c cell mag with 1x18650 what led?

[spankone]

I'm planing a c cell maglite mod using 1x18650 lion cell as a helmet mounted light for biking, I want good flood but need it to run for 1.5 to 2 hours on high, whats the best led for this combo I would like 400+ out front lumens and a 3 mode driver, Am I a dreamer

 

[Gunner12]

With a bit reflector like the one one on the Maglite, you will get a narrow beam that can throw.

If you want 400+ lumen out the front and 2 hours runtime, you won't be able to achieve it, 1.5 hours is also a stretch.

For a floodier beam, I'd suggest getting a lower price 18650 light or empty body and add the driver and LED you need. I'd suggest the Cree MC-E or Seoul P7, each with their respective wide angle optic.

 

[Justin Case]

The highest flux bin MC-E or P7, combined with the lowest Vf you can get, might get you to 400 emitter lumens and 1.5h run time. Drive the LED with a 4xAMC7135 multimode driver (does such a driver exist, without rolling your own with a 2-board sandwich?) for 350mA per core. It's the run time that is the challenge, if you want 1.5h min in high mode. You will need a high cap, high performance 18650 to get there in regulation. If 1.5h min in medium is sufficient, then the run time is much less of a challenge.

Alternatively, use an XP-G R5 driven by a 3xAMC7135 multimode driver. You won't quite make 400 lumens (probably more like 350 emitter lumens), but you should make the 1.5h run time figure comfortably, in high mode and in regulation. That's the tradeoff.

 

[spankone]

I guess I need to be more realistic so would 300 lumens be more realistic

 

[tx101]

+1 on Justin Case's post, Cree XP-G R5 with a 3 x 7135 board :thumbsup:


BTW, a 1C Mag as a helmet light, would it not be a tad too big and heavy ???

You might end up looking like this .....

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:nana::nana::nana:

 

[spankone]

yeh I'm just playing around with ideas atm


Is there an off the shelf flashlight that could do the job?

 

[tx101]

Not really sure if the better quality manufacturers have released any XP-G R5
torches that use a 18650 cell yet ..... I'm probably wrong

Have a look in the dealers section over at the Marketplace

 

[spankone]

what about a p4? I know its 240 lumens but the run time should be ok

 

[flatline]

yeh I'm just playing around with ideas atm


Is there an off the shelf flashlight that could do the job?

The MG PLI was designed to be a bike light and several folks have reported that it is excellent for that use. With the CPF coupon and shipping, I got mine for $53 and I'm pretty impressed with it, but I'm not a biker, so I don't really know what a biker wants from a bike light.

I think runtimes are about an hour on High or somewhere around three hours on medium. High claims to be 600 or 700 lumens (depending on cool or neutral tint). Medium is probably somewhere around 200 lumens.

--flatline

 

[waddup]

Is there an off the shelf flashlight that could do the job?

mg pli from shiningbeam, $70.