I got this big plastic flashlight I got for about 2 bucks
It has a rather simple looking bulb.
If it is a standard PR lamp like in a maglite or camping lantern, then unfortunately no it can not easily be converted to hid. Common HID lamps are fitted with "H" mounts. H1, 3 and 4 are the most common from what I have found.
Can it be made an HID?
Anything is
possible... how
easily it can be converted depends on a few criteria...
Which kind of bulbs should I look for?
Automotive H1, H3 or H4 HID lamps
Does it need thermal management?
Yes... sort of. The lens will need to be glass and reflector needs to be aluminum or some kind of metal. HID lamps get hot enough to melt most plastics.
(It is plastic and might melt in intense heat)
Yes, the lamp will probably get hot enough to melt a plastic lens or reflector. if you leave an HID ON long enough and point it up in the sky, the little bugs and moths will attract to the light and fry from the heat off the glass. The host should be OK however.
And finally...which are the best batteries for this one?
Lead-Acid, Lipo, Lion, others?
LiPo hobby packs are the best. They can handle the current draw better than the typical SLA cells. Self discharge characteristics are better too. They are also lighter, smaller and have more wattage per unit volume. I have SLA cells in mine, but when they do die I will replace them with LiPos. LiPo packs are much more difficult, complicated and expensive to charge.
Good Luck though!!
