Mod Solitaire or not?

[eebowler]

Hello everyone. A friend of mine recently went to the states for two weeks. I gave her $10 and asked her to buy a Dorcy 1AAA LED flashlight for me from Walmart or Target. Apparantly, none were available and after checking with me, she bought the Solitaire as an alternative. (/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif it is better than none at all)

I am wondering if I should mod it using a single 5mm LED and 3 or 4 of the eight,button cells from a 21/23 battery or if I should leave it as it is.

As an incandescent, it is bright enough for its size (I have no ARC /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif) and should give about 2+hrs of usable light. It is focusable and replacement cells are not that expensive.

As a mod, I get beautiful blueish-white light that has as much output as the incandescent and doesn't become increasingly orange as the cells die. I also get a bulb that never neads replacing. (although this is not an issue as I don't plan to use the Solitaire regularly)

Problems:1) I can't get the reflector out and don't have a dremel to drill it where it lays. 2)have no idea how long 3 button cells will provide useful light. 3)The LED doesn't throw as far as the incandescent./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif
(If I buy three of the 21/23 cells, I will get either 6 sets of 4 cells or 8 sets of 3 cells.)

Any suggestions??

 

[oldtimer]

Mod it. My Solitaire began to dim after five minutes of use.

 

[eebowler]

FIVE MINUTES!!! Goodness gracious! That's with an alkaline cell? Do you have any idea of the performance of the button cells?

 

[Ledean]

Those solitaire are a little bit tricky to mod. But it has been done.
I am sorry you could not get a dorcy in Walmart .My local wall mart usually has them. I have an extra dorcy aaa that i could send to you if you are interested You only pay for the postage.
Ledean

 

[oldtimer]

No idea because I don't use it anymore. =P An alkaline AAA doesn't have enough to drive and sustain the bulb anyways. I put an almost depleted cell in one of those cheapo LED lights and it is still going strong.

 

[NewBie]

It's Alive!

 

[paulr]

I don't think modding a Solitaire with button cells is worthwhile unless you really like the looks of the Solitaire, because button cells are so short-lived.

I'd say get either a coin cell light (I replaced my Solitaire with a Photon II), or get an Arc AAA on BST, or get a CMG Sonic ($9.50 at www.texastacticalsupply.com ) and throw the Solitaire in the aluminum recycling bin.

NewBie's Solitaire pic is a Luxeon mod, which is much more desirable than a button cell mod, but much more expensive and harder to do.

 

[NewBie]

Runtime isn't so great, as I recall, I was pushing 220 or 250 mA. You could back it down and get *alot* longer runtime.

 

[zapper]

Keep it stock as a nice looking little backup light. Since it is for occasional use it won't make a big difference either way and it throws much farther than any 5 mm led. Niether three nor four cells will drive a white led for very long (a few minutes at best) a red led is best for this though. All this comes from going through many solitaire and 2AAA version mod attempts. Take Ledean up on his Dorcey offer! Very kind act!

 

[eebowler]

Ledean /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif Thank you for the offer however, payment of any kind is a chore for me (no PayPal) and to get to you the postage, I will have to spend a whole lot more.../ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif Thank you anyway...

Newbie /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif Should I expect any different from someone as skilled as you... VERY Cool!!

paulr, true. Button cells suck. It is just that I have the Solitaire and want to try and make the silly thing better somehow. Maby it will end up simply as a decoration...

 

[eebowler]

NewBie, I don't think that 25 mins at 200mA is bad at all for an AA cell. The regulation /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/buttrock.gif

zapper, I usually use my bicycle tail light if red light is needed. It is a good idea though. I'll keep it in mind.

 

[paulr]

Eebowler, if you have a credit card, you can use it to order from TTS, Brightguy, Arc, etc. without needing Paypal.

Also, postage to mail a Dorcy light should be less than 2 USD. If you just send Ledean a couple of US $1 bills in the mail, that's probably simplest.

I'd be happy to send you a Countycomm coin cell light, but it may not be so easy to get inexpensive replacement batteries for it down there. I didn't notice your location til just now.

 

[eebowler]

paulr, my friend has a credit card and he has friends in the US. If one of his US friends is willing, I will ask him to pay for the item and to ship it to their address so when they come home, I get my light overseas shipping, duty and tax free. This 'service' isn't available all the time and must be used conservatively as they are not my people. Without help, I can pay from 1.5-2 or more times the actual cost for an item depending on weight, shipping, tax and duties... If the item cannot be bought with credit card, matters gets more complicated and expensive... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rant.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gifetc

With respect to sending cash via mail, I am afraid that the end result will be some long faces... What type of coin cell does the Countrycomm light use? 2032 Li cells are about $1US here now. EDIT Just figured it out>>CR2016 cells. I will check the price in the morning, uh, make that Monday.

 

[Hoghead]

eebowler,

Send me your address in a PM and I'll send you a Dorcy AAA for free, no need for paypal, credit card or shipping fees. I'll fill out the paper work on my end marking it as a gift and maybe you won't have to pay any duties. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif It's worth a try.

It might take me a few days to get one and get it in the mail because I work a lot of odd hours. I'll send you a PM after I mail it, so that you'll know it's in the mail.

These come in red, blue, gray, gold. I might not have a choice because all colors are not always in stock, but just in case, what color would you prefer? You might want to list colors in the order that you prefer.

 

[Hoghead]

eebowler,

I'm going out of town for a few days on my job. I'll try to take care of this when I get back.

 

[Ledean]

Didn'nt know the postage to Jamaica for the dorcy was just a couple of bucks. I can certainly spare that.
You can pm me your adress and i will send it to you.
It is no big deal.
Ledean

 

[Ledean]

Newbie, could you tell me how you turn on the solitaire.
Can you still turn the head to turn it on ?. Or did you use another switching machanism.
I am still trying to do it , what you did is great work , in such a small space.
Ledean

 

[eebowler]

You gentlemen are impressive! CPF is so cool. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Hoghead thank you very much. I appreciate your kindness./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy14.gif As you see though, Ledean is willing to mail me one too, so I will take up his offer instesd. Thanks again.

Ledean, thank you sir for your wonderful offer. I'll PM you right away. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/santa.gif

I guess the Solitaire will stay as is and I'll use it to demonstrate the differences between LED and incandescent to non-flashaholics here. (of course, I will also have to tell them that the ARC AAA is much better than the Dorcy any day/month/year!)

Thank you flashaholics for your help. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/clap.gif

 

[NewBie]

[ QUOTE ]
eebowler said:

Newbie /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif Should I expect any different from someone as skilled as you... VERY Cool!!


[/ QUOTE ]

Gee, thanks!

 

[Mgz]

I think a Sol and a AAA Li-Ions direct drive Lux is your answer. Last about an hour with *regulation* /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif (hope they would make those AAA 10430 cheaper /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif