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.
