DIY High Power Flashligh Mod

[jlwilliams]

  Here's a handy little trick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnkjvEdeIlc

  You end up with a Surefire type light for about ten bucks.  The same guy has tons of clever how to presentations on youtube. 

  Good stuff. Enjoy.

[Glanceblamm]

Great CHRISTmas gift idea. I have two son in laws who would like them.

[ShadowMover]

Buy the Lithium 123 batteries in a brick for extra savings. Buying them 1 or 2 at a time costs almost twice as much. When bought in larger packages you should be able to get them for $2 each.  I've seen other mods or hacks using different flashlights with their batteries replaced by the 123 lithium. Here is another one that is very similar.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-%24200-%22tactical%22-flashlight-for-about-%2415/

[elmer]

This could be an interesting hack to do using a LED bulb for the 4 battery Mag light (6V bulb) and a current limiting resistor. Should be plenty bright and the battery life should be MUCH longer.

[Victor3]

 Not to be a party pooper for those who would like to try this mod, but there are many superior inexpensive off-the-shelf flashlights on the market that use standard alkaline batteries now (his post was from 2007).

 Note that he didn't mention how long the light could be kept on before melting the plastic reflector and bulb housing (which you won't feel, as the outside housing insulates it from your hand) how long the flashlight would stay bright as those expensive lithium batts die, or what the bulb life might be.

 Being a long time flashlight geek who's done similar mods in the past, I can tell you that this is one of those "the poor man pays twice" kind of deals...

[elmer]

Personally I am more interested in an inexpensive way to adapt lithium or NiMH batteries to a 2C or 2D size flashlight that will give LONG battery life.

[nessmuk101]

I just replaced the standard bulb in my Mini-Mag light with an LED replacement that I got at Home Depot for about $8.00.  Works great and I can use the same AA batteries.

[ShadowMover]

Personally I am more interested in an inexpensive way to adapt lithium or NiMH batteries to a 2C or 2D size flashlight that will give LONG battery life.

That previous link I posted, shows how to use SCH40 PVC and some washers & nuts & a bolt to use 3 lithium 123 batteries in place of 2 D cells. It gives a different voltage, but that's why you change the 7.2 volt bulb to an eye scorcher.  You get more power out of the smaller batteries. I don't know how long this battery combo will light the bulb, but with an LED replacement it should last quite a while, but without the dazzle of the krypton bulb.  Get both, it's not like it's a bank buster.

I might be mistaken though. Are you asking about rechargeable battery conversions?

[Victor3]

Personally I am more interested in an inexpensive way to adapt lithium or NiMH batteries to a 2C or 2D size flashlight that will give LONG battery life.

 You might take a look over at candlepower forums. There are instructions and sources for parts to make various high-powered flashlights (incandescent or LED) starting with standard Maglites. You can go from mild to wild with the things, depending on how much you want to modify/upgrade them.

 If you've already got a flashlight you like and you're only looking for longer battery life, a simple LED bulb change is one way to go...

http://www.led-replacement.com/

 Or, you could spend $25 and get one of the new D-cell LED Maglites...

http://www.action-lights.com/product-113993/2d-Led-Flashlight.html

[Graybeard]

I've changed several of my Mag-Lites to LED bulbs. You get equal lighting which for me is plenty with almost a life time lamp life and really super long battery life. I have a little made in China lantern I got from Wally World last year about this time that sits by my bed. I have it on for around ten to fifteen minutes some times longer each night. It's still operating on the same four AA batteries roughly a year later and the light is just as bright now as then. We have them in every room of the house and a pair of them for the Sequoia. We used them when the power goes off and around here that's often. I'm sold on LED lights.

I have one of the Sure Fire flashlights I was given at a handgun hunt I went to a few years back. I don't use it all that often but it is bright and is still operating on the orginal batteries that were in it when I got it. It do get hot in use and a cheap knock off using that much power is not gonna last long before melting.

[jlwilliams]

  This is what's great about this place.  I post one thing, and many more (and better) follow.

[Victor3]

 I've never liked the quality of light LEDs produce; it's monochromatic and generally has a blue tint to it. However, I've used them since they came out because LEDs don't often fail when dropped, last forever and give longer battery life. Never replaced my incandescent flashlights though.

 The newest Cree LEDs are ~3-4x more efficient than the Luxeon LEDs of only three years ago (giving even longer battery life/brighter output). Also, they can be had in what they call "warm" or "neutral" tint that looks much closer to incandescent light.

 Anyway, if you've been dissappointed by LED flashlights because you didn't like the crummy color of the light, they have improved quite a bit recently.

 On lithium batteries, they're great for emergency lights because they've got high energy density, hold most of their charge even after sitting for 10 years, don't leak like alkalines do, and work great in cold temps. They're also lighter weight. It's nice that AA and AAA lithiums are common now.

 It's amazing that you can now get a 1 AA batt Cree LED light that will last an hour on a batt, and put a standard 2 D cell Maglite to shame.

[elmer]

Victor3,

Thanks for the links. I also came across a mod that looks interesting for a long life mod.

http://www.molalla.net/~leeper/maghur.htm

[Victor3]

 Elmer,

 Here's one for ya that should have looooooooong battery life...



http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=228156&page=3

[elmer]

Dang that thing should come with a sling. 

I bet it is very bright or have loooooonnnngggg battery life.

For most of my day to day flashlight needs I have switched to one of them that use three AAA batteries. By using the lithium batteries I have cut down greatly on my battery purchases. The other great thing about the lithium batteries is the shelf life.

[ShadowMover]

'White' LEDs are actually a blue LED with an added phosphor that converts some of the blue light to glow red. Your eye and brain put the two colors together to see 'white'. Since there is no full spectrum of colors ROYGBIV, only the R and B you don't see the normal colors, and your eyes see it as blueish. I'm sure they will eventually add more phosphors to get a more complete spectrum, with some Yellow and Green in it, making a more pleasing light.  They might even be doing it already for the bulbs they are forcing on us in the "Name of Green".