Fenix HL21 - XPG2 mod

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

I picked up the HL21 during Wallbuys xmas sale.

On first use I was unimpressed. The xpe beam throws well but is very cool white.

So, I took it apart. I had hoped to use an xml2, but found that the mcpcb is unique, so I took an xpg2 r5 3d (5000k) from illumination supply off the mcpcb it came on and reflowed it to the mcpcb for the HL21.

Now I like it - a LOT. Hot spot is less pronounced, still plenty of throw, and it now has the tint that a headlamp should have…what a difference.

For anyone else looking to mod this light, here are my two main tips.

-when you pry the back off, start near the battery tube. Get it ajar, then use your fingers instead of a tool, to avoid damaging the delicate lip that goes around the edge. Or, just say screw it (like I did). Get that edge all buggered up and when you’re done, just glue it back on and forget about it.

the leads that go to the emitter pass through a piece of aluminum mark which hole has the red/black lead so that you can reassemble it the same way. if you don’t, when you screw it back together they could be the opposite of where you’d like them.

and, a few photos/instructions

pry the back off

unsolder the leads from the board, lift the board out

remove the head - heat it first - I used a glass cooktop, set to almost lowest setting and with the head of the light facedown near the edge of the hotspot, then gripped with non-marring pliers and unscrewed.

Unscrew the bare aluminum part from the black part of the head. This required more heat than removing it from the body. Non-marring pliers on the black part, snap ring pliers in the emitter lead holes (NOT the other holes). Be patient, mine was glued together pretty securely…

thats all folks

2

cool…

any beam shots?

i was trying to get one of these from wallbuys during the xmas sale, but the site bogged down too much

3

sorry, no, my camera is capable, but I have to figure out how to use the manual settings…

4

I swaped emitter (for neutral xp-g2) in HL21 recently.
beam photos/link
http://www.torch.pl/forum/index.php/topic,60214.msg243890.html#msg243890

When I saw Your thread with back open, I thought You tried to mod the driver. Have you ?
For changing led simplest way is to unscrew the head.

5

I have not modded the driver.

I think the output is perfect - not too high for close up work (w/ diffuser for very close work), but still plenty of throw for foot travel.

well…output could always be higher…but w/ only 1AA, I’d rather not sacrifice run-time.

As far as removing the head first, I saw a mod on CPF of this model’s predecessor, and did not want to risk breaking the emitter leads, or pulling traces off the board/emitter, while unscrewing the head.

This will one will probably be a gift. If I get another, I’ll do it the same way…

6

Contrary to HL20, HL21’s head is separate from led board so when You uncrewing head the led board is not moving. It’s impossible to break anything.
here’s photos

7

ah, I see what you mean.

I’m surprised that the body/pill threads didn’t loosen before the bezel/pill threads.

They definitely would have in mine - I had a heck of a time separating the pill from the bezel, but the head came off the body easily.

I guess there’s more than one way to skin a cat (or so I hear).

Of note, to anyone that would like to take the rear off, you can see the little recess in the back of the body, just above the battery tube. Push there, on one side, then the other and it pops off…

8

Thanks to this thread, i just modded my fenix hl21, really dont like the beam of xpe, its too tight and cool white, beam would be great on flashlight but not on headlamp.
Modded mine with xml neutral white tint. Now its great and really love the beam, runtime is awesome. Why fenix not made the hl21 like this in the first place. But evryone has their own preference, just happy with the result on mine. :slight_smile: