After all my exploits with building my own torches I turned to designing modifications to existing torches.  This one was upgrading the 3 x 3W LED`s in the Nocturnal Lights SLX to 3 x 9W!

The Nocturnal Lights SLX 3 LED light is a great dive/photography light, 300 lumens and 4 hour burn time!  But when I saw the design, I realised there was much more potential; by changing the LED's to higher power versions!

As standard it uses the popular Lumiled’s Luxeon LXHL-MW1D LED; these Led’s where the best a few years ago (producing about 100 lumens at about 1 amp). But today there is the new king of the LED hill, Cree there high power LED’s are rated at 228 lumens at 1 amp!  So it seems only logical that I should try an upgrade of my SLX from the Luxeon LED’s to the Cree!  The Cree LED’s are available on the metal star heat sinks the same as the Luxeon parts so they are a direct replacement! I ordered 3 of the Cree parts from Deal Extreme, and promptly dropped them into the unit.  Replacement was simple just remove a few screws to get at the LED`s; then each LED is held in place by two small screws! Unsolder the wires; lift off and place the Cree`s in the right orientation and your away!

Here is a short tutorial on how I did it!

Open the unit, and remove the 3 screws (see picture to right), and lift off the reflectors.

Remove the two screws the retain one of the LED’s, and de-solder the wires. 

Solder the wires onto the new LED (make sure the polarity is correct!), then refit the screws.

Repeat for the remaining 2 LED’s…

Refit the reflector plate, don`t forget the 3 plastic washers!

You can actually play around with removing the washers and see what gives you a better quality spot.  Sometimes the height of the LEDs makes the washers un-necessary.

Once it’s all done, and reassembled, time to test! Fit the batteries, and turn on….

My goodness, gracious me…it’s like having a mini sun! 

I have now modified 3 in total (for friends), and they are all totally impressed by the improvement.