The title says it all. The question is a little esoteric, but if the head housing of a flashlight with a TIR lens can be accessed, does it make sense to cover the inner surface of the housing with ‘silver tape’ to minimize losses and maximize the output? Despite the name, I imagine that the TIR reflections are not total, but would it make a discernable difference? Has anybody attempted it and did it make any difference?
The term TIR is applied to many different reflectors and or beaded lenses or other things. So you’re going to have to be more specific but the answer is probably no.
Seems like at best you’ll get some odd spill artifacts.
It makes a small difference. Most of the light won’t exit the TIR through the sides, but not all light from the LED is caught by the optic. This light will find its way bouncing from the side walls and pass through the TIR, with a slight color tint. Because it isn’t focused, the colored light will be distributed over the full beam and the final visibility depends on the beam characteristics of the TIR.
Here is an example with a Wurkkos TS11:
And here before/after:
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Say it’s Sofirn IF19 - the pictures on the opened light head and the TIR lens are shown here. One practical reason for asking this question is that in a flashlight with similar TIR lens and construction - the Wurkkos TS11S in the orange anodised version - the orange shows up in the beam…
Sorry, you beat me to it. Thanks!
So, treating the orange reflections as an indicator, there should be a (perhaps small) improvement in the (mostly) spill part of the output using the silver tape maneuver when the anodizing is black, I take it?
Yes and no. The difference is really tiny. In my pictures it appears much more prominent because most of the light is focused in the spot beam.
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And one more question: how difficult was it to stick the silver tape to the inside of the curved housing? Is there a technique to follow?
It wasn’t curved, it was cone shaped. I measured both diameters and the height, then calculated the shape when you unroll it. Afterwards it was just a matter of cutting it and stick it in (self adhesive aluminum tape).
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If the orange brings the CCT down a couple of hundred k that might not be a bad thing. If there was no measurable difference in throw or CCT or tint, is it helping? Looks like maybe you would see a little tiny bit less of the orange ring out at the very edge of the spill. But I’m guessing outdoors you don’t see that.
If you’re talking about the IF19 and are unhappy with the beam (tint, tint shift, etc) 95% of the problem is the SST40.
I found it made a difference on the FireFlies T1R, the Acebeam L35, and the Emissary DM11 because they are green bodies. I don’t bother with other colors especially copper or orange. There is a little color shift, but the only color that bothers me is green. IDK why I keep buying green TIR lights lol.
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When i build lights I glue GITD tape on the inside of tir holders.
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I imagine that could be a good idea - the only experience I have is taping phosphorescent tape on the outside of the flashlights, and it does help finding them in the dark. Can you see the ‘glow’ if you tape it inside of the TIR housing?
I have an IF19 and alu tape, can try tomorrow I guess.
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Can you see the ‘glow’ if you tape it inside of the TIR housing?
Yes I can, that is the point i put them there. how good, and how long they glow, depends on what GITD tape you use, The best one in my experience, is GITD exit signs, or fire extinguisher signs. i use gel paint remover to remove lettering, and it leaves me perfectly clean sheet of GITD tape, with foil base, with an excellent adhesive. no peeling off over time or due to high temp. I should also mention the green glow only visible with leds off.
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When you use the TIR optics that come in holders, if you can fit the optic and holder in a light since usually you have to remove the holder, but I filed the outside of a holder down enough to fit in an S2+ and it made a dramatic difference for artifacts with a smooth 10⁰ TIR optic. Eliminates the rings. I’ve used GITD tape around the inside of lights. Can’t tell if it affects output or beam shape but it gets rid of the reflections from colored anodizing. Never tried silver/foil in one.