*Beamshots-Post #36*Build yer own "Battery Vampire" with a P60

[angelofwar]

Thanks for the inputs and replies every one...well, after 21h34m, it was down to about 3 lumens...still enough to read, and use the pisser (trust me...nuff said). The cell read 2.62volts, so it may have stayed at 3 lumens for another 20 hours, and then down to 2 lumens...either way, for a 1 cell light, that cost $.75 for the lamp, this is a good bulb to keep around to replace your high powered noraml P60's if you needed, and will work off those other dead cells...

Kestrel, yes, the LED will fry..they have a few 12V 5mm LED's, but I was short on cash...I'll have to pick up a few more my next trip up there. And, if left on for a week, it probably would bypass the protector circuit, but with primaries, you should be fine (used primaries preferrably).

[BigMHoff]

Great motivational thread! I even bought a soldering iron and learned how to use it! (not well).

First tried a 5mm red led. Useless. Way dim. Then re did it with a High-Brightness White (5mm). Pretty good. The High-Brightness leds from ratshack are the only way to go. Dont waste time with the regular kind.

[M@elstrom]

Maelstrom, what's the solarforce L2M project???

A Solarforce reinterpretation of the Surefire 3P, essentially a single cell **123 host with a plethora of add on custom parts, simply perfect for your battery vampire project

An example can be seen here @ Lighthound.com OR Solarforce Lights

[angelofwar]

Great motivational thread! I even bought a soldering iron and learned how to use it! (not well).

First tried a 5mm red led. Useless. Way dim. Then re did it with a High-Brightness White (5mm). Pretty good. The High-Brightness leds from ratshack are the only way to go. Dont waste time with the regular kind.

Glad it worked out for ya! I did manage to get a 6 volt high brightness red LED with long enough leads though . Got it off a key-chain light I got in the desert for $1.99!!! Well, it's pretty bright, and will run off a fully charged RC123 or too semi-weak (~2.9 volt) primaries. I didn't want to try running it off two new one's with the risk of frying it though, since it's my only one. I believe it to be the first G2L-BK-RD But I'm still waiting on a another dead P60 to put the high brightness white one that you had mentioned, cause it's pretty good for a "snoop around the house at without waking up the whole family" light, and with a diffuser, put's out a nice beam.

[angelofwar]

Nice idea!

If i get some spare parts i might make a blue one or UV

I saw a slot for the UV led's at RS and got excited...until I realized it was empty.... hopefully they'll get some more in, in the next 6 months...

[angelofwar]

nice mod! can we get some beamshots?

Yeah, sorry it took so long...Just wanted to make sure I had what I absolutely wanted.

The garage door is about 10ft away, and don't have camera settings, but there was no flash.

Here's the 6volt High Brightness Red, w/ a diffused lens.


And a "lighted" beam shot. Nice, dark red (Not that "orange" crap you get from cheap filters)



OK, this shot is of a E1L w/ F04 for comparision (~45 lumens)



And the "G2LL-BK" ...



Not bad, considering you get this for level of light for ~20hours (and this is before dropping in out-put...probalby 70hours declining down to 1 lumen???) for $.75 (the High Output White LED from RS), and a burnt-out P60. Hope to see a few more of these built.

What I really like about this mod, is that most of us on CPF can do it, with little to no experience in modding, and we can do it in a few minutes with-out having to order a bunch of parts online. And it exemplifies the K.I.S.S. principle...keep 'em coming!

[Search]

Few questions.

I've got a G3 with a P90. Would this work in this module also? With two dummy cells obviously.

The red LED. Is that an actual red LED, or do you have a red diffuser.

I've never looked at LEDs at Radio Shack so I'm curious as to what they have. I've been looking for a cheap red light.

If I can do this mod with what I've posted above, I'll save tons of money on batteries.

[angelofwar]

Few questions.

I've got a G3 with a P90. Would this work in this module also? With two dummy cells obviously.

The red LED. Is that an actual red LED, or do you have a red diffuser.

I've never looked at LEDs at Radio Shack so I'm curious as to what they have. I've been looking for a cheap red light.

If I can do this mod with what I've posted above, I'll save tons of money on batteries.

