greg_in_canada
Flashlight Enthusiast
Greg\'s 2D 3x123 nFlex mod (now with beam shots)
[Edit: the light is complete. See photos and text
further down the page.]
It's not complete but it is working so I thought I'd
share my progress with you.
For the battery holder I used the CPVC pipe that others
have used. I wasn't too happy with the idea of duct tape
to build up the thickness so I found the gray electrical
conduit connectors. They are a bit oversized but have
a shoulder in the middle. I drilled out the shoulder
with a 3/4" spade bit so they now friction fit over the
CPVC pipe. Eventually I'll epoxy them in place (since
they now can wobble due to contacting only in the middle).
For the spacer I used 5/8" dowel and drilled a hole for
the screw to go through. The big washer makes contact
with the D-sized spring on the maglite.
I wanted to have a power switch to completely
turn off the nFlex when it isn't going to be used for
a long time (to save the 0.2 mA sleep current). I didn't
want to do another tail switch (like in my 3-cubed) mod
to keep the light as short as possible. So I went with a
pushbutton switch in the barrel.
I put the switch on the bottom of the light since it
seemed that there wasn't room between the head and the
switch bevel on the top. I was judging this by where the
naked mag head bottomed out. With a properly trimmed
reflector and the O-sink in place there may have been
room (I haven't cut my reflector yet).
In any case I had to mount the nFlex off center to
leave room for the pushbutton switch. I got a pair of
them at Radio Shack an pulled off the cap and cut the
shaft off where the cap grabbed. I still could shorten
it a bit more since the throw is about 1/2 the visible
length of shaft.
In a different thread I mentioned I hadn't run the
LED at 1000 mA yet because I was only running on 2x123.
Now that I whipped up the 3x123 spacer I have tried out
the 1000 mA setting and it works great.
The pushbutton on the bottom seems to work well. You
can hold the light with your thumb over the mag power
switch and use your index finger to operate the pushbutton
or turn it over and use your thumb on the pushbutton.
I still have lots to do to finish it but it's looking
(and working) good so far.
Greg
[Edit: the light is complete. See photos and text
further down the page.]
It's not complete but it is working so I thought I'd
share my progress with you.
For the battery holder I used the CPVC pipe that others
have used. I wasn't too happy with the idea of duct tape
to build up the thickness so I found the gray electrical
conduit connectors. They are a bit oversized but have
a shoulder in the middle. I drilled out the shoulder
with a 3/4" spade bit so they now friction fit over the
CPVC pipe. Eventually I'll epoxy them in place (since
they now can wobble due to contacting only in the middle).
For the spacer I used 5/8" dowel and drilled a hole for
the screw to go through. The big washer makes contact
with the D-sized spring on the maglite.
I wanted to have a power switch to completely
turn off the nFlex when it isn't going to be used for
a long time (to save the 0.2 mA sleep current). I didn't
want to do another tail switch (like in my 3-cubed) mod
to keep the light as short as possible. So I went with a
pushbutton switch in the barrel.
I put the switch on the bottom of the light since it
seemed that there wasn't room between the head and the
switch bevel on the top. I was judging this by where the
naked mag head bottomed out. With a properly trimmed
reflector and the O-sink in place there may have been
room (I haven't cut my reflector yet).
In any case I had to mount the nFlex off center to
leave room for the pushbutton switch. I got a pair of
them at Radio Shack an pulled off the cap and cut the
shaft off where the cap grabbed. I still could shorten
it a bit more since the throw is about 1/2 the visible
length of shaft.
In a different thread I mentioned I hadn't run the
LED at 1000 mA yet because I was only running on 2x123.
Now that I whipped up the 3x123 spacer I have tried out
the 1000 mA setting and it works great.
The pushbutton on the bottom seems to work well. You
can hold the light with your thumb over the mag power
switch and use your index finger to operate the pushbutton
or turn it over and use your thumb on the pushbutton.
I still have lots to do to finish it but it's looking
(and working) good so far.
Greg
Last edited:
