Badboy Variable - success

[AilSnail]

I made a sandwich from anti-static foam to control the output of Badboy 500. It goes from very dim to almost full power when compressed, I think.
It is located on top of the battery contact of the board. It consists of two brass discs with wires soldered to them, one on each side of the foam. I stuffed the sandwich in a heatshrimp tube.

There is a 1megohm from Iadj to BB vout+, and the foam sammich is between Iadj and GND.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Deleted member 684]

So basically you control the output by twisting down on the head? More pressure = brighter? Interesting...

 

[CM]

Very clever /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I was trying to figure out how to get a variable out, never crossed mind to use antisatic foam 'cause of it's high resistance.

 

[AilSnail]

Yes it would be like that if I had a host for it. Or twisting the tailcap.

 

[vcal]

[ QUOTE ]
AilSnail said:
Yes it would be like that if I had a host for it. Or twisting the tailcap.

[/ QUOTE ]
Just put that badboy pill in a mini-mag, and make sure to use a Ram tailswitch with it.

-My setup with Ram works just like a dimmer/rheostat:P -as you tighten (screw in) the knurled tailcap, the light gradually brightens. Consistently, and every time. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif

Who says poor quality control is of no value? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Doug S]

Yes, very clever. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[AilSnail]

Odd. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I don't intend to spend money on a mag, I think. But thanks anyway for the suggestion.

When the foam is uncompressed, I get only 2.6V to the LED and the battery voltage is then 2.9V. Odd. Can anyone explain this?

 

[Doug Owen]

[ QUOTE ]
AilSnail said:
I made a sandwich from anti-static foam to control the output of Badboy 500. It goes from very dim to almost full power when compressed, I think.
It is located on top of the battery contact of the board. It consists of two brass discs with wires soldered to them, one on each side of the foam. I stuffed the sandwich in a heatshrimp tube.

There is a 1megohm from Iadj to BB vout+, and the foam sammich is between Iadj and GND.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely first rate! I assume "heatshrimp" is a typo for heatshrink?

Anyway, a great case of 'cut and try' it seems. My complements.


[ QUOTE ]
Later on, AilSnail said:

When the foam is uncompressed, I get only 2.6V to the LED and the battery voltage is then 2.9V. Odd. Can anyone explain this?

[/ QUOTE ]

It sounds to me like exactly what you want? That is 2.6 Volts must be pretty dim?

I'm lost, isn't it working just like you'd want?

Doug Owen

 

[AilSnail]

"Absolutely first rate! I assume "heatshrimp" is a typo for heatshrink?"

I must admit I noticed the typo before I posted /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

thanks for the compliment /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later on, AilSnail said:

When the foam is uncompressed, I get only 2.6V to the LED and the battery voltage is then 2.9V. Odd. Can anyone explain this?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



It sounds to me like exactly what you want? That is 2.6 Volts must be pretty dim?

I'm lost, isn't it working just like you'd want?


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but I didn't think the BB was capable of decreasing the voltage?

 

[Doug Owen]

[ QUOTE ]
AilSnail said:
Yes, but I didn't think the BB was capable of decreasing the voltage?



[/ QUOTE ]

That's the way it works. If the light is lower, so is the current. If the current is lower, so is the voltage.......

Face it, ya done good.

Doug Owen

 

[AilSnail]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif Anyone have suggestions for a host? weatherproof, aluminium... One or two 123s. Need to have at least 2-3 mm travel on the tailcap or battery pack.
How about the e-series? will it loose weatherproofness if the tailcap is unscrewed that much?

I think the Iadj pin is almost broken... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[AilSnail]

It broke but I managed to solder to the stub /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
2 megohm is better... brighter.

 

[shankus]

Do you have a light to try it in, at all?
I'm wondering if the threads on a Mag are too steep to work in this way.
I'm not familiar with Brinkmanns.

Now, I wonder if this is possible with a MadMax+. The one that I tried to adjust went from full, to very low output, with nothing in between. In fact, I've never considered it adjustable, since I tried to do it.

And the MadMax+ is brighter, especially with the right luxeon. But, I am of the "Brighter, runtime be damned" camp.

 

[AilSnail]

I could borrow an aa mag, but it would most likely need to have a tailswitch, and a spring between the sammich and the lip of the battery tube to maintain contact. I think the head threads will give enough force to compress a properly tailored foam sandwich, if that is what you ment.

 

[shankus]

What I meant is that the threads are so steep on a 2 AA Mag head, that I don't know if the adjustment will be fine enough.
But the key phrase is, "I don't know".

I am very interested in your creation, and I'll be following this thread.

Thanks for posting about it.

 

[AilSnail]

This prototype has the most change in output in the range "very compressed" to "afraid to break the PCB", so takes a rather small travel to accomplish a big change. I think it could be tailored otherwise.
Here is the first thread on the subject.