Isn't the
point of the S4 cooler light, as in less I.R. is emitted. Not that the body of the
instrument itself is cooler. Shouldn't the body actually be warmer than an older aluminum
reflector instrument with most of the I.R. being passed directly into the body around the
reflector?
Yep! Yet both statements are true! A
fixture can dump it's heat in a number of ways:
1) The body gets hot.
2) Convection- hot air comes out.
3) As output through the
lens.
The best way is through convection. Using a Diachronic mirror, heat is diverted from the
lens by not being reflected there to begin with. Proper ventilation allows this heat to leave as hot air (as compared to the body getting hot), or using a "
heat sink" radiator. So, we know that some heat is going to end up in the beam. If it is aligned right, there is little splash inside and what heat remains does leave through the
lens. (or so it would work in a perfect world!)
Priorities are:
1) Don't make the heat to begin with! (future light source development.)
2) Don't make the heat part of the beam! (Diachronic reflectors, transferring heat to the air and good ventilation.)
3) Get all of the beam out of the light! (Minimize light wasted by splash back or absorbed by lenses.)
The S4 is a great start! I can't wait for the future!