Can I use this as a host?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

So I have the broken remains of this XM-L U2 light and I am wondering if I can use it for the basis of a host or parts for one.

As you can see, the head is broken where it connects to the tube(?). Also, I cooked the emitter by connecting it directly to a battery. So, I have all the parts of the full light I linked above, just not emitter and head. Is there anything I can do with the tube or the clicker end? I don’t have the experience to know if these are useful items towards making a new light. Any recommendations would be appreciated. US sourced recommendations are also appreciated.
TIA!
John

2

Everything's a little vague. If your picture was clearer and there was more of them, we'd have a better idea of the extent of the damage done.

If the head is still mountable on the head band and it is simply the wires desoldered, there should be a way of resoldering them.

The LED can almost always be replaced if you have the right tools. Once you remove the pill from the head (see the link you posted) then it could be as easy as desoldering the two wires connecting the LED MCPCB and soldering a new one. Or else you might need a SMD rework station.

3

The break is by the arrow in this pic.So the head is unusable. Plus, I zapped the emitter. I really liked the light but I think that all that is really left is the tube and the clicker.

4

I am guessing the answer is no regarding whether this stuff is useful.

Can anyone point me to a mod/host building 101?

5

Mtnelectronics and Illumination Supply will have everything you need to build your own from hosts to drivers to LEDs and cells. Illumination Supply has different stock. Both are in the US and have great service. Look in the DIY subforum for tons of info on how to this and that.

6

You could always try to braise the broken base back to the head

It will more than likely destroy the anodized finish and look rednecky but it will be functional again

Or if you know someone who can MIG/TIG weld

7

Save the parts for the upcoming DIY contest. Buy a new convoy m1.

8

I am at a stand still as I have never:
A.) braised (don’t have a butane torch beyond a “jet” lighter) nor have I
B.) reflowed (don’t have a heat gun) an LED. So, I guess I have to see if Both are possible to see if I should pursue the other. Step numero uno, see if the emitter is accessible to replace. Do I just pull the reflector out of the pill? It looks like I would tear it up if I did. I have looked at threads and videos and have yet to find one that shows this step. Here is a pic of the pill.

9

Bump for a little help. How do I carefully remove the silver ring which I marked with a red circle above?
Thanks!
John

10

Get the pill out of the head first. The silver flat reflector might just be sitting in there if not clamped by a retaining ring.

11

I just dealt with one like that, it's a pressed in reflector, either you have to get something thing and poke it out past the hole in the bottom of the pill where the wire goes (after you move the driver) or get a tiny screwdriver and go past the emitter and pry it up using the lip of the top of the pill

12

Thanks to you both. I will give it a shot when I get home and post back.

13

I just dealt with one of these a few days ago. The outer edge of the silver donut has a lip that fits in around the star. Mine wasn’t glued, but I could see someone being silly and doing so… would make it a pain to remove. If it isn’t glued it should slip on out with some gentle upward prying. Or once the pill is extracted from the head you could push the silver donut out from underneath (edit: like warhawk said above).

Mine also had a little plastic ring around the inner circumference of the pill lip that held the silver donut in place. The plastic ring just slipped up and out with a little prying (doesn’t look like there is one in the pic).

14

Thanks! I’ll take a look when I get home.

15

I worked on both sides just a little, neither wants to budge without damage. Rather than wrecking it further, I decided to post more (crappy iPhone) pics - in case they are of any help on how to get them out. The driver is embedded in threads, I doubt it will want to come out. Can I mash the pcb all the way around?
Driver pic 1
Driver pic 2

Also, the reflector ring thing is going to get trashed on it’s way out.
Reflector ring pic