1) Yes, with two spacers, but it would be cheaper/easier to use with a 2 (or 1) cell light.
2) The red LED is an actual LED, with no filter, but the bezel is diffused. Don't think they have a red one that's this bright at RS...not at these voltages anyway. I got the LED off of a cheap keylight I got when I was in Iraq for $1.99. But, I replaced it with the YG one from radio-shack!!!
3) As far as getting a decent LED, look at the above post and I have a part number for the high-white 5mm that fits into this voltage range.

Glad you're getting into it, and hope you can find what you're looking for. I'd trade ya a G2, but I already have 5 3 cell lights...but, if this guy doesn't buy my 6P, I might be able to do the trade with ya. Post some pic's when ya get a mod done!

[Search]

1)

Glad you're getting into it, and hope you can find what you're looking for. I'd trade ya a G2, but I already have 5 3 cell lights...but, if this guy doesn't buy my 6P, I might be able to do the trade with ya. Post some pic's when ya get a mod done!

I put up a thread in B/S/T, specifically trade, offering a mint G3 for a 6P or G2 working or with a blown bulb.

So a mint light for a broken one Hopefully someone will offer.

I found THIS website selling very bright LEDs.

I'm going to let that thread sit for a while to see if anyone will want a good light for a bad one. If no one does, I'll order up two dummy cells and one of those bright LEDs.

This is a perfect way to save money. Even my girlfriend was interested. Which was almost better than a new light.

Edit: Had an offer, so if all goes well I'll have a 6P soon enough to start my vampire. I found high brightness red 5mm LEDs on that above site. All is going to be well

[Search]

On THIS website they have pretty high rated red LEDs. It's a CPF special. You get free extra LEDs.

That seems like a great deal. These are brighter than the ones you guys have been posting.

However, before I bought some I noticed it said:

CAUTION: All LEDs require current limiting. Click here to calculate the correct resistor value for your application

You can click the blue to go to the "calculator". I'm not sure what to type to get the brightest red LED that will work with this setup.

Any help? BTW: Here is the site if any of you want to get some that I "think" are brighter than Radio Shacks.

[angelofwar]

Thanks for the links Search...I'm gonna have to look into that LED calculator more...always wanted to get into electronics big, but never have. I'm gonna try a brighter white if possible...I want to stick with the 5mm's as to not have to worry about boards and circuitry...yet...and keep it simple. But some of the 5mm white's look nice...

I did notice that the 12v red I got at RS did have a built in resistor...maybe they have soem more like that?

[Search]

Thanks for the links Search...I'm gonna have to look into that LED calculator more...always wanted to get into electronics big, but never have. I'm gonna try a brighter white if possible...I want to stick with the 5mm's as to not have to worry about boards and circuitry...yet...and keep it simple. But some of the 5mm white's look nice...

I did notice that the 12v red I got at RS did have a built in resistor...maybe they have soem more like that?

I've got a G2 on the way and a couple of P60s to play with.

Cheapest thermal paste is 2.94 unless I find it locally. 10 bucks at Radio Shack is a bit too much.

Now, when you frosted the LED, did that mean you used sand paper to give it a more diffused look? Which I also plan to do. What grit worked well?

I'll just run to RS and get some various LEDs until you figure out about the ones on that site. They are very bright, but I have absolutely no idea on the resistors or any of that.

In a few days I'll got 1 broken P90 and 2 good P60s to try this. If I ruin all three I should just stop

The internet is no good for ordering 5mm LEDs as you need a minimum amount or total price on all I've found. One was 25 dollars, uh no. Got an 8000 mcd green and 16000 mcd bright white. I'll test these out. The 16000 seems nice If it works.

[angelofwar]

I've got a G2 on the way and a couple of P60s to play with.

Cheapest thermal paste is 2.94 unless I find it locally. 10 bucks at Radio Shack is a bit too much.

Now, when you frosted the LED, did that mean you used sand paper to give it a more diffused look? Which I also plan to do. What grit worked well?

I'll just run to RS and get some various LEDs until you figure out about the ones on that site. They are very bright, but I have absolutely no idea on the resistors or any of that.

In a few days I'll got 1 broken P90 and 2 good P60s to try this. If I ruin all three I should just stop

The internet is no good for ordering 5mm LEDs as you need a minimum amount or total price on all I've found. One was 25 dollars, uh no. Got an 8000 mcd green and 16000 mcd bright white. I'll test these out. The 16000 seems nice If it works.

