Anybody want to walk me through a LED upgrade?

[Godwin]

I just bought my Cygolite Hi-Flux fully intending to upgrade the led emitter but I'm lacking some electronic skills. I've done basic stuff but mostly non-circuity like repairing electrical and audio cords.

I've found a few threads that touch on the subject so I know it can be done:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=182095
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=346652
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=371973

I'm going to see if I can make sense of the instructions from one of those links otherwise.

I haven't bought new emitters yet either, I'm not sure which would be the best option or if I should even wait a few more months for something better.

Thanks!

[brotherdan]

I'll be building a DIY dynohub powered LED headlight and taillight system over the next few weeks, but I have no expertise at all. I've never done anything more complicated than wiring a switch into an off the shelf generator powered lighting system, so I don't think I'll be of much help.

I wouldn't wait to upgrade your emitter if you know you want to do it. New generations of high output LEDs are coming out every year, or several times a year in the case of Cree. If you wait a few months now, you might as well wait a few more months for a second or a third new generation of LED emitters to come out. The improvements are generally only marginal from one generation to the next, so you might as well pull the trigger and buy a new emitter as soon as you're ready to make the upgrade.

[Godwin]

Thanks, I got some help from some of the guys at candlepowerforums (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/), apparently it should just be a simple desolder and solder. I went with a cree Q5 which is supposed to be the brightest led that will work in my light though they said the soul P4 would also be a good choice because it has more spread.

I'll update when I get the emitter.

[Pig_Chaser]

As long as your setup has enough current to drive that Q5... from what i hear you want to pump around an amp through it to realize it's potential.