Cheep Home Made Sun

[Sway]

Hi Gang,

I need a hand held flame thrower spotlight but on the cheep. I plan to power it from the house current to eliminate batteries and the need for charging. Size and weight is not a priority as long as it can be hand held and walk around the porch looking for monsters up to around six hundred yards and burning the paint off suspicious vehicles checking mail box’s at 3am and the neighborhood punk that has decided it’s my turn to be picked on and doing burn out’s in front of my house at night.

I have looked around and tried several outdoor type flood lights while up close they are good but have no throw. I also tried an off road driving light which was O.K. but required the use of a 12 volt battery and didn’t provide the withering out put I’m looking for.

I also looked at the high output theatrical or stage lights but they are just too expensive for my needs.

I know just enough about projector bulbs and trying to match it with a reflector to waste my money so if any of you have some ideas as to what to or not to try I’m all ears.

Weight: under 10 pounds.

Size: I need to be able to see around the reflector.

Power: AC via Nuclear Power Plant

Output: Too much would be just about right.

Side spill: Very little to none

Burn time: Around a minute or less between cooling.

Weather proof: Not necessary.

Start Up Time: Very Quick!

Cost: $100.00 ballpark.

Thanks!

Sway

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[Sway]

Re: Cheep Home Made Sun, Pic\'s Added

OK a little update,

I have found a host, while walking around in Big Lots yesterday I found a NELCO Nautilus 1.5 million CP spot light. NELCO stands for New England Light Company, no web page with pic’s or specifications that I can find, it has a shiny 7" metal reflector with a glass lens and uses a 100 watt H1 bulb, cheep plastic housing, coiled cord with a cigarette lighter plug all for $7.99.

This light will flat out smoke my 1 Million CP rechargeable DORCY it’s not even close by a mile. I charge up my 12 volt jump starter to power it with not what I wanted to do but I already had it so I still have $92.00 to play with on this project.


This 7 incher has me excited, size does matter /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later Sway


In order L to R NELCO, Dorcy 1MCP, M@g 2C, ARC LSH-P

 

[Deleted member 684]

Ken4 Super light

Look above for a 250 watt 9000 lumens setup that Kenshiro made. If implemented in a 7 inch reflector, I believe it can do wonders. Don't start singeging the hair off someone from 100 yards away would ya! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cheesehead]

A 250 watt 24 volt bulb is ok for a portable light. However, since you are stationary, I think there is no other option but to try one of the 1,000 watt Osram projector bulbs (30-40 dollars each, still within your budget). Sounds like you would have to wear oven mitts to use it, but I think it would be worth it. Plus, just hooking into 120v would be much easier than messing around with 12 or 24 volt power supplies or batteries with all the little power surges, etc.

good luck

 

[Sway]

Hi Nerd,

Is that hair I smell burning /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif The Ken4 is what inspired me to try something like this but his knowledge and abilities far exceed mine, I’m a nuts and bolts type guy that can tinker a little and blow things up /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I hit all the local places today looking for H1 bulbs but all I found was 55 watters. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif

Cheesehead,

I found those 1000 watt bulbs "still drooling" I talked with Kevin at Battery Station today and he came up with several options in a 15 volt and on up battery pack that will still leave me some $$ to play with.

The H1 bulb type looks to be my biggest limiting factor at this point and I'm not that sure of my skills to change out the bulb base and still be able to get a good focus with out a lot of parts to play with $$ but the idea of the AC bulb is still my goal. Time will tell /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif

 

[cheesehead]

But the 1,000 watt bulbs (and others) are "on sale" at purelandsupply.com. I don't know if I can take it any longer. I don't need another light, but the idea of 1,000 watts to illuminate the backyard and potentially blind the neighbor's yelping dog, well, I don't know if I can take it anymore. If I knew the beam was "pencil-thin" I would order 10 right now.

 

[paulr]

The beam won't be pencil thin. It's just a light bulb, after all. You need optics or a reflector to make the beam thing. That's why projectors have lenses.

 

[cheesehead]

Paulr,

Some of them are projector bulbs with reflectors (as you mention), but still a lens would be needed. Ah well, the search continues, but as Grover from Sesame Street says, "Where there is life, there is hope".

Keep us posted Sway.

 

[Sway]

Cheesehead,

Try www.bulbconnection.com they have some very nice prices /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif



/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif Credit Card

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I am looking at the Osram 64655 HLX, 250 watt, 10000 Lumens for $2.88. My problems with this bulb No.1 is the K Temp in the 3400 range will still give you a yellow color light, I would like to get up into the Xenon range around 4000 to 4500. No.2 is the base type and trying to mod the Nelco host to accept this bulb and still get a good focus thats where I'm really lost at /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif

PS: Let us know what you buy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Later
Sway

 

[cheesehead]

Looks like you have done your homework. I guess I will get no sleep tonight. But at least I'll fill out my list to Santa.

Sometimes I'm not sure if it was a good thing to have found this site.

 

[Deleted member 684]

For throw, if I'm not wrong, get the bulb with the smallest filament length and diameter possible.

 

[Sway]

OK, I have made another purchase, the cheep home made sun “CHMS” is still on but I have some things to work out there.

