battery indicator ?

[Kiessling]

Hy Wayne !
I wonder if it would be possible to build the BB / DB converters with a battery indicator? ideally an RGB LED that can go from green via yellow to red when falling out of regulation?
I am asking this question because not knowing the status of the batteries in the light I might need later is a serious drawback to almost all the lights I currently own. For me, this feature would be even more important than multiple output settings.
HNY
bernhard

 

[browntown]

Neat Idea

 

[Alan Hsu]

Like the one on Hotbeam's MR-X?

 

[BentHeadTX]

bernhard,
Those optilec new beams minimag drop-in type concept? I hear those have a small red LED that turns on when you have aboout 30 minutes until it drops out of regulation.
I like the idea, time for Wayne to do some design work.

 

[Alan Hsu]

Maybe Wayne can add the indicator feature to the next-generation of super-efficient converters?

 

[IlluminatingBikr]

[ QUOTE ]
Alan Hsu said:
Maybe Wayne can add the indicator feature to the next-generation of super-efficient converters?

[/ QUOTE ]

Now your really talking! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[dat2zip]

I'm looking into this, but size is dictating how much can be put on the board. There are some creative thoughts floating around and it will take a while to come up with a clean solution.

As it stands now, I have a design that is a micro processor design step down. It's currently too big to fit on a flashlight size converter board. I'm working on getting or trying to figure out how to shrink it.

 

[dtsoll]

If this thing came true, where would the indicator be located??? Just curious. Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Kill-O-Zap]

Indicator could be the main LED itself. When life is down to a certain level, it blinks once, next level, blinks twice, very low, blinks three times. The blinking could be done at powerup or even during normal operation when the preset thresholds are crossed. Just a thought.

 

[Illuminated]

AKA Willie Hunt's LVR for incans...

 

[Kiessling]

actually, I am thinking of something a bit more refined than the indicator LED on the MR-X ... I'd like an indicator that tells you the amount of energy left in the batt any time, not just when falling out of regulation. An RGB-LED would be cool since it can put out multiple colros to indicate multiple energy levels and uses very little space therefor !

Wayne! I am all ears and Don will regret having brought me here on CPF, because I'll swamp him with requests for new lights once your new cool thingies will be available! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Go on and ahead! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

bernhard

 

[yclo]

Ah, but an RGB-led would still leave you guessing which state of discharge the batteries are unless you have very distinct colours not like different shades of blue, green, red.

I still think a string of 10 3mm leds around the body (in terms of a big C/D mag) that all light up when full, and turn off one by one as the battery gets drained.

Overkill? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-YC

 

[BentHeadTX]

yclo,
Interesting concept with the 10 battery indicator LEDs, overkill? Most of the flashlights that CPF members use are overkill!

 

[flash....]

Overkill \ Excess is always best for any CPF'er.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif don't think it will fit om a sammich however.