Noob LED flashlight DIY question

[bessiebenny]

I have been looking around and it seems so far that Cree Q5 is the brightest LED you can get right now.

So i would like to create a custom flashlight using a Q5 emitter with a board which drives it at 1000mA for that super +200 lumen brightness. (Drop it in an existing flashlight if possible)

I have bought this already..... (before even thinking about modding etc..)
http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1995

I was wondering if this is all I need to make the mod..
Q5 emitter - http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2394
1A board - http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6190 or https://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=3150

or will it not work / fit / get too hot / i'm totally nuts etc...?

I do have thermal compound (arctic silver ceramique) and can get my hands on soldering tools.

Would Ultrafire C3 be a better flashlight to mod with the two components above?
http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1993

Any assistance on what would be the "cheapest" but decent purchases to make a hard-driven Q5 in a EDC would be greatly appreciated. =)

 

[mmmflashlights]

With the light you bought, the circuit will probably be able to fit but that light doesn't use a full sized star like the Q5 that you bought is mounted onto, so you'll have to use a dremel or something to make it smaller, or take the Emitter off of the star itself (which would be a hassle and require then using some thermal epoxy to attach it to another 'star'). The reflector might not be perfect but it will work alright. A small, thin-walled light like that won't work great at dissipating the heat but if you make good thermal contact of the star to the body it will be ok, maybe just avoid using it at 1A for long periods of time.

An easier mod would be one where the light already used one of the full-sized stars like the one that the Q5 is attached to, then it would be a simple swap. Not many AA sized lights use a full size star though, one of the few exceptions would be this light, a 'Cree'd Elly' as it's also known. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2098 It's a bulkier light but it's a decent light otherwise and would be very easy to mod with the circuit and Q5 star, it also has a nice aluminum reflector and glass lens.

 

[Lighthouse one]

I believe the MTE light you have is a Seoul SSC P4. You should not change a seoul for a cree. They need different reflectors.
You should also start out with the easier mods. The tiny lights cannot hold a star mounted cree. Look for a larger light that you can just swap the star- and don't need to mess with the board. Don't try modding a bare cree LED. YOu can mod a bare Seoul Led- after you get some experience.

Keep reading- don't be in too big a rush to do too much at once. Buy a good light first...then mod!
For the best deal...try this:http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5435

It's hard to beat a light already made by modding your own. Nothing wrong with wanting to mod just for the learning experience....but you won't be saving money, and getting a brighter light...in most cases.

The Q5's are not necessarily a lot brighter than a Q2 or Q4...too many it depends things. A reflector has a lot to do with the output .

If you are going to go to the trouble to put a Q5 into a light, you probably will be happier with a better quality...maybe a 2 cell 123a or 18650 light. More expensive lights will often have a digital board already...

Cheap lights often have poor switches ( tailcaps, ect).

Nuwaii is coming out with new Rebel Led lights that look very good too.

Just be careful you don't end up with a $75 cheap light...there are a lot of great lights in the $20 to $50 dollar range..

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6515 another one.

 

[bessiebenny]

Thanks for the input...!!

Just wondering, does a "simple swap" of the star as you both mentioned mean literally just that? No soldering, no re-wiring required? or do you still have to de-solder the existing star and take it out and solder the new one in? (less work the better. hehe) (hmm. looking at the photos, i guess i have to de/solder. that's fine I guess)

Also, does anyone know what current it is putting out to the Q4 led in that sku 5435 flashlight at high mode?

 

[mmmflashlights]

You'll have to desolder one and resolder the other in its place, but as far as soldering goes it doesn't get much simpler. Regarding the light you mention and what its current is, I don't know for certain but it's probably a similar circuit, maybe even the same, likely around 1A in any case. It looks to be an unbranded version of a new Ultrafire light that came out about a month ago that has had mixed feedback.