Skylight's entry to the 7th BLF Old Lumens Contest 2019 - modified light category [Matainvoy ML18S FINISHED, video added]

Thanks, CNCman. :slight_smile:

There will be many pictures as the mod proceeds.

UPDATE: All the parts and some modding supplies have arrived now! So let the modding begin! :partying_face:

These are the things I have been waiting for. Note that the hot plate for reflowing has arrived shortly after I posted that I don’t expect it to arrive in time. :smiley:

Interested/following this build. With the size and ability to soak up heat on this L6, I’m hoping this would be an ultimate turbo run time monster. The MF01S is nice in a small size, but turbo run time is lacking.

Thank you for following, YogibearAl. I assume that the turbo runs longer with the copper spacer I will use but the total runtime will be less than the MF01S.

Here are some more pictures and a complete parts lineup. Only the Sofirn Q8 switch is missing.

Also, the batteries that I will use in this flashlight have arrived, the Golisi S43 with 30A continuous discharge rate.

Oh boy, I wish I was so “clean” preparing to mod :smiley: It would make my life better :stuck_out_tongue:

Great that the components arrived! I am really curious to see how this light will shine :smiling_imp:
Good work :wink:

Nice pictures and thorough preparation. :+1:
I wish you everything fits as planned, I’m really looking forward to the result.

Neat idea! Looks like it should perform well and make it all worthwhile. Look forward to beam shots…

Thanks, MascaratumB! Almost half the work is needed for the pictures but that’s worth it.

I have started the mod now when others have already finished but I think I will make it in time. :wink:

Thanks, man of light! The mod is in progress, more pictures coming soon. :partying_face:

Thanks, DB Custom! Maybe it will inspire others as well because I like the combination of L6 and MF01S.

I have done a few more things in the last few days.

- Soldered double BlueSwordM Gen3 silver plated BeCu springs on the tail switch board

- Changed the black switch cover to a white one

- Reflowed the 18 LH351D’s to the MF01S MCPCB

Some fotos before the reflow with clean board


Applying the solder paste and placing the leds


After the reflow



Some leds are not placed perfectly but they are not too far off. I had to widen the holes a bit to make the legs of the optic fit.


The last picture shows the special tool used for widening the holes on the MCPCB without damaging the led domes :sunglasses: . :smiley:

- Soldered 18AWG wires and double BlueSwordM Gen3 BeCu springs to the driver board


Next thing to be made is the copper spacer.

Look what has arrived on last Friday: my Sofirn SWITCHES: :open_mouth:

You don’t see any switches? Well, me neither! :wink: :smiley:

But seriously, I won’t complain at all about getting BLF Q8 drivers instead of switches. That’s a nice surprise and an incredibly good deal because I always have good use for those drivers.

The only problem remaining would be that I need a switch for my build. So I thought I will take the switch out of my Sofirn C8F host and see if I can get the green and red indicator leds to work with Lexel’s driver. It would be awesome to get a red switch when the battery is low.

Looking Good ” Skylight ” :+1:
Cannot wait to see more :smiley:
I like the 18 gauge wire, some of my lights need that too.
Also you have a sweet hotplate too ” UYUE 946-1010 LED Display Preheating Platform ” :+1:
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Thank you, CNCman. :sunglasses:

Yes, the hotplate works well and is definitely needed for soldering a 300g copper spacer. :smiling_imp:

The date at the top of each post represents the actual day when I have worked on the flashlight. It is not that I have finished it all today.

02/19/2020

- Tested the length of copper needed with a stack of copper coins (2- and 5-Cent coins)

- Cut three 3cm pieces from the 16mm copper rod

02/21/2020

- Soldered the three 3cm pieces of the 16mm copper rod to the 6mm thick copper plate. I had to file them a bit to make an even surface for soldering.

02/22/2020

- I prepared some thick copper wires to fill up the empty space around the copper spacer inside the flashlight.

- Removed the black ring in the switch cavity and fitted the switch inside with a little filing.

02/23/2020

- Removed the anodisation from the parts inside the flashlight that will be in contact with the copper spacer. This may improve the thermal contact.

- Also, I drilled a hole in the copper plate where the wires will pass through. The ‘legs’ of the copper spacer needed some filing to maximise the contact surface with the flashlight body. With my hand saw they got a bit different lengths and are slightly crooked.

- Soldered some 30 AWG wires to the switch and prepared 28 AWG wires for the aux leds.

- The silicone switch cover needed to be shortened a bit, otherwise the switch wouldn’t have worked.

02/23/2020

- Soldered all the wires and assembled the head with the switch, copper spacer and thermal paste + glue

02/24/2020

- The thermal glue had time to dry overnight with the flashlight closed and thin foil to protect the MCPCB from being glued as well.

- I tested the aux leds with the multimeter. Looking nice. :heart_eyes:

- I put the MCPCB in place with some good 10 W/mK thermal paste underneath and connected the wires for it and the aux led board.

At the first attempt the aux leds did not work, only the green lighted switch.