MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Anybody already converts the bulb lighting system of this HM-LUX microscope (or a similar model) into LEDs one?

I think the original lighting system is not very bright.....

I've seen some home made transformation with LED for a HM-Lux on a German forum, but difficult for me to understand it!

Hi,
just a up

Or If anybody has an idea or a link to another Led ligthing kit (or in doing by yourself!) which could fit this microscope?
I think there is just a very small place to install a LED with its heat support, in place of original lamp support (see attached picture)!
But perhaps I'm wrong
thank you

Try https://www.ebay.com/itm/255490368747.

I never used something from this seller. The risk is all yours.

You can assemble your own relatively inexpensively if you are a little handy, or much more easily if you have a 3d printer.

@Alexander
Thank's for the link, but I don't want to spend so much for that....

@scarodactyl
yes I would prefer to do it by myself as I'm quite handy (even not very skilled with electronic/electricity), but I've no 3D printer!

And I think it would be necessary to make a kind of adapter to put in place of the long black original lamp support?

Milou wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:43 pm

And I think it would be necessary to make a kind of adapter to put in place of the long black original lamp support?

Yes, and you need a proper power unit for the LED. The original incumbent bulb was fed with AC power, not suitable for any LED.

Alexander wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:10 pm

Yes, and you need a proper power unit for the LED. The original incumbent bulb was fed with AC power, not suitable for any LED.

yes Alexander, I'm aware that a different power unit for led, even with a dimmable unit, will be necessary .....

I like buckblocks, they make it really easy. One pair of wires to your 20k potentiometer, one to your LED emitter and one to a power supply (I like old laptop power supplies). Easy to attach your emitter to a cheap heat sink with thermal glue or thermal paste plus bolts with nylon washers and with some mechanical ingenuity you can place it about where the filament was. An undomed emitter will be simpler and give better results, the dome adds some complication. The CREE xlamp series is good for high powered small emitters.

Alexander wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:14 pm

Try https://www.ebay.com/itm/255490368747.

I never used something from this seller. The risk is all yours.

I did, and am very satisfied with the product.

Thank's scarodactyl for detailed information and buckblock idea

Some more questions about :
- "20k potentiometer" : you mean a new one, or the original one of the Leitz lighting system?
- the original filament lamp was a 6v 15W therefore I suppose a 3w Cree LED (xml2?) would be adapted?
- for recovery -laptop or others- power supply, wich voltage and intensity limits would be best adapted for this kind of 3W LED?

I think I'll be able to adapt a mechanical support for this LED in order to put it in place of old filament lamp
I'll check to buy an adapted buckblock and led (plus potentiometer?) probably in China, as there are no more many distributors of electric/electronic parts in France....

@Hobbyst46
Thank for you comment on this equipment, but very expensive sent to France (about 280 dollars ....)

I don't know what the leitz potentiometer specs are, I buy new ones (with a switch so it clicks firmly off or on). I am currently using a cree xp-l hi on my microscope's epi illuminator but the CRI is not great. The xm-l neutral white/4k leds give more pleasing illumination but I am not certain they have an undomed version--they have worked well for me in gem microscopes but that is less optically demanding.

Thank you scarodactyl for information about led models

Hello,
Finally I've made this conversion with an old power supply 12V / 2A for external DD ; one CREE CXA1304 9-36V Led ; one 10K potentiometer and a KSQ -1 600mA driver
One aluminium 0.5mm thick piece is used to fix the led also using thermal paste and a cut plastic Mounting Bracket to not oversize the alu support (15mm width)
It is fixed in place of the original round bulb support in good position with pipe PET pieces.

In fact the driver should have a higher amperage about 900mA to completely use led power

But in fact, already like this, I've got a much better lighting then with the old bulb system, probably already a bit tired! And the led is not warming as aluminium keep lukewarm...

Cheap to do this: about 1/10 of the complete one sold on ebay (see link above) and easy to make, even for somebody with a very very low knowledge in electricity