Hello and Thankyou!

[mvyrmnd]

G'day folks,

I'd just like to say hi and post some pics of a torch mod inspired by browsing your fine establishment here at CandlePower.

I was the not-so-proud owner of an Arlec RT3500, and looking for a little more oomph. After reading some articles here, I've just fitted a 35W 6000K HID kit to the torch. It's a little rough, and there's a not-insignificant amount of 100MPH tape involved, but I'm very much in love!

Here's a couple of happy-snaps...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42166182@N04/

Thanks for the inspiration, and if anyone has any suggestions on how to tidy up the design, please let me know!

 

[Patriot]

Welcome to CPF :wave:

You must have been fairly impressed the first time you switch that baby on at night time, as compared to the stock arrangement.

 

[mvyrmnd]

You must have been fairly impressed the first time you switch that baby on at night time, as compared to the stock arrangement.

Impressed wasn't quite the word for it...

I was expecting bright, but I wasn't expecting to be able to light my entire kitchen by pointing the spotlight at the skylight on my roof from outside!

I'm off into the bush tonight to see what range I get from it.

 

[SunFire900]

:welcome:

Impressed wasn't quite the word for it...

I was expecting bright, but I wasn't expecting to be able to light my entire kitchen by pointing the spotlight at the skylight on my roof from outside!

I'm off into the bush tonight to see what range I get from it.

Come on......don't keep us in suspense!!

 

[mvyrmnd]

I never did get to find out the throw...

But I did do some further reading and found out about tweaking the Ballast to squeeze a little more out of it.

I've no idea what the wattage is now, not likely much more than 40W, but it's certainly brighter.

Before:


After:

 

[Flashanator]

Cool!

If the ballast has mounting tabs, I would of used cable ties, drilled some small holes in the bottom of the housing. Some ballasts Ive seen tho just require Velcro to hold it in place.

depending on how big the hole is where the 2 lose cables go, id create like a plug on the inside out of hot glue. And tie the outside cables to the housing using cable ties, just drill 2 holes close to each other & cable tie it.

 

[mvyrmnd]

Cool!

If the ballast has mounting tabs, I would of used cable ties, drilled some small holes in the bottom of the housing. Some ballasts Ive seen tho just require Velcro to hold it in place.

depending on how big the hole is where the 2 lose cables go, id create like a plug on the inside out of hot glue. And tie the outside cables to the housing using cable ties, just drill 2 holes close to each other & cable tie it.

I've re-taped the ballast to the bottom on the housing - using the tape had the extra benefit of holding the legs out and keeping them more secure.

There's no mounting tabs for the ballast, it was supplied with a bracket that was of no use for this application.

I plan to plug the cable hole and secure the cables better once I've finished messing with it

 

[mvyrmnd]

:welcome:



Come on......don't keep us in suspense!!

On a streetlamp lit road, I can see roadsigns reflecting from 1300m

I want to try perfect dark through...

 

[Flashanator]

1300m sounds great.