Modding the CQG 3x18650 single XM-L T6 torch to TRIPLE XM-L U2 bin. (Build log) - IT'S ALIVE !!!

[Chicago_X]

@charlestt: The driver is for sale to DRY owners as a replacement or upgrade. Send Ric an email request. Links are in first post.

@yavi: thanks for the kind words. I will post beamshots when finished, but from past experience, I would be surprised to see anything but a nice smooth single beam.

@Hal: I believe the lenses to be made of polycarbonate, so they should be efficient AND heat-resistant.

[mitro]

Holy moly do I want that! I love triples with optics. I've been trying to figure out a setup for a triple xml board, but hadn't even considered this light. I think I'd still like a single 26650 light (so a little smaller but a bit of a problem with the triple board wired in series) with a head to fit those optics.

Great work!

[JohnnyMac]

Great work, bud! Oh, how I find myself aching for a lathe to play with! Can't wait to see the end result and everything in between. What made you choose diffused optics over clear?

[Chicago_X]

@JohnnyMac

Great work, bud! Oh, how I find myself aching for a lathe to play with! Can't wait to see the end result and everything in between. What made you choose diffused optics over clear?

Availablilty. Nothing more.

I have an extra optic that I'll play around with polishing the face, as the 'facets' are there.

[JohnnyMac]

@Chicago X

@JohnnyMac

Great work, bud! Oh, how I find myself aching for a lathe to play with! Can't wait to see the end result and everything in between. What made you choose diffused optics over clear?

Availablilty. Nothing more.

I have an extra optic that I'll play around with polishing the face, as the 'facets' are there.

Gotcha I had a feeling that was the case but it never hurts to ask. Have I mentioned how much I envy you for having that lathe?

[Chicago_X]

I'll sell it to you for one torch. Of course, the torch is a $15k HID battlefield illuminator, but it's still one light. ;)

EDIT: feel free to stop by and "play" on the lathe. I'll set up the guest bed.

[Chicago_X]

@_the_

Is that a 20 degree Ledil optic?

I just checked the invoice. The lens is a 35mm diameter +/-9.5 degree optic. Sorry for the misinformation.

[Chicago_X]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your input ! The little bit I've played with was not as fun to cut as the Al...

I have some 7/8" round rod that was purchased to make some P60 triples, and I'll likely just press-fit some of that into the center of the Al heatsink before drilling for wiring.

I still need to learn how to cut threads, that's next on the list. :)

@oldbobk

Chicago X, IMO, copper is unnecessary, and a pain to work with. I spent $50+ for enough copper to make 4 Mag heatsinks. It doesn’t turn well, and is hard to drill without the material grabbing the bit. I used 2 of the 4 sinks, but I’d never do it again. The biggest lights I built were 4xXM-Ls; one draws 8 A., the other 7.6 A (suspect different batch of emitters). I used aluminum for both of those, and they have proven to be completely reliable. No more Cu for me! Bob K

[old4570]

Fantastic : You make me want to go out and spend a grand on a lathe ... [ Maybe next year ]

[Ledsmoke]

I am soo happy to see you are putting the lathe to good use.

And I love your idea with this light. I'll stay tuned :)

[08CivicSi]

this is AWESOME!

[_the]

@Chicago X

@_the_

Is that a 20 degree Ledil optic?

I just checked the invoice. The lens is a 35mm diameter +/-9.5 degree optic. Sorry for the misinformation.

Thanks for confirming this!

Can't wait to see the beamshots!

[srtbrazil]

GREAT!!! Beamshots

[JohnnyMac]

@Chicago X

I'll sell it to you for one torch. Of course, the torch is a $15k HID battlefield illuminator, but it's still one light. ;)

EDIT: feel free to stop by and "play" on the lathe. I'll set up the guest bed.

Hehheh… I might take you up on that if I’m ever out that way.

[dthrckt]

VERY nice job.

do you suppose you could measure the OD of the threads on the body, head side, and the tpi? I have a head I'm hoping will screw right onto this body.

edit: i'm assuming you have a thread gauge, since you've got a lathe! if not, somehow I've ended up w/ 3 and I'll send you one just for doing me the favor. I know it is a slim chance, but I'm REALLY hoping I get lucky w/ this lol

[Chicago_X]

@dthrckt

…do you suppose you could measure the OD of the threads on the body, head side, and the tpi? I have a head I’m hoping will screw right onto this body.

20 TPI, the measurement is below:

[dthrckt]

fiddlesticks - ~4mm too small

thanks

[Chicago_X]

@dthrckt

fiddlesticks - ~4mm too small

thanks

No problem, glad to help.

I planned on putting up pics of the battery holder tonight, but there was a short and some springs melted.

Seriously. I probably should use protected cells instead of IMRs next time for testing.....

I'll try again tomorrow with some Old-Lumens styled homemade copper springs.

[Chicago_X]

Here are the details of the battery holder mods.

Overview: Converting a 3x18650 battery holder from parallel to series operation.

Here are a few pics of the stock battery holder:

As you can see, the holder needs to bring both + and - to the top end, as the body does not have a ground path...it's entirely anodized.

The first modification was to cut the trace on the PCB, linking two spots on each one. I failed to notice these initially, and this led to a short (and melted springs.)

Working from the switch to the top spring, linking + and -, requires a bit of wire:

The extra wires are used to make for a better negative pathway:

Here you can see the addition of 2 contact points to the negative (ground) ends:

Here's a look at the modded holder, reading 12.61 volts:

Next round will be the assembly/wiring of the Light Engine.

[Old-Lumens]

@HAL

That looks really good! I was recently looking into that board and optic combo from cutter, but couldn't find a decent beamshot anywhere. I look forward to your comments as to how it throws .

Old-Lumens : I think the optic doesn't melt because its just so efficient at what it does, so only a small fraction of the light is actually absorbed by it.

I mean, since the plastic legs are stuck right on the heatsink, that they could get warped from the heatsink temps. Obviously they don’t since so many use them. I was just asking, since the stock puropse is for indoor/outdoor lighting where the heatsinks are usually finned for cooling.