Maglite with TONS of LEDs fitted

[scion]

I have bunch maglites and one thing I would like to do is try and fit a bunch of small 3mm or 5mm LEDs into the head of the Maglite.

One thing I need to find is a reflector of some kind that would allow me to mount, lets say, 20-50 small LEDs..
I have a bunch of different color LEDs left over from previous projects and I want to make some fun use out of them.

So if anyone could direct me to any helpful ideas or custom ideas, I would love your input and direction on building this maglite with bunch of LEDs!

 

[T0RN4D0]

Why not just buy a $10 shower head junk instead of wasting a mag on it? And you don't need a reflector for the 3/5mm LEDs, since they have optics allready. Just cut up a perfboard and mount them, maybe grind them to squeareish shape to fit together better.

 

[LEDcandle]

Yeah, you don't need a reflector for that kind of LED. What you need is some kind of PCB or base to connect all the LEDs and let them sit firm in the head.

I believe a long time back there were a few of this type of mods; not bad output but of course it wouldn't compare to a tri P7 or some of the latest LEDs (which I've been out of touch with )

 

[scion]

Well certainly, I'm not going for a super bright light, cuz i wont get that from these LEDs, But of course, I would like to make some use of these LEDs laying around the house..

So, assuming by what your saying, I should get some type of sturdy material that can be sized to fit slightly below the lens to allow room for the LEDs..?

Pretty much any type of hard flat plastic cut to size should work?

 

[Magic Matt]

I made one out of some silver card from Hobbycraft, and a piece of corrogated cardboard from an old packing box. Worked fine. I made the holes with a cannibalised stationery hole punch. This was a striplight rather than an insert for a maglight, but I doubt it would make any difference.

 

[scion]

I made one out of some silver card from Hobbycraft, and a piece of corrogated cardboard from an old packing box. Worked fine. I made the holes with a cannibalised stationery hole punch. This was a striplight rather than an insert for a maglight, but I doubt it would make any difference.

ok, I'll have to mess around with some materials to see what fits and looks best, I will prolly use a piece of index card to get the size measurements and to see how many LEDs would be possible to fit onto the board.

 

[bstrickler]

ok, I'll have to mess around with some materials to see what fits and looks best, I will prolly use a piece of index card to get the size measurements and to see how many LEDs would be possible to fit onto the board.

If I remember correctly, with my first LED Mag mod, I was able to fit about 50 5mm LED's in the head. LOTS of flood, and about 30-50 yards of throw. Not bad for those little buggers.

I still have it around somewhere. I've just been too lazy to set it up again, lol. I have to re-do the wiring going from the bulb socket to the LED showerhead.

~Brian

 

[skillet]

Here is a mod a did about 4 or 5 years ago using a piece of clear plastic and some of those NiteIze AA Mag dropins... I wasn't a thrower, but you had a close proximity flood that would run forever on 2 D's

 

[Magic Matt]

Looks nice!

It's just disappointing now that you go to all the effort of putting tons of those into a flashlight... then you find one tiny emitter that's much easier and quicker to fit, and it puts them to shame. That's progress though I suppose!

 

[scion]

If I remember correctly, with my first LED Mag mod, I was able to fit about 50 5mm LED's in the head. LOTS of flood, and about 30-50 yards of throw. Not bad for those little buggers.

I still have it around somewhere. I've just been too lazy to set it up again, lol. I have to re-do the wiring going from the bulb socket to the LED showerhead.

~Brian

SWEET! I would love to see it! If you ever get the chance, put some pics up! I'd really like some ideas and some final execution photos.

I'm prolly going to use about 100 3mm or order some more 5mm lol.. I've seen a few 10mm ones and pretty bright, i might arrange for one of those, depends.

 

[Magic Matt]

By all means use up those LEDs you already have, but don't buy any more. I certainly wont be, and this is why...

I have an LED torch that uses 95 5mm ultra-bright white LEDs (a Rolson 60750). I also have a Fenix TK40 and it has a single MC-E emitter.

The Rolson gives out about as much cold blue light as the Fenix does neutral white light on the medium setting, however the Fenix neutral white light is far more useable. When I push the Fenix to high power, the light from the Rolson isn't even visible - you'd think it was off unless you looked at the head. On 'turbo' there was so much light that in the snow my eyes found it almost painful from the reflection on the ground.

Unless I want a pale glow (which is sometimes useful) or an indicator light, I don't think I'll ever buy another 5mm or 3mm LED. :huh:

 

[scion]

wow! thats crazy! lol...

Well i might just build a flashlight with these LEDs as opposed to modding a Maglite with these bunch of LEDs, and just change out with 1 drop in or something lol...

Any ideas or suggestions towards an easy drop-in but effecient upgrade?!

 

[scion]

Here is a mod a did about 4 or 5 years ago using a piece of clear plastic and some of those NiteIze AA Mag dropins... I wasn't a thrower, but you had a close proximity flood that would run forever on 2 D's

that must have been pretty expensive to purchase all those upgrades! haha..

