How to mod

I would be very interested in learning how to Mod lights. I would like to make a few designs of my own. Can anybody suggest a good link that gives the theory of LED's and how to wire one to get it to work properly.

Sorry for the repeat post. I made a similar post over in the LED section and then noticed this section and thought I would post here.

I'm sure you guys had to learn this stuff from somewhere. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Can't really tell you how to do anything, but I can tell you to look around and do a bit of searching. You'll learn so much just from looking at what others have done then you may realize. Necessity is the mother of all invention.

Nobody here can suggest a link that might help a noob out with the basics such as what voltage do LEDs run at, are they all different, ect

vader said:

Nobody here can suggest a link that might help a noob out with the basics such as what voltage do LEDs run at, are they all different, ect

Click to expand...

To find out what voltage an LED runs at, you have to know which LED you want to find this out about and then simply go to the manufactures website and look for that LED's documentation. Different LED's run at a different voltage. Some need a higher voltage and some need a lower.

Stay on this thread, there will be more to come..


Karl

There's lots of info in various threads already posted around here ni CPF. Under the Flashlight Electronics - Batteries Included sub-forum, there's this sticky thread with a link that points to the CPF University: EE Course (Lessons) thread that tackles some basic electronics-related questions.

Other forumers might be able to give you a more comprehensive list of links but alternatively, you can conduct a forum search yourself and get instant results.

Have a look on modified flashlights reference database - there are lot of good modding tutorials there.

-N

What do you want to mod?
What LED/Bulb do you want to use? 5mm LED? Luxeon? Seoul SSC P4? Cree?
What batteries is in the target host?
Do you want a new reflector to go with it?


Your question is vague, give us more info, cpf members are very kind and intelligent but can't read minds.

Vader, what part of Colorado do you live in? I live in Thornton and have several projects in the works.

Jarris

Nereus said:

Have a look on modified flashlights reference database - there are lot of good modding tutorials there.

-N

Click to expand...

For some reason those links don't seem to work anymore.

koala said:

What do you want to mod?
What LED/Bulb do you want to use? 5mm LED? Luxeon? Seoul SSC P4? Cree?
What batteries is in the target host?
Do you want a new reflector to go with it?


Your question is vague, give us more info, cpf members are very kind and intelligent but can't read minds.

Click to expand...

I was looking for a basic knowledge that would allow me to mod anything. I have a general understanding of electronics, so I was just looking for the basics of LEDs

Optics don't concern me right now. I know they are important, but that will come later.

Thanks

jarris50 said:

Vader, what part of Colorado do you live in? I live in Thornton and have several projects in the works.

Jarris

Click to expand...

I live in Westminster. Just a few minutes from Thornton.

Vader, I'm with koala. You're asking a very open question. Even when you say "I was just looking for the basics of LEDs", there is so much to talk about: how do LEDs actually work?, their efficiencies, Vf's, drive currents, drivers, what ends is the anode?, how bright are they, what type to use for a specific project, heatsinking.... you get the idea.

Unfortunately, there is no single repository of mod knowledge on CPF; no "modding 101" thread, so you are not going to get the simple answer that you're looking for.

When I caught the modding bug, I spent *a lot* of time in the electronics and in the Custom and Modified. The little I know about modding came from reading about other people's projects, and asking specific questions in those threads (or starting new ones if I my question was "new"). Don't hesitate to PM the people who started those threads or contributed their knowledge to the OP.

Also, try the "threads of interest" sticky in each section, poke around the search function with some key words that you can think of, and go from there. Manufacturer's spec sheets are also good sources of information - download the pdf's and start reading.

Good luck, and I hope to see your modding projects in the future.