CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

[hotfoot]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

If you're looking at Osram halogen lights, check out their Decostar IRC series, which are touted to be up to 30% more efficient than standard halogen bulbs. This is due to a coating on the lens which reflects IR back into the bulb instead of allowing it to radiate wastefully outwards. The trapped IR helps keep the filament within optimum operating temp, thus requiring less energy to do the same. Apparently, a 35W IRC Decostar can replace a 50W conventional one!

 

[Tater Rocket]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Unfortunatly, those are not readily available in the US. The only website I found that sells decent osram bulbs only does so in 10 pack cases for 60-90 dollars. I am wanting to make a dive light using one of the osram bulbs (20 or 35 watt) and 12-24 1800 mAH AA cells (could get 24 for $30 delivered) for a run time of one hour with 20 watts and 12 cells, 2 hours for 20 watts and 24 (which isn't a big deal in a dive light probably, I am not sure), or 70 minutes with 24 cells and 35 watts (all driven at 14.4 volts for LOTS of light).

So, not only is the possibility of getting one of those bulbs slight, but also the likelyhood of finding a suitable container (2 to 3 inch PVC perhaps? Only could use that while it was submerged though) that is waterproof and easy to make isn't real likely either.

Spud

 

[Nerd]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

I have a 35 watt deco star by Osram. I would agree that it's !@#$%& bright and I use it to dry my handphone when water got inside the lcd screen.

 

[darkgear.com]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Any update on this project? Law enforcement friend of mine is anxious to own one of these. Mostly to blind all the SF fanatics on the force

*BUMP*

 

[Nerd]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Hmm how about 10 C batteries (Ni Cd), a voltage regulator, a 4000 K colour 12v 50 watt 10 degrees type halogen bulb? I do not know of any where to get this though.... most halogens bulbs i see are rather yellow, not as white as the Surge I have... too bad I blown the bulb...

 

[bmsmith]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Lemlux, yes, as I was writing my above message I was thinking to myself that it (running parallel) most likely caused me grief only because I discharge at such high amperages. Strange things occur in cells that are discharged at such high rates. I think I agree with you that at lower current draw it makes less of a difference, and in your case, not enough to worry about. Charging the packs in parallel should be ok for a while, but as the cells degrade with time and use, you may end up overcharging one side while topping off the other.

As a side note, and I hope this isn't too far off topic (it does relate to bright lights!), I watched an episode of CSI today and very distinctly saw the investigators using Streamlight UltraStingers. The shape and charge points on the lights gave them away. I'm very happy with my US, but I'm always interested in even brighter flashlights, hence my interest in this thread.

Take care,
- Brian

 

[Nerd]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

**Waiting Patiently for more updates**

 

[bmsmith]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Lemlux, something to think about is that using cells in a serial then parallel configuration is less efficient than pure serial. Installing battery cells in a parallel configuration causes current loops to occur as each cell equalizes with its parallel neighbors. As you know, no two cells have the exact same current capacity. The cells that contain a higher capacity end up doing double duty: powering the device plus dumping power to the weaker cells in order to maintain equalibrium. This means extra heat and power loss.

I was introduced to this fact when I was modifying a radio control boat. I initially had the design use two 7.2V 2000 MAh packs in parallel (yielding 7.2V and 4000 MAh) to a 7.2V electronic speed control which then went to two electric motors (also in parallel) that were connected to the propeller. After each run, which usually only lasted 6 to 7 minutes (I'll let you compute the current draw), the batteries, speed control and motors were extremly hot to the touch. Not good. After discussing my problem with other fellow R/C speedboaters, I learned that I would have better efficiency and lower heat if I switched to a serial configuration. So I bought a new 14.4V speed control and rewired the batteries and motors to a serial configuration. Now the motors still get just as hot, but the speed control is actually cool to the touch after a run. The batteries get very warm as well and I'd be hard-pressed to say they were actually cooler (I don't own a heat sensing device), but without the cross currents due to parallel configuration, they had to be "happier" than before.

Anyway, maybe for this flashlight this type of thinking is overkill and unnecessary - I just thought I'd throw my two cents in. I don't mean to criticize your design - I'm really just thinking out loud. I wish you good luck in your efforts.

- Brian

 

[lemlux]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Brian:

Thanks for the interesting and valid input. I wonder how much more severely assymetrical the discharge and balancing characteristics of two nominally identical but unmatched battery packs might be at your 20 amps discharge rate rather than at the per cell drains of 1.1 A to 3.35 A I contemplate.

I also intend to charge the packs in parallel which should leave them relatively balanced when operations commence.

I note that the motor controller was the one element in your system that seemed noticeably hotter. As you note, that element won't be present in my contemplated application.

 

[lemlux]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Brian:

I would also guess that any balancing that occurs during discharge might lessen the risk of polarity reversal in the weakest cell of the combined packs.

I understand (perhaps incorrectly) that charging cells in parallel automatically shifts the charge to the relatively uncharged pack. I thought that the overcharging risk was for the first fully charged cell in a serial configuration. The final 50 minute balancing 100 mA trickle is designed to be gentle to these fully charged cells.

