Early test on CreeXLamp MR 16 1x3 watt bulb
I am testing some of the new MR 16 Cree XLamp 1x3 bulbs, on most sites rated at 240 to 180 lumens, with quote, "Most of the light in the center spot, 10 to 15 degrees". Many of you and I have been curious about these lights, and having used two 3 watt luxeon 30 degree floods ganged with the beams crossed as a flood, I was wondering if they were really brighter and had a better center spot....or were a spot, or what did MOST of the light in the center mean?
I have run a pretty extensive test, and can answer the question....Are they really a spot bulb?
I find them to be a big, bright, friendly dog named Spud. They are a spud, not a spot.
Its the turbo looking bulb on the web, the one with the three ten degree optics in the center, in one array. Its a metal bulb, nice build quality, have to be sealed around the front face with some plumbers putty if used in a HF pot like on the Pond Scum thread. I have built some of those lights with the Harbor Frieght underwater pots.
What is it? Its more of a 30 plus degree flood with a center that is about 20 degrees, like and maybe 30% of the light is in that center spot. Not MOST of the light, its an odd puppy. It IS at least 160 lumens, one bulb is a lot brighter than my two 3 watt luxeons ganged as a flood. The center 'spud' is about ten ft wide at 60 ft, fairly bright, but its not a tight spot. Plenty of flood potential as a replacement for a halogen flood for run time.
Two of them ganged, are exceptional as a flood, the center spud then is bright out to 30 yards, but there is a lot of light wasted in the trees, around the edges.
What can it do? Flood, single bright do all light for a helmet or bar, if speeds are moderate, two make a wall of light, about 40 watts, for a flood, but its not all where you want it.
I see it as a flood light, run at 3.6 watts, or if you run two it is a massive amount of light, for a commutter, or road, or dense trail, but for fast downhill, its not got the reach, a good helmet spot is required. Think of it as a flood with a spud.
Pictures soon.
I am testing some of the new MR 16 Cree XLamp 1x3 bulbs, on most sites rated at 240 to 180 lumens, with quote, "Most of the light in the center spot, 10 to 15 degrees". Many of you and I have been curious about these lights, and having used two 3 watt luxeon 30 degree floods ganged with the beams crossed as a flood, I was wondering if they were really brighter and had a better center spot....or were a spot, or what did MOST of the light in the center mean?
I have run a pretty extensive test, and can answer the question....Are they really a spot bulb?
I find them to be a big, bright, friendly dog named Spud. They are a spud, not a spot.
Its the turbo looking bulb on the web, the one with the three ten degree optics in the center, in one array. Its a metal bulb, nice build quality, have to be sealed around the front face with some plumbers putty if used in a HF pot like on the Pond Scum thread. I have built some of those lights with the Harbor Frieght underwater pots.
What is it? Its more of a 30 plus degree flood with a center that is about 20 degrees, like and maybe 30% of the light is in that center spot. Not MOST of the light, its an odd puppy. It IS at least 160 lumens, one bulb is a lot brighter than my two 3 watt luxeons ganged as a flood. The center 'spud' is about ten ft wide at 60 ft, fairly bright, but its not a tight spot. Plenty of flood potential as a replacement for a halogen flood for run time.
Two of them ganged, are exceptional as a flood, the center spud then is bright out to 30 yards, but there is a lot of light wasted in the trees, around the edges.
What can it do? Flood, single bright do all light for a helmet or bar, if speeds are moderate, two make a wall of light, about 40 watts, for a flood, but its not all where you want it.
I see it as a flood light, run at 3.6 watts, or if you run two it is a massive amount of light, for a commutter, or road, or dense trail, but for fast downhill, its not got the reach, a good helmet spot is required. Think of it as a flood with a spud.
Pictures soon.