Increasing the reflector opening on a kl4

[Hammer Train]

Hi all,
I have a KL4 that I currently have an MCE on but I want to swap the MCE for a P7 to allow me to run it using a single small IMR cell in an e1e body.

What's the best way to enlarge the opening of the reflector to accomodate the P7's extra size compared to the MCE please?

Thanks!

 

[greenLED]

If you have no fancy tools (ie. lathe), you can do it with just a bit of sandpaper.

Start with a coarse grit. Place the paper on a flat surface, and start sanding. When I've done things like that, I usually count X number of passes in one direction, then turn the reflector 90º and count the same number of passes again.

Check your measurements often to make sure you're sanding parallel to the top edge.

As you get close to the desired dimensions, switch to finer grits and proceed with caution.

You may need to clean the reflector. Just swish it around with some soapy water, rinse and air-dry. Don't wipe it, or touch it with anything!

I would not dare use a Dremel on a reflector - really hard to control how much material you take off... (don't ask me how I know).

 

[Techjunkie]

I use one of these T-handled reamer:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00940884000P

From the LED side (not the lens side) work it back and forth, clockwise & counter clockwise a quarter of a turn in each direction, very slowly. You'll be surprised how quickly you can take off too much (assuming the reflector is a soft metal like Aluminum or a plastic).

Having said that, why wouldn't you be able to do with the MC-E what you wish to do with the P7? When the MC-E is in all parallel config, it has almost the same electrical and thermal properties as the P7, but focuses better with small reflector...

 

[LukeA]

The best way to do this is to put the MC-E dies in parallel. Then you won't have to do anything else.

 

[mudman cj]

If that is the light you bought from bxstylez, then the dies already are in parallel. I could understand any concerns about running the LED at well over 3 Amps though (3.5A IIRC :thinking. You could rewire it 2s2p and reconnect the stock driver circuit which still resides in the head.

 

[Hammer Train]

thanks for the info guys! A 2s2p config with the stock driver sounds like a good way to go with the MCE, might try that one thanks mudman!