Super bright IR LEDs?

[Rudolf Ladyzhenskii]

Hi, all

I have to build an IR projector. I need to very brightly light up range of
about 15-30cm. I was thinking of using some superbright IR LEDs (if those
exist) and position them along the edge of object.

Any other ideas on how to achieve that?

Thanks,
Rudolf

 

[Phil Allison]

Hi, all

I have to build an IR projector. I need to very brightly light up range of
about 15-30cm. I was thinking of using some superbright IR LEDs (if those
exist) and position them along the edge of object.

Any other ideas on how to achieve that?

** Why use LEDs at all if you do not need to modulate the light ??
Incandescent lamps emit huge amounts of IR light plus a the bit of visible
that we see - a simple IR filter will remove that.




.............. Phil

 

[Rudolf Ladyzhenskii]

I need something small in size as well as something I can run off lower
voltage.

Rudolf

 

[Phil Allison]

I need something small in size as well as something I can run off lower
voltage.

** Use small lamps - wire ended ones or lilliput bulbs.

Either of these will have 20 times the IR output of a LED.


........... Phil

 

[KLR]

I need something small in size as well as something I can run off lower
voltage.

Model railway supply companies often stock some very small bulbs
Have a friend that was much into building model train layouts and some
bulbs in common use for these purposes (scale lighting etc) - referred
to as "grain of wheat" or "grain of sand" bulbs (dont know if these
are industry standard terms or just local slang) - were amazingly
tiny - smaller than LEDs but had quite usable light output in spite of
their tiny size. (they may have been available in 3v too but not sure)
Might be worthwhile checking out larger hobby (or model railway
specialist) shops or doing a search for such items via google



Another easier to find (and probably cheaper) alternative is in WES
catalog as "car stereo illumination bulbs". These are wire ended, or
end in 10 cm insulated flying leads and many would be similar in size
to a LED as I recall them. I have used these a few times in
applications where a small bulb is needed - or where you want a simple
soldered connection with no socket needed (ie: PCB mounting them)


-=

 

[Bushy]

Another easier to find (and probably cheaper) alternative is in WES

catalog as "car stereo illumination bulbs".

There are a multitude of bulbs around, from cheap spotlights down to some
really small units.

Many of these run from 12 volts, but 6 volts or 24 volts are just as easy. A
car battery can drive a spotlight with an aluminium foil cover over it that
will project a bloody good IR at lower wavelengths, while a sheet of black
slide film, that has been developed while unexposed will make an effective
shorter wavelength IR filter material and is cheap to get. Slide film is
also available in 8" by 10" sheets, and can be processed quite cheaply. It
handles a little heat when used as a gel and if you have enough light and
heat to melt it, well, my 1500 watt floods might even with the full 8" by
10" sheet.

Do you want to do photography or?

Peter

 

[Trevor Wilson]

Hi, all

I have to build an IR projector. I need to very brightly light up range of
about 15-30cm. I was thinking of using some superbright IR LEDs (if those
exist) and position them along the edge of object.

Any other ideas on how to achieve that?

**The best IR LEDs I've found are from RS Components. P# 577-538

 

[Patrick]

Try C&K Components Plus (02 9635 0799 NSW / 03 9587 4044 VIC)

Patrick.