LEDs

From CPFWiki

1 Overview
2 5mm
3 3mm/8mm/10mm
4 Luxeon
- 4.1 Bin Codes
5 External Links

[edit] Overview

LED stands for light emitting diode, and they are probably the most common source of lighting that you will find out CPF. The term "LED" is similar to say, "incandescent bulb" in that there are many different types, sizes, wattages, and brands. The sizes are 3mm, 5mm, 8mm, 10mm, and then after that you move into luxeon star territory. The 5mm LEDs are very common, as well as the luxeon stars.

[edit] 5mm

5mm LEDs are very common in the LED world. They are, well, 5mm in diamemter. They are liked for the reasonably bright output, mixed with a good combination of runtime. Due to their size, often time flashlights will use many of these for a brighter beam.

[edit] 3mm/8mm/10mm

These LEDs are all related to one another, and the 5mm type. The 3, 8, and 10mm models are less common than the 5mm, but they still exist. 3mms are rarely found as a primary light source. Often times they are used for locator beacons instead. 8mm and 10mm are brighter versions of the 5mm, but for some reason never really became very popular or "mainstream" if you will.

[edit] Luxeon

Luxeon stars/emitters come in a few different types. Most commonly are the LuxeonI, LuxeonIII, and LuxeonV. These are also referred to as one watts, three watts, and five watts respectively, but because they don't necessarily have to be driven at their recommended wattages, they are sometimes called by the roman numeral counterparts. The LuxeonI is usually a little closer to 1.2 or 1.25 watts. The LuxeonI was the first to come out, followed by the LuxeonV. The LuxeonI has one "die" which is the light emitting part, and the LuxeonV was constructed by adding three more of these "dies" for a total of four. The LuxV's four dies are wired in series-parallel. One problem this presents is additional heat. Also, the four dies create a larger light source area, which makes it more difficult to acheive a tight beam. Usually LuxV's are more suited towards flood-type beams. A while after the LuxeonV's came out, the LuxeonIII's hit the stage. They have just one die as do the LuxI's, but they are constructed a little more substantially than the LuxI's, and are able to be driven at a higher wattage. Now, you don't see many LuxI's around, because they are pretty much the same price as the LuxIII's, but don't offer quite as good performance.