A single use/disposable Maglite!

[subwoofer]

Ok, so I"m not a real flashaholic and I have to ask.

Other than the obvious (that you just didn't want the light getting the better of you), why go through all this trouble for a light that these days is pretty cheap?

George

Once I get to a certain point there is a stubborn streak in me that takes over and I can't help but carry on.

However, isn't this type of obsessive nature what makes a true flashaholic, where it is not just economic value, but personal satisfaction that makes an endeavour personally worthwhile?

After giving up on undoing the end cap I wanted to cut it off to see what was inside, and then as I still couldn't get the batteries out, cut it once more. The cutting was much quicker than trying to unscrew the end cap as it took about 10 mins in all to do the two cuts.

As you say though, for what is a pretty cheap light (about £15 new) it was not worth the effort. In then end I was just thinking of using it to build a custom light.

 

[DIY Lumens]

How about cutting it even shorter, weld on an aluminum cap with installed charging port, and load (from the front) four nimh AAs, to overdrive a 3-cell bulb?
Or even 14500 lithiums with a 14.4 volt bulb.

 

[swampgator]

However, isn't this type of obsessive nature what makes a true flashaholic, where it is not just economic value, but personal satisfaction that makes an endeavour personally worthwhile?

Exactly. I don't want to be beaten by a simple piece of equipment. Lights aren't rocket science. At least Incans. But I'm the same way at any of my hobbies.

 

[DIY Lumens]

Lights aren't rocket science. At least Incans.

There is more science involved in a good incan than an LED. Just because LEDs are newer doesn't make them more complicated.

 

[TorchBoy]

There is more science involved in a good incan than an LED.

Not if we look at how the light is made. :devil:

 

[papajoe]

Cool thread, throw the junk in the trash, what's next ?:popcorn:

 

[DIY Lumens]

Not if we look at how the light is made. :devil:

Phosphorus glows, and science didn't create that, only observed it. Science observed that some materials glow when an electrical current is passed through it, and then people started working on finding the best materials. The rest is just a matter of containment and heat-sinking. As far as powering the thing, any current source that exceeds the forward drop voltage is fine.

OTOH, incans were created by science, and every aspect of an incandescent bulb is hard science, from the composition and construction of its filament to the composition and construction of its glass envelope; in the composition of rare gases contained within.
Then there is the power source. Because of the demands for just the right voltage level coupled with a minimum current capability for any given bulb, every new development in battery technology has far more impact on incans than on LEDs.

LED technology has been a matter of mostly stumbling around, trying this and that. Incans require hard science in every aspect.

Oh, and I don't buy into the popular assertion that LEDs are more efficient, either. In some ways, they can be. But a properly designed incan lighting system produces more, broader-bandwidth, light energy for a given power input than does any LED. High performance LEDs need heatsinks. Do incans? Think about it.:thinking:

 

[subwoofer]

Phosphorus glows, and science didn't create that, only observed it. Science observed that some materials glow when an electrical current is passed through it, and then people started working on finding the best materials. The rest is just a matter of containment and heat-sinking. As far as powering the thing, any current source that exceeds the forward drop voltage is fine.

OTOH, incans were created by science, and every aspect of an incandescent bulb is hard science, from the composition and construction of its filament to the composition and construction of its glass envelope; in the composition of rare gases contained within.
Then there is the power source. Because of the demands for just the right voltage level coupled with a minimum current capability for any given bulb, every new development in battery technology has far more impact on incans than on LEDs.

LED technology has been a matter of mostly stumbling around, trying this and that. Incans require hard science in every aspect.

Oh, and I don't buy into the popular assertion that LEDs are more efficient, either. In some ways, they can be. But a properly designed incan lighting system produces more, broader-bandwidth, light energy for a given power input than does any LED. High performance LEDs need heatsinks. Do incans? Think about it.:thinking:

Well, this thread is not about LED vs Incan so lets knock that one on the head. Can we agree that both are as valid and improvements in science and technology allow both to be improved through the application of that knowledge.

