A2 Aviator?

[aussiebob]

I couldnt find any info on this so ill ask.

Just got my third A2 today, a red model. Now i have 2 red and 1 white.
Cut to the chase, the white one was in the car and i was shining the new one around the house and i didn't like the redish glow in the beam, so i took the led ring out and started shining again about 10 sec later the light went dead, i gave it a little tap.. nothing. Bugger.
I tried new cells, cleaned all contacts etc, i finally looked at the filament and it had blew. Only used the light for a minute tops.

Do you think removing the led ring and using the light may have supplied to much power to the bulb beceause they wernt drawing any power, therefore overdriving the bulb or did i just get very unlucky. Ive read about the MA02 here and everyone says it lasts forever.. almost.

Also, is there a way to have the leds off when you use the high beam, i dont like how both are on in high mode when the leds dont really contribute to the brightness in high mode.

Just thought id ask before trying this again, and waste another bulb.

Regards.

 

[Carpenter]

Do you think removing the led ring and using the light may have supplied to much power to the bulb beceause they wernt drawing any power, therefore overdriving the bulb?

Possibly, the A2 isn't designed to run without the LED's.

Is there a way to have the leds off when you use the high beam?

Not that I am aware of. Possibly with a specially built ring, but I don't know of one. Koala is currently making a DIY replacement ring, but I believe the LED's stay lit on that one also.

My experience is that while you can replace the LED's in the ring by de-soldering/soldering and you can replace the MA02 with a Strion kit made by FiveMega, the stock/standard A2 works the best and is the least likely to have problems.

 

[Patriot]

Do you think removing the led ring and using the light may have supplied to much power to the bulb beceause they wernt drawing any power, therefore overdriving the bulb or did i just get very unlucky. Ive read about the MA02 here and everyone says it lasts forever.. almost.

I'm going to suspect not since I once did the same thing and didn't have the problem that you're having. The MA02 is very robust and can handle quite a bit more voltage (on an incan scale) than two load sagged primaries.

aussiebob
Also, is there a way to have the leds off when you use the high beam, i dont like how both are on in high mode when the leds dont really contribute to the brightness in high mode.

I don't know of any simple way but I'm sure that it can be done. The question I'd want to ask is if there's any benefit to it and I'd argue that there isn't. The voltage shared by the LED's is so small that it's quite insignificant when compared to the draw the incan lamp pulls. Additionally the white LED's do add up to 15% visible brightness to the overall output of the A2. If you compare them side by side the red A2 will appear slightly more yellow while the white A2 will appear to have a whiter and brighter beam. Some of the LED colors do contribute noticeably to the overall output.

 

[leukos]

I had an A2 lamp fail on me after removing the LED ring, but the lamp had something like 55 hours on it by then. I think it died at 60 hours. I can't say for sure it was from removing the ring.

As for the reddish tint in the beam, if you sand those LEDs to give a more diffused beam, that reddish tint blends in quite a bit better with the incan beam.

 

[dchao]

You can always try Yellow or Y/G LEDs, they don't have either the reddish or bluish spill. I think this is the best solution, as you get to keep the low LED beam.

 

[aussiebob]

Thanks for the replys, didnt really get a difinative answer, wont try again though.

I sanded the led's as sugested. WOW, makes the light so much better, it really reduced the red output and evened the beam, i always thought it was to bright, now much better for low output night time work, and you dont notice the red in the beam.

My red will be getting used more now.

Some pictures.

.

Thanks again.

 

[leukos]

Nice job :thumbsup:

Sanding those LEDs on the colored A2 rings is a 100% improvement!

 

[StandardBattery]

Nice job :thumbsup:

Sanding those LEDs on the colored A2 rings is a 100% improvement!

+1

Anyone have any suggestions for dealers with good prices that might stock Y/G and Red? (OpticsHQ no go) and ebay does not workout right now... may be the way to go though. PM ideas if you can't post.

 

[DM51]

Very nice sanding job. As a matter of interest, what grade # sandpaper did you use?

 

[mwaldron]

That is a nice sanding job.

I'll just take this opportunity to say a little bit of Brass-o on a dremel polishing week works quite well with less elbow grease.

 

[aussiebob]

Nice job :thumbsup:

Sanding those LEDs on the colored A2 rings is a 100% improvement!

That is a nice sanding job.

I'll just take this opportunity to say a little bit of Brass-o on a dremel polishing week works quite well with less elbow grease.

Thankyou.

Very nice sanding job. As a matter of interest, what grade # sandpaper did you use?

Thankyou, it was P180.