El cheapo Mag 623

[The Dane]

Here it is, my shot at a Mag 623.

Have lots of time and no funds so:

Reflector from DX for a SSC-7 project bored up and reused. The holder for the ceramic socket is homemade.

A Mag that had corroded cells in it was given to me and gutted for this project. The mainbody was a piece of 48/38mm aluminium tubing. Bored out to accept 7 AA cells times two.

Battery made of 14 AA Elite 1700 mA cells (Thanks to LuxLuthor for his help!)

Here's the finished light

And proof of a decent overdrive

While i took the 2 pictures above it ate a hole in my PC

Total cost:
Ceramic socket = $1.2
12V/100W bulb = $2
Reflector = @ $5
Switch = $3
Alu = @$2
Glasslens = $0.2
Wire/plugs = $1.5
Batteries = $65

$78.9 not bad!

 

[jaundice]

Wow! That's really impressive. I expecially like the idea of 2x7 AA nimh cells.

Bummer about your PC.

-John

 

[davidt]

168 watts, oh my God!

 

[Aircraft800]

Great Job! How much time/work/money did it cost you to make that body? I really like that battery pack, did Lux build it, or just give the knowledge? I wish more battery pack building knowledge (pics, and parts lists) was shared here at CPF.

One heck of a nice light!

 

[The Dane]

The cost list is what went out of my pocket!
As stated I have plenty f time end no money.
I think the total workhours is something like 6-7.

A picture of the raw materials for the body:

And the working sorrundings:

The batterypack is homebrew.
For some strange reason the Elite brand AA's are only avaliable in the US of A despite them being made in China. If I order directly in the US then Danish customs rip me for something like $60 on top of the actual price. So LuxLuthor steeped up to the plate and ordered them and send them to me as a "gift" to avoid customs.

What would You like to know about batterypacks?

Silicone wire, battery bridges, shrink tubing and connectors all come from the RC world. Here's some pics of this things:

And a RC battery to illustrate how it's done:

 

[Aircraft800]

Is that how you constructed your pack? Battery bars and a soldering iron? Very nice job and clean finish. I have studied on how the RC guys do it, but never had all of the correct materials and iron to do it properly.

 

[Patriot]

Nice work on the whole project and flashlight tube. That's doing it cheap for sure but it appears to be built like a tank.

 

[ANDREAS FERRARI]

I would love to see some beamshots!BTW-my stepfather is originally from Copenhagen(he is currently working up in the Yukon).I hope to visit Denmark with him someday.

 

[The Dane]

Beamshot, hmmmm. Until I get a decent reflector it's mostly flood, but a lot of it

 

[Bimmerboy]

Very nice, cheap mod, Henrik! :thumbsup:

Couple questions. Is that an actual Osram 623, or some other bulb? Reason I ask is I'm trying to decide what V to run my 623 at, and I've never seen one pushed by 14 NiMH. Going by memory, the highest I know of is 13 (the Mad Maxabeam pack?), and I think Mac's Torch uses 12.

16.2Vbatt under load is pretty awesome if it's a 623, but if not, then my question is moot. How accurate is that load meter?

Also, how is the DX reflector coating holding up? Since the bore was widened, it'd be interesting to see if it creates a weak point in the coatings' bond to the aluminum... that's assuming the whole thing doesn't just melt... lol.

Now, if you can get the body tube black anodized somewhere cheap, that would really put the finishing touch on this light!

 

[The Dane]

@ Bimmerboy, nope!
It's some cheap immitation called "Showtec" wich is rated at 12V 100W and 3000hour burntime.

When time comes I'll start anodizing my self.

The meter is called "Watts Up" and stated accuracy is better than 1%.

http://www.rc-electronics-usa.com/ammeters/dc-amp-meter.html

 

[Bimmerboy]

Thanks, man.