Another RGB LED question

[Bianchi]

hey guys, how's it going?

I have another couple questions regarding RGB LEDs.

1. Does any TCSS lens holder fit an RGB LED? If not, how is the collimator (lens) set in place?
2. What is the best lens to use with a 10W RGB (like LedEngin's)? 5 degree?

Thanks in advance.

[DJMoonbass]

legit questions i would say.

the classic RGBs are wierd. the ones people tend to use are the Seoul Q5s since its R B and G are under one dome. but the traditional RGBs were three seperate domes and you had to use a speciall lense and only certain people made them.

so with a seoul Q5 you can use any lense.

now i prefere to use the RGGB, RGBA, and RGBW LEDengin 10 watts. i am doing ALOT of work with them currently.
and any lense will work but the 8.7 degree will work the best as far as mixing and capturing the most light output from the LED.

now be aware that with the LEDengine 10 watts. you cant use a lense a holder because the housing under the LED dome is square and so it wont fit. you have to just use a lense. and this only works if you prop the LED up a tiny bit to so everything gets tightened down nice and snug. with out the LED being propped up a bit, the lense will not be secure. and getting everything perfectly fitted is hard stuff.

i would suggest using this with some slight mods: http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Heat-Sink-shim-for-Rebel-stars-P550.aspx

hope this helps.

[Rhyen Skytracker]

Most of the people I know use the LEDengin multidie LEDs for purple and to mix colors. You can get a lens holder and modify it with a dremel to fit. I have found that reflectors work very well with the LEDengins and the 8.7 degree lens work pretty well too.

[Jedi-Loreen]

You wouldn't want a 5 degree lens, because it doesn't allow the colors to mix as well. So I've read, not having tried it myself yet.

[Lord Dottore Matto]

I use 5 Degree for all of my TruPurple LEDs. I am not really sure where this misinformation started, but They work perfectly.;)

[FenderBender]

You also CAN use a lens holder with the 10W. Don't know who started the ugly rumor that you cant.

[Lord Dottore Matto]

You also CAN use a lens holder with the 10W. Don't know who started the ugly rumor that you cant.

QFT Brotha, that is exactly what I use too :D

Sooo many folks say what can't be done when they have never tried it :lol:

[Rhyen Skytracker]

I have ALWAYS used lens holders and haven't had any problems. I have had some LEDs that didn't fit too well with the type of holder I had bue I just used a dremel to make it fit with no problems. If you don't use a holder you can risk damaging the LED by having too much pressure on the LED. I have also seen people try to use a holder not meant for a specific LED with out modifing it and broke the traces going from the LED dome to the star. Always verify the holder will fit right and modify it if need be.

[Matt Thorn]

What they said. I have always used standard TCSS Luxeon III lens holders and 5º lenses with LedEngin RGGBs and RGBAs. DJMoonbass, you are either confusing it with something else, or working on faulty info. Multicolor LEDs are loads o' fun.

[Jedi-Loreen]

I use 5 Degree for all of my TruPurple LEDs. I am not really sure where this misinformation started, but They work perfectly.;)
I thought I saw FenderBender say that somewhere.

*shrugs*

[DJMoonbass]

:mad::mad::mad::mad:

BS!!!! it DOESNT work because i HAVE tried it. look at my shockwave that a put in my hardest work that obviously you guys obviously didn't care see. it has DUAL LEDengin 10 watt RGBAs and the lens holder WILL NOT FIT ON IT! . the reason is the LED housing on the LED is square. and the lens holders from TCSS is round. i don't know what LEDengin LEDs you're getting, but the ones i got had a square housing. i spent hours doing custom machine work to get everything to fit right with out the lens holder.
so don't say i don't know what im talking about and I'm spreading ugly rumors, because i do know. i know very well. i don't know about you, but i haven't seen many double bladed RGBA color changing sabers that take full advantage of every die laying around FX and TCSS. i do not like being accused of spreading false rumors one bit after i put in months of my hardest work building an advanced color changing saber.

it is possible that you guys are getting different LEDs then me. i have about 10 of the RGBAs sitting on my desk right now, i am looking at them and every one of them has a square housing under the small dome. so the LENS holder WILL NOT FIT on it properly. you guys probably have different LEDs.

and for those that don't believe me: here are the dies to any of the 10 watt LEDengin LEDs.
http://i.cmpnet.com/planetanalog/2008/04/C0272-Figure1.gif

notice its square. now here are the LENS holders: notice the round
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Assets/ProductImages/154.jpg

i dont know hat you guys are doing, but the lense holder will not fit all the way down on the LED.

