*Done*!!! thanks all! Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

[Meltdown]

disclaimer: I'm new at hotwires!

my plan is as follows:

put FiveMegas beautiful Throwmaster head on a M*G 3D body
use a 9AA to 3D battery adaptor (If I could find a good one in stock...help?)
use a bipin bulb adaptor (the one from KD is good enough?)
then use the 1185U bulb with hybrid 1.2v NiMH batteries such as the rayovac hybrid.

sounds like it will work? is there a better bulb for the TM head?

 

[tricker]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

this isn't the coolest looking adapter but works

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=195976

i would go ahead and get fivemega's adapter, if your gonna spend the $$$ on a throwmaster might as well spend a couple more dollars on the adapter and have the best

 

[lctorana]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

use a bipin bulb adaptor (the one from KD is good enough?)

The above is the only thing I would change. Unless you really want the mod to be reversible, I would go with the Kiu socket instead, as it heatsinks to the outside walls. It's no dearer either.

 

[Patriot]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

The above is the only thing I would change. Unless you really want the mod to be reversible, I would go with the Kiu socket instead, as it heatsinks to the outside walls. It's no dearer either.

The Kiu socket looks so much nicer. It's just makes sense with all the heat involved. You might be able to get away with the other if the hotwire isn't too extreme though.

 

[tricker]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

i see you got the battery holder:candle:......fill us in on the build up

 

[Meltdown]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

thanks Tricker et al. you guys all rock! thanks a ton.

hey, now I'm scratching my head thinking....should I get the 12AA battery holder, 4D host and go for a 12v bulb driven at 14.4? like the Osram 64623?
would that get to hot to hold? I'm starting to have dream about lights...I hope you are all happy with what you have done to me

 

[SafetyBob]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

Hold your horses Meltdown.......make your first hotwire a M@g85. For sure get the FM 9xAA batteryholder....it is top notch. It is so nice to just plug my charger into FM battery holder and charge away.

If your allowance is able to handle it, get AW's D size incan switch. It will give you 3 levels of light and it will make your light way, way better than you thought it ever could.

I will not build another hotwire without one, particularly if you really want to make a sweet little light, and a little light you can really use in different conditions/situations. Low, med and hi are just to nice to have on a light this powerful. Really it mostly helps out on the "poof" problem with overdriving these bulbs.

Let's see what others say, but you are on your way to a nice incan light no matter what!!

Bob E.

 

[choppers]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

Mag85 is the right hotwire for your first one. I have had many of the "High-Powered" hotwires and the Mag85 still continues to be one of my favorites.

 

[sb_pete]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

Man, I don't know how I ever got along with lesser flashlights. The MAG85 is just SOOO friggin bright, but with such a useful beam and usable (~40min on 9NiMh AA) runtime. Plus it will project enough heat and IR to light paper on fire and impress the non-flashaholics, but is not so hot as to be dangerous like a mag623.

The KD bulb adapter is great.

The KD glass lenses also work fine. I crack lenses from time to time so I gave up on the nicer coated ones. Your light may not see the moderately hard use of mine though in which case the AR coated lenses would be worth the $5 as they DO result in better light transmission.

Also, the KD gold plated tail spring is well worth the $5

For sure get the FM 9xAA batteryholder....it is top notch. It is so nice to just plug my charger into FM battery holder and charge away.

Agreed. FM's batteryholders are a friggin work of industrial art and are well worth the $40.
I don't use the pack charging feature myself as I prefer to charge my NiMh's in my LaCrosse charger. You may or may not want to charge as a pack. It is certainly convenient, but it is not necessary and one can save a little $ by not doing so. I find it is easier to keep a backup set of batteries than to charge the whole pack.

Also, FM's metal reflectors work much better with 1185 bulbs than the KD reflectors. The KD reflectors are good quality and Kai is a great guy, but the two designs have slightly different shapes and the FM design works much better in this app.

If your allowance is able to handle it, get AW's D size incan switch. It will give you 3 levels of light and it will make your light way, way better than you thought it ever could.
I will not build another hotwire without one, particularly if you really want to make a sweet little light, and a little light you can really use in different conditions/situations. Low, med and hi are just to nice to have on a light this powerful. Really it mostly helps out on the "poof" problem with overdriving these bulbs.

I really wanted one of these until I found that you lose the momentary on feature. Yes, I know how janky the mag switch system is internally, but it hasn't failed me yet, and I really like having momentary on. If that isn't important to you though, then the multi-level feature would be very nice.

Hope that helps,
-Pete

 

[Meltdown]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

yes it does...all most helpful!

any ideas when FM will have more of his battery adaptors? I bumped that thread.... (fingers crossed).

also anyone have advice on what bulb has the nicest beam in his Throwmaster head? the reflector is much bigger and deeper than a stock M*G setup.

 

[smokelaw1]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

I have used the throwmaster with 85, 61 and 623.
With 85 it's a nice beam, narrowed considerably. With the 61, it became TOO narrow, but the throw when focused down is insane. With the 623, it had the same profiel as the 85, but with 4100 lumens (approx), it blows away just about anything out there.

 

[Meltdown]

Re: Help with my first hotwire. Using FiveMegas Throwmaster

wow! very cool. any advice for building a 623? how many volts do you drive your 623 at?

i realize I'm getting ahead of the game as I'm building an 85 first, but just like to do a little daydreaming in the meanwhile

 

[Meltdown]

thanks everyone. I didn't realize that to install the Kiu bipin adaptor that I would have to remove and then destroy/modify the m*g switch. yikes! I'll be honest that I was a bit intimidated at first. I drink a lot of coffee and shake a bit so my already sad soldering was in for a real challenge. I broke a solder joint while assembling it, then slowed down and got it the second time.
I've got a 1185U bulb in there at the moment and it's focused quite well after unscrewing the m*g head quite a bit. Cant wait for dark!




By GarlicBreath

 

[lctorana]

I didn't realize that to install the Kiu bipin adaptor that I would have to remove and then destroy/modify the m*g switch.

Sorry Meltdown, I should have been more specific about that. I did hint about it being non-reversible, but rest assured that had you gone with the adaptor socket the tower probably would have suffered your user name
and you'd have destroyed it anyway...

Congratulations & well done. Looks a nice job.

 

[Meltdown]

no worries mate, I'm glad I took the plunge!

night has come. huge flood, huge throw. huge grins all round

 

[maxspeeds]

Nice light setup. I especially like the 2.5" throwmaster. Do you have any beamshots?