1xD, P7 DD, for Africa trip ...

[wquiles]

A co-worker of mine is doing some volunteer work, and wanted one of my 1xD P7 lights to take along on an upcoming trip to Africa to help re-build a local school. Here are some pictures of his new light.

Parts:
- 1xD - provided by me
- P7 - Britelumens
- Deluxe P7 heatsink - Britelumens
- 3xAA battery pack - mdocod

Using 2-part thermal epoxy to set the P7 in place:

Preparing the switch:

Connecting the Schottky diode (prevents damage is batteries are placed backwards - 0.21 volt drop):

Both wires ready:

Used 2-part clear epoxy to secure wires in place:

Also applied epoxy to the wires going to the heatsink:

Applied thermal grease to the heatsink - note heatsink has light surface scratches to increase grip/tension against body:

I did some light speckling on the reflector to give a nicer beam:

and here is the completed light:

Will

 

[clg0159]

I am guessing this friend will soon be a CPF member So did I read your topic correctly and this light is DD? If so, why the choice of AA instead of using D cells? Nice work BTW as usual:thumbsup:

 

[wquiles]

He is definitely interested in lights, although I don't know if he will start making/modifying them yet

Yes, this is a DD (Direct Drive) solution. Plain and simple. It tends to underdrive the LED a little bit, which is great for a longer life.

I went AA because the size of the body was important - the 1xD body is a lot more handy to carry around in a bag, or even a pocket. AA cells are also very easy to buy anywhere, so it should be easy to keep running.

Will

 

[clg0159]

I guess AA batteries will be easier to find in Africa. I appologize if this has been hashed out elsewhere ( If so I couldn't find it) but what are the specs on this light(runtime/current draw ect.). I guess I figured a quad core would destroy AA alkalines in a DD configuration.

 

[wquiles]

Nothing to destroy. The AA cells limit themselves since they can't provide too high a current - this is why this solution is underdriven a little: the AA cells can't handle the 3Amp load. This is why this DD "solution" of driving a P7 (or MC-E) with 3xAA is so elegant - you get a very bright light, that takes standard AA batteries

 

[jar3ds]

very nice... i've heard from our state dept. in the USA that using camo colored stuff isn't a good idea in other countries... BE SAFE!

thats an awesome light for where you are going.... using standard batteries... very nice....

what did you use on the reflector? Thats a nice finish!

 

[Fichtenelch]

awesome light! i love the camo and the prices for mags in the us...
think i will have to build a mag 1d with 3xaa and dd p7...

 

[wquiles]

Myself and a few others here in the forums actually make and sell these 1xD's:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=220681


Will

 

[jar3ds]

what did you use on the reflector? Thats a nice finish!

the 1D mag is an awesome light... a lot of differnet battery combo's ...

 

[Fichtenelch]

Myself and a few others here in the forums actually make and sell these 1xD's:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=220681


Will

Ok, i'll keep in mind and come to you when i got my other projects done (mag 623, mini mag q5 + 2c p7) and come back from my vacation (going to l.a., s.f., san diego + vegas in august)

 

[wquiles]

For the finish on the reflector, I just used MinWax brand, Fast Drying Polyurethane Spray, Clear Gloss finish. If I recall correctly, I just gave it two short passes (like a second each) from about 10 inches or so. After the second pass I stopped since it "looked" alright.

 

[jar3ds]

sweet, thanks... i'd love to see a beamshot...

 

[wquiles]

This reflector "treatment" is something that I have been meaning to do for a long time now, since the totally smooth OEM Mag plastic reflector shows some of the artifacts from having 4 individual LED "cores" in the same package (same as the old Luxeon 5 Watt LED, for those older forum guys reading this post!).

The new owner has the light already for almost a week, so no way to get a beamshot, unfortunately. It is not a night and day difference, but it blends a little the artifacts and gives you a nicer beam against a white wall.

If you look at this sale thread by modamag, you will see that we have about 5 (6th being the OEM smooth finish) different finished typically offered for changing the beam in a reflector:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=103180

1. SMO (Mirror Finish)
2. LOP (Light Orange Peel)
3. MOP (Medium Orange Peel)
4. LS (Light Stipple)
5. MS (Medium Stipple)
6. HS (Heavy Stipple)

Myself and others have done some pretty extensive testing with the different finishes, specially with incandescent lights, which tend to "need" more of the treatment to get a nice beam:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105920

I would estimate that the treatment that I gave the reflector in this build is somewhat between a Light and Medium Orange Peel finish.

The goal is to find a nice "balance" point between throw and sidebeam - sputtering the reflector tends to kill a little bit of the throw, so you don't want to over do it.

Will

 

[Greg G]

wquiles, have you had a problem with the AA alkaline batteries overheating and leaking under that much load?

 

[HarryN]

Nice project Will.

You almost made my heart beat faster, a Will light, DD, sprayed reflector, and a reference to us old guys with our Lux V builds in one short thread. :wave:

 

[wquiles]

wquiles, have you had a problem with the AA alkaline batteries overheating and leaking under that much load?

No issues so far.

 

[wquiles]

Nice project Will.

You almost made my heart beat faster, a Will light, DD, sprayed reflector, and a reference to us old guys with our Lux V builds in one short thread. :wave:

There is still a good number of us forum old timers here left. Of course you started here about a year or so before I did, so I guess that makes me still the "kid"?

What is a little sad is that I "still" have plenty of Lux III and Lux V LEDs waiting to make it into a light/project, specially given the output/efficiency to be gained with a more "modern" P7/MC-E

 

[jar3ds]

There is still a good number of us forum old timers here left. Of course you started here about a year or so before I did, so I guess that makes me still the "kid"?

What is a little sad is that I "still" have plenty of Lux III and Lux V LEDs waiting to make it into a light/project, specially given the output/efficiency to be gained with a more "modern" P7/MC-E

i'm an old foggie here too but not quite as old as yall ... but i totally know how you feel... a drawer full of luxV's, LuxI's, LuxIII's is poop now a days...

the good news is though I've moved these outdated guys to fixed lighting setups.. like car map / cabin lights etc... accent lighting around the home... etc...

 

[HarryN]

The Lux V is still a pretty interestingly package to me - wish PL had continued on with it. It is a very handy package for a small 2 cell setup. Yes, I still have a few XWOS in the drawer

P7s have a lot of output, they are just kind of large for a small light project.

 

[CampingLED]

Sounds like your friend is going to a remote area in Africa. In that case you have omitted the most important necessity, a chain to lock it to his wrist. He will definately have the best flashlight in that area and most wantable one too.