here is my entry into the contest, will update with pictures f build when i start building it
I will keep the ideas in the first post, the parts, and build progress in the 2nd and then end results in the last.
So far the idea is for 9 xmls and 10 batteries.
Ive made a bit of a change to design goals.
Photography is my main hobby and as such I am drawing on that for inspiration.
It is now 24 xmls, and since time is starting to run short im not sure ill be able to stay in the contest. Only one way to find out
Fair enough. If you plan to go DD on 24 LEDs, maybe it makes sense to go with six banks of 4 parallel LEDs. Then maybe you would want twelve batteries in a 6S2P configuration—so that massive draw is spread across batteries.
You may want to consider a safety system on the batteries. I picked out this one because it works with a 6S connection system and it allows a 20A draw before the protection system kicks in. It also intelligently discharges the batteries to ensure that everything is working well. Shouldn’t be too difficult to connect up the batteries—just parallel pairs in 6S instead of single cells!
It seems necessary to me. I was reading a horror story on CPF where an 8x 18650 light had one bad cell vent, and since there was no Blow-off or pressure-relieving system in this light, there was a catastrophic failure of the light. Unfortunately, there was massive damage to the user’s apartment building (pieces fell quite a few storeys and cracked glass awning over entrance) and his unit as well (glass door and patio railing were shattered).
OP, if you want to go direct drive, that’s fine. But you’ve gotta take some serious precautions. Not only a protection circuit on the batteries (20A at 22.2V is a limit that’s high enough) but some sort of containment vessel for the batteries themselves. An ammo box or small pelican like case with pressure release valves and a quick-disconnect, so that in the case of an emergency, you can disconnect it from your light and get it away from you as fast as you possibly can.
Well, the leds will be here in a day or 2. But the noctigons will take a bit longer, but thats ok. With the leds here ill be able to make more progress. This is ging to be epic.
I hope you finish it regardless of the time. That’s really what it’s all about. The prizes are cool but it would be cheaper to buy them than what these contest builds cost. Can’t buy the mods though.
I have a teaser for you all, I put some preliminary work into it. Curriently using a 19v 11A brick while I sort out the battery, and at about half of the output im looking to get is the brightest thing ive ever seen.
According to vf graphs it was running at 174 watts
iso 100, 1/100th exposure and F22 apperature!!!