Replacing the LED in a Fenix TK-20?

[michaelmcgo]

Can I take out the Q2 LED in a Fenix TK-20 to put a Q5 in? I believe they are the same size and rating. I ask this because I like the flashlight, but may not like the tint.

 

[GeneralTsao]

sure you can but i doubt you will notice any difference in output.

 

[jbosman1013]

The Q2 of the TK-20 is it's main selling point, warmer tints are what you want in a LED light.

 

[michaelmcgo]

I am partially color blind, so the advantages of a incan colored LED give me very little. Being able to reconize colors at night is not that important to me, I really just want to be able to see stuff. I don't know if the yellowish tint will screw with me, or not bother me.

Having said that, I have a Q2 and a Q5 drop-in module for my Surefire 6P, and can't really notice a difference. The reason I would swap out LEDs is to have a standard white color.

 

[yellow]

1. Me, You (and not anyone else) will notice the difference in output between a P4 - R2 bin,
so Q2 to Q5 is only waste of time (say: hobby) and increasing the chance something gets wrong

2. whatever "inserts" You have, they cant be taken for anything as being "standard"
(brightness, is more related to current than to the led bin and color is related to tint)

maybe this charts can help You.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=156772
Only when being able to order a special tint, then something is comparable
(but that is not possible, as long as You dont order the single led and mod Your lights to offer the color YOU like best. Usually production lights is: You get any tint, like it or not)

PS: the reason I typed "P4"-"R2" is, because if have a 1.5 years old mod running on a P4, and till now none of all those newer superduper Q5 lights can beat it, cheap inserts are even worse

 

[TONY M]

Thats the first I have heard of anyone wanting to replace the TK20's Q2!
I wish Fenix'es were easily upgradeable like Dereelights. In this case I really don't think its worth the hassle.

 

[Marduke]

+1 to being a waste of time.

 

[michaelmcgo]

What do you mean waste of time? The light is awesome, but I like white light, not yellow? I don't like incans for the explicit reason of the yellow tint.

 

[yellow]

imho - but just guessing from what I think - the meaning is:

cost/time/result and chance anything goes bad, does not come together with buying a light that is more-or-less similar but runs on the led You like


imho, but I did not follow the TK20 infos, that light was purpose-built with the warmer tinted led, to offer this to ppl who want especially this. Get another model to receive "normal" emitters. If You have never modded led-lights, the first attempts will cost You more than a new one, in the end.

 

[lightmyway]

I Thought all light were made to be modded. This is how you get hooked,study the various emitters and drivers and have a go at it .Some experience with electronics and soldering required...

 

[squaat]

interesting I was contemplating doing the opposite. I want to put some neutral q2's into my 2d mag or l2d. For mine the tk20 tint is awesome outside.

Say does anyone know how they achieve different tint colors?

 

[bridgman]

+1 for modding the other way (putting neutral/warm LEDs in my existing lights)

re: how is the tint achieved, I think it's just different phosphors. AFAIK modern LEDs are kind of two-stage -- emitter fires out UV or blue (or something like that) which excites phosphors that in turn kick out a more useful colour of light.

 

[EngrPaul]

Human eyes aren't very responsive to blue light, in fact it leads to lack of detail/focus. LED lights that are considered "white" actually have a significant amount of the blue spectrum.

Unless you are specifically trying to accurately distinguish colors, there is no productive reason for cool-white portable lighting IMO. The additional lumens are wasted.

In fact, I find that using cool white LED's for any length of time leads to eye strain.

 

[woodrow]

I am a cool tint guy so I understand your question. The "warm" tint on the TK-20 is what kept me from buying it for a while. That being said, when I finally did, it was not as big of an issue for me as I thought it would be. It is just a slightly warmer Inova T1 (2008) kind on tint...not incan yellow. (I would still prefer a Q5 in there...but the Q2 is not bad)

I do not think it would be easy to mod as Fenix seems to glue their lights heads....but anything is possible. Its not like you are risking a Polarion P50 or something trying to mod it.... If you try it....let us know what you think

 

[Swedpat]

The warmer tint of the TK20 is a very attractive property. I have found that a cool white LED (actually more or less blue which becomes obvious when comparing to any standard light bulb at home) is more uncomfortable for the eyes. Also, the cool white tint is worse for use in the forest or any situation you have objects of brown or other dark color.
I will soon purchase the TK20. A LED flashlight with the tint close to ordinary crypton bulbs sounds like a very good idéa for many purposes.