dimwatt
Newly Enlightened
I got a super deal on an ElectroLumens XM-2 with a bad Lux3 so wanted to repair my first "real" light! I have a couple of Waion's clones so decide to pop one off the sink and drop it in the XM. All went well and I twisted the tail cap with sweet anticipation and was rewarded by beautifull, bright white light!!! Ah, the sweet joy of success!!!
WAIT!!!! WHY IS IT GETTING DIM AND TURNING BLUE AFTER ONLY 20 SECONDS OR SO!!! TURN IT OFF!!! TURN IT OFF!!! WHAT DID I DO WRONG?? OMG! I MUST HAVE SCREWED UP THE LED!! QUICK!! RUN THROUGH THE STEPS IN YOUR MIND!! NO, IT WON'T WORK AT ALL IF I SWITCHED THE ANODE AND CATHODE!!
Ok, the adrenaline is starting to burn off but confusion still reigns! Logic says try it again but I'm almost afraid to! Will it even come on again?? A very slow and cautious turn of the tail cap and nice bright, white light appears!
I shake the flashlight, no rattles! I try to stick it in my ear, it won't fit! I then taste it, hmmm, needs more salt!
OH, CRAP! I realize I have a DMM stored away in an inaccessable location! Oh good, the battery is still good after 34 years 137 days and some odd hours since I last attempted to figure out how to work this modern and highly sophisticated piece of technology! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
After unscrewing the bezel and clumsily holding the test probes in all the right(?) places, I push the tail switch downward against my leg (as I don't happen to have been as lucky as my Brother who was born with three arms and hands) and the meter reads.......$#@*! I can't see because the light slipped and got me dead center in both eyes!
Ok, Ok, the spots are starting to go away and the readout says... (I don't wanna get flashed again!)/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/awman.gif....the stinking leads slipped!
Any way, enough foolishness! I read 1.3 amps at the Luxeon! It has to be that the poor clone was over heating and the 1.3 amps is likely what did in the 3 watt Luxeon that was in it.
Now I need help figuring out what to put in there that will survive. I think I remember reading somewhere that Red Luxes are tolerant of higher current but am not sure.
Any suggestions from experienced Mod people will be much appreciated. Any color, wattage or combination will be considered but I hesitate to do anything that requires a new board due to the cost factor.
Thanks, all!
dimwatt /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/au.gif
WAIT!!!! WHY IS IT GETTING DIM AND TURNING BLUE AFTER ONLY 20 SECONDS OR SO!!! TURN IT OFF!!! TURN IT OFF!!! WHAT DID I DO WRONG?? OMG! I MUST HAVE SCREWED UP THE LED!! QUICK!! RUN THROUGH THE STEPS IN YOUR MIND!! NO, IT WON'T WORK AT ALL IF I SWITCHED THE ANODE AND CATHODE!!
Ok, the adrenaline is starting to burn off but confusion still reigns! Logic says try it again but I'm almost afraid to! Will it even come on again?? A very slow and cautious turn of the tail cap and nice bright, white light appears!
I shake the flashlight, no rattles! I try to stick it in my ear, it won't fit! I then taste it, hmmm, needs more salt!
OH, CRAP! I realize I have a DMM stored away in an inaccessable location! Oh good, the battery is still good after 34 years 137 days and some odd hours since I last attempted to figure out how to work this modern and highly sophisticated piece of technology! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
After unscrewing the bezel and clumsily holding the test probes in all the right(?) places, I push the tail switch downward against my leg (as I don't happen to have been as lucky as my Brother who was born with three arms and hands) and the meter reads.......$#@*! I can't see because the light slipped and got me dead center in both eyes!
Ok, Ok, the spots are starting to go away and the readout says... (I don't wanna get flashed again!)/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/awman.gif....the stinking leads slipped!
Any way, enough foolishness! I read 1.3 amps at the Luxeon! It has to be that the poor clone was over heating and the 1.3 amps is likely what did in the 3 watt Luxeon that was in it.
Now I need help figuring out what to put in there that will survive. I think I remember reading somewhere that Red Luxes are tolerant of higher current but am not sure.
Any suggestions from experienced Mod people will be much appreciated. Any color, wattage or combination will be considered but I hesitate to do anything that requires a new board due to the cost factor.
Thanks, all!
dimwatt /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/au.gif