A teardown of B&Q's (like Home Depot) biggest lamp. It didn't go to plan.
Things worthy of note. If opening one of these, you have to remove the two screws from the LED panel - as they aren't just tapped into the aluminium heatsink plate, but into plastic pillars that hold everything in.
Given the poor thermal coupling and 15.5W rating for such a small LED PCB I wonder if they melt those pillars. The base has reasonable heatsinking capability, but the poor contact hints at a short lamp life.
I'm surprised that this lamp isn't in the same style of the common single PCB lamps with a linear current regulator on the same panel as the LEDs. Especially given its high power rating. I guess they may evolve in that direction in the future, as it is a much simpler way of creating the high power lamps.
The globe on these lamps is well glued on. You may have to take your time cutting through the silicone-style glue with a blunt knife (don't use a sharp one). Be careful not to lever too hard, as it may crack the plastic shell of the base.
There's a lot of room inside, so plenty of room for different power supplies (like the roughed up capacitive dropper I made) or even a custom low voltage LED panel for 12V use.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
Things worthy of note. If opening one of these, you have to remove the two screws from the LED panel - as they aren't just tapped into the aluminium heatsink plate, but into plastic pillars that hold everything in.
Given the poor thermal coupling and 15.5W rating for such a small LED PCB I wonder if they melt those pillars. The base has reasonable heatsinking capability, but the poor contact hints at a short lamp life.
I'm surprised that this lamp isn't in the same style of the common single PCB lamps with a linear current regulator on the same panel as the LEDs. Especially given its high power rating. I guess they may evolve in that direction in the future, as it is a much simpler way of creating the high power lamps.
The globe on these lamps is well glued on. You may have to take your time cutting through the silicone-style glue with a blunt knife (don't use a sharp one). Be careful not to lever too hard, as it may crack the plastic shell of the base.
There's a lot of room inside, so plenty of room for different power supplies (like the roughed up capacitive dropper I made) or even a custom low voltage LED panel for 12V use.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
We all botch an occasional repair. Most of the things we fix just were not intended to be taken apart.
I often put a bit of Vaseline on those self-tapping screws to avoid them seize or cross thread. I use the same mod you just made for this lamp. It will work for years.
I know all too well about using sharp objects to open something up.
In my case, a pair of scissors to open a bike light, they slipped and into my finger straight to the bone. Still got the scar!
I need to find a light like this, remove the white leds and install a string of slow flash color leds.
Two left hands in action.
What are the power and voltage ratings for those LEDs? How to find those values, do ya know?
why would I want to skip forward? Watching BigClive 'bodge and faff' is part of the experience
Can u add a voltage doubler with diodes? Might glow a bit more? At least once, don’t blink.
You inspired me to take apart the one LED bulb (US/120V) I had that didn't work. Whew, I don't have that nifty spudger you have but don't think it would have mattered. Of course, broke the bulb but safely disposed. Finally apart and a bit disappointed but interesting nonetheless.
BTW, where did/do you get the nifty metal spudger you use regularly?
Lastly, if you reinstall the aluminum disk, not for heat dissipation but as a reflector, I think you'll get an even nicer light than w/o.
Happy New Year 2023
Yup you messed up, exactly like I did in curiosity. I messed further with the mosfet, nothing big, it only popout from the board, smoking. The simple diode bridge, few resistors and 2 caps works as well. See ya . 👍👍
A proper driver should be a much better repair solution for this. 1W for this LED-Panel is not a good deal.
There's normal globes, then there's these big chubby bubbles on a tiny little connection. "Squish globe"
Mini saw get it done but will take some plastic.
I wish you would do a capacitive dropper tutorial! You glossed over it here, But it's very interesting. I still have that doppler motion detector, I showed you on patreon years ago. I meant to convert it to 120v, but wasn't sure I had the whole story on the math involved. What is the math you do to determine the capacity of the capacitor? Reducing that capacitance by half, and doubling it properly for your audience would be like a safety PSA 🙂
Really appreciate your edutainment Clive, If only we had a cross between Pound land and Ebay. They could call it Poundbay. Cheapo solar lights in one isle, IR motion sensors and Arduino clones in the next. Just the next town over.