Mag mod questions; HELP!

[sniper]

Hello:
After studying the forums and other sites, I think this is what I would like to do: Either a 3D or 3C cell direct drive Mag light mod for simplicity, this being my first attempt at flashlight surgery. I think the instructions on the forum are clear enough to do the work by, but:

Is it necessary to use an anodized heat sink? If it is unanodized, then what? How do I isolate the LED from the HS? Where can I get one with the centered recess for the LED? And/or does anyone sell a proper LED already attached to the HS?

I have read the posts regarding Luxeons, and am confused. Which would be best for the 4.5 V application,a I or III, and what BIN? Where can I buy just one?

Obviously, I would like the whitest LED I can find. TCP green won't cut it. I know: "Luxeon Lottery", but is there any way to insure the color is more "normal"?

If I eventually wanted to change the set up to a 4C or a 4 CR123 appplication, would I have to resistor the circuit, change the LED, or buy another flashlight /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif and do it all again?

Any help will be muchly appreciated. Thanks, guys, and quit laughing!

 

[theepdinker]

Sniper,
Not laughing here. I'm just a few steps ahead myself.

Anodized/bare your choice.
You don't isolate the LED from the heat sink. You Arctic epoxie to it. This doesn't electricaly ground it, only provides a heat path. Both the O-sink and Hotlips meet your needs. They can be found on the forums with a little looking. I trip across them most days.

The Luxeon that matches your wants is a LUX III. A group buy is going on right now for T bin, WO tint. That translates to bright & WHITE.

If you want a different setup later... build it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Theepdinker

 

[hotbeam]

sniper, the first link in my sig line below will help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Hallis]

My first mod was a Space Needle build. doesnt get much more straight forward than this.

The walkthrough is Here


Shane

 

[Chop]

sniper,

I've built quite a few mag mods and always come back to a couple of basics. I try to stick with cells that the light was designed for. Like D cells for a D cell light and C cells for a C cell light. This just helps to avoid the complications of using adapters. I like to keep things simple to operate and feed.

Having said that, I would avoid any setup that forces you to use more than 1 ohm of resistance. If you have to use more than that, you're just burning up too much juice in the resistor and wasting it. I run ALL of my mag mods in a true direct drive fashion.

All I can tell you is to use a good heatsink. The hotlips or o-sink will work well. I'd go with a nicely binned Lux III with either a K or L Vf and just throw it together. For the most part, it's heat that kills luxeons and as long as you have good heatsinking, you shouldn't have any problems. I've run 1W luxeons to 1.5A with good heat sinking and haven't had any problems. Besides, if you do cook a luxeon, it's easy enough to replace the emitter with another.

The direct drive mag mod can be done with a hacksaw, hex wrench and cheapie Radio Shack soldering iron. Have no fear, check out some of the walk throughs available here on CPF and dive right in.