Terminology: Difference between revisions
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;bezel: the front of a flashlight; the part containing/surrounding the lens. | ;bezel: the front of a flashlight; the part containing/surrounding the lens. | ||
;bin: an LED classification that describes the performance of a particular [[LED]] model - flux (brightness), tint, and Vf. Example: UV1J. [[Cree]] uses bin numbers P4, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, R2, R3, R4, R5, S2 each denoting a roughly 5% increase in output. As | ;bin: an LED classification that describes the performance of a particular [[LED]] model - flux (brightness), tint, and Vf. Example: UV1J. [[Cree]] uses bin numbers P4, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, R2, R3, R4, R5, S2 each denoting a roughly 5% increase in output. As LEDs come out of the factory, they are tested and put in actual bins based on their performance. | ||
;<span id="BLF">BLF</span>: [http://budgetlightforum.com Budget Light Forum], an online forum dedicated to [[budget lights]]. | ;<span id="BLF">BLF</span>: [http://budgetlightforum.com Budget Light Forum], an online forum dedicated to [[budget lights]]. | ||
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;crenelated: scalloped bezel at the front of a light, to 1) help prevent accidentally leaving the light on when stood on its head; 2) increase utility as a weapon, especially on larger lights (tail is sometimes crenelated too). Sometimes spelled "crenulated." | ;crenelated: scalloped bezel at the front of a light, to 1) help prevent accidentally leaving the light on when stood on its head; 2) increase utility as a weapon, especially on larger lights (tail is sometimes crenelated too). Sometimes spelled "crenulated." | ||
;<span id="CRI">CRI</span>: Color Rendering Index - a value indicating how well a light source will show colors, with 100 being a perfect representation. A typical cool white LED might have a CRI as high as 70. The term "High CRI" seems to apply with a value of 80, but some | ;<span id="CRI">CRI</span>: Color Rendering Index - a value indicating how well a light source will show colors, with 100 being a perfect representation. A typical cool white LED might have a CRI as high as 70. The term "High CRI" seems to apply with a value of 80, but some LEDs have values in the low 90's. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_rendering_index Wikipedia article]. | ||
<span id="D"></span> | <span id="D"></span> | ||
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:2. The ability for a flashlight capable of multiple levels of output to remember the last-used level and return to that level the next time it is switched on. | :2. The ability for a flashlight capable of multiple levels of output to remember the last-used level and return to that level the next time it is switched on. | ||
;MCPCB: Metal Core Printed Circuit Board. This is the type of board on which | ;MCPCB: Metal Core Printed Circuit Board. This is the type of board on which LEDs are usually mounted. They are metal to help transfer heat and are then attached to a pill or heat sink. Sometimes called a "star" or just a "board." | ||
<span id="N"></span> | <span id="N"></span> | ||
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;recoil: or "recoil thrower" is a flashlight design where the LED is mounted on an arm just under the center of the lens, facing backwards into the reflector. Such a light can produce a very intense hotspot with great throw and very little spill. One downside is there is not much heatsinking to carry heat away from the LED. | ;recoil: or "recoil thrower" is a flashlight design where the LED is mounted on an arm just under the center of the lens, facing backwards into the reflector. Such a light can produce a very intense hotspot with great throw and very little spill. One downside is there is not much heatsinking to carry heat away from the LED. | ||
;reflow: or "reflow soldering," a technique used to solder surface mount devices to pads on circuit boards. The pads have a little solder, then the device to be mounted is put in place and the entire board is heated until the solder melts. This is how | ;reflow: or "reflow soldering," a technique used to solder surface mount devices to pads on circuit boards. The pads have a little solder, then the device to be mounted is put in place and the entire board is heated until the solder melts. This is how LEDs are usually attached to their star or board. The heating can be done on the stove, in an oven, or with a hot air gun. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflow_soldering Wikipedia article]. | ||
;regulator: in a flashlight, a circuit that takes energy from a battery and converts it to a (usually) constant current or voltage to feed the flashlight's light element (either an LED or bulb). Using a regulator, the flashlight's brightness usually stays constant for the majority of the lifetime of the battery, and then output drops quickly and significantly as the battery is no longer able to supply the required energy. Non-regulated flashlights (also called direct-drive) usually start out at a high output, and then the output diminishes gradually over the lifetime of the battery. See article [[Driver]]. | ;regulator: in a flashlight, a circuit that takes energy from a battery and converts it to a (usually) constant current or voltage to feed the flashlight's light element (either an LED or bulb). Using a regulator, the flashlight's brightness usually stays constant for the majority of the lifetime of the battery, and then output drops quickly and significantly as the battery is no longer able to supply the required energy. Non-regulated flashlights (also called direct-drive) usually start out at a high output, and then the output diminishes gradually over the lifetime of the battery. See article [[Driver]]. | ||
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;SF: [[SureFire]] or sometimes [[Solarforce]], two flashlight manufacturers. | ;SF: [[SureFire]] or sometimes [[Solarforce]], two flashlight manufacturers. | ||
;showerhead: a flashlight with a cluster of low-powered | ;showerhead: a flashlight with a cluster of low-powered LEDs. Generally these are very inexpensive lights (9 LEDs seems common), but some have hundreds of LEDs and actually give off a decent amount of floody light. | ||
;SinkPAD: a brand name of LED MCPCB that is designed to conduct heat away from an LED more efficiently than typical boards, therefore keeping the LED cooler, increasing brightness and LED life. | ;SinkPAD: a brand name of LED MCPCB that is designed to conduct heat away from an LED more efficiently than typical boards, therefore keeping the LED cooler, increasing brightness and LED life. | ||
;SMD: Surface Mount Device - most high-power LEDs used in flashlights are mounted this way where legs of a component (LED, capacitor, resitor, diodes, etc.) are soldered to pads on the surface of the circuit board (as opposed to through-hole soldering where the legs of the | ;SMD: Surface Mount Device - most high-power LEDs used in flashlights are mounted this way where legs of a component (LED, capacitor, resitor, diodes, etc.) are soldered to pads on the surface of the circuit board (as opposed to through-hole soldering where the legs of the LEDs go into holes on the circuit board which are then soldered on the underside with the excess leg length clipped off). | ||
;<span id="SMO">SMO</span>: a reflector with a smooth finish. Designed for better throw, but also shows imperfections in the LED (e.g. rings). Compare to OP. | ;<span id="SMO">SMO</span>: a reflector with a smooth finish. Designed for better throw, but also shows imperfections in the LED (e.g. rings). Compare to OP. | ||
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<span id="Y"></span> | <span id="Y"></span> | ||
<span id="Z"></span> | <span id="Z"></span> | ||
;<span id="Vf">Vf</span>: Forward Voltage (a property of an [[LED]]). The voltage drop across a LED at a given current. If two | ;<span id="Vf">Vf</span>: Forward Voltage (a property of an [[LED]]). The voltage drop across a LED at a given current. If two LEDs are identical except one has a lower Vf, the one with the lower Vf will draw a higher current from a battery and will also be brighter. | ||