Hey guys! New here, was looking for some information about diy led stuff and boy, this place has some.
I was planing to build a nice "to see in city" bike light.
So, that didn't work out, i chickened out. So i am -for now- just gonna pick one and use it for a while. Because i really need one right now, and there is this chance that i might mess it up if i try to build one. Though i have some nice ideas for a custom machined, potantiometer dimmed, batteries in the case design, it is for later
I need help picking one AND a place to buy from. And it would be lovely if you could throw answers to my random questions.
By reading forum, i figured these(i learned A LOT of other stuff too, but these are relevant):
-XM-L2 is superior and i should have those one my light. Preferably t6 or u2, ideally u3(?)
-Solarstorm x2 is GOOD,
-but the batteries suck. Gotta get some reliable 3400Mah 18650 batteries.
-There are fakes. And even if it says it xm-l2, i can't trust that.
-XM-L2 series is ideally driven at 1.8a to 2.5a. That should give 800 Lumens per emitter(?)
I found a really great deal, XM-L2 SolarStorm X2 without batteries for $12. What do you think? Could it be fake or not be XM-L2? Also they dont write the binning, could be lower than t6?
For $23, i can get one with a battery pack:
And there it is again, from another seller, looks more legit but it is also more expensive $40!:
Where should i buy it and which one of those? Or should i even get any of those? Are there any better? My aim is to get highest (lumens*runtime)/price :naughty:
Random things i wonder:
-Do li-ion batteries really have higher energy density than lipos? Panasonic 18650 3400Mah at 47 grams is very dense you know. I thought lipos are the highest energy density battery type? I have some lipos batteries lying around, i thought i could use them, but they are heavier than li-ions in per-Mah(Voltage is about the same). I know li-ions discharge rate sucks but still...
-Which led emitter has the highest output per Watt? Are there any better ones than xm-l2 in this regard? I remember reading something about xp-e2 but there are not any bike lights with those.
-In which amper, xm-l2 leds are the most efficent? Looking at the datasheet, it looked to me that it is 700mA, but i read that it is 1.8a to 2.5a everywere.
-In which discharge rate, (good)18650 batteries are the most efficent? Or does it makes any significant difference at all? I rode somewhere that if you discharge them at a rate more that it is designed to do, 3400mAh can become like 1000mAh(?)
Thank you guys. All help and advise is highly appreciated Cheers from Turkey!
Links deleted as per the banner at the top of the page - Norm
I was planing to build a nice "to see in city" bike light.
So, that didn't work out, i chickened out. So i am -for now- just gonna pick one and use it for a while. Because i really need one right now, and there is this chance that i might mess it up if i try to build one. Though i have some nice ideas for a custom machined, potantiometer dimmed, batteries in the case design, it is for later
I need help picking one AND a place to buy from. And it would be lovely if you could throw answers to my random questions.
By reading forum, i figured these(i learned A LOT of other stuff too, but these are relevant):
-XM-L2 is superior and i should have those one my light. Preferably t6 or u2, ideally u3(?)
-Solarstorm x2 is GOOD,
-but the batteries suck. Gotta get some reliable 3400Mah 18650 batteries.
-There are fakes. And even if it says it xm-l2, i can't trust that.
-XM-L2 series is ideally driven at 1.8a to 2.5a. That should give 800 Lumens per emitter(?)
I found a really great deal, XM-L2 SolarStorm X2 without batteries for $12. What do you think? Could it be fake or not be XM-L2? Also they dont write the binning, could be lower than t6?
For $23, i can get one with a battery pack:
And there it is again, from another seller, looks more legit but it is also more expensive $40!:
Where should i buy it and which one of those? Or should i even get any of those? Are there any better? My aim is to get highest (lumens*runtime)/price :naughty:
Random things i wonder:
-Do li-ion batteries really have higher energy density than lipos? Panasonic 18650 3400Mah at 47 grams is very dense you know. I thought lipos are the highest energy density battery type? I have some lipos batteries lying around, i thought i could use them, but they are heavier than li-ions in per-Mah(Voltage is about the same). I know li-ions discharge rate sucks but still...
-Which led emitter has the highest output per Watt? Are there any better ones than xm-l2 in this regard? I remember reading something about xp-e2 but there are not any bike lights with those.
-In which amper, xm-l2 leds are the most efficent? Looking at the datasheet, it looked to me that it is 700mA, but i read that it is 1.8a to 2.5a everywere.
-In which discharge rate, (good)18650 batteries are the most efficent? Or does it makes any significant difference at all? I rode somewhere that if you discharge them at a rate more that it is designed to do, 3400mAh can become like 1000mAh(?)
Thank you guys. All help and advise is highly appreciated
Cheers from Turkey!Links deleted as per the banner at the top of the page - Norm
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