? What’s that? :wink:

Ok just discovered something weird, and this proves why u got that low number Dale.
I get the same low number only when using lights with those type of cute or similar optics.
I tried four different lights with those optics. Ranging from triple xpg2 and xml2.
This is odd. Something to with these no reflector optic lights causing a low lumen rating through styrophone.

No, that won’t work because the meter has a rounded half ball for the reading, and the back to a flat piece of styrophone is flat.

Yea I experienced the same thing. The reflector definitely causes a higher percentage of light to penetrate. Without the reflector the light that bounces off the white foam the first time never gets a second chance. A good reflector gives it a second, third, fourth chance to penetrate.

This is a good group conversion, I’m going to sit back and watch for a while :slight_smile:

So any TIR Optic would do the same thing then, like a big 50mm TIR I have in a MagLite?

I believe so. I just found two more lights with these type of optics, a total of five lights now, and they all gave lower readings.
My biggest light with this type of optics is a lumintop ps03.

And I tried redoing the test but this time shining the light on the opposite end of the sphere and got the same reading.
The sphere does a good job trapping all the light. I even shined the light right next to the meter, and still got the same number.
The only place that DOES change the number is if you shined on the crack where the two halves meet together to form the sphere. I’m assuming there’s a super tiny crack and it’s literally right across from the meter.

You guys have all the fun. :innocent:

I’m still waiting for delivery of my sphere …

I can probably locate your tracking number if you need it. You are in Hawaii, so this is probably normal. I recall for a fact that your box was the second one handed across the counter at the post office.

I received my sphere earlier this week. I have only just started messing with it, but I like it! Just need to get the hang of using it. And, I don’t have many stock lights, and even less with what I would consider reliable ratings, so there will be a learning curve.
In regards to optics not pushing the light through the wall for high lumen, multi LED lights with optic measurements. Most of the lights I have fit in to this category. I am a lighting technician in theater, and I have access to all kinds of lighting filters. This weekend, I will take some neutral density light filters home to experiment. It is a grey gel with a known translucence. I am going to try 50% and 25% to see if I might be able to measure them through hole. I can also add them together for even less translucence.
We’ll just see how it works…
Thanks again Josh for doing this!

I just PM’d 1dash1 his tracking number. If anyone else is still waiting on delivery, please let me know asap. I am cleaning off my desk and these receipts are getting thrown away.

Hi, I didn’t see this thread until now. Am I too late to put in an order?

I have one of the surplus left. Posts 413 and 414 explain how the situation started and why I decided to offer the following… If you want (that one) immediately, I am asking $126 for shipping today. For anyone willing to wait for the next batch, just ask to be on the list and those will be $106. It will take a month to get supplies AFTER the list ends. And for anyone that wants to build their own, I am going to fully video document the next batch I make. And I will upload all my 3D printing files too. There’s a post somewhere in the 300’s or 400’s detailing my latest costs, basically it’s not profitable for me, but that’s ok, it was more an engineering hobby project for me. I really enjoy designing things.

I think we should all chip in a few bucks and pay for Toykeepers with all the invaluable work she has done here that most of us have gained from.

Start the thread :sunglasses: Count me in for $15

This is my busy season for work and I’ve been slammed. Plus I’ve been working on 4 vehicles- 2 of mine and 2 for family, all of which has left me with no time to play but tomorrow night looks good so far.

Phil

Done. New thread started.

“Toykeeper Appreciation Gift _ BLF Integrating Light Sphere” - Toykeeper Appreciation Gift _ Hardware Upgrades

EDIT: TK indicated that she would prefer some hardware that she could experiment with to expand the boundaries of what we are able to do with flashlights. She thought that was the best way to spend the money, to benefit the BLF community. So, we won’t be buying a light sphere for her.

Oh, definitely don’t take a loss on the project. It sounds like a fun project though, and I’ve considered making one on several occasions. Perhaps the documentation is what is really needed. :slight_smile:

Before this thread I hadn’t heard that the through-wall method has issues with non-reflector lights. It makes sense, but it hadn’t occurred to me. I should probably just stick with my convenient compact integrating milk carton, since it works well enough for my purposes and it’s easy to store.

I love designing things, but I like to move on to the next design project afterwards. The design was intended as a contribution to the BLF community. I took a slight loss in the beginning, but I made enough in the end that my wife won’t kill me for invading every inch of our home with a long running project :o

Yeah, easy to see how 15-20 12” styrofoam balls could impact living quarters. lol