FW1A Pro - replacing emitter for more throw

Also, There are some TIRs that work really well depending on emitter. I currently have a LEDIL Leila spot optic and a domed SST20w 4000k. I’m seeing about 21kcd and a fairly nice beam. Not perfect, but very functional. For me the hunt for perfection continues but it’s been my EDC since May 2019.

I do have a 10° TIR lens but don’t have the correct gasket size.
And i don’t quite like the squarish hotspot it projected.
Also dont have the tools to measure cd :smiley:

Drilling through the stainless steel head is not an option for me.
It’s gonna be tough and will probably take me hours or even days to drill it through coz I don’t have a lot of equipment and tools to work with.

I hear you. Spot TIRs can be ugly, especially with small flat emitters. PM1 might just be the worst scenario. I’ve tried so many TIRs from LEDIL and various AE vendors. The nicest beam so far has been from this one https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32367183046.html. It’s a SOB to remove from the holder, though.

These https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002280736440.html might just be a perfect fit. I have them on order in 10° smooth and pebbled. Hoping the pebbled will still hit 15kcd or more with a slightly softer beam or that the smooth can be focused such that the secondary projection of the emitter can be hidden within the hotspot.

Also in that order where these https://www.aliexpress.com/item/764917590.html in the ‘center sand’ format. They won’t fit as nicely I don’t think but will probably have the beam I desire.

I do have the second one here, perfect fit but that’s the hotspot I’m talking about.
The rest I didn’t try as I want the lens to fit nicely without gaps around the bezel.
So I have decided to go with the smooth reflector from FW1A.

The FW1A reflector is actually a light orange peel, I have a FW1A with CULPM1 with the older style reflector.

Do you have a source for the older FW1A reflectors? I've wanted to get another FW1A with SST-20 or LH351D but the FW1A now uses the same reflector as the FW1A Pro.

Also have you by chance tried the TIR optics with SST-20 or other emitters besides the CULPM1?

I run an old FW1A, my current favorite EDC. It has an LH351D in it and I would never swap it out. Great combination of throw and spill for EDC use.

I ordered from this store in aliexpress.

Lumintop Official Store

You need to PM and enquire coz the item is not listed.

I have not tried any lens on SST20.

Ok, time for some updates.
I have split the bottom piece of the double stacked mcpcb… Sorry guys i forgot to take a photo of that.
So there’s a channel for the wires now and the split mcpcb sits flat on the shelf with the led mcpcb right on top of if.
I also found the closest smooth reflector below.

Some mods needed on this reflector, need to shave about 0.5mm off the outside diameter.
This relector is 16.6mm height as opposed to original of 14mm.
So with the height savings I get by sitting the mcpcb flat on the shelf, there is still a 2mm gap.
You can see the photo of the reflector and the gap.
Still scratching my head on how to solve the gap but it’s fine for now.
Beam is more refined now with slightly more throw.

Got those TIRs in from AE. Sticking with my LEDIL for now. They need a small amount of filing/sanding of the flange diameter to fit in the bezel, but they fill the opening perfectly. Throw was 16kcd with a domed 4000k SST20 vs 20-21 with the LEDIL. Cleanest corona by far imo of all the clear spot optics I’ve tested. There was an odd non-uniform shadow in the center of the hotspot thought that put me off. The pebbled optic creates a beautifully smooth beam, but killed cd/lm too much for my needs.

I’ll tinker more with these another day but wanted to give some feedback for those waiting.

Overall, I’d recommend the LEDIL FA10661 with the holder removed and sitting on a standard XP 5mm butterfly gasket. Cd/lm is on point, beam is acceptable unless you obsessively hunt white walls.

Finally concluded this mod by adding a copper washer in the gap.
The throw is calculated to be 519m now based on 2695lux@5m.

67kcd. Nice! Now that’s a pocket thrower. I’m happy with my ~20kcd and hi cri sst20, but this is tempting…

Congrats!, that’s an awesome looking light. It’s too bad Lumintop didn’t have an Osram W1 or W2 option as those work really well in the fw1a host. Maybe they can make a Fw1a Pro 2.0 version :smiley: Lots of other people, myself included, have wanted a bit more throw out of the fw1a, especially now that they are putting the pro model reflector in the regular fw1a. I did a similar mod with a new reflector and an Osram W1, & it makes a big difference over oem version. I’ll try to link to that thread. I’ve got several beamshots in it of how much difference those mods make. Yours turned out really nice.

https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/mtvbt7/aftermarket_reflectors_for_the_fw1a/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

Thanks!
FW1A is the ideal pocket size for me.
The old FW1A reflector is smooth or OP?
The reflector I have is the biggest around that will fit with slight mod to it.
I bought another grey FW1A and plan to mod the same with SFT40 led.
Will do it when I have the time and compare the throw.
Will post the pictures and results when it’s done.

Eagerly awaiting these results! I think the SFT40 might be too much wattage for the host if sustained throw is your goal, but a fat hotspot with tons of lumens it’ll surely deliver. I’m going to experiment with mine and a W1+TIRs to see what kind of throw is possible while keeping temps in check.

And I agree on the (properly modded) FW1A being the closest to ideal EDC that may exist.

The old Fw1a reflector and the new pro reflector that comes in them now are both OP.

Sft40!

Have completed the tests.
Culpm1 vs culnm1 vs sft40.
Stock reflector vs custom reflector vs TIR

1 Thank

JaredM, this sounds awesome. I now have 4 Fw3a's and would be very interested in converting one into a fw1a with an optic. And I know the LEDIL in the D4sV2 is awesome, so I like their work.

could you link the optic you used/bought that you referenced?

this is awesome information! Thank you so much for doing and sharing this testing! These numbers are really impressive! I have a couple questions, sorry for the ignorance, hopefully you can assist:

-where were you able to get a culnm1 emitter? I've never seen them for sale.

-which TIR did you use ? Could you supply a link where you bought it or anything really?

-Where were you able tk get the smooth reflector? Is that stock on the xpl-hi fw1a? I've only owned the pro with the op reflector, but interested in the smooth.

thanks again!