Modding Petzl Myo5

[Ralf]

Just purchased an Petzl Myo5 at my local trecking store for
a nice price.

Now I am wondering wether it is possible to change the
5mm white LEDs to new ones with a better tint.

Anybody done that already?

Cheers
Ralf

 

[mrme]

I am sorry to say the Myo lights are not very mod friendly (with the possible exception of the XP). They are held together by those plastic studs that are melted to close things up (the actual name for this kind of fastening escapes me at the moment). So, if you take it apart, you will have to glue it back together, which will make for a less than reliable light. The parts are not standard off the shelf variety, but custom, built-in stuff. If the Myo lights had real switches in them, I would probably have a bunch and not be so sold on BD headlamps. But that awful switch is a deal breaker.

If you figure something out, let us know. I have 2 of the non-LED Myos and have not figured out any way to make them what I want. The ones with LEDs offer only a little more. I love the reflector and the throw it has, but everything else about the light is terrible. Oh, the strap and the coiled wire are good, too.

 

[dk0013]

I have a Myo 3 and I'd like to swap the 5mm LEDs out as well, I don't mind gluing it back but I'd like to be able to open it without killing it.

I would also like to know if the incandescant lamp can be swapped out with one that works better at the lower voltage of nimh cells, imo the beam is way to dim and yellow unless using alks.

 

[mrme]

I have ocasionally seen 10 of the standard Myo bulbs show up on ebay for a few dollars. You could buy those and canibalize the bases to customize your bulb. With 6 volts, you should find one that meets your needs easily.

Another reason I am disenchanted with the Myo is that bulb. I put some oxy-alkalines in it once with the stock bright bulb and it suffered from some meld down. The light stoped working when the base got soft and the contacts seperated. The reflector was permamnently warped. Oxy-alkalines aren't as staong as lithiums. It was a hot Houston summer evening and maybe that makes the oxy-alkalines especially potent. Be careful if you try and boost the wattage. The weak bulb works fine in the light, but I consider this specific headlamp an unrelaible light, now.

In case you are curious, the BD bulb holder is metal and ceramic. It is rated to something like 35 watts. The rest of the headlamp would be a puddle of molten plastic before it stoped working. The bulb base is a hard to find, but standard size. If only the focusing was better!

 

[dk0013]

Do you know of a 3-cell bulb that would fit in this light without melting it (similar wattage as stock)? That would work much better using nimh, since you have about the same voltage with 4 nimh than 3 alkaline.

 

[Ralf]

Last Weekend first time outdoor
use of my unmodded Myo5 and
I have to say I will leave it as is.

The blueish tint is only anoying
on a white wall and the light
is really useful.

Thanks for your opinions.

Cheers
Ralf

 

[mrme]

There are several bulbs for 3 cell lights, but I am pretty sure 4 ni-mh would toast them pretty fast. They usually start about 1.3 V with plenty of avalible juice.

There is the Myolite series which is are 3 cell lights. I am sure spare bulbs are avalible, so feel free to try it. At least with it you shouldn't have to pot a bulb in a Myo base. I assume they are the same base, but don't know for sure.

 

[hank_moon]

There is the Myolite series which is are 3 cell lights. I am sure spare bulbs are avalible, so feel free to try it. At least with it you shouldn't have to pot a bulb in a Myo base. I assume they are the same base, but don't know for sure.

yup. same base.