those actually arent the most powerful LEDs you can get, heck, not even on DX.com alone!. The CREE XM-L line has some that extend over 1000lm each and at the same 3.6V. They're slightly more impressive, and more efficient.
Also, your biggest issue was not adressed: heat. These LEDs will cook themselves in seconds if not properly cooled, and these are not. Im guessing that's a steel box. Steel has something like one sixth the heat dissipation of aluminum, and even aluminum would need about 20in^2 of surface to cool the LEDs. The box probably doesn't heat much because of the low thermal conductivity of steel. Plus, a lach of driver or limiting resistors of any kind means that an overcharged 18650 battery will put significantly more power into the LEDs than they should take. In other words, that light is probably burnt out by now. Or at least severly output-reduced.
How is it you come to calculate 1800 lumens when the LEDs are rated to a maximum of 900 lumens each assuming 4.2V @ 2.8A. You would be hard pressed to get that out of two AA cell batteries regardless of what controller board you used. Maybe you could revise those numbers a little and provide some details on the components used.
These are 18650 Liion cells dude. A bit different. But still, you are right to recalculate it, because only the best pieces has 900 lm, the average ones are ussualy about 750-800lm.
Agreed. That is one epic flashlight, but it's not enough to simply mount it in a box. LEDs that powerful need adequate heat sinking or they will burn themselves out in short order.
you know you could just hold up a very dull flashlight up to a camera and it will look super bright because it is so close. try to go outside and check it outside.
you are only getting about 1/3 of the max power to it. I haven't found a controller on that site that is rated for more than 1amp and the P7 maxes at 2.8 amps.
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Also, your biggest issue was not adressed: heat. These LEDs will cook themselves in seconds if not properly cooled, and these are not. Im guessing that's a steel box. Steel has something like one sixth the heat dissipation of aluminum, and even aluminum would need about 20in^2 of surface to cool the LEDs. The box probably doesn't heat much because of the low thermal conductivity of steel.
Plus, a lach of driver or limiting resistors of any kind means that an overcharged 18650 battery will put significantly more power into the LEDs than they should take.
In other words, that light is probably burnt out by now. Or at least severly output-reduced.
Sorry, had to be done.
Lenses and reflectors would be of an advantage, if you were to be able to find adequate ones.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7612
you are only getting about 1/3 of the max power to it. I haven't found a controller on that site that is rated for more than 1amp and the P7 maxes at 2.8 amps.