replace the LED in an Arc-LS

sunspot · Jan 25, 2003

I got a greenie

and I want to replace it with a Q3x

LS. Is it possible? How does the head come apart?

TIA

McGizmo · Jan 25, 2003

Dana,

It's possible; I did it myself with a blue that was bunk. I believe there are some threads already in the archive on proper methods of surgery. The key is some pliers or chanel locks, leather or other protective material to go between the jaws and the Arc and heat. A good heat gun or an electric oven around 160 F *should* soften the epoxies and thread locking material enough to allow for dis assembly. No guarantees and you be on your own! Good Luck!

- Don

sunspot · Jan 25, 2003

Thanks Don. I'll give it a shot.

CM · Jan 25, 2003

Sunspot,

Dons right on the money. I've disassembled various lights now (Arc, KL1, KL3) I think I'm actually getting good at it. Controlled heat is the key along with a vise/pliers/channel locks with protective material to keep from marring the finish. I use an old inner tube to get a good grip. You probably know already, once you breach that seal, you just voided your warranty. Also, flex failure possibility increases. Beam centering is a pain, yada yada yada... Good luck to you.

Peter G, pardon me for helping someone take one of your lights apart

sunspot · Jan 26, 2003

Well folks, Don's method works, of course, great. Now there is a fly in the ointmemt as the assembly is potted in a black epoxy like substance compleatly covering everything except the LED.
Can anyone tell me the next step?

I failed to mention that my LS is a first run, very early and low serial number. Oh, and a green like puke color beam.

McGizmo · Jan 28, 2003

Dana,

I also encountered this issue and infact had to pop the PCB out of the head with uncertainty as some of this epoxy was *holding* the PCB in the head. I carefully chipped away at the epoxy that was in the way of the LED leads. When very warm, the epoxy isn't so hard. I also trashed the bunk LED when prying it off the PCB. The puddled epoxy in my case would have served as a guide to installing the new LED in an of center fashion which was the problem with the first case. I removed enough of the epoxy around where the LED had been to allow for proper centering of the new LED. I cheated and turned a delrin centering guide that referenced a hole for the LED lens with the perimeter of the PCB. It's all doable but not necessarily a *fun* project.

- Don