What benefit is there in putting 4 or more LEDs in a Skyray King?
I have SRKs in all manner of configurations and I find the higher the number of LEDs the less output and throw I get.
My original SRK Golden XM-L T6 3 mode Gold version is best of the bunch still!
Newer King-type lights with additional emitters probably have counterfeit Lattice Bright emitters that will have less output anyway. The heatsinking may be very poor as well, resulting in a rapid drop in output as emitters heat up.
At lower drive currents, emitters are more efficient, so you would get more lumens for the same wattage as you add extra emitters. In addition, adding more emitters means each emitter has less surface area so your light will be come increasingly floody at the expense of throw as you add additional emitters to the limited space available.
Your original Gold SRK may have been manufactured back when the SRKs had genuine Cree XM-L emitters, a thermal path to transfer heat away from the emitters, and the original three-toroid driver that provided a reasonable output.
I find that 4 emitters gives the best beam pattern when using XLM sized emitters. I wish someone would sell just the 4 emitter reflector. I would convert many of my SRK's, 3T6's, and Mags if the price was right.
More emitters might work nice if one goes with a smaller emitter like the Nichia 219C.
My SRK is the original and genuine one with the 3 toroid driver circuit.
It throws really well and beats the ones with more emitters in sheer lumen output as well.
I bought my gold ones from CNQG years back.
I wish Ric still sold the good ones.
It doesn’t matter what kind of a three toroid driver or BLF DD driver you have. More smaller reflectors equal more flood. Fewer larger reflectors equal more throw.
I built one with 6 X nichia 219, and it’s one of my all time favorites.
I didn’t buy a SRK looking for throw, I was looking for lumens and run time, all else being equal more emitters should help with both. Unfortunately it seems with the new ones bad led’s drivers and heat sinking mean you don’t get much of either.
If someone started making good reliable Skyray Kings I think they would sell really well.
Dx has a 4x reflector and KD has 3x, 5x, and 6x reflectors. I’m sure some modding of the host and/or reflector is probably needed but they can be had.
Mine too… before all the clones etc.
I have several versions and they are all less bright and a lower quality than the original I bought in 2012.