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New Cree XP-L High Intesity

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scar

· Light freak
Joined
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3,061 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Got me a few to play around with a few days ago. Reflowed them tonight and installed in one of my Amoebas, mate up real nice to the Reginas. Will keep you posted.

From the Cree data sheet -

"The XLamp XP-L High Intensity (HI) LED
is the first of Cree's new class of High
Intensity (HI) LEDs optimized to deliver
maximum candela through secondary
optics. Built on Cree's breakthrough SC5
Technology™ Platform, the XP-L HI LED
delivers 120 percent more candela than
the XP-L HD LED through the same optic.
The XP-L HI LED leverages the industry's
highest single-die performance and a
new innovative primary optic design that
radically reduces the optical source size
to deliver both lumens and intensity. "

****
 
#5 ·
Im actually pretty excited about these, the fact of the lumens they will put out while basically being "factory dedomed" for awesome throw will make for some awesome helmet lights. Heck XP-L V6 well exceeds the output of XM-L2 U2 (highest bin for 3c tint atm) and I just got a pari a week ago that im working on retrofitting into a lighthead.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Sorry!! Been a crazy week at work trying to release a new product to our manufacturing floor. Was hoping to ride Weds morning but had to get into work early. Tried getting outside of the house at 4:30 am to snap a quick photo but the sun was already coming up. I did get out for a ride in the hills on Friday morning, arrived at the trailhead at 4:30 am and was nice and dark due to the woods. Snapped a couple of photos but none came out real good.

The lens configuration of my test light being the "live edge" for side visibility was throwing off the camera. here is a pic of the lens configuration -

In this pic I am facing forward with the camera behind me. The light coming out from the edges of the light make it look like I am looking directly at the camera. Output on the LFlex driver was set at 2500ma's. The XP-L High Intesity LED's are 5700K.

I am gonna replace that lens with my standard lens configuration that and get some better pictures of the beam. I do think it is looking promising :thumbsup:

I did get a good picture of my trunk lights in action :cool: -

No better way to start a Friday than with view like these -

****
 
#9 ·
I got a triple set from mtnelectronics (yeap vanc, we got nw versions available in the states already :p) they are bright that's for sure. Can't wait till the higher bins are released. Seem to be basically xm-l2's with XP-g2 throw. Rather sweet just need more options for optics and such that fit them (or locate XP size spacers to hold xm-l2 optics up where they need to be)
 
#11 ·
Hmm. I just found a couple of spare 20mm easy2led housings I forgot that I had. I haven't built a light in 2 seasons. I've been running XML2 in a 20mm on the helmet, and a 6-up XPG2 on the bars (horribly under driven with an HBflex and a tired 4S pack).

Might be time to build up a new helmet 1-up helmet light, and a 2-up bar light with one of these.
 
#12 ·
I wanted to update this:



So the modded bt21 I did, yanked that driver, got one just like it but set for momentary switch, custom UI and bumped to 3.5A max output, then switched emitters to xp-l hi.



MAKES FOR ONE AWESOME HELMET LIGHT. Using 10deg optics it dropped spot diameter down to about 7deg, put it up against my yinding that has same optics but xp-l v6 (about 15% more lumens) and 3A max.



Spot is way more intense, throw is very noticeably better. Also, spill is cut back by alot. Not much of it now. My mid level is 2.1A and its good for where I ride.


Also they run noticeably cooler than xm-l2 at the same drive currents. Bt21 head can handle 2A without getting hot, with little air flow it handles the 3.5A without getting overly hot (125-130F) in 70deg ambient. No way I could do that on xm-l2. Stock 2.8A it runs at those temps


I'd have to say for helmet light use (if running a dual set up, little tight of a beam for single helmet light only) these are the best yet!
 
#13 ·
Hmm . . . I don't frequent the DIY forum much at all and missed this thread. I'm planning to try out XPL-HI's in my Yinding for helmet use (per tig's suggestion). Over at BLF they are saying dedomed XP-L's are outthrowing the XP-L HI's, but I think that also means a much tighter beam which I don't think I'd want. I'm not sure how Lumens output compares between XP-L HI vs. dedomed XP-L, but the regular XP-L are a good bit higher in bins (though usually dropping output after a dedome).

-Garry
 
#16 ·
I haven't gotten around to building the single i bought the parts for - but I don't like hearing that it is a bit too spotty for a single emitter build.

Guess I have nothing to lose though since the parts are already on the bench.

All I know is I had been riding with a single on my helmet before time change, and last week where I was in full darkness on my night rides, I dropped back to my old faithful dual XR-E "achesalot" style build and forgot how much I do like having some extra spill on my helmet light.
 
#17 ·
adrenalnjunky said:
I haven't gotten around to building the single i bought the parts for - but I don't like hearing that it is a bit too spotty for a single emitter build.

Guess I have nothing to lose though since the parts are already on the bench.

All I know is I had been riding with a single on my helmet before time change, and last week where I was in full darkness on my night rides, I dropped back to my old faithful dual XR-E "achesalot" style build and forgot how much I do like having some extra spill on my helmet light.
Click to expand...
The beam size is dependant on the optic/reflector. If you want really tight spot this is really good. A different optic/orange peel reflector and that changes.

I use 10deg optics on a dual head with these and I still get useful spill, just the hot spot is tighter and throws ALOT better than xm-l2

These are nothing more than xp-g2 for how they put out light, just that that can be driven like xm-l2 without the heat issues. Its literally a xm-l2 phosphor crammed into a xp-g2 base.

As for "too tight" we were discussing the fact of using regular xp-l (full dome) and removing that dome completely. It has a slightly tighter beam with bit more throw versus the HI. The HI version this thread is about has a only just enough dome to protect the emitter phosphor.
 
#18 ·
This is all going in a easy2led 20mm housing so I'm limited in optic size - All I think that I have right now are some regina spot optics - I'll have to dblcheck when I get home.

I was running the single XM-L in the same 20mm housing and it is too spotty by itself for my extremely tight and twisty local trail.
 
#19 ·
Reginas are the one thing there, reflectors, so tighter spot. No clue on the housing not sure what itll fit. Something like a standard xm-l2 optic without the holder (use a butterfly reflector spacer to compensate for XP die size, works beautiful) should do better for you as I ride same kind of trails, tight wooded stuff. Narrow spot pmma optics work awesome.
 
#20 ·
Reginas work super nice with the XPG emitter so should be really nice with XPL. Of all the lights I've built the dual XPG with Regina reflectors makes the best beam (for my preference). The dual XML with 10 degree LEDDNA is OK. A little to wide for me but there's so much light that it works fine. I may switch it over to Reginas when I put the XPL-HIs in, just to see what it's like.
 
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