Dorcy 1w 3AAA upgrade Luxeon 1 to Cree ?

[abvidledUK]

This is the torch



Opened up



View of Lumiled Luxeon 1



This is the Lumiled LED close up



Question, I know it looks very easy to just swap the Lumiled for a Cree, what I want to know, has anyone done it.

The Luxeon / refelctor combo gives a very ringy beam, will Cree be any better.

Original spec 30 lumens.

 

[JamisonM]

abvidledUK, I can't help you any, but may I ask how you got the led out?

 

[abvidledUK]

abvidledUK, I can't help you any, but may I ask how you got the led out?

It took me a year !!!

I tried to unscrew black ring inside head, tried to unscrew innards, didn't use too much force as it is a really solid construction well made torch.

Then I had a flash (tic) of inspiration...

The solution is so easy, I couldn't believe I didn't think of it earlier.

If you push the led assembly from either end, it gives a little as if spring loaded.

With some trepidation, I Prised out the switch button, it actually came out very easily.

Then the whole internal LED assembly just pushed out, towards the rear, and the two piece black support came off easily.

Bit surprised to see the LED Star is just a loose fit, not screwed or thermal glued to anything. 20mm diameter Star.

So, as easy to mod as an Elly (I've done a few of those)

Just wonder if it's worth the effort, it's cheap enough, around $6.

 

[JamisonM]

I didn't think it would be that easy and it was.
Here's a picture of the driver. I hope it helps with anything.

 

[ace0001a]

I have the same Dorcy and a Element that is identical except for the head being different. I took them both apart in the same way. Not sure if it's really worth doing as there is no thermal path from the star to the body. I tried put a CreeXRE star in the 3W Element version (which is made in a similar way) and the reflector doesn't focus the Cree good enough. An SSCP4 or Edison Opto KLC8 would work better with the reflector that these flashlights come with, but I just had a bunch of CreeXRE stars lying around decided to experiment.

 

[JamisonM]

I took them both apart in the same way. Not sure if it's really worth doing as there is no thermal path from the star to the body.

Just how hot does a CreeXRE and SSCP4 get at their lowest voltage level? This light produces around 30lm. If there was some way to put something that's more efficient and can produce more light at the same power level in; then would we really have to worry about heating issues? There's plenty of room in this light for modification IMO. If heat is truly an issue that we can not ignore; then might we add a small heatsink for the emitter to sit on? Right now, I have the idea of replacing the driver with one that will connect directly to the batteries (maybe 2x 123's) and adding a small copper heatsink for the emitter.

 

[Joshatdot]

It took me a year !!!

I tried to unscrew black ring inside head, tried to unscrew innards, didn't use too much force as it is a really solid construction well made torch.

Then I had a flash (tic) of inspiration...

The solution is so easy, I couldn't believe I didn't think of it earlier.

If you push the led assembly from either end, it gives a little as if spring loaded.

With some trepidation, I Prised out the switch button, it actually came out very easily.

Then the whole internal LED assembly just pushed out, towards the rear, and the two piece black support came off easily.

Bit surprised to see the LED Star is just a loose fit, not screwed or thermal glued to anything. 20mm diameter Star.

So, as easy to mod as an Elly (I've done a few of those)

Just wonder if it's worth the effort, it's cheap enough, around $6.

Thanks for the tip! I thought the button was glued in!