How to make a flashlight reflector?

[John Doe]

My powerful LED spotlight has a highly focused beam and I would
like to make it more like a floodlight by changing the reflector
(or however). Hopefully the light can be projected as a uniform
spot at roughly 20° or 25°. Any experiences, ideas, or references
would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Tom Biasi]

"John Doe" <jdoe@usenetlove.invalid> wrote in message
news:006fad99$0$8196$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...

My powerful LED spotlight has a highly focused beam and I would
like to make it more like a floodlight by changing the reflector
(or however). Hopefully the light can be projected as a uniform
spot at roughly 20° or 25°. Any experiences, ideas, or references
would be appreciated.

Thanks.
You could try moving the light source a different distance on the axis

through the center of the reflector.
If your device is using a lens then you may have to change or adjust it.

Tom

 

[pimpom]

John Doe wrote:

My powerful LED spotlight has a highly focused beam and I would
like to make it more like a floodlight by changing the
reflector
(or however). Hopefully the light can be projected as a uniform
spot at roughly 20° or 25°. Any experiences, ideas, or
references
would be appreciated.

Thanks.

The basic idea is to move the LED away from the focal point of
the beam focussing device (whether lens or parabolic reflector).
When the LED is at its focus, all rays from the LED are projected
as parallel straight lines in front of it. You can spread out the
beam by moving the LED off-focus.

You can also place a diffuser in front of the reflector, as is
done with car headlights, to scatter the focussed beam.

 

[Jamie]

John Doe wrote:

My powerful LED spotlight has a highly focused beam and I would
like to make it more like a floodlight by changing the reflector
(or however). Hopefully the light can be projected as a uniform
spot at roughly 20° or 25°. Any experiences, ideas, or references
would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Go buy some stainless steel cookware bowls and use those for

reflectors!

 

[terryS]

On Nov 14, 12:15 pm, Jamie
<jamie_ka1lpa_not_valid_after_ka1l...@charter.net> wrote:

John Doe wrote:
My powerful LED spotlight has a highly focused beam and I would
like to make it more like a floodlight by changing the reflector
(or however). Hopefully the light can be projected as a uniform
spot at roughly 20° or 25°. Any experiences, ideas, or references
would be appreciated.

Thanks.

  Go buy some stainless steel cookware bowls and use those for
reflectors!

If it's a small flashlight/torch stick some crumpled Al foil around
the the reflector to de-focus it. A f/ight is hardly a precise
scientific device. If the bulb cannot be relocated easily bend or
deform the reflector to get a 'patchy' reflection of the light from
it.
It's rather ironic that an LED famed for its small brilliant (point
source) of light is not doing the job since the OP needs a more
'floodlight' or broadly spread light!

 

[John Doe]

Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:

Incandescent bulbs send light in all directions

So does a Cree XLamp XR-E. Years ago I played with many different
types of LEDs, and I vaguely recall clear (undiffused) white LEDs
throwing light forwards, but these do not.




--
thanks to the replies

 

[John Doe]

"pimpom" <pimpom@invalid.com> wrote:

....

The basic idea is to move the LED away from the focal point of
the beam focussing device (whether lens or parabolic reflector).
When the LED is at its focus, all rays from the LED are
projected as parallel straight lines in front of it. You can
spread out the beam by moving the LED off-focus.

You can also place a diffuser in front of the reflector, as is
done with car headlights, to scatter the focussed beam.

Thanks, there are some lenses at Digi-Key that fit my application,
made by Ledil (like the FA10306_CRS-O or FA10328_CRS-SS or
others).

 

[John Doe]

John Doe <jdoe@usenetlove.invalid> wrote:

"pimpom" <pimpom@invalid.com> wrote:

...

You can also place a diffuser in front of the reflector, as is
done with car headlights, to scatter the focussed beam.

...lenses at Digi-Key that fit my application, made by Ledil
(like the FA10306_CRS-O or FA10328_CRS-SS or others).

Bought some 14° spotlight and 12° by 48° oval lenses. Looks good.




--
thanks to the replies

 

[pimpom]

John Doe wrote:

John Doe <jdoe@usenetlove.invalid> wrote:

"pimpom" <pimpom@invalid.com> wrote:

...

You can also place a diffuser in front of the reflector, as
is
done with car headlights, to scatter the focussed beam.

...lenses at Digi-Key that fit my application, made by Ledil
(like the FA10306_CRS-O or FA10328_CRS-SS or others).

Bought some 14° spotlight and 12° by 48° oval lenses. Looks
good.

Tell us how they work out.