ki4hou
Newly Enlightened
I recently bought a Stanley HID3000 from the local SprawlMart for use at work more than anything. I'm an EMT and we often need good amounts of high powered light. This thing is really awesome especially when the price is considered, although like everything else I own the first thing I did was think, what can I do to make it better.
Good clean and clear optics play a major role in how well the light performs in general. After taking it apart I removed the bulb and used some optical grade ultra fine mineral based polishing compound I had laying around. This can be nabbed from one of the $10 headlight restoration kits from harbor freight. Its cheap and works great on glass, metal, or plastic. I polished the reflector and both sides of the glass lens. The result was barely noticeable but even a slight improvement in reflectivity will make a difference.
Most of these lights are in bad need of focusing so that was first and foremost. I simply used small strips of tinfoil folded into tiny squares to shim the bulb out of the reflector. I ended up using only one piece about .030 thick on one side. The bulb was crooked more than out of focus. I also used a pair of needle noes to get rid of that darn electrode insulator.
The insulator will cast a shadow in the beam pattern which I find very annoying. As far as focusing, its just a matter of trial and error til u get it right. Took me about ten minutes or so of shining it at a wall 25' away and tweaking the bulb position with the light operating until I was satisfied.
The final result was a major improvement. The beam pattern is almost perfectly round with no dark spots. Its smooth and even with an intensly insanely bright dot in the center. Next on the list is to take it back apart and look at the circuit board in the back of the unit and see whats up with all of the ballast wires. My assumption is that its more or less a two piece ballast. The aluminum box is the inverter for the lamp but all of the sensing and regulation of ballast voltage and current control is done on this circuit board. I'll get back with you guys on that if anyone is interested. Anyway I hope this helps some of you to get even more from this great spotlight.
Good clean and clear optics play a major role in how well the light performs in general. After taking it apart I removed the bulb and used some optical grade ultra fine mineral based polishing compound I had laying around. This can be nabbed from one of the $10 headlight restoration kits from harbor freight. Its cheap and works great on glass, metal, or plastic. I polished the reflector and both sides of the glass lens. The result was barely noticeable but even a slight improvement in reflectivity will make a difference.
Most of these lights are in bad need of focusing so that was first and foremost. I simply used small strips of tinfoil folded into tiny squares to shim the bulb out of the reflector. I ended up using only one piece about .030 thick on one side. The bulb was crooked more than out of focus. I also used a pair of needle noes to get rid of that darn electrode insulator.
The insulator will cast a shadow in the beam pattern which I find very annoying. As far as focusing, its just a matter of trial and error til u get it right. Took me about ten minutes or so of shining it at a wall 25' away and tweaking the bulb position with the light operating until I was satisfied.
The final result was a major improvement. The beam pattern is almost perfectly round with no dark spots. Its smooth and even with an intensly insanely bright dot in the center. Next on the list is to take it back apart and look at the circuit board in the back of the unit and see whats up with all of the ballast wires. My assumption is that its more or less a two piece ballast. The aluminum box is the inverter for the lamp but all of the sensing and regulation of ballast voltage and current control is done on this circuit board. I'll get back with you guys on that if anyone is interested. Anyway I hope this helps some of you to get even more from this great spotlight.
