New to modding flashlight.

[haode]

Hi newbie to this forum. Looking for advice to mod the my old flashlight which got broke down now due to the driver.

Now I want to change the LED and the driver any suggestion ?
Want to make it as bright as possible.

I found a LED [SSC P7 C-Bin LED Emitter with 21mm Heat Sink Base (3.6V~3.7V)] which can go up to 900 lumen but I don't know which driver is correct for the LED so I kinda need your guys help.

A few question here.
1) Does the brightness of the flashlight depends on the LED ?
2) Does LED need "cooler" to prevent overheat ?

Or should i get a new one instead ?

Thanks...

A few photos.



Sorry for any inconvenient if I might have cause in this forum.

 

[^Gurthang]

Welcome to CPF.

I'll suggest that you spend a few hours searching and reading posts on this forum. You'll get most of your questions answered. I spent several weeks reading and taking notes before I started modding my lights, and it was time well spent.

Now, to directly answer your question, you probably can fit a P7 in your light. But have you confirmed that it is the driver that failed? If so you could just replace the driver and gain some experience w/ soldering and such. Sometimes its easier to do a single mod first and gain confidence before jumping into a full tilt re-work. Good luck and enjoy CPF.

 

[allburger]

I doubt if there is any good way to put a P7 in that thing. The first thing would be the heatsinking as you mentioned. I don't believe there is adquate cooling.

The next challenge would be the reflector. The p7 is significantly larger than the Cree that is in there. You would need to drill out the reflector and that will screw up your focal point and you will end up with a horrible beam like a big donut hole or something.

The last problem would be the electronics. Being a cree light, it's probably in the 700ma range. The SSC will handle up to 2800ma, so if you were to wire it in, you would need to change the circuitry as well or it wouldnt be any bit brighter.

 

[haode]

Gurthanj: Sorry about that. The old LED spoilt. I am looking for a new one instead preferred to be brighter. Any suggestion ? Will look through other thread.

allburger : yup, might need some drilling on the reflector. Any suggestion on the heatsinking and the LED ?

 

[haode]

Accidental double post.

 

[js-lots]

Haode,
welcome to cpf. If your willing to spend the money I would go to a ssr50 . It will produce less heat, is more efficient and give a tighter hotspot. It will also give you the wow factor if thats what you are looking for. With the p7, it generates a ton of heat. If you were to drive a p7 or ssr 50 at 2.5A the ssr 50 would give you similar brightness. If I was to recommend an simple driver replacement I would go with shiningbeam's 3 mode driver. It will drive the led at 2.5A and has modes. I have used a number of them and they have been very consitent. I dont know what kind of experience you have modding. If your not willing to mod, then checkout sites like dx or kd. Thats where I started and the prices are dirt cheap. If your looking for a one time durable and reliable product then I would spend the money, it will be worth it in the long run. Use the google search in cpf and you will find endless information. Good luck

 

[Fichtenelch]

Since he already seems to have that p7, i'd just go for a shiningbeam 3-mode 8x7135 driver, which is pretty good once you replaced the thin wires it comes with.

//EDIT: just flew over the rest of the thread and maybe it's better to put a 3-mode 4x7135 driver with an xp-g r4 or r5 in that small body

 

[Beach Bum]

I'm also new to the forum. I've been doing a bit of reading and researching myself. I currently have a 2c Maglite that I put a MagLite 3 Watt LED in. Its still not bright enough for my personal liking. I've came across 2 upgrades. the first, uses 3 CR123A batteries and a Maglite Xenon Bulb, which is used in there "D" sized flashlights. I've also come acrossed the Malkoff Drop-ins for the maglite, but they always seem to be sold out. Has anyone tried either one of these upgrades?

 

[haode]

Haode,
welcome to cpf. If your willing to spend the money I would go to a ssr50 . It will produce less heat, is more efficient and give a tighter hotspot. It will also give you the wow factor if thats what you are looking for. With the p7, it generates a ton of heat. If you were to drive a p7 or ssr 50 at 2.5A the ssr 50 would give you similar brightness. If I was to recommend an simple driver replacement I would go with shiningbeam's 3 mode driver. It will drive the led at 2.5A and has modes. I have used a number of them and they have been very consitent. I dont know what kind of experience you have modding. If your not willing to mod, then checkout sites like dx or kd. Thats where I started and the prices are dirt cheap. If your looking for a one time durable and reliable product then I would spend the money, it will be worth it in the long run. Use the google search in cpf and you will find endless information. Good luck

Does ssr50 need heatsink ? If not i will do modifying instead of buying a new flaslight.

Since he already seems to have that p7, i'd just go for a shiningbeam 3-mode 8x7135 driver, which is pretty good once you replaced the thin wires it comes with.

//EDIT: just flew over the rest of the thread and maybe it's better to put a 3-mode 4x7135 driver with an xp-g r4 or r5 in that small body

Yup, in one way or another i agree with you using r4/r5 as they produce lesser heat.

Which battery would be the best 3xAAA,2xcr123 or 18650 ?

Thanks for all the replies !

 

[js-lots]

the ssr 50 is already mounted on the star. the sst 50 is without a star. I didnt realize you had the p7 already. In that case just go with shingbeam driver. They also sell a driver for the cree xpg r5 if that is route you choose to go. I think nailbender has some of those led's for sale and he is reputable. You have a lot of choices here. the changes just depend on your experience.

 

[haode]

Erm. I think there is a mistake with to my sentence. I do not have a p7 it was just a info that i found online.

 

[haode]

Anyone can help me ?

Any recommendation for bright led (around 21mm for the base) and the circuit board ?

This torchlight can put in 1x18650/2xCr123/3xAAA but there isn't any heatsink for this torchlight

Thanks.