We are in an interesting age where science is quickly taking us to physical limits and efficiencies of the materials we have at our disposal.

Anyway, I think that I should probably go back to original line of thinking for this thread and consider the old maglight an expensive disposable/single use light. It is not a suitably interesting base for a project light considering something like the Ultrafire WF-501B with a cree LED (for £8 delivered) blows away anything I can make out of this old thing.

Hope this sorry tale was of some interest.

 

[guiri]

Cool thread, throw the junk in the trash, what's next ?:popcorn:

Well, we obviously need to take something else apart. I personally loved reading about it and yes, I think his stubbornness took over but hey, that's our nature and I'm not much different.

Alright, who's in for an Extreme Home Makeover or sumptin' ?


:D

 

[papajoe]

Mebbe I was mis-understood. I loved this thread (reminds me of my stubborn self).

What's next ? You tell it....I'll read it.:twothumbs

 

[TorchBoy]

LED technology has been a matter of mostly stumbling around, trying this and that. Incans require hard science in every aspect.

:crackup: Sweet.

subwoofer, can you tell if they were the original batteries?

 

[cityevader]

Hey Subwoofer,
If you're just gonna get rid of the head, I can give it a nice new home. Just let me know how much you want for it/shipping.

 

[guiri]

How about taking a v8 apart with a tooth brush or something a little less aggravating...?

 

[DM51]

Well, this thread is not about LED vs Incan so lets knock that one on the head. Can we agree that both are as valid and improvements in science and technology allow both to be improved through the application of that knowledge.

Excellent! :clap:

 

[Ray_of_Light]

I have lost many lights because of alkaline cell leakage. In all cases, the cell were well within they expiration date and never left discarged in the lights.
Usually, I have always been able to open the damaged light and assess the damage. In the case of my beloved black Maglite 2C, something weird happened.
The one years old, "primary brand" C cells leaked in the Mag 2C.
I used a specialised oil and my leather strap wrenches (used to open-up boiled SF bezels) and I lost the strap wrenches.
I decided that keeping the finish of the Mag 2C was not important. Placed the light in a heavy duty bench vice, and used a 22 cm. spring-loaded wrench to turn the tailcap. I broke the wrench.
I decided that I won't be humiliated from a stubborn flashlight. I drilled two 10 mm thru-holes, one in the tailcap and another in the flashlight body, passing through the batteries. I fitted two 10 mm steel rods in the holes, and used two 50 cm. extension pipes to turn the tailcap. The steel cut through the aluminium, but the tailcap didn't turn in any case.
Last step, I chucked everything in the recycle bin.
Last month, I had a similar surprise, with a Strealight Twin Task 3C, where the "other" primary brand of alkaline C cells were installed, and tested charged six month before and far from the expiration date.
I only tried the bench vice and a pipe wrench method, unsuccessfully. I saved the bulb and the gasket, and chucked the SL TT too.

Way too many losses in the past with due to leaking alkalines. Many ancient lanterns which I was proud of, also.

Regards

Anthony

 

[Pellidon]

I have a very old 1984 Mag that had the batteries fail. I cleaned it up and fixed it up with a LED drop in and run it off 3 C cells now so the crud doesn't affect the batteries. If I didn't get it squeaky clean.

I bought two at a flea market that were almost toast. One is a 3D blue that I repaired quickly. The 4D I still haven't gotten the head off the body tube. I have boiled and frozen it and used strap wrenches to no avail.

I paid $1 each for those beaters so it wasn't that bad of a deal. My Stubborn tinker streak made me buy them in the first place. :laughing:

If you could have pulled it apart without damaging it you could have returned it to the battery company for a replacement.

 

[Roger Sully]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to a good little project for the 1-D, no end cap Maglite?

Have a look at this thread. There are quite a few things that can be done. I don't know if you there are any members on your side of the pond that does this type of stuff.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=239209

 

[swampgator]

There is more science involved in a good incan than an LED. Just because LEDs are newer doesn't make them more complicated.

Actually I was only referring to: battery, ground, switch, bulb. No electronics to complicate things.