When mods attack!

[Chief_Wiggum]

So I'm finishing up my 5W into a Brinkmann LX this morning. I've turned down the 30mm optic, made the heatsink, potted the BB750, and epoxied the emitter. Everything going perfectly. Then I remember I have to ground the BB. So I heat up the heatsink with my iron to solder the - lead to it. Only I don't notice the iron is touching my $30 V3U LED...hmm what's that smell /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif Doh! Doh! Doh! I think I almost cried. Then in the process of removing the toasted LED I managed to break off the - lead all together /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif Makes me wish I had just bought that KL4 instead. sniff sniff

Why do mods have to be so painful /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif

 

[tvodrd]

Chief,

Welcome to the "Now, how'm I gonna ground-it club?" Been there etc. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think some of us must have masochistic urges, and these may be a prerequisite for high-caliber mods.

Larry

 

[Orion]

Welcome to the "I've just threw away ~$30~ and have to spend another ~$30~ to fix it" club. Yes, it does tend to make a grown man cry when a 5 watt LED is messed up and is unfixable. It is a kick in the junk! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif

 

[Chief_Wiggum]

What's so terrible is how fast things can go from looking great to taking out the ol' credit card for a round of fix-it parts.

Sometimes I wish I wasn't so ham fisted /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif

 

[McGizmo]

I try to make stuff when Murphy is down the street at a TupperWare party. Doesn't always work out that way though...

I think as Larry has hinted, perhaps its being at the edge that provides some of the satisfaction; when you can succeed without adding to the recycle pile. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

- Don

 

[LEDmodMan]

Hey, at least you didn't kill a <font color="red">W3</font> binned 5W Luxeon!!!

I did... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon8.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sick.gif

If the LS isn't too torched and still works, the polarity tabs adjacent to the *normal* electrical connections are also usable as electrical connections. FYI.

 

[LukeK]

Chief Wiggum -- I feel your pain. No really I do. Last night I did the EXACT same thing as you. Accidentally stuck my soldering iron to my V3U LS. Now that just sucked.

 

[Chief_Wiggum]

You'd think they'd come with a warning or something. I swear...actually I did...a lot.

 

[MR Bulk]

I feel yo' pain too, but I am mainly curious as to how you were going to solder the neg. tab to the heatsink? Unless it is a copper heatsink?

 

[4x4Dragon]

I've got an LX just sitting here begging for a 5w cyan, okay it's me that's begging for it but I don't have the skills or resources to do it.

Anyone, anyone?

Mr. Bulk, you get my email? I really liked your version that you did back in September using the LX reflector.

 

[hotbeam]

Other LS bites the dust /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Condolences /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif

 

[Chief_Wiggum]

You're a sharp one MR Bulk. Copper it is /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rothrandir]

i know this isn't going to help...

but the pain will always be there...

 

[tvodrd]

One problem with nice Cu sinks is you have to heat the whole thing to solder to it. If you are going to have to attach a wire or solder to it, plan to do so before mounting the LS/electronics. Another way is to use one of the Exacto fine pitch little saws which fit their blade handles to cut a very narrow slot in the sink. After getting the wire end into the slot, stake it with a small center punch.
(Edit: I don't attack wires, I attach them! (well.......)

Larry

 

[Chief_Wiggum]

Thanks for the tip, Larry. I like that idea.