Mod my blast, which 3mm or 5mm LED?

Geoffrey · Jan 11, 2008

The bulb burnt out on my Princeton Tec blast, while I did get a replacement bulb I would like to toy around with making it a LED light.

I took the bulb/reflector assembly apart and it looks like a simple break the solder and replace the bulb deal.

However there are many different LED's to choose from.

Can anyone recommend a 3mm or 5mm LED that is bright and will give me the most usable light?

Thanks.

paulr · Jan 11, 2008

You could solder a led in there and use l92 lithium batteries to get some usable light out. Really if you want to do a good led conversion though, you need a boost converter. One approach might be to use one of those minimag upgrade modules. You'd have to cut up the Blast reflector probably.

revolvergeek · Jan 11, 2008

I put a cut SMJLED in mine and it transforms the light! Nice smooth beam with a good hotspot and nice spill. It makes for a very functional user.

Everett · Jan 11, 2008

I've done a mod on the blast with the nite-ize minimag led upgrade module ($5 at walmart). it worked out really well. remove the PCB from the back of the bulb module and use a dremel to hollow out the plastic until you can fit the nite-ize in it. then all you need to do is solder the nite-ize leads to the PCB in place of the bulb.

Everett · Jan 11, 2008

Found my old thread, check it out: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/100468

LED Zeppelin · Jan 11, 2008

As revolvergeek suggested, the Blast is a great host for the SMJLED.

I posted a thread with that mod some time ago here.

The SMJLED is available here.

Geoffrey · Jan 11, 2008

Thanks guys.

I think I will go with a 5mm Super MJ LED mod.

I don't know how to word this exactly so bear with me. Are the Super MJ LED reverse polarity protected? Meaning if I put the batteries in backwards will I fry it?

Which lead on the LED is + and which is -?

Thanks.

paulr · Jan 11, 2008

If you look at the epoxy skirt around the led, there will be a flat spot on it, that can be hard to see unless you examine it closely. That is next to the cathode lead. Also, if you haven't trimmed the leads yet, they will usually be unequal in length and the cathode lead is the longer one. The cathode lead goes to the minus side of the battery.

Most leds can tolerate 5V of reverse voltage, so putting two aaa's in backwards shouldn't harm it.

LED Zeppelin · Jan 12, 2008

You can also squeeze a coin cell between the leads to test for polarity.

You shouldn't have to worry about reverse polarity damage as paulr mentioned. I've reversed many times without incident.

Mod my blast, which 3mm or 5mm LED?

Geoffrey

Newly Enlightened

paulr

Flashaholic

revolvergeek

Flashlight Enthusiast

Everett

Newly Enlightened

Everett

Newly Enlightened

LED Zeppelin

Flashlight Enthusiast

Geoffrey

Newly Enlightened

paulr

Flashaholic

LED Zeppelin

Flashlight Enthusiast

Similar threads

Latest posts