Help me choose some components

Other Types of Lights LED Spotlights
1

Hello BLF,

I don’t know how many old members are active nowadays, some of you may remember me from my mods way back in the Old lumens days. Got myself out of the hobby so my knowledge is stuck and I need help choosing some components for my next project.

It would be much appreciated if anyone could spare some knowledge and time to help me avoid mistakes.

The plan is to build a couple of spotlights/fog lights for my motorcycle to improve visibility and to improve my visibility to other drivers on the road.

I know there are these kinds of lights ready to buy off the shelf but I’m not interested in those, I want to build my own custom lights, I have a lathe at my workshop so I can build anything I want now.

This is the direction I was thinking of taking:

1. It needs to be powered by 12V-14V battery (What driver to use?)
2. Triple XP-L or XM-L2 with reflector or lenses, (goal is around 2000 - 3000 lumens per light, series or parallel configuration)
3. Fog light is roughly 50 mm in diameter and will be made from aluminum.

I was looking at these components:

Driver:

Lenses:

Led:

2

I think I would choose a 12v XHP70 for this application

3

Yeap 12V led and something like this for each led

4

I’m open to every suggestion,thanks.

This is step down module, I think. It doesn’t regulate current.

How to regulate current to 12v xhp70 and how much amps in order to get 2500-3000 lumens per light?

5

Led current depends on output voltage. Its possible to fine tune voltage by changing 1 resistor


Other solution 10W 0.5Omh resistors for each led:)

6

Imho reflector work better if you want pierce the fog, combined with a very warm LED to have less refraction

7

So you are suggesting that I power this regulated step-down module from a motorcycle battery (12.8V-14V) and let it regulate the voltage to 12V?

Is this module going to stabilize and fix the output voltage no matter the input voltage which fluctuates?

How many amps will XHP70 pull at 12V and roughly how many lumens should I expect?

Thanks, what kind of reflector do you suggest? I can basically make any kind of host for this light. Maybe something between throw and flood, I’m leaning towards flood light.

8

I was also hoping to have few different modes like in a flashlight driver. Something like 30–50–100%.

That is why I was leaning towards a driver as we use in our flashlights.

Maybe to step down from 14V to 9V (with DC-DC regulator) and then use any “2 Cells” flashlight driver with multiple modes.

If I’m being stupid, just tell me :):):slight_smile:

9

You wont get right fog profile with off the shelf optics, but as close as you can get, would be oval lenses, for leds, you can use xpl or xpg3 on 20mm triple mcpcb, i would not use large multidie leds, for fogs use oval lenses, for spot, narrow clear. ledil and carclo makes them, ledil are made of pmma, carclo, polycarbonate, in your case, either one will work. as for driver, any buck driver 1-1.5A will do, just get one that will hold up to "dirty" power that cars bikes have. i used cc cv boards from ebay in cars, no issues, they are around 5 bucks each, give or take.

this is what oval lenses beam profile looks like.

10

Before, check road rules in your country if is allowed or denied add custom light inside a vehicle.
All need to be sealed and secured against vibration, heat and water. Lens positioned to avoid blink opposite drivers.

The ones posted above with rectangular beam are like these for S2+
www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001973595039.html

There are a lot of buck / step down modules on Ali that can handle more current even with trimmers for CV-CC regulation like XL4015, XL4016.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1626264703.html
This seem like previous one, with trimmer for adjust voltage, the amount of current should be automatic increase or reduced.

Set desired max V. out on trimmer then you can add a potentiometer if you want dim the Led.

I did in the past a low power project with LM2596 module (max 2A) similar this one:

but from 5V input…

11

By datasheet XHP70 at 12V will output full power about 30W and 3000+ lumen. Most important rule for fog lights is to fix it as low as possible.

12

Very nice beams alpg88, I’ll try to source Ledil or Carclo, any suggestions on where to look online?

If those CC CV buck drivers are reliable, and can handle “dirty” input voltage and stay solid on the output, I’ll use them to drive my lights.

I guess no different modes for this project, just simple on/off switch.

If I choose triple XPL’s or XPG’s for this project, which ones to choose regarding the tint and bin and how hard to push them?

Do you suggest a series or parallel configuration? I know wattage will be the same, but what would be “easier” for CC CV module to handle in your experience?

Sorry for all the questions :), thanks

13

Thanks, those mini CV modules are very interesting. I can stuff them inside my light, heatsink them and not worry about how to waterproof them.

Thanks, but I’m a bit worried about overloading my alternator with that kind of power. I would like to stay around 20W per light.

The most important thing is, if I go with CC CV module to power my lights (and that seems to be the consensus here), I have the option to regulate output power. Only downside is, I have no modes like in flashlights.

14

Repeating last time :slight_smile: You dont need to control current to control led output power.

15

I suggest to add a fuse betwin power source and module.
On Ali there are wired round fuse holder 10pcs for less than 2$. Or the “waterproof” for cars with rubber cap.

The LM2596 are Cheap on ebay 1$ for 2pcs shipped. Guess they aren’t real or just remarked chips but should works up 1.5/2Amp. by glued heatsink.
Cheers

16

What made you think that I don’t understand that :)?

17

Of course, the fuse is a must. I also have to wire these lights using a relay.

18

Because you dont know Ohm’s law. Good luck with project.

19

No need to be rude.

If you think I don’t understand Ohm’s law, you should explain it to me.

But you don’t have to, I understand enough. For what I don’t understand, I’ll ask questions.

That’s why BLF forum was always useful, full of nice people having the patience and knowledge to help members with their projects.

Anyways, thank you for your effort in this topic.

20


From Djozz test.