high power flashlight really heats up

this is probably a dumb question but i have an olight m22 warrior and i was wondering if there is any way of cooling down a light ??

Only way as far as i know is better heat sinking,vinh for example who does excellent mods springs to mind . But in general holding the light helps disparate heat,if it starts to get uncomfortable either lower the mode or turn off to let cool down preventing potential damage. Outside temp makes a difference too,in winter for example longer run times over summer.........

The olight is a small single cell light,as with all of a similar size, running on turbo generates heat quick..........

If require high output for prolonged periods then multi cell lights make a better option,better running times,better heat sinking due to size etc.

Run the light at the lowest power that can do the job so it heats less or keep the air moving around the light. When testing lights many keep a fan blowing on the light for just that purpose. Mounting on a moving bicycle is also good for cooling it. Think of a flashlight as an air cooled heat generator like an air cooled engine.

The light getting hot is actually a sign of good heat conduction away from the LEDs and electronics. Some cheaper Chinese lights have very poor heat paths which can overheat the LEDs causing reduced output and early electronics and LED failures.

Go inside the light and add mass wherever you can. Definitely a job for an experienced diy er though.

Add mass the the driver, and where the led sits. Ideally it should give a thermal pathway away from the electronic components. Sometimes improvements can be made, but it's not as easy as cracking it open, and adding some copper pads. It's going to take careful planning, and trial and error.


Better yet, get a beer bottle cozy and fill it with ice. Insert light,

Heat is good, heat means the LED is properly sinked and the heat energy is flowing away nicely. It's when the light's been on for a while and the body is still cool to the touch that you need to worry.

That said, your hand is the best extension of that heat sink; it not only has blood circulating through it like a water cooler, but it has nerves that tell you if things are getting too hot; "not comfortable" is roughly synonymous with 140 degrees F surface temperature, which is when you need to turn the light down or find a better cooling system (and this lets you know you shouldn't run the light at this output level unattended/out of hand.)

thanks everybody!!

Has anybody tried this? Put a high power light completely underwater. Turn the light on while tailstanding the light in the bucket. The water should be a decent heatsink for long term usage right? I would like to light up a room to paint. The room does not have electric.

Cerealand said:

The water should be a decent heatsink for long term usage right?

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You might get a few extra minutes that way, but without circulation, the light will just heat the water around it. Aside from that, ceiling-bounce makes for pleasant ambient lighting, not so much a revealing work light for detail work. You'd be better off using a lantern to provide direct light immediately near the space you're painting.