[Matt Thorn]

Easy there, fella. You're completely overreacting. I'm sure fenderbender was not serious when he said "ugly rumor."

But observe. I'm using a black lens holder here, but the shape is the same (I think), and I've done the same thing with the clear holders like the one in your photo.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TGjffQKtxyI/AAAAAAAAFdM/Lb79nzf0nGs/s400/DSCN0172.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XOqBaYO1R4CiV55-lfZtwg?feat=embedwebsite)

To be sure, without modification, the holder "floats":
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TGjfewezo0I/AAAAAAAAFdI/gTRrWrhR6P4/s400/DSCN0171.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YQRdyTG7peV1CmbE4zY3eA?feat=embedwebsite)

But a couple of snips...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TGjfhUFlkQI/AAAAAAAAFdU/Cr8zQgVdKDc/s400/DSCN0174.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ib4SociT7l56nuKN9IkecA?feat=embedwebsite)

...and, voilà:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_THBqz9vPciU/TGjfgI450eI/AAAAAAAAFdQ/C3c2qZ8I1fw/s400/DSCN0173.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/F5mvu5ge8NfSfL6hGgh3vw?feat=embedwebsite)

No more floating. And no hours of custom machining necessary.

[DJMoonbass]

the thing is though i tried that and my blade holder didnt sit down all the way properly. it left a .047" opening if i remember corrently, and so i made spacer rings. hense the long machine work. the first i did i raised the LED, the other i used the lense holder and made spacer ring witch i found to be alot easier in the first place.

bleh. couldve done some stuff differently. thats for sure. and my apologies. had a very rough day today and shouldnt have taken it personally. i own up to that.
again my apologies.

[Matt Thorn]

No problem. We all have those days, and sometimes it's hard to tell from cold text if someone is being facetious or serious. :p

.047"!? I have never even thought of measuring a gap of that size in my optics. For me, if it sits in place when everything's screwed in and a bright light comes out, that's good enough. ;)

[DJMoonbass]

i used calipers. yeah sorry i was being very rude. and again i apologize.

i love the new 10 watts, i tell ya man those things are becoming popular alot of my personal sabers im makin have only 10 watts. i love em.

[Orthus]

the thing is though i tried that and my blade holder didnt sit down all the way properly. it left a .047" opening if i remember corrently, and so i made spacer rings. hense the long machine work. the first i did i raised the LED, the other i used the lense holder and made spacer ring witch i found to be alot easier in the first place.

bleh. couldve done some stuff differently. thats for sure. and my apologies. had a very rough day today and shouldnt have taken it personally. i own up to that.
again my apologies.

I don't have one handy, but could a K2 lens holder fit on the RGB? I have one in a saber right now, but I am loathe to disassemble it to check the holder :mrgreen: The K2's are square, but have two of the corners chopped off on opposite each other. I can't remember if the K2 holder was square or had material in two corners to exactly fit.

[FenderBender]

I have never had to modify a lens holder for a LEDengin. As far as you being the only one here to make a double bladed color changing saber. Great. I DONT do those. Mostly because it's kinda pointless to me. Second, each die by itself isn't as powerful as a good single color LED of any other brand and isn't really "taking advantage of every dice". So until I get a good system figured out for the 40W RGBW I wouldn't even bother. I was merely stating that it works without mods and to tell someone that it doesn't when others do it all the time is "spreading misinformation".

If you're going to blow up every time someone corrects you, and challenge the knowledge of people who STILL know and have done more than you, you're going to have a hard time.

[vamphunterx]

the classic RGBs are wierd. the ones people tend to use are the Seoul Q5s since its R B and G are under one dome. but the traditional RGBs were three seperate domes and you had to use a speciall lense and only certain people made them.

so with a seoul Q5 you can use any lense.

Where can I find a Seoul Q5, not much luck with Google

[Darth Xusia]

I think that was a typo. Try searching for Seoul P5 instead.

[Azmaria Dei]

yeah definitely a typo/error. the single color Seouls are P4 and the RGBs are P5.the LEDengin RGBW/RGBA and CREE RGBW LEDs are also fun to work with. ^_^

[cardcollector]

Another type of led that is fun to play with is the dealextreme rgb led. They are cheap so you don't have to worry about toasting it. :)

[vamphunterx]

I think that was a typo. Try searching for Seoul P5 instead.

yeah definitely a typo/error. the single color Seouls are P4 and the RGBs are P5.the LEDengin RGBW/RGBA and CREE RGBW LEDs are also fun to work with. ^_^

Oh OK thanks guys. I really wanna be able to do this gradual color cycling saber. I always try to go further and further with each lightsaber(or other prop) that I make.