The Lightsaber
I started with a copper round in 26cm diameter and 1.5mm thickness, and bended it to a concave shape to get a 12° angle for the LEDs (to later beam straight into the center of the nanoviv tube).
The Rhodium lamp
Problem with LEDs - much in contrast to the common believe, and to manufacturer's claims - is, that they get really hot - as hot as any other conventional light source of equal luminous efficacy. But in contrast to the latter, the LEDs cannot stand much heat - you will need some cooling to dissipate the waste heat, or the diodes will burn through within a few moments.
As I wanted a simple, compact and aesthetic solution, I chose not to use cooling fans or such, but to go passive cooling. Well, the options for sufficient convectional cooling weren't very encouraging - who would choose a tiny light source to just mount it onto some kind of Death Star? There must be another way.
The Lightsaber V4.0 - Holy Kenoby!
I've made quite some weird lamps in the past, and thought it would be over when I stopped growing Utricularia a decade back. But this is probably the weirdest lamp I've ever made 😳
Two 70Watt HCI lights at both the ends, and one add. 70W one middle right, to imitate noon (3x70W) and sunset (just the latter burning). All in 942 colour, so 4200K at a CRI of about 96.
And then a 150Watt UV light middle left -I've had quite a bit respect here. So I made the lamp extra solid, full metal, all cables thermal protected, ceramic fittings, only true high-voltage plugs and cables.
360 Watt, that is 36.000 lumen, for an area to be lit of 80x30cm, that would be 150.000 lux, for an ideal reflector. My reflector isn't, but not too bad, and lights are made adjustable to bring them into the best possible focal point. UV light will be on for some few minutes at first, maybe half an hour after some weeks. So, altogether, maybe 50.000 lx at the moment - should be enough for the start ;)
