Modifying Petzl headlamp with Q5 or R2 LED?

[manowar669]

I have a Petzl headlamp (not sure of model) with an incadescent spot bulb + a 2 LED array for a flood mode. I need about a 200 lumen headlamp for mountainbiking, but am too cheap to buy a dedicated bike light, since they're pricey. Can I replace/mod the spot section with a high output LED? I will probably disable the current 3 LED array. Battery pack is 4 AA.
Thanks.

 

[Marduke]

The model number would help.

 

[wild68fury]

I think you are being too optamistic. You might get 90 lumens with a super bright LED but you would have heat issues with the high power leds that they are putting in the flashlights rated at 200+ lumens. Your run time with a super bright LED will probably be around 30 minutes with 4 AA and it is not regulaed. I have put off a mod to a viewpoint bike light because of these issues and the cost will be about $50 for the parts I need (refleactor, glass lens, LED, Driver circuit, etc. I still want to do it for fun but there are really great bike lights for less than 100 bucks.

This is a nice one:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop...Mo-_-Extendfall&[email protected]

 

[PhantomPhoton]

I have a Petzl headlamp (not sure of model) with an incadescent spot bulb + a 2 LED array for a flood mode. I need about a 200 lumen headlamp for mountainbiking, but am too cheap to buy a dedicated bike light, since they're pricey. Can I replace/mod the spot section with a high output LED? I will probably disable the current 3 LED array. Battery pack is 4 AA.
Thanks.

Unlikely. The headlamp is almost guaranteed to not be built to deal with the heat that will come from running a high powered LED to produce 200 lumens.

 

[wild68fury]

Here is another good light:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=25913&subcategory_ID=4320

 

[yellow]

I cant remember any Petzl with halo bulb + two led :thinking:
the DUO, which is the only one running on 4 AAs, iirc, has a multiled-insert (when its the led version)
it features a relatively big yellow colored housing and main / secondary light side by side.

unfortunately no Petzl is good to be modded to a very powered led - as is pretty no headlamp - because of the plastic body. The led will overheat.
Petzls in plus tend not to offer enough space to insert led, focusing, heatplate, ...

Get any headlamp You want, mod it with a Cree/Seoul, if there is still a Luxeon inside, and use it on head.
Put a brighter lamp on Your bars
(I ride with a single Cree light on bars and, if trails are difficult, add a Streamlight ARGO HP (seouled) on the head)

 

[hopkins]

don't see spending that much on a dedicated handlebar light either.
Option is to use the existing headlamp plus strap 2 (or more)
flashlights to the handlebar with sections of bike innertube.
enough photons?

 

[gillestugan]

As someone said; It would help if you look up the model of the lamp, or post a picture of it. If it is a Duo, take a look at this mod. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=174464
Im using the same setup. Works surpricingly good and does't overheat too bad (I thought it would). Mod is also very cheap. Only $12.
Proper cooling is a problem when modding most petzl headlamps.