wildstar87
Enlightened
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2007
- Messages
- 369
Hi guys, I knew I was in trouble when I saw the Niteize and Mag LED upgrades at Target a few weeks ago. I thought hmmm I should look some of this stuff up on the net, to see if it's any good.
That's when I found CPF, and started reading, and reading and reading... I'm no EE, but I've been known to tweak things here and there, and am decent with a soldering iron. You know where this is leading don't you?
I was originally going to try to mod a 5D Brinkmann Mag knock off that I have had for over 10 years. I may try to do so at some point, but it is gonna have to be a lot more custom than I can do right now, since it has a PR bulb mount, and not a Mag style mount, and doesn't lend itself easily to being modded in the same way. I may ask for help on this one later, but for now I'm just going the Mag route.
So I settled on a 4D Mag, to mod with a Hotlips "style" heatsink, and a Cree XRE Q5, but even with 3rdShift's excellent posts I still have a few questions that I hope you will indulge me in.
1. I know that the Cree has some focus issues, but it seems it is partly due to that it sits lower than an SSC P4 or Luxeon. Does anyone see any issues with creating a copper shim that would boost the height of the emitter on the heatsink, as well as create a possibly better heat transfer (I've done this with CPUs with copper shims in between peltier units and the heatsinks) interface? I saw a figure, but can't seem to find it, on what the height difference would be. Are there any custom reflectors that anyone knows of that works better than the standard reflector with the CREE? Initially I was going to go with the SSC P4, but then I saw that it seems that the XRE Q5 has more output at 1000mah, with less color shift issues. I know the SSC P4 is an "easier" mod, but I figured what the heck..
2. I haven't seen a lot of mods do the 4D Mag, a lot of 3Ds I have seen. Since I do want this to run on normal Alkaline as well as possibly Ni-MH cells, I guess I need a regulator circuit, instead of just a simple resistor, since I would like LED to be driven as long as possible at optimal. I'm completely clueless on this, and would look for any recommendations on what to use to drive the Cree at 1000mah. I have seen some posts on mods at Sandwich Shoppe, but they don't seem to have the ones in question, and others seem to be buck or boost, and they also seem to have limited voltage inputs, and wouldn't really be able to handle 6V in. Basically, I need to know what to buy and solder together...
3. I'm still looking for a D heat sink, looks like the Hotlips isn't available from Sandwich Shoppe, I heard ShiftD might have them, but I also was looking at the one from H22A, I have a PM into him to see if he has any more. I do like HA III finish on them. If anyone has any comment or suggestions on this, would be happy to hear them.
4. I like the glow ring idea to give the mod a finished look. It looks like I just order some glow powder, and mix it in with clear epoxy? Is there a specific ratio I should use? And for the life of me, how in the heck did this guy here get the epoxy set so perfect? The green one looks like a piece of jade?! http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=790510&postcount=6 Do you like tape around the base to keep the epoxy from flowing over the side, and then pulling it off while it's setting? What's the secret? Inquiring minds want to know!
I know the trend seems to be smaller and smaller Mag mods, but for some reason, I guess I just like the heft of a big Maglite, especially if I have to clobber someone, not that I ever had, but it's there if I need it, and it just feels good to me.
When I ran into this forum, at first I thought, modding flashlights as a hobby?? That's kinda wierd.. But then I started reading.. Now I have some Terralux drop-ins on the way for my Mini-mags, a SSC P4 star (One of the other reasons for me to use a Cree) also on the way to replace a Luxeon in a Dorcy Hawkeye, and have bought a Mag specifically to modify. I used to get intrigued like this with building and modding computers. Now this seems to have caught my interest... Did anyone tell you, you guys are just...... EVIL..... but in a good way... :twothumbs
Anyway, I hope you can help, I will be sure and update people on my project, if you are interested in seeing any more Mag mods..
Thanks!
That's when I found CPF, and started reading, and reading and reading... I'm no EE, but I've been known to tweak things here and there, and am decent with a soldering iron. You know where this is leading don't you?
I was originally going to try to mod a 5D Brinkmann Mag knock off that I have had for over 10 years. I may try to do so at some point, but it is gonna have to be a lot more custom than I can do right now, since it has a PR bulb mount, and not a Mag style mount, and doesn't lend itself easily to being modded in the same way. I may ask for help on this one later, but for now I'm just going the Mag route.
So I settled on a 4D Mag, to mod with a Hotlips "style" heatsink, and a Cree XRE Q5, but even with 3rdShift's excellent posts I still have a few questions that I hope you will indulge me in.
1. I know that the Cree has some focus issues, but it seems it is partly due to that it sits lower than an SSC P4 or Luxeon. Does anyone see any issues with creating a copper shim that would boost the height of the emitter on the heatsink, as well as create a possibly better heat transfer (I've done this with CPUs with copper shims in between peltier units and the heatsinks) interface? I saw a figure, but can't seem to find it, on what the height difference would be. Are there any custom reflectors that anyone knows of that works better than the standard reflector with the CREE? Initially I was going to go with the SSC P4, but then I saw that it seems that the XRE Q5 has more output at 1000mah, with less color shift issues. I know the SSC P4 is an "easier" mod, but I figured what the heck..
2. I haven't seen a lot of mods do the 4D Mag, a lot of 3Ds I have seen. Since I do want this to run on normal Alkaline as well as possibly Ni-MH cells, I guess I need a regulator circuit, instead of just a simple resistor, since I would like LED to be driven as long as possible at optimal. I'm completely clueless on this, and would look for any recommendations on what to use to drive the Cree at 1000mah. I have seen some posts on mods at Sandwich Shoppe, but they don't seem to have the ones in question, and others seem to be buck or boost, and they also seem to have limited voltage inputs, and wouldn't really be able to handle 6V in. Basically, I need to know what to buy and solder together...
3. I'm still looking for a D heat sink, looks like the Hotlips isn't available from Sandwich Shoppe, I heard ShiftD might have them, but I also was looking at the one from H22A, I have a PM into him to see if he has any more. I do like HA III finish on them. If anyone has any comment or suggestions on this, would be happy to hear them.
4. I like the glow ring idea to give the mod a finished look. It looks like I just order some glow powder, and mix it in with clear epoxy? Is there a specific ratio I should use? And for the life of me, how in the heck did this guy here get the epoxy set so perfect? The green one looks like a piece of jade?! http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=790510&postcount=6 Do you like tape around the base to keep the epoxy from flowing over the side, and then pulling it off while it's setting? What's the secret? Inquiring minds want to know!
I know the trend seems to be smaller and smaller Mag mods, but for some reason, I guess I just like the heft of a big Maglite, especially if I have to clobber someone, not that I ever had, but it's there if I need it, and it just feels good to me.
When I ran into this forum, at first I thought, modding flashlights as a hobby?? That's kinda wierd.. But then I started reading.. Now I have some Terralux drop-ins on the way for my Mini-mags, a SSC P4 star (One of the other reasons for me to use a Cree) also on the way to replace a Luxeon in a Dorcy Hawkeye, and have bought a Mag specifically to modify. I used to get intrigued like this with building and modding computers. Now this seems to have caught my interest... Did anyone tell you, you guys are just...... EVIL..... but in a good way... :twothumbs
Anyway, I hope you can help, I will be sure and update people on my project, if you are interested in seeing any more Mag mods..
Thanks!
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