How to make all LEDs flash on a slim lighter

[Sean Patrick Foley]

Does anyone here know how to repair a Whelen slimlighter? I purchased it used from a vendor on this site as is condition and the vendor said it was working when he shipped it. When I got it today I put power to it and only two of the six blue LEDs will flash. All six red LEDs flash just fine. So do any of you have any advice on how to open this thing up and make a repair to it? Thank you

 

[C17LVFD]

Send it to Wilson here on ELB.

Wilsonbr90 I believe is his username. Great guy to work with. Reasonably priced and good craftsmanship.

Good luck!
Seth

 

[shues]

I had this happen to a Slimlighter once. If your problem is like mine, then there is likely a loose or broken connection between the LED card and the driver board.

Take off the snap-in bracket from the blue end of the Slimlighter. Remove the lens and the optic. Lift up the innards and pull them out. You only have a few inches of wire to work with, and so you may be happier removing the innards from the red side in the same way. Look for the four-pin connector with two rows of two pins each, arranged in a square, near one of the corners of the blue LED card. The pins from the driver board should extend through the square connector.

One of the four solder joints for the connector has probably broken. It's a relatively small surface, and the repair would probably best be done with a hot air rework station. If you're very careful, then you can probably make the repair with a soldering iron. I was successful, anyhow.

 

[Sean Patrick Foley]

I appreciate you taking the time to send me this information. I will take the light apart and see what I can see. I do not know what a hot air rework station is. But I do know what a soldering iron is. After I look at it I will see if the repair matches what you're describing here. Thanks again brother appreciate y'all.

 

[wilsonbr90]

Again if you can't get it working send me a PM and I can get it functional for you again!

 

[Sean Patrick Foley]

Thanks!

 

[Sean Patrick Foley]

Well I was able to open up the line and sure enough the solder connections between the circuit board and four of the actual LEDs themselves have broken. It appears that rough handling by the delivery service causing breakage. So tomorrow I'm going to look and see if there's anybody at work that is good with electronics and has a soldering iron. I'm going to check and see if any of the technicians at work would be willing to put a little bit of solder on there and get this thing working again if they're not willing to do it and there's an electronics repair store down the street from where I live I'll have to run by there and ask them if they want to do it. So appreciate your input and appreciate all the advice. It was spot-on. I'll keep you all posted as to how it turns out and here are some photos of the breakage between the LED heads to the circuit board.

 

[Sean Patrick Foley]

One thing I forgot to mention was that I put power to the light and was able to use a paperclip to make connections between the circuit board and the LEDs and therefore confirm that as long as power is Flowing to the LEDs they are going to work properly. Sure wish it this particular unit had been toughened up a little bit in the factory but I guess all slim lighters are going to be built with this level of delicacy.

 

[shues]

It appears that rough handling by the delivery service causing breakage.

Rough handling by the delivery service did not cause what is shown in your pictures there. Those LEDs appear have been removed and reattached by someone who's not terribly deft with his soldering iron.