Hi I have 2 identical harbor freight spotlights one I put Cree xp-e2 red in and works great second one I put in Cree xp-e red and all it does is turn on for a second I test with other leds and it stays on what could be the problem?
Why would you MOD anything from Harbor Freight? I regret buying cheap tools from them. I learned my lesson. Total waste of money and JUNK.
Forward voltage range may be incompatible with your driver if the light has one.
Without knowing what powers the light, it is possible that voltage drops below the forward voltage as soon as current is drawn by the led, which explains why you get a brief flash then no more. Maybe your other leds have lower forward voltages.
Way too many variables without knowing more about the light, how it is powered, what the driver is, etc.
It was cheap and something to tinker with i use it for 4 hrs everytime I go hunting 3 to 4 nights a week
It probably is the xp-e takes more power to drive than xp-e2
Understandable. But would you trust your life if you needed solid light? My point is Harbor Freight Tools are JUNK. Cheaply made. To the average Joe Harbor Freight is good quality. Mechanics, avid do it craftman know Harbor Freight crappy quality.
I was just curious about why you wanted to modify? best of luck.
12 bucks for spotlight 5 bucks for portable 6000mah power bank and 4 bucks for free Cree xp-e2 red i have equivalent to a 300 dollar hunting spotlight I was just asking a simple question not your opinion on the quality of tools if you like overpaying for things more power to you
There are certainly good things and bad things to buy at harbor freight. But you are on a flashlight forum, so we could definitly find you a much better light for around $20 which will be more durable and more effective (about 5x as many lumens) than modifying a harbor freight light. We definitively are not overpaying for lights on the budget side of things and the lights we recommend are verified to kick ass.
Oh yeah, and for $300......you can light up villages
https://des.gbtcdn.com/uploads/pdm-desc-pic/Electronic/image/2017/07/28/1501236139692419.jpg
The linked photo looks staged. Shady marketing tactics. Based on the direction the light is pointed there would be no way for the grass to the right of the person holding it to be illuminated to that degree. I will be avoiding that company’s products.
I don’t disagree there’s some sub par items there but my modded light is just as bright as a 200 dollar foxpro. Im talking about red lights and I don’t use it to light up a whole field I need a tight long throwing beam, red filters block close to 70% light transmission.
you think the Chinese could do a better Photoshop lol
if the led vf is what is tripping it just put 1 or 2 1n400x diodes in series with the led.
each drops about .7 v.
if 1 is not enough try 2 in series.
the op asked for a possible solution.
not to get berated for buying it.
btw that same light is sold on tool trucks with a huge markup.
this is a case where buying it at hf is a good thing.
You do know that this forum is build on guys that to these type of things??
Back in the day it was common to buy those cheap things and mod them into great lights. 