As the title states, I have an old Lux-Pro LP 600 that has taken too many drops and this weekend, after I let it fall from my desk, it stopped working completely.
I have had it since 2015 and we have been through a lot together, few hurricanes and so on, and I have become attached to the flashlight since it has served me well and would like to try to repair it.
I believe that the led chip got busted since when I disassembled the head, the led dome fell out so I would like to take this opportunity to either do my first mod or at least try to repair the light.
The LP600 uses a Cree XP-G2 led installed on a 20mm PCB base, it used to use 4 AA batteries and in regards to the driver I have no idea.
Can you guys please recommend where I can get this led chip, preferably installed on the pcb board or if you guys recommend a better chip and driver (nothing too NASA like since I’m rather new at this). Would like to be able to use the 4 AAA battery set up.
On Amazon I found these two options but not sure if they would work with the 4 AAA battery setup :
Welcome to BLF.
I would look into known flashlight stores, like Kaidomain, Intl-Outdoor or fasttech. Amazon is fine as a platform, but you’ll typically get a bigger selection in the stores mentioned.
Also, you can select any LED on any “base” that fits your light, as long as the driver is compatible (or the right one purchased) and the battery voltage is in line with your expectation/your light.
This is a really nice time for you to upgrade your light. It would be nice to know what failed first though. It could just be the switch. If that light has a tail switch, you can remove the tail cap and use a paper clip or piece of metal to connect the back of the battery holder to the bare aluminium at the back of the battery tube. Also, you want to make sure the batter holder is not broken. Do you have a DMM? If you do, you can check the voltage of the carrier to make sure it's connections are still good. You can also use your DMM to test the emitter to see still if it still works. If i doesn't work as you suspect, you may still have a good driver.
Most likely, that light will fit an 18650 type cell if you want to really upgrade the power side of the equation. Just wrap some cardboard around the cell so that it doesn't rattle. An 26650 cell may even fit. I think the driver may be direct drive ("DD") on that light. So if you do power the light with a Lithium Ion type cell, you will need an emitter that is on a copper base.
The emitter is where you can really upgrade the light. You say the light has an XP-G2. That emitter is 3.5mm square in size. I would recommend you stick with that size emitter so that you don't have to modify the reflector or isolation ring that goes between the reflector and the emitter base. Kaidomain has a nice selection of emitters already on 20mm bases. The 3 volt emitters that are 3.5mm square XP-L, XP-L2, XP-G, XP-G2, XP-G3, SST20, 219C. Personally I would go with the SST20 at 3K or 4K tint. You will get very high color rendition (CRI >95) and a wonderful tint as the cost of some output. I you are looking for max output, I would think you would want to go XP-L2.
User interface and really make a light special. If you want to change that, you will want to consider a driver swap. We would need to know what size driver that light has if you want some recommendations on the driver. Also, does that light have a side-switch, or just a tail switch?
Best wishes on you mod. I really like those LuxPro lights.
I know you are attached to that particular light but i might be easier and less expensive to just replace it.
I have several of the LuxPro lights on this webpage and they are genuine products. Several people here have used Vipon and haven’t had any issues.
Wow, thank you so very very much for your response ImA4Wheelr, I will most definitely modify it and for sure will stick with the same size emitter.
I really want or wish Max output so most likely will go for the XP-L2.
In regards to the battery, I do have plenty of 18650 cells that I have recuperated from laptop batteries and also I have some some tubes that fit nicely inside the Lux-pro with the 18650s.
As for the charger, since I have been in RC for many years I have a couple of chargers that I use to check the 18650 cells and recuperate the ones that are good.
Do you recommend I stick with the same driver? or Do you recommend I replace it if I go with the XP-L2 emitter?
I did check the carrier with my DMM and the voltage was perfect and also checked it carefully to make sure that it had not suffered any cracks. The only thing I did not check was the tail switch which I will do when I get home tonight following the process you described.
Out of curiosity, If I do the mode will I be able to use both 18650 batteries and AAA (uses 4 for 6V)?
Again, thank so much for all your valuable information and I too love too LuxPro lights and most likely will buy some more.
bikenber73…you are totally correct about being less expensive and much easier to buy a new light, most definitely will buy new lights but I still will also proceed to modify the one that I have….I will have the best of both worlds…lol
Will check out the site you posted and see If I order some lights.
I should caveat the xpl2 statement. You will only get more output if you drive it over about 5.5 amps. It will require less voltage. So it will be more efficient. Below is a chart made by Texas_Ace in this thread.
Regarding 6V verses 4.2 volts. Four 4 alkaline cells can not deliver 6 volts under load due to significant voltage sag at high currents. Li-ion will also have voltage sage, but significantly less depending on the cell. Here are some AAA discharge curves. The bottom red line is only a .5 amp load. Chart from this site:
I don't know anything about your stock driver. I thought I read on CPF that the LP600 was direct drive, but I may have misread that. Can you post a picture of the top and bottom of the driver? There are some sweet Direct Drive drivers available, but I'm a bit out of touch were to get them right now.
I reviewed one of the LuxPro lights I got from Amazon/Vipon. Must be no love for LuxPros, ’cause no one posted anything in the thread.
Anyhoo, the 2×AA light has a regular tailswitch, because shorting it changes modes fine. The 4×AAA light, when you short-short-short it, doesn’t change modes, but just comes on full-tilt each time. Thinking it has a trick switch, but didn’t poke around too hard.
Mine has a low but its hard to get in the low setting. I have to turn it on and off a few times to get it to stick. The high setting isn’t too bright so I seldom use the low.
My favorite one is the 2 *D cell light. Its what I lend out to people. They think the bigger the better when it comes to flashlights.
ImA4Wheelr………thank you for the info on the lead and the chart, it was quite interesting reading indeed, amazing how much current it was able to withstand and still keep on working.
In my case, I’d be satisfied if I’m able to reach between 900 to 1,200 lumens on my mod on one 18650 cell.
In regards to the voltage sag on the AAAs, you are totally correct and it was not something that I had taken into account, specially If I plan to use a stronger led.
as for the pictures you requested, I will have to wait until this Saturday when I have more time since I have not taken the driver out of the head unit and on weekdays I hardly have any time because of work. I did take a picture of the bottom of the driver :
Lexel…thank you for the information, can you please explain since I’m a bit confused with what you wrote. are you saying that I should use AAA batteries instead of 18650?
