Firehouse arcs vs lumecubes?

[AnzacJack]

As the title says, I’m wondering at visibility. Does anyone have experience with both? I know the Luke cube is a spotlight, but I believe it has strobe mode.

Cheers

 

[RadioFlyerMan]

I have limited experience. Using Firehouse dual Cree. On a sunny day, good out too 1100 feet. At night, about two miles. Arc II would be better. No cube experience. 72 year old eyes.

 

[MikeyMikeOZ]

I was flying yesterday, bright sun to my back, and not a cloud in the sky. I use ARC 2's, and could see the white strobe until about 1500' away, at 200' altitude. It was easier to see the black dot in the sky, than the faint white flash of the strobe.

On the other hand, at twilight the other day, at 400' altitude, I was impressed with the visibility at 1 mile out.

Unfortunately I dont have the answer you are looking for, so thought I would give my input the best I could.

 

[MikeyMikeOZ]

That's me at 400' altitude at about a half mile out.

 

[Bobvt]

Haven't used them yet but I do have the lume cubes,yes they have a strobe and multiple levels of brightness controlled by their own app.Waiting for things to warm up a bit at night to try them out

 

[Hauptmann]

The Lume Cube puts out 1500 lumens. The 4-Cree Arc 2 is substantially less.

 

[Footlock]

I have been experimenting with white and red strobons, they flash and are rechargeable, great little units and can be seen for a Long way. I have just come in from flying my mavic and used them because I mounted a 100 watt led, driver, wired it in to my mavic red leds. Results were great, output is apparently 13000 lumens. Really did light up the field at 40 m height

 

[BigAl07]

I have FH Arcs on order but have used previous versions of FH strobes with GREAT success. We have LC but use them for spotlights as thier weight is a significant factor.

The FH strobes we have (dual LED) were tested to be visible at well over 2 miles (we don't have an area 3 miles to verify but we are more than satisfied they exceed the 3 mile requirement for Night Ops.

 

[pjarvo18]

I have the single Cree strobe in white (put 2 on extended rear MP1 landing gear) and Lume Cubes. It really depends on what you want and when you are flying. Lume Cubes can strobe or be set to stay on via Bluetooth. They do have some added weight which will affect flight time. The strobes will add some visibility in daylight hours and quite a bit at dusk and at night. I’ve only used my Lume Cubes for night flights but set them at 50% power (750 lumens each) and my bird looks like an airplane at 400 feet altitude and 3000 feet out.

 

[AnzacJack]

didnt realise the lumecubes where that weighty, but it makes sense.
I have the original single strobe crees but didn't find them to be particularly great so haven't used them in a long time. I dont fly at night (not that i want flashing lights drawing attention to) so mainly a bit of extra daylight visibility for my old eyes
im looking at these now
"Lightning" UAS Commercial White Drone Strobe Light FAA 107 Compliant
they state 20% brighter, but not sure what they are relating this too.

 

[Hauptmann]

I have been experimenting with white and red strobons, they flash and are rechargeable, great little units and can be seen for a Long way. I have just come in from flying my mavic and used them because I mounted a 100 watt led, driver, wired it in to my mavic red leds. Results were great, output is apparently 13000 lumens. Really did light up the field at 40 m height

13 THOUSAND lumens? Please upload a photo of your setup!

 

[Hauptmann]

I have the single Cree strobe in white (put 2 on extended rear MP1 landing gear) and Lume Cubes. It really depends on what you want and when you are flying. Lume Cubes can strobe or be set to stay on via Bluetooth. They do have some added weight which will affect flight time. The strobes will add some visibility in daylight hours and quite a bit at dusk and at night. I’ve only used my Lume Cubes for night flights but set them at 50% power (750 lumens each) and my bird looks like an airplane at 400 feet altitude and 3000 feet out.

Have you tested your LumeCubes at sunset? Do you have 2mile visibility then?

 

[Footlock]

Hauptman,
Apologies for delay, I work overseas and am home this weekend, so here are some photos.

 

[Footlock]

Photos attached

 

[Footlock]

Try again

 

[Footlock]

Some more photos.
I turn on via C1 button after soldering two wires to the main board for the front led.
Lipo is a 6s 1250 cell which I use for my little 280 size rc Heli’s. They last a full flight.
The flight time with additional weigh is circa 11 minutes, battery gets warm. Stability is good but I flight on the slow side due to obvious variables.
All flights are carried out over my own land so no one is in danger as all private property.
The 13000 lumens is very very bright, I bought the kit from the USA, they supply 100 watt led, alumium support, 100 watt driver.

 

[Footlock]

Also, the first photo shows a reflective lens I removed from a torch to make the light beam more direct. Prior to this I was using the magnifier lens that sits on the led, but the beam of light was more widespread, so I put on the torch reflector and it made the beam of light more focused.
The whole unit is kept cool by the down wash of the prop.

 

[Footlock]

Last photos

 

[pjarvo18]

Have you tested your LumeCubes at sunset? Do you have 2mile visibility then?

I haven’t tested 2 miles but what I have seen of them there would be no problem seeing them from 2 miles. I typically only fly out about 3500 feet or so max. Farthest out I’ve ever been is 5400 feet but did have the Strobon Cree’s on at that time and could see it and the Lume Cubes are way brighter than those.

 

[Thomas B]

If your batteries/drone can handle the weight and you keep altitude to see them, then the Lume cube is your best bet. Determining orientation may be a bit more challenging.

Personally I fly with FH ARC2s, red and green on front legs in Aerial Pixel mounts (works fine with PolarPro retractable LG), and a white FH ARC2 on each rear leg. In midday AZ sun I can easily see them at about a mile, and in the flat AZ desert at dusk or dawn, flying away from the sun, maybe as far as 1.75-2 miles. Beyond this I really have to look hard.