Swapping LED on A19 XR-E

[monkeyboy]

Just wondering how easy it would be to swap the Cree emitter on the A19 XR-E. My A19 was one of the first batch from the Shoppe which was P2 bin and I would like to replace this with a brighter bin.

 

[CM]

P2 to P4 won't yield enough of a perceptible increase to make it worthwhile. However, if you have a Q3 bin XR-E, then I'd say it's probably worth it. Swapping it out involves reflow soldering, and you probably will destroy the LE in the process unless you have the proper equipment.

 

[monkeyboy]

OK, thanks CM. I think reflow soldering is beyond me and I don't want to risk damaging the LE. There's talk of a Q4 bin coming out soon http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=166930

Guess I'll just wait for a Q4 head arriving at the Shoppe which I can't see happening any time soon.

 

[easilyled]

You may be able to get one of the modders to swap the P2 emitter on
your L.E for another emitter for a lot less money than buying a new head.

If you identify someone who can do this, you can just send them your
existing L.E together with the new emitter to be swapped.

 

[monkeyboy]

Cool I might just do that.

So is anyone willing to do the mod? (someone who can do the proper reflow soldering)

 

[nein166]

Cool I might just do that.

So is anyone willing to do the mod? (someone who can do the proper reflow soldering)

You cant reflow solder a light engine. You may be able to heat the XR-E off and definatly epoxy a new LED on. But you may burn out the potting.

Reflowing involves heating the board while the LED is in place, think easy bake oven. Since theres epoxy potting in the LE that won't be happy at the temperature solder reflows, I say wait till the next breakthrough in LED Tech. Then buy a new light engine. I've made my own, from Downboys to FluPics, including the easy bake oven method (reflow), well actually it was on a hotplate.

Your only getting another 20 lumens from a P2 to Qx upgrade and if your using the light in the real world the only difference you'll see is a brighter low level.