I receive a Light Force 240 Blitz today and I can say it’s a very nice spotlight, very light weight and can be focused best of all I busted the little A/H that thinks he is trying out for “The Fast and the Furious” every freaking day in his Honda with a fart can muffler on it.

I heard him go by right after I had made my first attempt at night time beam shots “note to SWAY work on this” so I sat and waited in the cold with a fully charged jump starter and a topped off 1MCP Dorcy .

It didn’t take long before I heard him coming back doing his burn ½ mile from the house so in all fairness to keep from hitting him in the eyes waited until he passed and then pasted photons all over his Ars gun slinger style with both of them for several seconds and turned them off……..Guess he is at home now cleaning out his pants because he backed out of it like the Fuzz had him COLD BUSTED!

OK My first attempt at night time beam shots, this is a Church that is under construction near my house and I’m guessing but the distance is around 150yds plus and the pictures are zoomed.

Dorcy 1MCP

Light Force 240 Blitz with the hot spot in the yard I will do better next time, sorry.

I have edited some words out of this post as I had a little to much Flashohol last night

Later,
Sway

 

[cheesehead]

Looks like the blitz 240 is a "little" brighter. Is it that the reflector is just that much better than the rest? Should I forget about the "3 million" vector and go with the lightforce? Seems like I should. Can the 240 be "re-fitted" with a 24 volt bulb (per the company)?

 

[paulr]

That Blitz is great, how does it compare with the Nelco? According to the manufacturer page the Blitz uses a 120 watt bulb in the 9" reflector. There's also a HID version which I bet costs a lot more.

 

[Sway]

Hi Cheesehead and Paulr,

The Blitz has about the same beam as the NELCO but has much more throw and better color, they both are 100 watt Halogen bulbs the NELCO uses a H1 Bulb and the Blitz has a G6.35 Bi-Pin.

I wish I could get my hands on a 3MCP Vector to compare the throw, I know there would be no contest in overall output from what I have read the Vector sounds like a monster.

I did play around with the focus on the Blitz a little and it opens up into a nice clean spot not like a flood but just a larger spot. The light is very light weight and handles easy for its size better than what I thought it would. The NELCO weighs more and is a little awkward in its balance for $7.99 it’s a keeper. I have found one thing I don’t like is there is no momentary position, click and the light comes on and another click to turn it off. The price is high so I will have to use the light for sometime to see if the value is there but so far I’m very happy with it.

I will work on some more beam shots with all the lights when I can get some accurate measurements and targets picked out other than open fields and tree lines.

Later
Sway

 

[Zeppert]

That picture is impressive of the 240Blitz - very nice indeed. The light throws like that at 1 and 1/2 football fields /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/huh.gif

 

[cheesehead]

Just guessing, but the throw from the Blitz will be better than the 3MCP Vector (couldn't help myself and got one at Farm and Fleet for 34.99-I think they made a mistake). Anyway, I have the Dorcy 1 MCP and comparing them, well the Vector clearly has more power, very "bright" color (because they colored the bulbs blue-just marketing to color temperature fools). Also, the Vector had a lot more good spill, it really is a nice light (unlike some of the other 1-1.5 mil vectors). But looking at your pics, the 3MCP would only be moderately brighter than the Dorcy (despite a difference of 55w vs 200w) and the Blitz would clearly have more throw. Still, a direct comparison would settle it.

 

[Sway]

Hi Cheesehead,

Congrats on the purchase /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif I will do some more beam shots when the weather gets better here, they are calling for ice changing into snow for Thursday and the wind is getting up flurrying right now and I just don't feel like putting the insulated suit on and playing in it tonight.

I went to Target and looked at the 3 MCP Vector yesterday but I could tell they were watching me on the security camera "Flashaholic scenes tingling" Flashlight boy is back again fondling the lights again Isle 5!

I bought one of the 1.5 MCP Aluminum Vectors with just the car cord there about a month ago and was not impressed at all the 1 MCP Dorcy was just as good so I took it back. It’s hard to beat that little light for its size and the price is right.

The Blitz is just plain fun even more when you back off on the focus from the spot just a little talk about a wide shaft of light! I wish could get my hands in the 3 MCP Vector to compare them, I would think the Vector has a very impressive flood just lighting up every thing in its path and the throw is a side effect of all that light coming out of rather than a spot, is that what it looks like?

Beam shots please

Happy Hunting

Sway

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[milkyspit]

Where are those LightForce Blitz 240 spotlights available for purchase in the USA, and what's the cheapest they sell for?

 

[Sway]

2 Beam Shots For Cheesehead

Well about 0230 HRS the weather cleared so with several cans of Flashohol in me I made these 2 shots. The first Pic is zoomed with the 1 MCP Dorcy the second pic is set just about right for true distance between telephoto and wide angle. The beam shots that I made of the Church is about 1/2 way between, I'm just guessing at the yards from watching too many football games but around 175 yds + , wish I could have caught the deer that scattered when I first turned the Blitz on /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/faint.gif

When I went to the store today I measured with the trip odometer and it came out to .2 miles or 352 Yds. Counting for the small curve in the road between the houses this is still close to 300 Yds.

1 MCP Dorcy

LightForce 240 Blitz

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