TOPIC: LEDs

Saberforge 12w+??
or
Tri-Cree XPE-2???

Uh, Tri-Cree.
What's the question?

I was wondering the answer to this myself? If I'm looking to do my own install, what would be the brightest LED? Saberforge or Tri-cree? It's something I might try at some point.

Andi-Jae EL wrote: My question is this^^

Short answer: If you're doing a custom build anyway, go Tri-Cree XP-E2, unless there's a specific color blend in a 12W+ you *really* want or you're not willing to wire your own LED.

Long answer: The Tri-Cree XP-E2 used to easily outshine the old 12W LEDs. However, the new 12W+ use a different Cree that's, on-paper, as bright as an XP-E2. I haven't seen any comparisons between a properly wired XP-E2 Tri and 12W+, so this next bit is conjecture.

I'm going to assume the 12W+ uses an optic solution that maximizes light directed down the length of the blade (and the reduced base flare seems to suggest this).

When Luxeon released their Rebel quad-stars, the saber community did testing to see if they would really be ~30% brighter than a Rebel Tri-star. At the end of the day, the increase in brightness was minimal while there was a definite increase in heat and power consumption. The final consensus was that four LEDs only had a benefit in color mixing - more LEDs closer together and in different proportions gave more options for smoother color mixing.

So if there's a 3+1 color you *really* want (like Indigio's RB/RB/RB/R), then go ahead and grab a 12W+ and an NEC soundboard that can handle a 4A LED unit.

If, however, you want to use a Plecter board without issue, want an LED unit that pulls less power, and can accept a color that only needs 2-3LEDs to mix well (depending on your FoC preference), then Tri-Cree is the way to go.

--

Each LED has its use. I've got a Quinlan Vos in the pipeline waiting for ASP to go live. The plan is to ask SF for a custom Red/Red/Green/Green 12W+ LED unit that I'll wire up to a Spark 2. That way, I'll have the option to swap the blade between Green or Red with a golden-yellow Flash on Clash.

On the other hand, I've also got a personal saber where I'll be ordering a custom star with Green and Amber XP-E2s to mix a nice yellow while saving the third slot for a Royal Blue XT-E or Cool White XP-L for FoC.

And finally, if I ever get around to building an ANH Skywalker, it'll definitely have a Tri-Rebel with Cyan and Blue mixed for the blade and Lime on FoC.

Thanks a lot for the information. The color I'm using is plain old green, since I just bought and empty prodigal son

Kouri wrote:
Agreed, on paper I think the 12W+ is limited to less powerful binning but ends up winning out simply because there is a 4th LED. The XP-E2 LEDs used by the Tri-Cree have more binning options available as compared to the XQ-E's in the 12W+. Here's some data:



So you can see that each color, because of the binning, is going to have different benefits. You should also account for a 33% increase in temperature across the board since both LEDs have junction temperatures of 150 Celsius.

I'll agree with Kouri's assessment in that it really depends on your mixing goals. Otherwise, it's a judgement call on whether the increase is worth the other design considerations.

For my color (green), the difference is about 100 Lumens per Watt, which adds up. However, I am a total n00b to sabers, so I need all of your experience on which one to go with.
BTW if I go with the Tri-Cree, it will be a G/G/G LED with Flicker on Clash.

Goon wrote:
Last I researched, center-mount LED stars had an easier time with thin necks. Go with the 12W+ Green.

Thank you!

While we're on the topic of LEDs,



Anyone have a source for ordering that custom Lime Green/Green/White? TCSS doesn't list LG in the options.

http://www.luxeonstar.com/any-3-rebel-leds-mounted-on-a-20mm-tri-star-sinkpad

BoostinIX wrote:
Pretty sure you're stuck with LuxeonStar if you want custom Lime stars. LEDSupply doesn't carry any Limes.

That said, for a Tano, I find myself preferring G/G/FoC for her main blade and LG/LG/FoC for the Shoto.

I figred as much. Can you determine what white and what green? There's only 1 Lime listed, but 2 greens and a bunch of whites lol. (I think I linked to the right one)

For the greens, I think one is just ~10 lumens brighter. Personal preference. My guess for the white is the 3000K white, but the best way to be sure on either color is to ask Shameem himself.

I did, but as busy as he is, no guarantee he'll have a chance to reply. Figured someone on here will know

Yup, both greens are the same model, you just have the option of paying a dollar more for the higher bin.

For white, Cool White is the typical FoC color, but I tend to prefer warmer/yellower flashes. Either way, the Lime's going to shift everything away from blue.

Great, thanks!

Dumb question, was the model I listed the one I want? They show that black base, rather ask the dumb question than order the wrong thing, lol.

It was mentioned but not emphisized, the LEDs you can buy from saberforge are prewired, registered, and heatsinked.

This thread should be linked in the FAQ--lots of good info about LEDs here from our resident LED experts.
Kouri wrote:
Is there a good place to get quad LEDs with them mounted in the center (other than SF)? The other places I've looked only had the ones on the outside of the base. Reason I'm asking is that I'm planing on my next saber to be something Sith-y, and I'm loving the deep red rebel LEDs Shameem has been using lately.

It probably won't matter if I plan on using the same color for all four (as long as their is an optic that works just as well), but I know that if I need to color mix it makes a big difference. Though if I end up doing a crossguard I'll stick with a tri for the main blade and singles for the quillons to try and maximize battery life.

Jaden Korr wrote:
Not really, no. LED Engin used to make a bunch of 12W single-color stars, but nowadays you can only easily grab the RGGB, RGBW, and RGBA LEDs. Aside from the SF 12W+, the only other center-mount LED I know of is Naigon's Z6, which is basically six Luxeon-Z LEDs center-mounted on a round star - but that one's an R/R/G/G/rB/rB meant for color-mixing.

Also, on the topic of Deep Red (Because I love that color for sith-red sabers), I like using the XP-E Photo Red. You can easily pick up a Tri-Star from LED Supply, and they'll even let you use it on a custom star with other XP-E2 LEDs.

http://www.ledsupply.com/leds/cree-xlamp-xpe-high-power-led-star

Not a knock on Rebels - just that I feel safer overdriving Cree LEDs.