Ok Toastystuff, you inspired me too. Since it was raining all day today I decided to get some time in with my VIP.
I see your point about the screw and where it is, it really "screwed" up board placement. I had to file and fit numerous times to get the cut-out size correct. Then I faced the same challenges you did with the wires, man they were really short. Finally the craziest part was getting the reflector to sit centered. The original SMO is loose and just sat around the emitter dome, but since I choose a XP-L Hi emitter, there was no dome to guide placement. Took a while to get it right. And now it's done!
VIP Exposed Head With Original Lux III (?SWOK?)-
VIP with Original and Replacement Emitter parts -
VIP With New XP-L HI LED (~4200K)-
Strange, the new Low actually seems lower than the original Low. The Mid and High seem more pronouced too. I estimate the old High brightness was somewhere between the new Low & Mid.
High-Beam Shots from about 3-ft taken as same exposure for comparison. Original Lux (left) and new XP-L (right) -
'... another one lights the dusk...':buddies: