So to keep me amused I thought I'd do a diy bike light build.
Most of the bits (housing, driver, leds, optics, wire, thermal compound) have arrived. I was planning to cannablise cables and batteries from the parts bin. Waterproof momentary switch is en route.
However, now that everything is in front of me it's painfully apparent that it's way above my skill level. The solder patches on the 20mm star are teeny tiny, and my soldering is terrible at best.
This isn't helped by the driver coming with no documentation whatsoever.
Really don't want to cock it up as it feels like I've spent a small fortune on parts already!
Any advice (other than "go and buy a ready made light you plonker") much appreciated.
Here's a list of the new bits I've got to play with:
Triple Nichia 219 on 20mm diameter led
Narrow and medium carlco optics
Easy2led housing plus extended rear closure
20 awg Teflon coated wire aplenty
1x 8xamc7135 (3.04A) selectable mode driver
2 part arctic alumina thermal epoxy
I'm assuming that I'll want to wire the leds in parallel so they get about 1A each at full power.
Not sure how to go about connecting the leds, the battery and the switch to the driver though.
Pic of various bits should be below, as battery to show how small the housing is!
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Thanks,
A somewhat shamefaced DB
Sounds like you need advice from a trout.
alot depends on the battery voltage and driver type as to how you wrir it all up
send it to me and I will sort it if you feel stuck
a close up pic of the leds and driver would help
Trout, you are a diamond, I will definitely take you up on that.
I'll wait until the switch has arrived, then I'll get back in touch.
In terms of the LED and the driver, both were from Illumination Supply.
LEDs are these:
https://illuminationsupply.com/nichia-nvsl219ath1-4500k-92-cri-b10-bin-20mm-triple-star-p-160.html
They're equivalent to XPGs but hopefully should be a nice neutral tint with a high CRI.
Driver is this one:
https://illuminationsupply.com/8xamc7135-304a-selectable-mode-driver-p-142.html
However, reading through the blurb on the website I now realise I may have ordered something that doesn't really fit this application.
I tested the batteries I have last night and they're both old and knackered, so I'll order a new one from Smudge. I was going to salvage connectors from an old light, but if I'm ordering from Smudge and there's a particular connector that you'd recommend let me know.
Not sure what your going rate is for this sort of thing but let me know.
Happy to discuss outside of STW, my email address is in my profile.
Thanks!
Adam
Hi Trout - I sent you an email at the blueyonder address in your profile, is that the best way to talk about any assistance you might be able to provide?
Thanks,
Adam :o)