replacing my Luxeon 1watt star with.....

[ChibiM]

Hello everyone..

this is my first thread at CPF:wave:

Im looking for some help for upgrading my old 3xAAA Luxeon 1watt Taskforce flashlight with a new Led\board..

Ive been looking around.. but couldnt figure out which Led (on a star) would be the best for me..
I think the easiest way to upgrade is to buy a star with the Led already mounted..
so I just need to solder the wires.. and ready to go.
I would like to keep using the 3xAAA batteries..or maybe make it fit for a 1AA battery, as thats more convenient.

i like to have an output around 80-100 lumen , I prefer a longer runtime over a higher output.

My flashlight is an old Taskforce 1 watt Luxeon, Lumileds.
same as this one;
which I bought during a trip to the States...

And I found some possible upgrades...
Cree XR-E R2 (WG) at DX for 5.71
1W 90LM 3200K Warm White at DX for 2.00

when I use any of them..do I need a driver?
if you have a better idea, please let me know!

(want to spend less than 5 dollars, cos I see that there are nice little flashlights for around 10)

if my post should go somewhere else than Budget lights, please guide me..
thank you all!

 

[LEDninja]

The Cree LEDs do not work as well with the Luxeon reflectors as the SSC-P4.
Find out if your Luxeon emitter is by itself or on a star.
You can get the SSC-P4 U bin LED by itself or on a star.

 

[Black Rose]

SSC P4 LEDs work best for Lux I swaps since their beam patterns are very close to the Luxeon I pattern.

They can be purchased on 20mm stars. It's just a matter of unsoldering the old star and soldering in the new one.

 

[ChibiM]

Thank you for your answers!

mine is on a 20mm star. (looks like glued on the star.. not soldered)

I just checked some ssc P4 ,and they are a few years old.. is that right?

1.and from what i read, some only give about 20% more output?
2. i dont need a driver?
3. I saw there are 2 versions.. U bin and T bin.. which do I need?

any recommendations?
I`m currently living in Japan. So free international sending would be great

 

[LEDninja]

PM sent.

If your current light does not have a driver, you don't need one.
If your current light have a driver, just reuse it.
All you need to do is replace one star with another and make sure it is centered.

U bin is brighter.

 

[ChibiM]

Thank you all..

it looks like I will go for the SSC P4 U-bin....

or save a few bucks and buy myself a cheap new flashlight.. like the Ultrafire C3...:thinking:

if any other thoughts..let me know

 

[KnOeFz]

don't forget to put a drop of cooling paste between the new star and the heatsink it's mounted to...

 

[ChibiM]

ok..ok...
please advice me
is that really necessary?

the star has a white substance on the bottom part.. which I suppose is type of heatsink.
please PM me with a link to some of this stuff
thank you

 

[ChibiM]

Re: replacing my Luxeon 1watt star with.....P4

What Thermal paste/glue should I use under the star?
I saw some Silicon Thermal Glue for 7 dollars, but thats even almost double the star itself..
what is a good, cheap, thermal. solution for me, from DX...

 

[AnAppleSnail]

Re: replacing my Luxeon 1watt star with.....P4

What Thermal paste/glue should I use under the star?
I saw some Silicon Thermal Glue for 7 dollars, but thats even almost double the star itself..
what is a good, cheap, thermal. solution for me, from DX...

You use rice-grain sized chunks of thermal goo, so it'll last for ages.

 

[ChibiM]

sorry for my ignorance..could you send me a link.. or PM
is DX SKU.4593 any good?

living in a country without speaking the language.. so I would like to order it thourgh internet

 

[AnAppleSnail]

sorry for my ignorance..could you send me a link.. or PM
is DX SKU.4593 any good?

living in a country without speaking the language.. so I would like to order it thourgh internet

That's thermal grease - as long as something will keep the LED in place it works fine. Thermal Compound is epoxy, and will hold the LED once dry.

 

[ChibiM]

again, Thanks a lot..
I guess it will work, as the LED is already attached to a star, and under the current star I can see some white....stuff... which I think I could replace with this grease.

 

[Brian10962001]

I'm doing the same swap for my first real LED mod. I purchased a pair of the U bin SSC P4's to get direct driven in my old Dorcy Metal Gear lights (3 AAA with the same Luxeon 1 watt stars). I'll probably do one and if I like the results I'll venture into putting a controller in the other one.

 

[Brian10962001]

I received my SSC P4's in the mail today. Within an hour I had them both swapped in, it's a very simple and straight forward swap. I put a piece of wire across one light to direct drive it (along side the 2 ohm resistor) and it made very little difference so I removed it. The one I direct drove is running 3 alkaline batteries, the other is using Rayovac hybrid NiMH. They're very white, and really bright! One of my Luxeons had a nice white tint, the other was purple now they're both bright white. One of them has a superb beam with very little ring, the other has a smaller spot and a noticeable ring, but both are acceptable. Overall I'm VERY happy with these, these 2 little lights are up to date now ").

 

[ChibiM]

Hi Brian,
thanks for letting me know.. any beam shots?.. especially interesting to have one Before, and After the mod.

how about the + and -?
as you told in your thread, the P4 is opposite of the Luxeon..did you have any problems?

 

[Brian10962001]

I didn't take a before beam shot, but the new stars blow the old ones away. Much more spill, very white, the hots spot is about double the size etc. I had no issues with the pos neg on the LED, my Dorcy's had a metal tab for the neg and a thin white wire for the pos, very easy to reposition it.