burned led

[shiftd]

I just did a stupid thing that most people had done. I just put my 2 cell versalux (brand new) that i bought from techass into a 4 cell flashlight. I did not notice that i put the led in a wrong voltage until i put it back into the 2 cell flashlight. Why? the led lightened in the 4 cell as well as in the 2 cell, with the difference in the color. The color was white but when i put it in the 4 cell flashlight, the color is turqoise. Now, when i put it back in the 2 cell, the led just on a verrrrrrry dim light that it basicly the same as when it is turned of. So i wondered if the led has been broken, so i put the led back into the 4 cell and guess what, the color still turquoise, the brightnest is the same as when it is new and used on the 2 cell flashlight. Any idea on why this is happening? Does the led now have higher both max voltage and lower voltage? As a note, the led get hot inside the 4 cell. Any idea what would happen if i put it on a 3 cell flashlight?

Update: When i use 2 almost dead battery mixed with 2 brand new alkaline inside the 4 cell, i got white color. Does that mean if i use 3 cell (new), i will get white? this thing is getting interesting. Want to try 5 cell (kaboom)

 

[Hemingray]

Sounds like the LED "bulb" is partially fried,
the turquoise is what Craig calls "the angry blue glow" when a white LED gets too overdriven.
The phosphor probably got whacked, as well.
It may work on 4 cells but don't expect a long and happy life for it :-(

I noticed the same "turquoise" when one of the four LEDs in the LED Club "flushlight" was starting to die.

5 cells will probably give lots of light, for a very short time. Probably the LED can be replaced after it has gone through the smoke-emitting then the dark-emitting stages... Dunno if the voltage upconverter will survive, however. It may also throw a hissy fit and release its own magic blue smoke.

/ed brown

 

[Sigman]

Just received a Princeton Tec Attitude in the mail, inserted the "fuel cells" properly, went to "my special dark place", twisted the bezel to the "on" position...strange, eerie, "angry blue glow"...

I'm thinking, "I didn't know these came in colors, geesh it's not very bright!". Then noticed only two LEDs were now glowing, one completely dead and the other two slowly going to their grave!

Must be a bad regulator circuit or...?

Now having to test out the "Lifetime Guarantee" or perhaps deal with Brightguy...

Hassle to have to pay more in postage though!