 

[PsycoBob[Q2]]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Mildy silly thought about the heat problems...

You want to dissapate the heat, w/o compromising the light's waterproofness, right? Will silicone RTV sealant or high-temperature form-a-gasket survive the temps at the base of the bulb assy? If so, ventilate behind the reglector, and seal around the back of the bulb, at the base of the reflector. Looking at an MR16 I've got here, it SHOULD work, if the reflector doesn't shatter from having water hit it, and if the sealant can survive.

Silicone is (supposedly) good to something like 800F, and Engine-type forma-a-gasket is somewhat lower, but... It'll make bulb-replacement a pain, but it might work.

 

[snake]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

hi hi lemlux,
any advice on how to charge 2x6 (6 in serial , then form a parallel)Nimh AA ? what Voltage or Current should I apply? for example if 1 battery is 1600mah for 1.2hr, then what will be the above set up?

coz I found some 2000mah GP nimh AA, as the above .. I could made a 7.2V 4000mah battery pack for the magcharger.. which is lighter and more powerful then that 1/2D come with it..

Thanks

 

[Klaus]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Slight update

William is readying the housing for the 24xNimh cells but we are having some delays - stay tuned.

In the meantime I was scuba-diving this week in a lake with friends and one of them had a nice & expensive diving-flashlight with him I just had to disassemble. Much to my surprise I found 12 cells (1900ma subCs - so NiCd I guess) and an MR16 bulb. So this would definetely confirm our choice of the number of cells and bulbs !

Actually it was a so-so Osram 20W bulb (he replaced it once and wasn´t shure if it was the original type or not) - so I started to explain that there are much better bulbs to have like the Osram IRC used in this project - I gave him the detailed specs and finally when driving home we stopped by at my place to have one or two bottles of nice red wine while I started to play with some bulbs I had at hand and putting in a 35W IRC Osram (like the one for the project light) and when hitting the ON button the guys were just AMAZED. I think I don´t need to mention that the 35W Osram IRC stayed in his flashlight then - he will report back after the next dive. After this incident I´m just so shure ours will be JUST AS GREAT !

And snake - start with an around 9V (6 cells at 1.5V) and 5A power supply - this will give you an 1 hour fast charger - no problem if its 10 / 12V.

For lower amperage just calculate your capacity (2 x 2000 = 4000) and around an factor of 1.2 to get a full load - then divide this 4.8A by the amperage you apply and you get the time you can have it hooked up given the cells are empty. Like an 600ma 9V supply can charge this 2x2000ma 2x6 cell thing in 8 hours. Better still is to get a NiCd/NiMh smart charger kit (around 15 bucks?) to avoid overcharging and damaging your preciuos cells.

Klaus

 

[snake]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Danke Klaus,
thanks for your advice! is that roughly 1.5V for each cell and 1.2X the capacity devided by hr of charge?
For Osram, I found those photo-opic line is quite good.

 

[lemlux]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Snake:

Klaus is right. A smart charger will save its cost in fried batteries pretty quickly.

 

[llvo]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

greetings!
I am stuck with a GE MR-16 50W lamp because the light run for just 10mins using a 9.6V 2000mAh Ni-cd battery.
Reading the previous posting here, it seems that the runtime of MR-16 with rechargable batteries are not so bad.
Please help.
Billy
"I love bright light"

 

[snake]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

hello lemlux,
those charger here is quite confusing..some very cheap but only support few set up 6,7.2,8.4,9.6V just like a power supply around USD10..
some at remote control car shop looks complicate and expensive too..starting form USD30 to 80.. the top model has LCD, labeled fuzzy logic..may be some pre-set charge program..charge 1-14 battery, 1mah -9999mah... anyway lets check out those cheap one 1st

helle llvo,
12V 50W is 4A more.. so 9.6V 2A battery last for 10min is normal.
2 solutions: change the bulb or battery..
may be your charger limited your battery set up, so try 2 x5 battery pack while charging then reconnect when use, to make a 12V 2A pack. in calculation it last for 30min may be less.

 

[llvo]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

Hi, snake, I'm from HK too!
I just took a look to those charger today...those that can charge 15 cells is very expensive, ~$100US.
In my opinion, don't buy those $10US charger...you don't know when will the charging process complete

.(can't afford to put the expensive battery at risk)

about combining two batteries, yea, I think I may try two 7.2V, because I can't find a 6V...

then in series the two become 14.4V!! hope the bulb can stand it.

 

[snake]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

oh !
one more HK guy here..takecare for the typhoon.

then it is easy .. many prepacked 6 sub-C cell in Ap liu street la..
14.4V will be fine.. coz the voltage will drop after connected with so many cells and high current draw. as well that GE 12V 50W bulb has quite a long bulb life so over drive a bit will not be a big problem.

 

[Nerd]

Re: CPF project light "Ultimate Nighthunter Dominator Killer" at 1500 lumens/1hour

This is just not taking off.....