520 Streamlight

So, here's a little gem I put together recently with a PLP520-B1 & nano buck/boost from DTR. This is and awesome little diode!! I originally put this diode and driver in a Leadlight pen host which was cool before the PCB switch quit. So, pulled it apart to make this.

I didn't take pics during the build as it took a bit of fine tuning and a few disassembly/reassembly to get tight and good continuity.

Imagine, if you will:
I cut a small, short piece of contact spring for the pos end soldered to driver. Soldered neg to case prong. Cut a couple tiny pieces of LDPE plastic tubing into little halves- used these to serve as brackets, wedged between the driver and module and secured with epoxy. This made for great rigid support.
Then, encased the assembly with shrink wrap put a couple blobs of thermal silicone on top and bottom of it. Silicone doubled as buffer between the host and driver.
I wrapped the back of the copper module with a tiny single wrap of aluminum foil which provided a snug fit and good continuity. Lastly, I made a copper hog ring to contain the module. Couldn't find any suitable snap or retaining rings around but had this left over from making dowel-battery blanks.

Josh

I like it, this is very cool, thanks for sharing! :beer:
:gj: and :kewlpics: +rep!

How coincidental, I just ordered one of these "Microstream" Streamlight flashlights, not sure what to put in it yet.

Hi
Nice rebuild and a great diode choice . Can't beat a SM in a pen like host. Gotta love pens EDC's. I will be machining some one cell 10440 copper pens this week . I made a few aluminum pens
Now it's time for change pens.

Rich

Rich

BowtieGuy said:

I like it, this is very cool, thanks for sharing! :beer:
:gj: and :kewlpics: +rep!

How coincidental, I just ordered one of these "Microstream" Streamlight flashlights, not sure what to put in it yet.

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Thx, Jeff! This little guy comes apart quite easily. Just lift off the plastic lens. It then all pushes out of the front. That's it.

Yeah, I think everything comes out the front on Streamlights, as they taper down to a smaller diameter behind the head. I can't wait to play with mine when I get it.

Lifetime17 said:

Hi
Nice rebuild and a great diode choice . Can't beat a SM in a pen like host. Gotta love pens EDC's. I will be machining some one cell 10440 copper pens this week . I made a few aluminum pens
Now it's time for change pens.

Rich

Rich

Click to expand...

Awesome, Rich. I remember us talking about those. These would look great in copper. I would love to make a NDG7475 side clicky to use two 14500s. Maybe powder coat the host with a nice glittery zombie green. Ooooooh...

Very nicely done EDC Shotgundrums. Love these 520 b1's, they throw such a nice beam. So much fun in such a small package. Enjoy and :gj:

BobMc said:

Very nicely done EDC Shotgundrums. Love these 520 b1's, they throw such a nice beam. So much fun in such a small package. Enjoy and :gj:

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Yes the beam is great!! Very low divergence with G2 lens, too. Thx!!

Josh

Very nice! I like compact builds like this.

Need to build something similar myself as an edc. Will rep as soon as I get back to my desktop.

EDIT: +REPPED

Very nicely done build, Shotgundrums. That is the perfect diode for a small host like that. +rep.

UPDATE: I received Lifetime17's heatsink today:drool: along with a little extra gift. A wonderful brass focus adapter:
Thx, Rich!
And thx to all for the nice comments!!

Was there enough room in this to keep the back half of the module on it? If so, expect a "new" build from me within a week or two.

CynicalBrad said:

Was there enough room in this to keep the back half of the module on it? If so, expect a "new" build from me within a week or two.

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Hello, CynicalBrad!! No unfortunately the module won't fit all the way in with the backshell on. But, don't let that stop you. I was going to cut mine down with a dremel to fit it in as additional internal support but decided on the latter.

Can't wait to see it

Josh

Is there enough room to at least have the driver in straight vs at an angle? I have a shortened back half in my pen build that is 1mm longer than my driver to keep things from shifting in that build. I like small single mode builds so this definitely has my eye caught. Just have to see if Amazon is going to resolve the issue with knockoff streamlights in theirs inventory. About 5 reviews in the last month or so that got sent obvious fakes.


Edit: think I'm going to order one tonight and if I get one of the knockoffs, open a case with Amazon about it. Now I have to find my 10440 battery which is somehow missing.. I own one laser that takes that size and it it not with it for some reason..

CynicalBrad said:

Is there enough room to atheist have the driver in straight vs at an angle? I have a shortened back half in my pen build that is 1mm longer than my driver to keep things from shifting in that build. I like small single mode builds so this definitely has my eye caught. Just have to see if Amazon is going to resolve the issue with knockoff streamlights in theirs inventory. About 5 reviews in the last month or so that got sent obvious fakes.


Edit: think I'm going to order one tonight and if I get one of the knockoffs, open a case with Amazon about it. Now I have to find my 10440 battery which is somehow missing.. I own one laser that takes that size and it it not with it for some reason..

Click to expand...

Yeah there's room for the driver inline with the module. For case negative or positive just solder a shortened contact spring to the respective side on the driver. You need to put some sort of a buffer over and under the driver so it doesn't pivot inside the host. I used heat shrink to contain the driver and case wire and used thermal silicone on top and bottom over the heat shrink on the driver (which also served as a rubber buffer).