Goopy crap on my LEDs!

bbb74 · Apr 24, 2011

Was messing around with my camera taking pictures of leds ... and discovered goopy crap! I figure somebody on here will know what it is and if it matters. None of these torches have been modded, all are as purchased new.

Quark AA nw - goopy!

Same torch

Quark turbo aa - small bit of goop

Same turbo goop

Preon Revo S2 - great!

Fenix LD20 R4

sigsour · Apr 24, 2011

I would venture to guess that it is the no-clean flux residue left over from the attachment process. Some solder pastes have a higher percentage of solids and thus a higher percentage of residues left behind. The first LED looks as though flux may have been manually added prior to reflow to aid in wetting.

bbb74 · Apr 24, 2011

On the quark nw photos, you can see the goop on the surface of the LED itself. You can see the diffraction its causing moving the lines on the led surface.

sigsour · Apr 24, 2011

Sometimes when we are manufacturing an LED module, there may be a need to add flux for rework purposes. It is done by hand usually using a small brush. I would guess that this LED got manually fluxed and some flux residues accidentally were brushed on the LED.

RonReagan · Apr 24, 2011

Had a zebralight with a totally clouded led from what I suspect was compound residue which I returned.

DimmerD · Apr 24, 2011

In the third pic down is that a screw tip sticking out of the LED, it's right around the 2 o'clock position? Sure looks like one!

bbb74 · Apr 24, 2011

DimmerD said:
In the third pic down is that a screw tip sticking out of the LED, it's right around the 2 o'clock position? Sure looks like one!

I kind of thought that but I doubt there's any reason for a screw that small to be anywhere around. It might be a small chip in the surface or something?

You can see the goop on the led surface creating a shadow on the qaark turbo one ... I wonder what that does to its R5 rating. Not that I have noticed a problem though.

mrlysle · Apr 24, 2011

DimmerD said:
In the third pic down is that a screw tip sticking out of the LED, it's right around the 2 o'clock position? Sure looks like one!

Looks like one to me too! WTH!

bbb74 · Apr 24, 2011

Ok I had to stay up late to get a shot of the alleged screw tip

I don't think its a screw tip, to my mind it looks like a metal shaving. I'm not sure if its in the silicone or on top of it. Its pretty hard to get shots at this scale, the depth of field is like a 10th of a millimetre, if I stop down any further I'll just lose sharpness due to diffraction. Here's the photos:

^Gurthang · Apr 24, 2011

That's solder splatter. My concern is that flux will darken from heating and over time. Also, flux will corrode parts and circuit traces if not completely cleaned off. I'd send 'em back to FourSevens. I'm surprised that work passed QC....

DimmerD · Apr 24, 2011

^Gurthang said:
That's solder splatter. My concern is that flux will darken from heating and over time. Also, flux will corrode parts and circuit traces if not completely cleaned off. I'd send 'em back to FourSevens. I'm surprised that work passed QC....

+1

KLowD9x · Apr 24, 2011

My 4Sevens Quark MiNiAA2 has this same crud on the emitter. Well up the side of the LED dome and it is even visible in the emitted beam if shown on a smooth wall. I never let it bother me as I thought it was the adhesive they used to attach the LED.

sigsour · Apr 24, 2011

If it is a flux residue, it is more than likely a no-clean flux and will not corrode the circuitry.

alan98vw · Apr 24, 2011

DimmerD said:
+1

+2

If it is solder flux on the LED, you can use alcohol to clean it up. Some solder flux is water soluble, can be cleaned by just water. But I would use alcohol becaue it will evaporate quicker.

auspilot · Apr 24, 2011

My iTP A3 EOS has the same stuff visible on the LED.

bbb74 · Apr 24, 2011

Hmm ok I'll double check with 4sevens to see if its anything to worry about. I really love the turbo so I doubt it is affecting it. The aa2 nw though, does get hotter than the others even though its one bin lower than the turbo, and the same bin as the LD20 R4. I think(?) - I think the neutral white is an R4. Or is it an R3... Its interesting what you discover when you start pointing a macro lens at everything. I highly recommend against pointing it at yourself!!

Goopy crap on my LEDs!

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