Yeah, that's why I bought them from radio shack...no place is going to sell 3 led's for $1.50 and charge $4 in shipping...but, I didn't even have to use thermal paste, as it would be for a more permanent set-up. The high white one's I mentioned are the one's i did the runtime on, and were rated at 4.0V max, with 11000 mcd, so I'd be interested in a beamshot of the 16000 mcd one. I'll be stopping back up there next week hopefully, and try to get a different selection. They have so many, it's hard to remember which one's you've already tried, etc.

[Search]

Yeah, that's why I bought them from radio shack...no place is going to sell 3 led's for $1.50 and charge $4 in shipping...but, I didn't even have to use thermal paste, as it would be for a more permanent set-up. The high white one's I mentioned are the one's i did the runtime on, and were rated at 4.0V max, with 11000 mcd, so I'd be interested in a beamshot of the 16000 mcd one. I'll be stopping back up there next week hopefully, and try to get a different selection. They have so many, it's hard to remember which one's you've already tried, etc.

Go to DX for some 5mms. I never thought I would but I got a green (8000 mcd) and a white (16000) mcd for $2.xx. I forgot how much change. They have free shipping.

I do want to find a really bright red though. That's the main thing I'm looking for.

I assume you overlooked it in my last post, but is frosting the LED just using sandpaper? If so, what grit would you recommend?

[angelofwar]

I assume you overlooked it in my last post, but is frosting the LED just using sandpaper? If so, what grit would you recommend?

Whoops...No, I just used some "Frosted Glass" spray paint.

[Kestrel]

Well, I finally started to put this together by ordering a SolarForce L2m (1xCR123). So after spending $26 on a one-cell host, how much money am I actually saving by being able to use 'dead' CR123's now? LOL

[angelofwar]

Well, I finally started to put this together by ordering a SolarForce L2m (1xCR123). So after spending $26 on a one-cell host, how much money am I actually saving by being able to use 'dead' CR123's now? LOL

You shouldn't have asked...

Well, at $1.75 per cell (from SF/lowes), and a cell starting at 3.25 volts, You only use 20% of the voltage of the light ($.35), and the other $1.40 goes in the trash...I consider them dead at about 2.6 volts. This isn't only good for dead cells, but is also good for "stretching" your good cells out if needed. I mean who would use an M6 all the time for a week long power-outage???

Let's see some more pic's/beamshots!!! I have another dead P60 coming in from Dafabricata, so I'll have a high-red and a high white module to drop into my lights...I need to get a good runtime done on the red led though...

Oh, the 5mm High Brights from Radio-Shack are the best so far (at least that are available locally to most of us in the states)

Oh, thanks for bringing this one back up for me Kestrel...I've been meaning to do it, but have had family in town the past few days...

[Sgt. LED]

OK so I gave this a shot in an old G&P P60. I unscrewed the reflector and smashed the bulb.
I soldered the legs of a bright emerald green LED that I got in a trade to the filament posts and it worked. I did not want to remove the threaded part off of the base so I got it as close as I could and sanded the crap out of it. The thing puts out total green flood and I quite like it.
I even tossed a spare trit under the led for kicks and it makes the whole reflector glowy.

I have it in a yellow G2 but I think it may get moved to a 3 cell host and be run off of 2 AA batteries instead of a primary CR123 and 2 spacers. Makes it more emergency friendly don't you think?

Anyone ever seen diffused 5mm LED's? The plastic is milky and they give perfect flood, even better results than sanding. I have a couple of white ones and I would love to buy more in different colors. Especially orange, red and warm white.

[Search]

Got my G2, have a P60 and R60 to mod and got the dummy cell.

Now I'm waiting for my 8000 mcd Green and 16000 mcd White LEDs to come in from DX.

Aside from the 2 and a half weeks I've been waiting, it only cost me a dollar and some odd cents to buy them both and have them shipped. So if the ones from RS aren't cutting it, that's a decent route.

[KDOG3]

Wow I'm really interested in doing this. I would like to find the really good Snow white 5mm LEDs though, I dont' want any blue in mine.

On another note, I notice that those cheap keychain lights that use the 5mm leds are using 2 3v coin cell batteries. Couldn't you use 2 CR123s with this and enjoy the ridiculously long runtime? Are there any 5mm LEDs that use around 6V?

What do you think the output is on a fresh CR123?

