Ok I finally decided to ask before I mess up my first P7. I thought I had read that you can clean an LED with alcohol but after alot of searching I didn't fond any info on actually cleaning the LED itself. But yea what do you guys suggest for cleaning off the dome of an LED?
Cleaning an LED?
- Thread starter gsxrac
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OfficerCamp
Enlightened
For the LED itself, I would not use any solvents or cleaning agents. Start with a soft, lint free cloth and wipe any dust from the diode with the light turned upside down (so gravity will pull any impurities away from the electronics). I would avoid canned air products as well; the propellants in these products can be expelled from the nozzle and are VERY cold, this extreme temperature may damage the diode. Compressed air from a compressor (light pressure) can be used however to blow away dust and the like. Start with this, if anybody knows of any more effective cleaning measures, I'm sure they will chime in soon.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
csshih
Flashlight Enthusiast
personally, I just use those little rubbing alcohol packets on the led.. no harm so far, just give it a careful, soft wipe!
Sgt. LED
Flashaholic
Lick it.
kosPap
Flashlight Enthusiast
aslo canned air is not always that...check to see the Dust-Off ingredients and warning about camera mirrors....
TITAN1833
Flashlight Enthusiast
MWClint
Enlightened
for p7's i use an alcohol packet square or qtip+alcohol..the higher the alcohol
content..the less streakyness you see on the dome.
p4's are cheap and domes are small..licking them works best..and ive not had
any long term issues doing so..even have a p4 exposed to world on a
keychain light..no probs. i just dont lick it in the winter..brass+cold+tongue=ouch.
content..the less streakyness you see on the dome.
p4's are cheap and domes are small..licking them works best..and ive not had
any long term issues doing so..even have a p4 exposed to world on a
keychain light..no probs. i just dont lick it in the winter..brass+cold+tongue=ouch.
csshih
Flashlight Enthusiast
I use these, the same as doctors use as skin cleaning swabs.
Never had a problem with them the LED ends up looking brand new, they are also good for cleaning off the little bit of excess AA around the LED straight after it is mounted.
Norm
Never had a problem with them the LED ends up looking brand new, they are also good for cleaning off the little bit of excess AA around the LED straight after it is mounted.
Norm
Justin Case
Flashlight Enthusiast
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Page 14 of the P7 datasheet says "This device should not be used in any type of fluid such as water, oil, organic solvent and etc. When washing is required, IPA(Isopropyl Alcohol) should be used."
So I would use IPA, which in fact I do (don't use the tinted stuff, which must have some sort of dye added). I dip a corner of a lintless cloth that is used to clean AR-coated eyeglass lenses into the IPA. Then I drape the moistened corner onto the dome and gently brush it with the loose cloth to pick up any debris or dust.
Actually, no need to apply any liquid. I clean all my P7&P4 silicone base domes with good quality clear 3M tape. High quality tape is the key, don't use a cheap one. Practice before with dummy dome, you will get perfect result.
I hope this help.
Yoda4561
Flashlight Enthusiast
First I avoid getting them dirty enough that they need to be cleaned. Then a giotto airbulb blower for dust. After hearing all the stories about people knocking off the gummy seoul domes I've taken the care not to let any get exposed to something worse than dust. The old luxeon domes I wiped off with a microfiber or whatever, the epoxy domes were pretty durable.
