Can I change a surefire 9AN to LED??

toddler

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
11
I have had a 9AN for several years. Use it all the time because it's rechargeable, but battery life in high is short.

Is there a way to change it to an LED emitter/bulb?

Thanks,
Todd
 
Just an idea... but I think you might need a custom modification to convert that light. I would wait though, someone might have a clever way of getting one of the more generic bulb replacement options to fit in there.
 
Don't know of any. The dual bulb assembly would make this a little complicated. An LED mod to replace the high output lamp would have to be mounted on the N90 assembly in order to retain the low output lamp.

Your battery might be tired. You should get about 40 minutes of continuous high output. Maybe a new and an additional spare battery would be the easiest and cheapest solution.

Mark
 
What is the voltage?

does it use regular p60/61/90/91 LA's

if the voltage is less the 9V and it the standard size there are many options for a drop-in module
 
What do you consider short bulb life, I have a 9N that I have been carrying for nearly 10 years. I think I am only on the 3rd bulb. The flashlight is so old it is actually labled Laser Products. My favorite dual use bulb at work right now.

mr45aco2u
 
ppl, thats the advantage of a led :rolleyes:
You dont need the 2nd low power lamp. Just have th one, sitting at the center point, to run on lower power.

There is enough space inside the light to build a good led one from it, but it makes no sense imho (and needs very much work).

I did it that way:
9N = very difficult to mod --> keep it in original state
8X = possible to mod --> led inside
& get/make better battery stick for both

PS: immediately when new LA is needed, move a 1 ohms resistor into the low bulb wires. Lives endless with it, else it dies very quick

PPS: if someone mentions a specific light (here: SF 9AN) and You dont have any clue on this one, why not just dont type anything (like insert and such ...) :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
The bulb life isn't bad, I'm only on my second one. It's the battery life that I consider short. I do get 30-40 minutes on high, but the flashlight is pretty heavy for what it does. It isn't that bright compared to current LEDs that use less power, and they run longer.

But it's well made, comfortable, and I have 4 batteries.

Could I put in 2 LEDs, one in each bulb position, and simply leave it on High all the time with a resistor, to run both?

I know nothing about wiring up an LED for a flashlight, but I can solder well.

Todd
 
problem is to get the THICK heatsink for the led into a press fit to the head, so that this can act to cool the led.

Read a few modding guides and decide if You can build it.
the led has to sit onto an aluminium rod that should almost be press fitted into the larger hole of the head. Instead of the large part of the Light Assembly (these two metal plates with the black plastic in between), Your new "holder" can be made also from aluminium, or whatever material else, and could house a circuit (one for a single Li-Ion should work - I am thinking of this mod for some time now, but have never tried it)

There is a fair chance the hole in the reflector has to be widened and thats why I have not started this project.

If You really want, the 2nd hole could house a 5 mm led in direct drive (white, red, green, UV, ...) I would use a multimode circuit and leave this one free

PS: I agree on a good led run at 1 A seem brighter, dont use my 9N because of this reason. Anyway a batt stick made from a 3500 - 4000 mAh battery runs the light for 1.25+ hours ...
 
I didn't even know there were modding guides on the site here. I'll search for them when I have time.

Todd
 
Top