Neptune Aquatics

need 6500k Dimmable LED set up for microscopes

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I need to build some light sources for some microscopes. I need to be able to dim them and they need to be around 6500k. I built some a few years ago out of luxeon stars but there are WAY better LEDs on the market. What LED ,driver and pot would you use? Source?
 
Simplest/best 6500K is probably Cree XP-G
http://ledsupply.com/creexpg-w139.php

For those LEDs, you can use a 750mA driver, but better to use a 1200mA driver if you need the brightness.
For that, you might want the RECOM one. (Digi key)
But it takes in DC, so you would need a separate supply.
Do you want AC direct, or DC to the driver?
(Most good controllable ones are DC input)

Also : You did not mention budget / cost as important or not.
Lots of cheap equivalent China(procom) stuff on ebay.
 
Gresh, you can get something like

Cool white XPG on board
http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut937
Lens
http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut955
Little heatsink
http://www.cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=Heatsinks
A boost or buckpuck (go with 350mA, dimmable)
http://www.cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=Luxdrive+Drivers

And some wallwart or rechargable batteries :)
 
A simple test on if they would work well, would be an LED flashlight like this
http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_419&products_id=1933

The settings are around 150 mA, 350 mA, 700mA (guestimating)
 
After my latest experience, I would only go with Cutter if you truly need them bin sorted.
Back ordered for a month, even though nothing was labeled out of stock.
Shipping from Australia can be slow, and no tracking number.

BTW: DealXtreme sells the super cheap drivers used in a lot of flashlights.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13557#open%20full%20view
I have a couple of spares of those if you want. Free.
Bit tricky soldering those resistors. And no specs. But has a AC rectifier as well, so all you need is a transformer.
 
This is for work so cost is not as important, especially considering the cost of microscope light sources (off the shelf units).

DC is fine, I can use a wallwart.

Which RECOM would you use?
 
I'm only looking to get like 4 - 6 of them right now. Wired is better, less work for me and I don't feel like soldering circuit boards :D
 
RECOM choice depends on if you want a circuit board or just wires.

If PCB board mount: (through hole, not SMD, so easy)
Use RECOM RCD-24-1.20 (plain)
The -1.20 = 1200mA
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=945-1132-ND
It supports both PWM and Analog dimming.
(This is the one I am using on my main lights.)

If wired, you need to make sure to get the one with analog dimming. Different flavors.
Use RECOM RCD-24-1.20/W/X1
The /W = wired, and the /X1 = analog dimming
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=945-1134-ND

Edit : Wired version, not PCB, is IP67 waterproof, but probably not an issue for a microscope.

If you plan to order decent volume, PM me, and I will send contact for local rep. (Cupertino though)
They will likely give you free samples.
 
The thing with scopes is, the light intensity doesn't matter. The brightness however does. The optical system in the scope determines the maximum divergence that you can couple through the scope, so surface brightness matters.

The 3 up, while super intense, won't couple well. A single super bright chip, or a multi emitter chip would be optically brighter.
 
you should get a dimmable buckpuck that goes no higher then 700 mA unless you plan on using a fan.
http://ledsupply.com/buckpuck.php

Get an R5 XPG
http://ledsupply.com/creexpg-w139.php

A heatsink (passively, I would probably go up to 5-600 mA.
http://ledsupply.com/hs13137.php

and either the plain tight or frosted narrow
http://ledsupply.com/carclo-optics-xpg.php

power with an appropriate wallwart.


They might be able to do something like this
http://ledsupply.com/alk-lh-9w-kit.php
but get you dimmable buckpucks.
 
..because I like to up my post count with more and more posts :p

..if you need some more detailed help with this, get in contact with me and we can talk.
 
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