After completing my first simple C8+ build (w/QLITE REV.A 8*7135 and XPL HI 5D), I wanted to make myself a new EDC light.
After getting my Jaxman E3 it was time to take it apart and fit it with an H17Fx driver, DTP MCPCB, and LH351D!
All the pieces (didn’t take a picture before installing the driver ) ready to go! I used a dremel to sand down the inside of the retaining ring to make room for all those 7135s, trying to be careful to leave enough metal around the little grooves in the ring for easy screwing in/out.
I used my fly tying vice to hold the new MCPCB and put a dremel to it on one side to even out where it had been connected to its brethren during fabrication. I had accidentally sanded down the tips of the vise jaws in the process of using the dremel on the retaining ring but it worked! I then thought I would use a flat file to thin the DTP MCPCB to make the head assembly easier. I quickly gave up on that idea after 30min of filing and almost no change in thickness. I figured an extra O-ring would save me a lot of labor!
I reflowed the LH351D 5000k 90CRI to the DTP MCPCB, which surprised me by taking much more time than with a thinner aluminum board. But that makes sense. It works!
Soldered the driver to the MCPCB after cleaning and then adding thermal paste. My soldering leaves a lot to be desired at this point. Always room for improvement. In this case, a lot of room!
I had to use a small hand file to make a wider window on the stock butterfly spacer to fit around the new emitter. I then attempted to flat file the spacer to make it less thick. Of course I ended up breaking it expertly. So I grabbed a way larger spacer for a Convoy C8+ reflector and filed down its width and height to get it to fit and keep the reflector away from the LED and solder.
Due to the wonky spacer I ended up using, centering the LED was quite the task. After enlisting your help on the forum and tinkering for a while I finally got it centered “enough.”
The ultimate solution to that problem was a little DC Fix, as I wanted a nice floody beam anyway! It helped with the tint shift and looking at the slightly less than perfect LED centering. You can see the finished light with new(ish) not-quite-deep-carry-but-better-than-stock clip repurposed from an Olight Mini Baton.
Overall, this was a successful first mod and a great learning experience! I ended up swapping in a LH351D in 4000k a few days later for a warmer CCT which I find even more pleasant outside. The H17Fx is also fantastic! I love how customizable it is; I can get lower than 1lm all the way to “why is there so much light” and even make the bike flasher exactly as bright as I’d like. Truly wonderful!
Thanks for all your constant help here, everyone! This is a really wonderful and supportive place. Special thanks to MascaratumB for providing answers and lots support during my endless questioning.
More mods in my future soon!