LED Supernova Unleashes 1500 Watts of Blinding Power

Matthew Perks has truly outdone himself with his new invention, a highly portable powerhouse surrounded by one of the world’s brightest LEDs. The device, known as the LED supernova, takes 1.5 kilowatts of power and converts it into a dangerously eye-searing 120,000 lumens, all in a compact box weighing only 25 kg and remaining (amazingly) portable.

Perks’ idea begins with a large LED array that can produce light so bright that it’s like staring directly into the face of a rushing car; standard car headlights simply can’t compete. The difficulty is that any standard power system would have destroyed the light source long ago, so Perks had to design and build a completely new cooling / power system from scratch. This beast is made up of six copper radiators, each with three fans, resulting in a hexagonal structure with an astonishing 18 fans tied together with rubber tubing.

The action revolves around a handcrafted hexagon-shaped metal reservoir. This item is quite adaptable; its external casing serves as a mounting platform for voltage regulator boards, allowing for rapid heat dissipation via thermal pads. The pump draws liquid from a central chamber, and a glass window provides a good view of the flow. Perks has gone above and above to ensure that all of the joints are waterproof, that there is a bleed valve to release any air pockets, and that it does not leak when the pressure is applied.

The LED is connected to a massive copper water block via soldered pipes and brackets that also function as supports, much like creating a unique suspension system for the light source. The half sphere lens and Fresnel lens function well together, capturing stray photons and directing them into the spotlight as a tight beam. The external potentiometer allows you to change the brightness using a large brass gear, and the other dial (which controls temperature) isn’t far behind.

Power comes from a huge lithium-polymer battery pack capable of producing up to 5.3 kilowatts, similar to those used in high-draw RC applications. There is a built-in management system that monitors everything and prevents negative things from happening, such as shorts, over-discharging, and excessive current. The battery pack is housed in a very handsome polished brass enclosure that not only keeps things secure but also adds some serious beauty, and six different regulator boards split the load in a way that keeps the heat at bay, with each capable of managing a surprisingly high 250 watts.

An Arduino board ensures safety by monitoring coolant flow, temperature, and pump speed. Everything operates great until it reaches its limits, at which point the entire system shuts down, cutting power quickly to save that expensive LED from blowing out in the middle of a run. He was able to put it all together using only simple hand tools such as a jigsaw for cutting brass, a vise to bend it into shape, and some careful soldering to ensure it was securely fastened. There are also 3D printed templates available to assist you mark up sheet material correctly. He even added additional straps made of leather and copper piping with handles to make the 25 kg monster more movable.

The tests show the system functioning as smoothly as a well-oiled machine, full power or not; the coolant only reaches 32 degrees Celsius, the fans spin at a cool 74%, and the LED substrate remains nice and cool at 65 degrees, well below its danger zone. No matter what strain you put on the battery, it will run for 15 minutes without blinking. That leaves plenty of time for longer demonstrations. Let’s just say that the light is very spectacular; it can light a match from 20 feet away simply by emitting photons, eliminating the need for any infrared.