HID to LED conversion?

[PiranhaChris]

Hi guys.....not sure if I should post here or in the Lights area.....but here it goes

The Title is pretty self explanatory. I have a Dive Rite HID light and wanna convert it to a LED set up. I'm an Automotive Electronics specialist, so this shouldn't be a problem at all for me to do. I just need to know what's involved with doing it. Obviously more then swapping the "Bulbs" lol.

Any info is appreciated :o)

[deepseafalcon]

Hi,
I recently converted my UK Light Cannon 100 from HID to LED
Was tired of overly sensitive & expensive HID bulbs

Basically, it was not much more than "swapping the bulbs":

- removed the HID reflector/light/starter electronics from their holder

- installed an LED module with a Seoul Semiconductor P7 LED (up to 900 Lumen)
you can get ready-made "drop-in" modules from Deal Extreme*
this one was fitting my purpose well enough: DealExtreme: $24.98 SSC P7-C 2800mA LED Module with Copper Base (3.6V~8.4V)
all it took was some grinding of the brass socket to get a nice press fit in the heat sink of my Light Cannon, and a distance ring to fit the height of the new reflector to the old lamp

- I retained the built-in over temp. fuse of the HID, and directly wired the battery contacts through the original microswitch (max 5A)

- last not least, I changed the wiring of the battery contacts of the Light Cannon from 8C cells in series to 2x 4 cells in series, and replaced the expensive C-cells with AA NiMH in mechanical adapter tubes

Works like a charm:
just came back from a Burma trip where I used it extensively for night diving and as a light source for photography (see some of the pics in my Picasa album)


Happy modding!
d.s.f.


*Alternatively, you can find at DX all individual bits and pieces (LEDs, driver electronics, heat sinks, reflectors, ...) if you feel like doing more work yourself, or can't find a module that fits your needs

[kennyluke1]

deepseafalcon,

i just read your post regarding conversion of your UK Cannon 100 HID to LED. Thank you for posting. I really wanted to change my HID too. I haven't ordered the LED module yet. I have some questions:

1. I just want to know what did you use as "distance ring to fit the height of the new reflector to the old lamp"?
2. If its not much of a bother, do you have a picture of your torch showing how you "directly wired the battery contacts through the original microswitch (max 5A)"?
3. Would it be okay to still use 8c cells for the new LED module? coz my C cells are quite new yet.

Hoping for you kind reply. Thanks

kennyluke1