First Saber--Imperial Knight

**The Grey Elf** · 05-13-2010, 07:29 PM

Okay, folks. Here's MY first hand-built: the Imperial Knight I should've gotten from Saberforge but ended up building myself (with more than a little help from electronics-savvy friends).

The only thing I can't figure is that I feel like it should be WAY brighter than it is. I've tried both tube and film diffusers to no avail. It's running a Seoul P4 white on 4AAA Duracell Ultras. No clue why it's not blinding.

[EDIT]Sorry, it's running a 2005 Vader Force FX board.[/EDIT]

**Lord Dottore Matto** · 05-13-2010, 09:46 PM

Congrats man!

**Jay-gon Jinn** · 05-13-2010, 10:35 PM

I hate to even ask this, but you did use a focusing optic in that, right? It looks like you didn't to me. Otherwise, it looks good!

**The Grey Elf** · 05-14-2010, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Jay-gon Jinn

I hate to even ask this, but you did use a focusing optic in that, right? It looks like you didn't to me. Otherwise, it looks good!

I did, yes. 5 degree collimator.

**Invisas1979** · 05-14-2010, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by The Grey Elf

I did, yes. 5 degree collimator.

How much diffuser film did you use, that looks waaaaayyyy too dim for white p4.

Also are the batteries new?

I noticed that with my Maul blades and a 10 degree optic my lux 3 reds are not as bright as they are in a thinner walled FX blade. Is your blade thick or thin?

**strengthofrage** · 05-14-2010, 05:01 AM

Another thing to check would be your solder points/joints... sometimes a weak solder joint will cause that dimming you have there

**The Grey Elf** · 05-14-2010, 05:04 AM

It's a thin-walled blade from TCSS. Originally had corbin film in it, but that has been changed out to a tube diffuser (as I said, I was experimenting with diffusion materials).

The batteries are relatively new. Just changed them earlier this week*. Even brand new, however, while I noted a difference with the Ultras, it still wasn't as bright as it should be with a P4.

Solder points have been double-checked. They're pretty solid.

[EDIT]*Sunday, to be exact.

Also, that pic was taken with the lights on and a flash. I think I have one with the lights out and no flash. Let me check.

[EDIT again]
Not here at work. Didn't upload it. I'll do so when I get home later.

**Crystal Chambers** · 05-14-2010, 05:13 AM

I gotta wonder if you have the LED wired correctly. Even it a lit room it should be much brighter. At least enough to have dim light reach the tip.

Nice work on the the hilt though. It looks simple but very effective. The d-ring insert are great aren't they? I would be tempted to use a bezel nut instead of the plastic though.

**The Grey Elf** · 05-14-2010, 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by Crystal Chambers

I gotta wonder if you have the LED wired correctly. Even it a lit room it should be much brighter. At least enough to have dim light reach the tip.

Nice work on the the hilt though. It looks simple but very effective. The d-ring insert are great aren't they? I would be tempted to use a bezel nut instead of the plastic though.

That is a bezel nut. I just installed it yesterday.