5w heat sink

**tetmatek** · 08-31-2006, 08:26 PM

I've got an anakin Aotc with a 5w Lux in it mounted to an early css sink tube holder. i was wondering at what point does heat become a problem. I have turned it on and left it to test the tollerance of the LED and it works great still. i built this saber 3 months ago and still no problems i can tell with heat. I also have a luxeon mounted to a water hose end cap that i made before tim was selling holders and it still is a regular on my at home duels (3- 5 A week) The 3w lux has never given a moments trouble. Has anybody pushed the limits harder as i wonder how much abuse they will take. i know what these two sabers represent nothing but luxeon abuse so that goes without saying.

Let's give some feed back on how you,ve pused youe LED to the limits and what they really are.

**james3** · 08-31-2006, 09:06 PM

I have my 5w white in a standard MHS with no extension. The LED is driven by a buckpuck and an eight AAA battery pack (12 volts) I have had no issues with heat at all. No dimmness, nothing, and I even practiced with it for over an hour and a half last night.

I have had the kids go in and play with the sabers and leave them on for who knows how long with no signs of problems.

For Snitz and giggles I want to run a set of LEDs pretty much 24/7 which will probally be off of AC current for landscaping light. Hope to have it done maybe next weekend.

I have a 3w LED that I drove at 4.5 watts with no resistor just to see the effect. I know that it has most likely decimated it's life span but so far it has taken a lickin and kept on tickin.

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**Strydur** · 08-31-2006, 11:07 PM

This is exactly why I scratch my head whenever someone posts about this or that heatsink not providing enough cooling etc. Have they actually tested this theory or just reposting what someone else told them?

Tim
The Custom Saber Shop

**Jedi Ranger** · 09-01-2006, 01:21 AM

Thanks for creating this topic, guys. It's great to read about FIRST-HAND experiences with 5w LEDs. I'm trying to design a couple 5watt hilts, but seeing all these references about enormous heat-sink requirments, has stalled me.

Anyone else running 5watt leds without the ribbed section, and with just a blade holder and sink tube adapter?

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**Ambo** · 09-01-2006, 08:32 AM

And to add to James's post which i am sure that he just forgot to post, we had the 5W he was speaking of on for well, pretty much close to an hour the other day right after we put it together, and not only was performance not effected in a hilt with no extension, but there was no perceivable heat to the external of the hilt, also no major heat discernable from opening it up and finger testing(high tech i know) the LED and heat sink. Sorry james, i hope i didnt step on toes, i jsut wanted to bring that to light(no pun intended).

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**james3** · 09-01-2006, 08:54 AM

No problem dude. I did forget about "touch testing" the LED. I was having to much fun with the solder iron and the K2's.

<font color="orange">ALERT!!!</font id="orange">: I should've known better but always add a solder pad to a spot if one aint there[

] It makes life easier.

I know there has been an ongoing debate on the whole heatsinking the 5w thing but I trust my good old common sense and of course trying for myself. Bottom line: The MHS is a BF heat sink. I would bet the MHS blade holder with the sink tube adapter would be fine with a 5w as well. Especially with holder #3, lot's of surface area. Anyway, I am freaking out to get a royal blue so when I get one I will play some more[

]

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**tetmatek** · 09-01-2006, 09:48 AM

I am actually trying this stuff so it looks like you have a R&D department or call us The CSS Mythbusters LOL

**Firebird21** · 09-01-2006, 11:01 AM

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Strydur

Have they actually tested this theory or just reposting what someone else told them?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Yes...

I'll admit my discussions on this subject are based merely on the other discussions on this forum and not actual experience.

Someone said they get hot, I figured, "OK, lets look at the Heat Sync..."

I'm not ashamed to admit that I have no clue what kind of heat is generated by the more powerful LEDs. In fact, I think that my hands cause more heat in my saber than the 1W LED that's in it...

I'm just going to stop typing now...

Have you read your Thread Index today?
FAQ

Official Designated TCSS Jester!

**Ambo** · 09-01-2006, 11:25 AM

lol...its all good....we found that there was more heat created on the hilt by James's hand....muahahahahaha

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**xwingband** · 09-01-2006, 03:04 PM

Well, before I call it busted tet... There are two things I'd do to confirm it. You'd need to take pictures of it first on and after running a bit. Our eyes are definatly a bugger on this issue and ironically I trust the camera.

Second an infrared heat monitor. Use this to see how hot the LED is getting. I think all Luxeon max rating is 120 (C or F?) at the junction of contact. If it's above that it may look okay, but in the long run you are losing life on the LED.

I totally believe that you can go under the "proper" heatsinking and it still look good, but you are sacraficing something somewhere. Either it less bright (and unnoticable to the eye) or you are cutting the life span down.

If I ever plan on a 5W or more (20W anyone?[

]) and just the sink tube adapter I'm going to add a heatsink to the back of the stock one.

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Before posting did you check the Thread Index?.

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