Modding... What do I need to know??

Boaz · 2018-08-24T15:23:00.000Z

Mod for tint and color

it's easy and a mod you can actually see .

A 30% gain in lumens Is like bad spacing on a dumb driver .Meh ..

High cri is like black and white tv vs. a high def.

eas · 2018-08-24T19:29:23.000Z

Temperature controlled soldering iron.
67/33 SnPb rosin core solder
Liquid rosin flux on any joint you are reworking/soldering twice
Use a multimeter to check for shorts after soldering any subassemblies (driver, wires & springs to driver, leads to MCPCB, and after assembly but before inserting a battery. The negative and positive output of a driver should always have resistance between them. The same goes for the negative and positive inputs to a driver.

I agree with boaz, mod for tint and color, I’d add that replacing or reflashing drivers can be worthwhile, too, for the UI improvements.

lohtse · 2018-08-25T14:14:35.000Z

eas:

* Temperature controlled soldering iron.

67/33 SnPb rosin core solder

Liquid rosin flux on any joint you are reworking/soldering twice

Use a multimeter to check for shorts after soldering any subassemblies (driver, wires & springs to driver, leads to MCPCB, and after assembly but before inserting a battery. The negative and positive output of a driver should always have resistance between them. The same goes for the negative and positive inputs to a driver.

I agree with boaz, mod for tint and color, I’d add that replacing or reflashing drivers can be worthwhile, too, for the UI improvements.

Ok so how would I go about all this what would be a good flashlight to start all this with? and how do I reflash drivers etc??

What is the best youtube video to watch to start of with regarding this?

Apologies for all the questions Guys but if I do things right then I will want to continue so for me information is the key as the start…

regards
Lohtse

RotorHead64 · 2018-08-25T14:23:14.000Z

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Richard’s (RMM, he’s a member here) store but if you haven’t then start Here

Sillen · 2018-08-25T23:42:50.000Z

Some good tips here, thank you. I got this a starter kit. Not expecting a lot out of the iron but will help to get my hand eye coordination in then get a better one locally

moderator007 · 2018-08-26T00:34:47.000Z

What you need to know is “It can get Expensive”. Modding is a lot of fun and allows you to have a light just the way you want it or as bright as reasonable possible.
.
The downside is you’ll end up spending as much or more in tools and leds, MCPCB, drivers, pills, wire, lenses, reflectors and host than you would if you had just bought several factory lights. But hey, what fun is that.
Happy modding!

Sillen · 2018-08-26T04:38:28.000Z

That’s a given. I used to water cool my overclocked pc. The money put into that over time would have paid for a better cpu to start with.

lohtse · 2018-08-26T13:41:20.000Z

moderator007:

What you need to know is “It can get Expensive”. Modding is a lot of fun and allows you to have a light just the way you want it or as bright as reasonable possible.
.
The downside is you’ll end up spending as much or more in tools and leds, MCPCB, drivers, pills, wire, lenses, reflectors and host than you would if you had just bought several factory lights. But hey, what fun is that.
Happy modding!

Cool and not worried about cost…

is there a recommended first time driver for playing with flashing firmwares???

moderator007 · 2018-08-26T16:00:33.000Z

The old tried and true amc7135 drivers, that’s the drivers that started it all. How To Build a Flashlight With Perfect Modes (picture heavy)
The Nanjg 105C with the attiny13 is probably the most common.
There are several guides here on BLF that can be very useful using the search box up in the top left corner.
The thread I linked above is just where it all started, they are way more up to date info now. You can start here.
Guide: how to flash ATtiny13a based drivers (NANJG, QLITE, etc.) with custom firmware

Phlogiston · 2018-08-26T18:03:18.000Z

Convoy are another nice place for good value hosts and parts to start out with:

https://convoy.aliexpress.com/store/330416

They don’t sell things like high CRI LEDs, though, so you’ll need to look to people like International Outdoor for that:

https://intl-outdoor.com

Places like Fasttech and Kaidomain also get talked about here on BLF, but I’ve never used either of them myself.

lohtse · 2018-08-27T09:33:58.000Z

so can we use these? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/150pcs-lot-Best-price-20mm-1W-3W-PCB-for-LED-lamp-1W-3W-LED-Aluminum-plate/1891522991.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.136.539d54cfH46gf4&s=p&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10065_10068_5724113_10130_10547_10059_10548_10696_100031_10192_10190_10084_10083_10103_10618_5725013_5724313_10307_10820_10301_10821_10303_5724213,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=541ff15c-fbb5-4f09-bbe7-18966335c186-19&algo_pvid=541ff15c-fbb5-4f09-bbe7-18966335c186&priceBeautifyAB=0

we have a load of the with and load of LED (unattached) is a box already…

and which of these would you recommend?

https://intl-outdoor.com/components-drivers-c-57_88.html?zenid=6452ced086a03317c271a983dd28a05a

lohtse · 2018-08-27T09:47:10.000Z

is this driver any good and programmable? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Cree-XM-L-LED-T6-White-Light-with-20mm-star-pcb-3-7V-5modes-led-Driver/32847323756.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.22672e0e8xfVNu

