New modder vs. S2+ triple build

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

Hi BLF, I am mainly a lurker but I love this forum. I am attempting my first mod - an S2+ triple build.

I ordered spacer, optic, host, driver, AS5 compound, Samsung 30q, and triple XP-L emitter board from Mtn.

The Dr. Jones H17fx 17mm driver I ordered does not look like it will allow the driver retaining ring to fit. Will this driver be a more suitable option?

2

Two ways to use the H17fx.

  1. file out the inside dia of the retaining ring to clear the 7135 regulators.
  2. position the driver in the pill and apply a couple of solder blobs on the grounding ring to pill joint to hold the driver in the pill.

The other driver will allow the ring to be used as that side of the driver has no parts in the way.

3

You may want to use a ceramic based thermal compound instead. AS5 is conductive, and it’s very difficult to not make a mess with the thermal compound when stacking the pill/spacer/MCPCB/optic sandwich. The AS5 could cause shorts if it touches things it shouldn’t.

I started using the Ceramique 2 stuff that Mtn sells instead.

EDIT: So apparently it’s not conductive after all, so maybe my issues with it were caused by something else. I always thought that’s why my first triple build wasn’t acting right. I cleaned all the AS5 and used the white stuff instead and it fixed the problem. It could have been a coincidence.

4

AS5, Artic Silver 5, is non electrically conductive according to their own webpage. But there may be better choices for our purposes.

“Not Electrically Conductive:
Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity.
(While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.)”

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

5

You can grind a little of the 7135s away if you’re feeling brave. Otherwise I’d just use a solder blob as MtnDon suggested

6

I usually use Thermal Epoxy between the pill to spacer and also spacer to MCPCB — Also I like using a brass button on the driver —that way you don’t compress your springs too much

7

I use protronix series 9 thermal paste.

8

Thanks for the replies! I am just going to order the other driver for now. It would need a lot of material removed from the retaining ring, and I don’t have the soldering skill to solder the driver to the pill. I am not brave enough to shave down the chips, lol.

Will the brass button (instead of spring) work with the flat top Samsung 30q?

9

It works great —- I usually solder a brass washer to the tail spring to finish off my spring by-pass

I’m out of town till Sunday — if you want pics — I can get you some then

10

I prefer to grind down the inside of the retaining ring with a Dremel rather than soldering the driver to the pill. Pretty easy to do and I like having the option to be able to change things out in the future if needed. Soldering seems more permanent and I don’t think it looks as nice.