Tm/kwa Mk23 Lam Moding

[daishi]

So, I just got my TM lam unit in. It was a used one but I managed to source one in the states a fellow was willing to sell me. Everyone should know that the lam unit itself internally is pretty garbage. Now what I'm going to do (or at least try) is to put in a decent led light and a real laser into it.

Anyway, this is what the LAM looks like when its completely striped down



As you can see its only got three hex screws and one Philips head screw. Quite easy to take it apart. You do want to be careful when separating the two halves as they are held in with pins.

Here is the main chunk of where my focus is going to be:



As you can see, the light is nothing more then a simple old school led...the same goes for the "laser".



These are essentially the parts I'm going to be using. I salvaged them out of an old peq box I had lying around, they run off a standard 3v battery...no resistors in the circuit from that box.



So what I'm going to do is remove the resistors from the old circuit solder in the new components and try and seat them properly, with a separate on/off switch for the laser.

And last but not least here is the first "comparison" image



Sorry for the blurriness....holding the batteries and everything in place while trying to take a picture in the dark is a challenge.

I will be testing the new light and such under the same environment once I get it hooked up. Now off I go to home depot to get a soldering iron and some wire! I will be updating with more info and photos to follow.

[daishi]

Here we go,



So, lets start by removing all the excess wires, resistor and fluff. Its my first time soldering something so please excuse my horrible yet effective soldering job! Ill work on it
This is the platform with the remaining LIGHT only parts still intact.



Looks pretty clean and easy, but it was a pain in the butt to solder anything onto it with it wobbling around like crazy...I could really use a third hand or a set of clamps >.>

Anyway, soldered on some new wires and put the light in from the old peq box. Luckily the hood fits over the small led chip so Ill be hot gluing it in after I do some quick testing!

[daishi]

Shit's on fire yo! Well almost, that was some saddening smoke tho.

Apparently I needed that resistor. Once I got the light and the lam unit put together for some quick testing, the light was incredibly bright....but it was getting to much power so the chip was heating up and smoking. So I soldered the resistor back into the circuit and its perfectly fine with no heat at all. It did loose brightness, but again the light inst a bloody surefire! It provides more then sufficient light to be able to see around in the dark and still dazzle someone camping in a dark corner.

PAKCHURS

Here is the new set up with the resistor in place. The LED light has been secured with a little hot glue, and sits nice and straight in the indents that housed the original hood.



Better view of the LED in the hood.


Annnnd a top view. Yes I know my soldering is bad...shhhhhhhh.

[daishi]

Working on wiring the laser so it doesn't dim the main light when its turned on. Unfortunately it will have to be turned on using an external push button, but I've figured a way to get it done...

Till then I'm taking a break, will upload more progress tomorrow!

[daishi]

So this is the final wiring solution ive come up with, still mostly using parts that I have from around the house and cannibalized from the peq box and the original wiring. I've decided to run the external button to turn the laser on and off (since you cant use lasers in most places) through the original on off turn dial at the bottom of the box.


(This is before I soldered the connection of course. I was just testing the button)





And of course here is the final comparison. You cant really tell but there is MUCH more light this time that my camera was able to even focus. It might not look like much but in person its a significant improvement. Plus it has a real laser. Ive got that going for me. Which is nice.

[Reaver_RRTS]

Well done, sir! I'm planning to pick up a TM MK23 soon, but it doesn't have the LAM unit. Kinda wish it did now that I see this :P

[Cliffradical]

I am lazy and would totally pay someone to do this for me.

[daishi]

Originally Posted by Cliffradical

I am lazy and would totally pay someone to do this for me.

Its not terribly hard, its just seating the laser so that it actually points straight. I actually used a bore laser the I put on a level and measured the distances and then lined them up using a pace of tape on the opposite wall.

The only other part that would be hard would be sourcing a laser and led light. I just salvaged the parts out of an old peq box...but id still prefer a better led light....problem being then id probably have to somehow get a way to protect the light since it would probably melt the plastic lens cover.

[K3vX]

Nice job, and thanks for posting this.

[FusionXylerion]

May not melt anything, LEDs are fairly low heat for the most part, but some thin acrylic could probably do the trick... Or if you're feeling especially like having fun lexan would more than solve it.


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