How would I go about moding a Nitecore EC4GT?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

I want to get into light modding and I have a nitecore EC4GT I never use because of two things.

First the tint is horrible and second it has horrible parasitic drain with no protection circuit. I was relatively new to lithium batteries and left them in only to find that it had drained the batteries down to 1.8v so I had to dispose of them.

I know there has to be a way to replace the LED but is there a way I can mod it to include a protection circuit and maybe remove the drain issue?

2

this might help you learn some options:

Nitecore EC4 stand by current drain

there are other links you might find helpful
google for:
“moding a Nitecore EC4GT?”

3

That thread doesn’t seem to have a fix for it at all just people talkng about how the drain is an issue.

Also when I google it all I can see is a imgur post from 3 years ago where someone said “trying to mod a ec4gt” without any follow up so if it was successful it doesn’t seem super helpful.

4

well, I guess my search results were different, and I read more into the post I linked you to

the link mentions firing the switch when starting a fresh cell to reduce parasitic drain, there is also a reference to a mod by CRX, to replace a tailspring w a button so it can locked out by unscrewing

plus my google found a reddit post with pics of the teardown needed to replace an LED

but overall… I agree… the parasitic drain solutions do not provide a change to the driver

I still think your idea to change the LED is good

5

Your googling is better than me I couldn’t find that reddit post.

I’ve never modded a light before so likely a bunch of stuff flew over my head in that post but I didn’t see a way to mod it on there.

6

here is the reddit link
that is only to give you visuals
I like pictures

I agree, there is no way to kill the parasitic drain without modifying the tail to replace a spring with a button, and then unscrewing to lock out

not an elegant solution, and not a software solution to the parasitic

I definitely encourage you to learn to mod… as far as replacing LEDs…
Ive not worked on your light, dont own one
but this group has a lot of experience, and is very supportive

the process of LED swapping is generally made up of a group of similar steps
disassembly
unsoldering a couple wires
reflowing a new LED
and put it all back together :slight_smile:

you need a few tools… I can suggest some if you like… or point you to other threads maybe

here is a tutorial showing the steps to modify the LED in a light of mine… most of the process is similar for other lights

7

Yeah, with few exceptions, most Nitecores are horribly CW, but I never knew about the parasitic drain problem. I kept mine loaded and ready to go, left for at least a year, and it still lit brightly (not unusual, as it’s 2S).

Will have to revisit that, maybe pop the cells if I’m not expecting to use it for a while.

Those discs other lights that include cells use, to insulate the cells for shipping, might be an option.

Or just snip a piece of waxpaper, which is what I might do in a pinch.

8

Oh, duuuuh, what I started to mention. Being that EC4s are unibody lights, you’ll have to do it the hard way, as there’s no head to remove from the body or anything. Ain’t sure if the LED/driver comes out from the front or from inside the battery compartment.

I got the same issue with my (UF) DV-S9s. Mag-slider diving lights, so the same issues getting to the creamy filling inside.

9

I have an early version and that has the drain. Apparently the newer models have addressed it. Maybe I can contact Nitcore and see about getting it upgraded.