Potting, beginner to advanced

Hi,

I don’t know how to pot flashlight, and would love a complete beginner’s course on it (intermediate and advanced welcome): where in the head of the light I can pour epoxy in, compatibility with specific chemicals, drivers, etc. if any.

I’m planning on potting my C8+, hence this thread.

I’m not just looking for potting material option, but rather, a guide of where, and how to pot.

Hope to hear from you soon.

this is a great idea, I would love the same input. looked through youtube but found varying degrees of success on there. a guide focused on flashlights would be great.

Guys, any thoughts? It’s a bit dark in here.

Topic reminds me of Pflexpro company. These guys are expert in potting lights.

I’ve never had the chance to try one from them. However, based on the photo, I’d say they pour epoxy even on the driver itself? Is that applied to the entire head of the light?

I used MG 832 epoxy Black Epoxy

Be aware that whatever you potting you need to seal all gaps to make sure potting compound gets only where you need it.
For example this MG epoxy seems thick but it will get into smallest voids and leak if not properly secured.

Also this one is permanent, hard stuff, impossible to remove without braking whatever was potted.

You may look into some urethane based potting compounds, these are soft and flexible.

Stay away from stuff that is not meant for potting. Some epoxies shrink or expand too much when curing. It may cause electronic components to dislocate and break circuit.

Utilizing the search button, I found several threads already here on BLF.

Here are a few:

Hope this helps

My 4000lm XHP-70 light never gets HOT………. as the LED fries?

It will now… :smiley:

Ah, thanks! I didn’t have the chance to open further links because I was on a cellphone. Will check them out.

@KawiBoy1428: I’m sorry I really can’t follow what you’re saying. Can you elaborate?

Hi,
Thanks for your input! Is it correct to say that I can pour the potting material directly on the driver, and it still works?

The whole heat sink is filled with Alum-Fast. just drilled tapped holes to mount board and drilled for pass thru leads. Cheap and it works.

I also use MG Chemicals…

This whole head (module) is potted with MG Chemicals thermal potting, driver, copper sink, reflector.

The head can go on different battery tubes I made…

That looks awesome! You made those lights?

Mostly……can’t buy them like that…based on the M3 Combat Lights and 961/962 weapon lights, had some help from a couple friends…

Battery tubes, M3 bezel adapters, modified Surefire tail caps, I had the reflectors custom by Dan Chan HK and copper pills made by Sinner, the original design for the pill/sink Randy Brogden.

Had a spring named after me…… :smiley:

They look amazing! I’m drooling.

I realize that all of the dropins are potted. What are the three dots on those potted dropins?

The Lambert spring is actually awesome!

That is where you select your mode groups, with conductive paint, sort of like soldering the stars on Q-Lite driver……

I see. Thanks!

I’m planning on potting headlamp drivers. I got my self a Electrolube “ER2074RP250G - Epoxy Resin, Thermally Conductive, White, Packet, 250g” that is packed in a single plastic bag with resin and hardener separated. I haven’t tested it yet but a compound in two separate cans seems more convenient.
Which potting compound do you use?