WarHawk-AVG · 2018-08-27T09:53:03.000Z

You will want to stick with CREE style emitters at first…those 1W really aren’t good modding boards.

http://flashlightwiki.com/Main_Page

WarHawk-AVG · 2018-08-27T09:54:53.000Z

lohtse:

is this driver any good and programmable? 0.95€ 6% OFF|Cree XM L LED T6 Weißes Licht mit 20mm stern platine + 3,7 V 5 modi led treiber + T6 15 grad led Linse mit Basis Halter kit|cree star led|t6 led drivercree led driver - AliExpress

That appears to be a mosfet type module

Here are the “stock” New style BLF drivers, mosfet and AMC7135’s w/ stock community driven firmware…a wee bit expensive…but VERY good option to start with
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20180827015357&SearchText=blf+driver

lohtse · 2018-08-27T10:00:58.000Z

WarHawk-AVG:

You will want to stick with CREE style emitters at first…those 1W really aren’t good modding boards.

Flashlight Wiki

hmmmm could we use them just to mess about with?

lohtse · 2018-08-27T10:02:57.000Z

WarHawk-AVG:

lohtse:

is this driver any good and programmable? 0.95€ 6% OFF|Cree XM L LED T6 Weißes Licht mit 20mm stern platine + 3,7 V 5 modi led treiber + T6 15 grad led Linse mit Basis Halter kit|cree star led|t6 led drivercree led driver - AliExpress

That appears to be a mosfet type module

Here are the “stock” New style BLF drivers, mosfet and AMC7135’s w/ stock community driven firmware…a wee bit expensive…but VERY good option to start with
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20180827015357&SearchText=blf+driver

so could I use the one I linked too to mess about with before using the BLF one?? rather break those than a blf…

eas · 2018-08-31T00:10:49.000Z

lohtse:

so can we use these? 5.68€ 24% OFF|Qingying 1W 3W 5W LED Lampe Platine, 20mm LED Aluminium Grundplatte für Hochleistungs LED Perlen|led aluminum plate base|led lamp baselamp base - AliExpress

No. The MCPCB has to fit both the host and the emitter. I have no idea what emitter those boards are intended for, but it isn’t anything commonly used in flashlights these days. The common emitter sizes are 5050 (5x5mm) with a center thermal pad, like the Cree XM-L/2 & XPH50, and the Luminus SST-40; or 3535 (3.5x3.5mm) with a center thermal pad, like the Cree XP-L, XP-G, Luminus SST-20, Nichia 219C & 319A ,and LH351 b, c & d.

lohtse:

we have a load of the with and load of LED (unattached) is a box already…

Can you explain what you mean?

lohtse:

so could I use the one I linked too to mess about with before using the BLF one?? rather break those than a blf…

How are you going to mess about with them? There is no open-source firmware for them, so you won’t be able to do much. You can’t run biscotti bistro-HD’s biscotti-HD variant, babka, and various older firmwares.

Just get a 105c.

lohtse · 2018-08-29T05:54:22.000Z

eas:

lohtse:

so can we use these? 5.68€ 24% OFF|Qingying 1W 3W 5W LED Lampe Platine, 20mm LED Aluminium Grundplatte für Hochleistungs LED Perlen|led aluminum plate base|led lamp baselamp base - AliExpress

No. The MCPCB has to fit both the host and the emitter. I have no idea what emitter those boards are intended for, but it isn’t anything commonly used in flashlights these days. The common emitter sizes are 5050 (5x5mm) with a center thermal pad, like the Cree XM-L/2 & XPH50, and the Luminus SST-40; or 3535 (3.5x3.5mm) with a center thermal pad, like the Cree XP-L, XP-G, Luminus SST-20, Nichia 219C & 319A ,and LH351 b, c & d.

lohtse:

we have a load of the with and load of LED (unattached) is a box already…

Can you explain what you mean?

lohtse:

so could I use the one I linked too to mess about with before using the BLF one?? rather break those than a blf…

How are you going to mess about with them? There is no open-source firmware for them, so you won’t be able to do much. You can run biscotti bistro-HD’s biscotti-HD variant, babka, and various older firmwares.

ok so even thought the boards are sold as ones for flashlights don’t use them? they are meant for these 6.44€ 6% OFF|100 Pcs/lot Echt CREE 1 W 3 W High Power LED Lampe Perlen 2,2 V 3,6 V SMD Chip LED Dioden Birne Weiß/Warmweiß/Rot/Grün/Blau|Leuchtperlen| - AliExpress

As to messing about well thats easy really I want to get in to actualy modding and making firmwares so you mentioned “biscotti bistro-HD’s biscotti-HD variant, babka,” firmwares which would be a starting point to mod/flash.

eas · 2018-08-31T00:13:16.000Z

I made a crucial typo in my post.

You almost certainly CAN’T run Biscotti, Babka, etc on the cheap drivers you linked to. Get a 105c.

lohtse · 2018-08-31T06:02:56.000Z

eas:

I made a crucial typo in my post.

You almost certainly CAN’T run Biscotti, Babka, etc on the cheap drivers you linked to. Get a 105c.

ooooooooooooooooooh

that was a bit of an error then

Thankfully hasn’t arrived yet so no harm done lol

Have a BLF driver on its way as well so can still play