[angelofwar]

Sarge, emrald green LEd's? You have a link? I like the one's from RS, as they're actually quite close (if not exact in color) to the YG leds used in the aviator...I just can't picture RS calling the "Yellow Green Led's", as the term to describe the color is not widely known. The 2AA in a 3cell body does sound more emregency friendly, too. I haven't tried sanding any LED's yet, but I use a diffuser or just spray the LED with a light coat of glass frosting.

Search, I got my second dead P60 today, so now I have a white and red one (I was swapping them out for awhile there). My next dead one, I'm definitely going to get one that's a little more powerful from those web-sites you linked in your previous post's.

KDOG, That's exactly how I got a decent one for my Red one, I took it out of a cheap LED keychain light I had laying around. You just have to double check, cause one of them had two 3-Volt batteries, and one had one 3-Volt battery (bigger/lower voltage), and they were the same make of light's, but the LED's were different voltages. My red one came from the one with the two 3-Volts, but they're not as high as the CR123's are, so it may fry it. (The two together put out like 6.05 volts, where as two CR123's put out about 6.5), but if it's with-in tolerance, It should make for a REALLY long runtime light.

Glad you guys are enjoying it as much as I am...

Hope to see some pic's/beam shot's soon!!!

[Search]

I'm just waiting. I'm going to do something drastic so tell me if this might kill my 5mms.

My fiance has some clear nail polish. I'm going to experiment with that but if I don't like the result, does anyone think acetone or nail polish remover would hurt the LED. I plan to do a little at a time so there isn't any liquid going too far down.

[angelofwar]

I'm just waiting. I'm going to do something drastic so tell me if this might kill my 5mms.

My fiance has some clear nail polish. I'm going to experiment with that but if I don't like the result, does anyone think acetone or nail polish remover would hurt the LED. I plan to do a little at a time so there isn't any liquid going too far down.

Hmmm...it should work..I would try just putting some scothtape over the lens first though...The clear polish should get out the obvious ring, but the acetone would probably pit it a bit...not to mention leaving a gooey mess...I'd try the scotch tape, and if that don't work, the clear polish would be a one-time gig.

[Search]

Hmmm...it should work..I would try just putting some scothtape over the lens first though...The clear polish should get out the obvious ring, but the acetone would probably pit it a bit...not to mention leaving a gooey mess...I'd try the scotch tape, and if that don't work, the clear polish would be a one-time gig.

It was either clear polish or light sanding. Whichever let more light through and less rings.

I did all of this to realize I could just kill my cells off in my E1B. However, I am looking forward to have a low level red light for night time

[angelofwar]

However, I am looking forward to have a low level red light for night time

Especially in a easy to carry G-Series light...no more trying to fiddle with those little red penlights/keychain lights...now you can use somehing you're comfortable with!

[Search]

Especially in a easy to carry G-Series light...no more trying to fiddle with those little red penlights/keychain lights...now you can use somehing you're comfortable with!

For real. The closest I've had was a red filter on my old TK10. It was more orange than red.

I was relieved when you, I think, said the red 5mm LEDs were red and not orange.

[Sgt. LED]

I got some of those 3mm LED's you linked to. Actually I got 6 of each color of 3mm he had except UV and white. Was only 10 bucks total.

I am testing out the Onion ring and I think I like the beam from the 3mm better than the 5mm in the A2. So thank you for the link!

[Search]

Warning: R60 module will not work with this mod. It doesn't have a raised base like the P60.

I destroyed my R60 to realize I wasted it. P60s are good to go.

[M@elstrom]

Warning: R60 module will not work with this mod. It doesn't have a raised base like the P60.

I'm not following you, a raised base? do you mean behind the reflectored section?

kosPap modified a G60 lamp assembly (post 17) I wouldn't image any similarly sized module would be beyond modification (including an emitter riser fabrication)

Any chance of uploading some pictures?

[Search]

I'm not following you, a raised base? do you mean behind the reflectored section?

kosPap modified a G60 lamp assembly (post 17) I wouldn't image any similarly sized module would be beyond modification (including an emitter riser fabrication)

Any chance of uploading some pictures?

I will tomorrow. I've got an interview at 6:45 am and need to be sleeping.

Basically, the directions said that when you bust the bulb, grab the base of the bulb to pull it out.

With the R60 module, the base of the bulb is too far past the bottom of the reflector to grab it with needle nose pliers.

I'm sure something could be done, but it seems like a lot of trouble trying to get it out.