 

[vestureofblood]

wow! thats crazy! lol...

Well i might just build a flashlight with these LEDs as opposed to modding a Maglite with these bunch of LEDs, and just change out with 1 drop in or something lol...

Any ideas or suggestions towards an easy drop-in but effecient upgrade?!

Hi scion,

What size maglite are you using?

If you have a soldering iron ( I am guessing you do) and some basic skills there are a number of simple upgrades you can do for not much money.

If you dont mind cutting the top off of the switch and soldering a couple of wires to it, then about all you need is a quality led, a heat sink, and maybe a driver board. One Cree led, even the less expensive ones will put out far more light than a pile of 5mm leds. The single die emitters run about 6-10$ each and 4 die emitters hover in the 20$ area.

If you want a strait "drop-in" where no work to the light is needed, many are available, but the price goes way up.

How bright are you wanting to go?

 

[Locoboy5150]

In case you need some inspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkkU0UO3sek

500 of those 5 mm Nichia LEDs and it still probably doesn't throw as far as a run of the mill Fenix TK40 or Stanley HID spotlight, plus the light color will go downhill quickly.

 

[scion]

Hi scion,

What size maglite are you using?

If you have a soldering iron ( I am guessing you do) and some basic skills there are a number of simple upgrades you can do for not much money.

If you dont mind cutting the top off of the switch and soldering a couple of wires to it, then about all you need is a quality led, a heat sink, and maybe a driver board. One Cree led, even the less expensive ones will put out far more light than a pile of 5mm leds. The single die emitters run about 6-10$ each and 4 die emitters hover in the 20$ area.

If you want a strait "drop-in" where no work to the light is needed, many are available, but the price goes way up.

How bright are you wanting to go?

Well i guess i'll use these little LEDs for a nother project, I have many different models of Maglites, so i can do most any of the mods i've come across...
2C cell, 2D cell, 3C cell, 3D cell, and one 5D cell. got few multiples of those 2 cells in storage as well... so theres plenty to do haha!

WHAT I WANT TO DO is.....
REALLY Bright, long throw, "spot" light effect. I would like to make it bright and shoot it like a beam of light how about that? :twothumbs

Any thoughts on the type of reflector I would need for this job or selection of LED that would be good. And I do have some wiring soldering skills but very minimal, im not expert thats for sure!!! haha.. so very little soldering and chopping would be nice but i can give a wack at a maglite if the success rate is high! lol..

 

[scion]

In case you need some inspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkkU0UO3sek

500 of those 5 mm Nichia LEDs and it still probably doesn't throw as far as a run of the mill Fenix TK40 or Stanley HID spotlight, plus the light color will go downhill quickly.

Yea that thang is crazy! lol.. I remember seeing that long ago, I bet its more of a flood light than a throw light. lol..

 

[Magic Matt]

I would go for something by Seoul rather than Cree if your soldering isn't great, simply because as far as lighting goes there isn't much between them, but the Seoul emitters are far easier to solder with those elongated tabs.

I believe you can direct-drive them in 3-cell lights, with a suitable resistor for a cheaper option, although a driver is more refined and controlled. I'd be tempted to get a P4 and use that as your learning curve to keep the costs down, then perhaps look at experimenting with a P7 for your next.

For ultimate evil brightness, try an SST-90 or similar .... but they get really hot quickly so the biggest problem outside of powering it is actually getting rid of the heat.

 

[scion]

I would go for something by Seoul rather than Cree if your soldering isn't great, simply because as far as lighting goes there isn't much between them, but the Seoul emitters are far easier to solder with those elongated tabs.

I believe you can direct-drive them in 3-cell lights, with a suitable resistor for a cheaper option, although a driver is more refined and controlled. I'd be tempted to get a P4 and use that as your learning curve to keep the costs down, then perhaps look at experimenting with a P7 for your next.

For ultimate evil brightness, try an SST-90 or similar .... but they get really hot quickly so the biggest problem outside of powering it is actually getting rid of the heat.

yikes!!

Well i was looking into replacing the lens with aspherical lens for throw. and I noticed there is a CREE drop-in "kit" with that lens that i could get.. i'm thinking of just doing that.

Idk what type of modifications are required for that, i dont think its just a drop-in, least it doesnt look like it.

So i will have to find out if thats a simple drop-in, simple mod or little complex mod.. so if anyone is familiar with this, and could give me some info regarding this mod, that would be great!

Here is a Vid of it on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIdbNBXwKBw

 

[Magic Matt]

I'll ignore the "world's second furthest throwing LED light..." claim, lol

I'd say that mod was more than just a drop-in personally, but you could certainly get all the bits from the marketplace for that.

Have alook through - see what's on offer
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/

I am sure you'll get a better deal from other CPF members than most other places, plus they tend to be more helpful... hey, if they can put up with me they can put up with anyone!

Whatever you achieve, it will probably be a lot more rewarding than making a showerhead.