I assembled the front end of the head; bezel, glass, optic, MCPCB, spacers.
The driver was soldered to the wires from the MCPCB and e-switch
Driver retaining ring threaded into place.
It works!
I have an idea of how to mount a charger board (TP4056) inside the head. I believe there is plenty of space. We’ll see.
When it gets dark I’ll have to go for a walk!
Its good to see the light finished and working Don. :+1:
Nice mod! I really like these lights, shame Richard stopped carrying them. If you know me, I don't need the tail switch. I got 2 of the 1st models, and one with the metal side switch which I like much better.
$32 is a bit steep for this light but not that bad really. Was wondering if Ali stored like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/L5 are actually selling the new model, just didn't update the listing.
MtnDon, take a look at these two chargers. I have done a lot of looking researching these small charge circuits and these are the smalles and best I have found. And up to 2amp charge. Heat management needed at 2amps though. I have used them both in different lights. They charge perfectly. Atleast mine did.
Thanks for those LightRider. The second link led to a page with 24 items. Which item or was that a slip?
I went for a walk with the modded L5-S. Oooh, I like it! I have a couple of other triples and both have the Ledil Cute-3-SS with a FWHM angle of 19 degrees. This L5-S has the Cute-3-M with an angle of 24 degrees. On paper not much of a difference, however, I think prefer the 24 degree versionfor how I will likely use the light.
I need to charge up one of my Keeppower 5200 cells and see what the light sphere indicates . Tomorrow I hope.
Give it a try now. It’s 17x18mm and a nice charger
Thank you, that works now!!
Nice work MtnDon 
If you get the charge module installed as well then it will have the spec’s of a much pricier light :+1:
Does this light have a threaded in aluminum pill that the led sits on?
It looks like it does, so why didn’t you screw it out a little to get a tighter fit as opposed to adding a thin spacer to raise the mcpcb?
Yep, here's pics from an old L5 (rubber button) I modded:
It looks like the old L5 does not have a self contained switch. I guess the switch was built onto the driver.
This new L5 looks pretty ideal for a 6 volt, zener modded driver to power a xhp70 using 26350’s. It’s a high drain driver, but you have the rear switch to act as a lockout.
I could switch the rear switch on when I get to work, have the side switch illuminated to tell me it’s powered up, then control it with the side switch. Power it off at the end of work. I recharge the batteries once a week so the drain while in standby mode should not be a big deal.
I think this new L5 design is just right for my needs.
I’ll try to explain w/o disassembly and better photos.
The screw in pill has a recess milled in the center. The recess is 3 mmdeep.
The X6 spacer is about 31 mm O.D and 8.6 mm thick. One side or end of the spacer has the diameter reduced to 21 mm. That 21 mm diameter protrudes 2 mm.
So,the X6 spacer fits into the recess and the pill and X6 spacer only touch on the outer rim area. The 1 mm spacer disc I made fills the space between the 21 mm diameter portion of the X6 spacer and the pill center.
The MCPCB fits flat against the front end of the X6 spacer as normal. Except I removed a fraction of a mm off the front end of the X6 spacer to enable the bezel to screw in more.
I hope that clarifies things.
Battery: Keepower 5200 mAh 26650.
Fresh charge, cell rested for a couple of hours.
Metering with the integrating sphere and meter that JoshK put together.
After 30 seconds on Turbo I have 2920 lumens.
Pretty happy with that.
Now the sad news… After packing away the sphere and meter I picked up the light and turned it on (rear switch), then tapped the side switch 2x. The light did not come on like it should have. Tapped again and nothing. Did a long press to go backwards. Nothing. Long press again. Nothing. Another long press and it roared into Turbo. ???
After messing about for a while I find I have something like a moonlight or low mode and the three highest levels. (Driver is setup for ML and 6 increasing levels, [1] 1.5% [2] 4% [3] 10% [4] 25% [5] 50% [6] 100%I removed the head from the battery tube and could smell that something had released magic smoke. :cry: The chips all look okay… no bubbles, etc.
Any idea what might have gone wrong? Thanks
I have another driver with same specs that I know works and it has worked in another light for some time.
So you lost 2 of the 7 levels? Sounds odd. I have no idea what could have happened.
Could you do a beam shot on the wall? I wanted to compare it to the DQG Tiny 26650 7x xpg2. It’s got a clear lens which makes for weak spill lighting. I’m thinking your textured lens might provide brighter spill lighting which I prefer.
I clarified what I stated above. It seems that ML is there some of the time, the next 3 low levels are gone and the highest three are there. ML is iffy, sometimes it comes on and sometimes not, mostly not now. I have better luck if I power on, then use a long press to reverse to Turbo, then level 5 and level 4, then nothing several times. Seems like the MCU is working, the FET us working, hence the highest levels work, but maybe not the 7135???
I pulled the driver and replaced it with another I had. Of course it was not quite so simple as the first driver was 20 mm and the other I have is a 17 mm. So, I first soldered a 17-20 brass adapter ring to the brass plate, then mounted the 17 mm driver and reconnected the wires. Perfect light again.
I have a some 7135’s someplace…. what box, what compartment did I put them in???
Think'n bad 7135, yes.
Ohh - and yes, old original L5 had the switch driver mounted. The new metal switch L5's went to a separate switch PCB, like an SRK.
There are 3 version of the L5 now:
rev 1 - black rubber switch
rev 2 - replaced switch with a metal switch on a separate PCB
rev 3 - added tail switch and USB charging
Though I do like the L5 in rev 2 or rev 3, it's a big light for a typical 40 mm head diameter light. The Lumintop SD26 is way more compact, though also a bit smaller reflector.
I’ll try replacing the 7135; I found the three I have saved from a driver I removed them from.
I have to admit the L5 is a little on the large size. However, that helps make it relatively easy to work on the head. I’d like to see a 18650 size tube on the same head, maybe. Anyhow, it is a nice light and might be even more cool with Narsil and a triple.
Only through these Taobao sellers? I haven’t been able to find a decent price on these lights anywhere else. I could use a couple of hosts like this. Anyone know where I can get them without going though Taobao?
This Ali store for SupFire L5, $24.50 shipped, but shows rev 1. Have to ask the seller if the pics are accurate, or is it rev 3 they are shipping now.