What did you mod today?

I might have to give that a shot. I think I have some spare MCPCBs I can practice on. Are there any preferred US retailers or overseas dealers that sell bare emitters besides Mtn? Looking to get some emitters in 2-3 weeks.

Specifically looking for anything I could swap into an XP-L2 MCPCB for my Wuben E05. The MCPCB is ~1mm thick and I believe the LED4Power/Mtn boards are 1.5mm.

Off the top of my head…

International:

  • Kaidomain
  • Fasttech
  • AliExpress (Convoy, etc)
  • Led4Power
  • Intl Outdoor (Hank)
  • Cutter
  • Virence (Nichia!)

US / Canada:

  • Mtn Electronics
  • Illumn
  • Arrow
  • Digikey
  • Mouser (they have $3.49 economy shipping once you sign in)
  • BLF: azhu (Nichia 219B, a few CCT options)
  • BLF: Bob_McBob (Nichia 219B SW45k, still available?)
  • likely a few others here on BLF

If you’re looking to get them in 2-3 weeks, domestic is your best bet. Arrow, Digikey, and Mouser are large electronics suppliers so it might take some searching around to find what you’re looking for (verifying datasheets for flux bins, etc). I know I’ve purchased Luxeon V2 of various CCTs, LH351D 90-CRI (the “DA0GF4RTS”), lots of different Cree LEDs. The nice thing about ordering from MtnE (or a BLF member) is that you have an idea of what tint you’re getting (and it supports a fellow BLF’er). Let me/us know if you’re looking for something in particular.

I’ve reflowed new LEDs into those Wuben E05s. They’re a good candidate (get rid of that stinking Cree rainbow!).

D10 mod to sw45k, on AA Eneloop
low 1 lumen
max 110 lumens

.

very simple to disassemble the D models, no need to remove the contact ring…

just line up the slot with one of the notches, by feel, and the pill turns easily to unscrew

The D pills are screwed in from the bottom. The EX pills drop out the front after removing the bezel.

neither the D nor EX models require removal of the contact ring… KISS!

Nice mod, Jon!

Thanks to contactcr for the warm LED :+1:

My first reaction was WOW! :slight_smile:
cant wait for Dark!

this completes a triumvirate of Nitecore PD EX11.2

they have excellent firefly levels <0.01 lumens, and stable regulation on CR123

Is there an easy cheat sheet of what can be reflowed on what package size or based on previous emitter?

There are two main package sizes: 3535 and 5050. There are also some 3030 emitters out there (notably Osram White Flat) and 4040 (Luxeon V and a different line of Osram white flats). Current modern emitters I can think of:

  • 3030:
    • Osram White Flat 1, 2 (CSLNM1.TG and CSLPM1.TG)
  • 3535:
    • Luminus SST20
    • Cree XP-E series
    • Cree XP-G2
    • Cree XP-G3
    • Cree XP-L (Hi)
    • Cree XHP35 (Hi)
    • Samsung LH351D
    • Nichia 219 (B and C)
    • Lumileds Luxeon V2
  • 4040:
    • Lumileds Luxeon V
    • Osram Boost HL/HX (CULNM1.TG, CULPM1.TG)
  • 5050:
    • Cree XM-L2
    • Luminus SST40
    • XHP50(.2)
  • 7070
    • XHP70(.2)
  • 90mm?
    • SBT90.2
    • MT-G2

As the name implies XHP70 is 7070 not 5050

One more addition: the Lumileds Luxeon V2 is 3535

Note for nick779: the 3535 name means “3.5mm x 3.5mm”, 5050 means “5.0mm x 5.0mm” and so on. Generally, most LEDs with the same footprint dimensions (eg, 3535) are swappable. However, there are some LEDs out there that only have 2 pads instead of 3 (they’re “missing” the central thermal pad). These are not common in our high-output LEDs though, are are generally found in low output ones. An example that we deal with would be the Nichia E17A (a 1.7mm x 1.7mm LED). And a couple (though again, rare) have a central thermal pad that is not electrically neutral. The only one that comes to mind is the Osram Black Flat.

Cool deal, thanks guys.

I have a few MCPCBs with 219Cs that I might practice on before trying to reflow a warmer XP-L2 or high CRI 219b/c to my E05.

Slightly different twist on a Novatac 18350 mod.

I’m more confident in my soldering skills than my metalworking, so instead of a brass bar, I decided I would solder 5 small pogo pins together as a signaling contact. Cheap and effective, bought 100x pogo pins for $11-ish.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Q8JILQ

nice 18350 mod
I like the bezel too :+1:

Thanks Jon! I’ve been racking my brain on how to easily do this

Nice idea :+1:

Thanks!!

I like it as well. :slight_smile:

I have 17670 Novatac body without the spring. Need to find some other solution. Maybe brass 0.5mm thick sheet with bent tips for contact.

Made a S2+ shorty with a Nichia 219B 3000K LED (from azhu) and a Convoy V.2 driver. Added a 470 ohm bleeder resistor for the aqua (mix of green and blue 0805 SMD LEDs) lighted tailcap. The tailcap takes just 0.15 milliamps so lasts almost a year on the 18350 Keeppower 1200mAh battery.


brass bar mod info here:

Nothing too spectacular, but I was able to reflow a 4500k 219B into my Wuben E05 this weekend.

The only thing I had issues with was tapping the excess solder out. Once the MCPCB was hot enough I slid the old emitter off and tried to tin the pads just a little with some thin, rosin core 63/37.

Then I let the board and hot plate cool to ~75C(to slowly heat the emitter up), placed the emitter on the board and reheated to 220C.

Emitter centers itself, I tap it, solder balls pop out and I get some excess at the middle of each side of the emitter. Problem is that it sucks back under the emitter after a few seconds. Id imagine thats not great for thermals and consistent focus. What I ended up doing is placing a roll of tape next to the hot plate and placing a silicone backed ruler half on the roll of tape and the tip on the emitter to put gentle, even, centered pressure on it as it cooled. I cleaned the dome with some rubbing alcohol after but I didnt know if there was a better way to do this.