LED Maglite that runs on N batteries

[BULLDOG]

I currently sell the Photon II and the CMG Infinity lights. I saw that someone on eBay was selling a LED MAGLITE, it uses 3 "N" batteries. Have anyone ever seen one? Is it bright? The guy says not as bright as the original. I don't know what he means by "original" It has to be brighter that a regular Maglite AA or AAA flashlight because it is a LED bulb correct? Please respond a.s.a.p.

BULLDOG
Howard C. Douglas
[email protected]

 

[hmmwv]

From your description, I'd say he's stuffed 3 N cells into the AA maglite, then put a T1 LED into the bi-pin socket (they fit) - it'll work - but definitely not as bright since the T1 LEDs are nowhere near the T1-3/4 LEDs.

Pretty kludgy

 

[Brock]

I would also bet it is the T1 LED or maybe the bigger one with the reflector made larger. Either way the brightest 5mm (T 1 3/4) LED is 5600mcd (photon II and infinity) and that is still quite a bit dimmer than the small lamps that are in the mini mags. Actually that was my first LED light, and I still have it, but it is way dim even compared to an infinity.

Brock

 

[jbechto]

Hello folks,

That's another one of mine. It uses a 5600 mcd Nichia running at 20 ma for long life. (Even running continuously it doesn't dim for over 20 hours. Probably provide at least double that with recovery time for the batteries)

For you Flashlight-aholics I'd be glad to make it running the LED at about 70 ma so it would be as bright as a turtlelight(I). I'll have to test the battery life with that setup to see if it's practical and would sell.

One of the advantages of my design is that I use a resistor "block" in with the batteries, so if you choose to run with 2 AA's they don't have to fight a built-in resistor. (It's brighter than I thought is would be on 2 AAs and lasts a loooooooong time.)

[email protected]

 

[SteveY]

I have a 2 AA cells Led maglite that I bought from HTS and its light was so dim that I consider it useless.

So while reading your idea of using N cells to replace the AA cell, I drops 2 N cells and a AAA cell to the maglite and bravo, the maglite now give out light that is twice the brightness of the Infinity.

Anyone could tell me if there were any problem of mixing N cells with AAA cell in a flashlight?

I could'nt use 3 N cells because the length would be shorter than the 2 AA cells.

Regards

 

[jbechto]

Me again,

I think mixing the cells will eventually cause the lower capacity one(s) to leak on you because the higher capacity one will end up charging it.

I use a brass slug that I machine to take up the extra space with 3 "N" cells. It must go in last to avoid shorting out the batteries that would otherwise go in after it. I also have one that uses a plexiglass slug with a resistor in it to cut down the ma draw and increase battery life, but using a resistor with one LED is so inefficient (the resistor uses about 40% of the juice!) that I mostly do the brass slug now. It runs at about 32 ma. Nice and bright and still about 3 times the life of the stock setup.

John ([email protected])

 

[jbechto]

I changed my setup again. 3 N cells and no resistor now. Runs at 32 ma. I'm very happy with it. I was surprised that the 3 N cells only ran it at 32 ma. Must be the internal resistance. Not quite as bright as the original bulb, but pretty bright and the focusing works well. Better than replacing the incandescent every few sets of batteries or after each time I drop it!

John

 

[BugLightGeek]

I was wondering if someone could explain this to me in newbie LED terms (since I've never done a mod and would like to do a minimag-to-LED mod:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>From your description, I'd say he's stuffed 3 N cells into the AA maglite, then put a T1 LED into the bi-pin socket (they fit) - it'll work - but definitely not as bright since the T1 LEDs are nowhere near the T1-3/4 LEDs.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Anyone have any suggestions for me on doing my first minimag to LED mod?

 

[hotfoot]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ChrisM:
I was wondering if someone could explain this to me in newbie LED terms (since I've never done a mod and would like to do a minimag-to-LED mod:

Anyone have any suggestions for me on doing my first minimag to LED mod?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

ChrisM,

To do the simplest Minimag-AA-to-LED mod, you'll need:

- 3x 'N' cells (each is 1.5V, LEDs run happily on 3.6 volts or thereabout, so this will be overdriving it a bit)

- 1 nichia 5mm or 3mm LED (color of your choice - most of us here like white). If you can get them, the best white 5mm nichia LEDs have this part no. NSPW500BS. If you're feeling adventurous, try out the 3mm part, which I *think* is NSPW310. The trailing B and S in the 5mm part no. refers to the color and brightness ranking. Not sure if they have the same nomenclature for the 3mms though.)

- 1 spacer (can be made of foil, a bolt/screw, a spring - almost anything electrically conductive)

To do this mod:

- Remove the old bi-pin bulb from the Mag.

- Put 2 AA batteries in the light first for testing.

- Take a 3mm/5mm LED and snip off the excess lead so that the legs are about the same length as that of the original Maglight bi-pin.

- Stick the LED legs into the bi-pin socket, never mind polarity for now - that's why the 2AAs are there. If the LED lights up - great! That means polarity is correct. If no light emerges, try wiggling it a little, and if still no light comes forth, switch the pins around. Once you've found the correct orientation, try to find a way to make a note of it.

- Now that polarity has been found, replace the 2AAs with 3Ns. The 3Ns are quite a bit shorter than 2AAs, that's why you'll need a spacer. Experiment around with foil first before settling on a final spacer.

- Assuming the light portion is now working, if you are using a 5mm LED, you'll need to bore out the bulb hole of the minimag's reflector to fit a 5mm. If you chose the 3mm LED, there's no need for this (hurray!). Just use a good pointy knifeblade or scissors to scrape away the excess material until the 5mm LED just fits.

- You're done! If you have xtra LEDs around, try grinding down the LED lens to almost the die and you might even have some ability to focus the beam!

Good Luck - hope this helps!

 

[Slick]

In addition to Hotfoot's excellent instructions, you most likely will have to grind the "stop tabs" off of the LED leads. I do this using a Dremel tool with an oxide cutting wheel. This will allow the LED to be fully seated in the fixture.

I use the 2-N + 1-AAA (with NO resistors) in my mini-mag mod and have not experienced any problems with leakage, explosions or pimple outbreaks.

This single LED light is the brightest one that I own. It stomps the sh*t out of my Longlife, Rebel, Stylus, inova keychain, and dimfinity LED lights hands down...

Unfortunately, I do not know the manufacturor of the white LED that I used (from a local electronic supply house).

 

[BugLightGeek]

Hotfoot & Slick

Most excellent! Thanks a bunch for the explanations and instructions. Now, all I need to do is get my hands on some various colored LED's...got any extras you'd care to donate?

I do have a question about this:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>If you have xtra LEDs around, try grinding down the LED lens to almost the die and you might even have some ability to focus the beam!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What is the die? What do I grind it down with? And, if I don't grind it down, will it be focusable?

Also, in doing my browsing, it seems that the LED's come in varying VCD ratings. What ratings do I need to look for for this mod?

 

[Empath]

ChrisM, I appreciate you locating this older thread. It is one that was overlooked when our Mod forum was established, and didn't get moved into it's new home.

You'll find it here.

The Mod forum has a very high degree of experience in mods, and can provide some excellent advice.