Petzl Tikka Plus mod

Last week I was wondering if it's worth buying a new Petzl Tikka XP 2 headtourch.So I decided that I need to see it live first and went to the local shop. Unfortunately I was badly surprised. This new Tikka was heavier, bigger and wasn't producing much more light than my old one - Petzl Tikka Plus.

When I came back home I started reading forum about upgrading Tikka Plus and I saw that most people managed to change the LEDs with some new Ultra bright LEDs from Nichia (Japan) and the result was astonishing.

And as a ex-Technical university student I was eager to try this, too - ordered Nichia GS diodes from www.led-tech.de and started the test.

Below I am showing some pictures taken during the switch to the new diodes.

1) Here are all the tools I've used and disassembled Tikka.

2) Original Tikka PCB with one LED removed

3) All old LEDs removed.


4) Package from LED-TECH.de with the new diodes - Nichia GS.


5) Petzl Tikka Plus PCB with Nichia GS diodes installed.





6) Tikka Plus with Nichia GS (on the left) vs Tikka Plus with original diodes (on the right)

You can see that the GS is more warm and slightly better.

*) I could also add that the batteries of the Tikka with Nichia GS were a little bit "exhausted" (I had only 3 new batteries, so I decided to put them on the Tikka Original)


7) Petzl Tikka - Nichia GS diodes vs Petzl Tikka - Original diodes

As a conclusion I could say only - TRY Nichia GS or Nichia DS LEDs!!!

*) Nichia DS should be a little bit warmer than GS, but GS are brighter. Both are great! Do not hesitate to try the DS, too. Difference is really small.