this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2023
40 points (100.0% liked)

flashlight

2963 readers
2 users here now

Portable illumination

Rules:

  1. Be excellent to each other
  2. Don't be the reason we need to make more rules

Related:

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
Adair21
Zak
40
FW1AA with RGB+reflector (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by thefreeman to c/flashlight
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hello, first post here :D

A few month ago I modded a FW1AA with boost-buck driver for NiMH/li-ion and with RGB LEDs.
I used a TIR lens for the aux led to shine through, unfortunately it had artefacts in the spill that ended up a bit too distracting so I went back to the original reflector and used a thin flex PCB under the reflector with tiny LEDs that fit in the opening. I’m very satisfied with the result, plus the beam with the 519A+ SMO reflector is surprisingly good.

Edit : putting the video in the text since it didn’t create a YouTube thumbnail : https://youtu.be/u6aYa8FEt3s

top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Adair21 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Great work man! I knew you had a 5050 flex aux PCB, but didn't realize you also had a 3535. Is that on oshpark?

[–] thefreeman 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Thanks!

Is that on oshpark?

Yes it’s there : https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/x73ewc7D

[–] zumlin 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Awesome! Do you think if I can fit these RGB leds under an original FW1A reflector with the smaller opening (not the crappy FW1A Pro reflector)? If I can eventually find one that is.

[–] thefreeman 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What's the diameter of the opening ?

Edit :

If I can eventually find one that is.

Oh you don’t have one, measuring from a picture I get 5.9mm, if that’s right then it will be very close.

I can try making a version with the LEDs closer to the 3535 cutout.

[–] zumlin 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yea I don't own one yet, but it should be around 5.6mm to 5.7mm.

I can try making a version with the LEDs closer to the 3535 cutout

That would be great if you could, thanks.

[–] thefreeman 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)
[–] zumlin 2 points 1 year ago

Excellent! Thank you so much.

[–] trakcon 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So this should work for the original FW1A?? That is exactly what I need!

[–] thefreeman 1 points 1 year ago

looks ok :

[–] thefreeman 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I guess it should. Unless the corners of the flex boards overlap with the MCPCB solder pads, since it was designed for a smaller MCPCB.

[–] trakcon 1 points 1 year ago

Awesome. I'll order some soon and let you know. Thanks so much!

[–] sidpost 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Glad to see you here!

And that flashlight is AWESOME!!! 😎

[–] thefreeman 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks!

[–] zumlin 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am looking into sourcing some of these RGB leds to try, and discovered that there is an even smaller model available.

B36S3RGB is 0.69 x 0.69mm. These are the ones you are using.

While

B36L3RGB is 0.65 x 0.65mm. Have you thought about using these?

I have not studied the datasheets in detail but from a quick glance, apart from the size, they seem to be identical otherwise.

[–] thefreeman 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't remember exactly but I probably chose the 0.69mm ones because they cost half as much. The 0.04mm difference being pretty negligible. I also have the 0.9mm ones that I use when the classic 0606 are just a bit too big, they are easier to handle.