PilotPTK has designed and fabricated a self-contained triple XM-L unit, incorporating the driver components and LEDs on a single board. They are offered as a cool-white U2-binned unit, or as a neutral-white T6-binned option. This mod will use the NW T6 version, with 3 amps powering each LED.
Here's a reminder pic for those who may not be familiar with this fully-programmable wee powerhouse:
This module uses the compact and efficient CUTE-3 optic:
In order to expedite this project, an existing host was selected - the CNQG Extreme Longrun. This is a compact and attractive 3 x 18650 host with excellent heatsinking properties. I used one in a previous triple XM-L build, so it was a natural choice:
Since this host is fully-anodized, it requires both + and - contacts brought forward into the head, as seen here, with the 3 x 18650 holder:
The stock host is set up for a parallel cell arrangement, and the voltage requirements of the PPTK module requires a series configuration. This necessitates some mods to the battery holder:
So what program did you put on it? Max temp? I hope you set it fairly high so it won't kick in to early. Nice to see other people using these though. :)
So how about big flat copper washers or radial fins, with a hole/thickness suitable to slip in between head and body — kind of like the guard on a sword — to dissipate all the excess heat?
I’ve thought for years that good flashlights ought to look more like cartoon ray-guns with the cooling fins much larger.
Thanks for the kind words, guys. PPTK did most of the heavy lifting designing this module.
See pic #2 in the first post. This host was chosen for its mass and fins - it did well with over 55 watts in a previous build, so it should be fine with the ~40 watts here.
Chicago X. What a fantastic flashlight and first class machine work. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished project. Match and yourself are really putting out some quality work. Thanks.
that’s some awesome threading there! One hell of a lot of thermal mass too. Is the original pill anything like that or is it shorter due to having a reflector?
I don’t know what sort of thermal paste you use, but I got a free sample of the Chomerics stuff a while back which is completely awesome (in my limited, unquantified testing :laughing:. I’m guessing you’re going to tap that centre hole to screw down the module?
Another real nice build Chicago x. This looks like an interesting alternative to a skyray king, with the benefit you can change the optics from flood to throw I guess. I like it. 8)
