I’ve finally got myself a temperature controlled hot plate, so I’m now wanting to try it out by upgrading some old mains powered GU10 light bulbs. See a pic here DX LED GU10 bulb - Album on Imgur , they were bought from DX about 12 years ago? I was wondering size/ model LED they are - in order to find something around 4500k with 90+CRI to replace them with.
I’ve got quite a few of them and over all those years only two have died. So I figure why not upgrade them.
Any tips on appropriate temperatures, flux/ solder brands/ types would also be welcome. I’ve watched some DIY videos for doing the emitter swap process (and there’s not much money involved if I stuff a couple in the process. )
Those are the dreaded LED “beads”. Usually 1W, but you can get 3W versions. Dunno what the blub uses.
Only problem is that the “bead” format is usually pretty generic and, umm, cheap. You might get a decent CCT, but doubt they make all that many in high-CRI and/or a decent duv.
'Though you can get all sorts of kewl colors like pink and UV!
to screw around with. Pretty decent, 'though never measured anything about 'em
When you go to related items, you can see the nekkid “beads” without the 20mm star. Then just go down the rabbit hole and see if there’s anything that tickles ya.
After taking the photo I noticed “3 x 1W” on the MCPCB- so that at least confirmed they’re 1W. Then I hit Google images “1W LED”, which led to AliExpress. After going through many listings, I found this- it requires buying 100pcs, but they’re 90CRI.
The price is pretty good considering that’s the price you’ll pay for one decent GU10 bulb here. I’ve probably got 10 odd of the bulbs still working that can be modded.
Don’t do what I did on my ~3rd ish reflow, for some reason the damn LED didn’t want to sit nicely on the board, I was using a stove and overheated the MPCB so the screen print layer peeled off, RIP little 10mm SinkPad board.
I need to research the temperatures and note them down. I’m very experienced at hand soldering PCBs, but that’s been using 60:40 lead tin solder at 330C.
So far, I’ve only used the hot plate to remove a dead XHP50 off a MCPCB. I think it was 200C i did that at, and it was more than hot enough.
What are decent types/ brands of solder and flux for doing MCPCB work?
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