I have a 3D cell M*glite and I'm looking for a suggestion for an easy mod for it. I am not looking for one that is too expensive, just one that will get rid of that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sick.gif yellow beam that looks like someone just relieved themselves on it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smoker5.gif
Mod suggestions for a 3D M*glite
- Thread starter JOshooter
- Start date
JasonC8301
Flashlight Enthusiast
check around the forums for a write right lens film or www.flashlightlens.com for 52.1mm lens with LDF film. Cheap and effective from what I hear.
www.inretech.com for drop in LED's.
www.inretech.com for drop in LED's.
Brite one,
I just got through modding a 3D myself. Do you have the LED yet. If not, get one of Hotbeam's (I think) Q3J's. I have several of these and they are very white and bright. $9.50 a piece, but you have to buy two. If it's a problem for you, go ahead and buy two and I'll take the other off of your hands. Go to Elektro Lumens website and order a Fraen Optic (the one in the holder) and one of his washer looking heatsinks with the holes drilled in them. If you're inclined, you can also get one of his 1W, 1ohm resistors (mines direct drive, ~900mA across the LED). It took me about an hour. Nice bright light.
I just got through modding a 3D myself. Do you have the LED yet. If not, get one of Hotbeam's (I think) Q3J's. I have several of these and they are very white and bright. $9.50 a piece, but you have to buy two. If it's a problem for you, go ahead and buy two and I'll take the other off of your hands. Go to Elektro Lumens website and order a Fraen Optic (the one in the holder) and one of his washer looking heatsinks with the holes drilled in them. If you're inclined, you can also get one of his 1W, 1ohm resistors (mines direct drive, ~900mA across the LED). It took me about an hour. Nice bright light.
Rothrandir
Flashaholic
a 1w is the perfect (in my opinion) mod. just take a heatsink, a led...and plop everything in place.
a 1watter can handle 3dcells without much of a problem, so resistance isn't really needed. if you want to slap a few ohms in there feel free...i choose not to.
a 1watter can handle 3dcells without much of a problem, so resistance isn't really needed. if you want to slap a few ohms in there feel free...i choose not to.
ah ya, while you are at it, you can use roth's heatsink (hotlips). It works really well and allow the best focusing ability. but you need to remove the emitter from the star though (that is not all that hard anyway).
INRETECH
Flashlight Enthusiast
We have the 20x5mm in White (KingBright or YolDol) for $40; approx 180cd; or the TriLight for $90; approx 750cd
ubermensch
Enlightened
There is always the option of an Epieon or Everled or the new tek___? (whatever its called)*[tektite!] drop-in modules. Slightly less cool than a do-it-yourself project, but it will work. $40, $40, & $30, respectively.
PlayboyJoeShmoe
Flashaholic
You can put 4C in it, using 1" plastic plumbing pipe. Then get an Acrylite lense from Okotoyama in the BST forum, or some Writeright for monochrome PDAs (try OfficeMAX or Office Depot).
You will then have a pretty darn bright and smooth of beam light!
Mine isn't THAT much less bright than my overdriven Wash Allyn bulb light at around 13.5v! (although that light puts out more light by far!)
You will then have a pretty darn bright and smooth of beam light!
Mine isn't THAT much less bright than my overdriven Wash Allyn bulb light at around 13.5v! (although that light puts out more light by far!)
Roth,
How much runtime do you think you have on your DD 1W? I took you advise and went DD on mine to, but now that I know that it will run at 900mA, I wondering why not 1.2A. Maybe 4 C cells and a little resistance. Have you played around with this?
How much runtime do you think you have on your DD 1W? I took you advise and went DD on mine to, but now that I know that it will run at 900mA, I wondering why not 1.2A. Maybe 4 C cells and a little resistance. Have you played around with this?
Rothrandir
Flashaholic
well, i've made a few of these.
the first one i made, i did a runtime test on it, and gave up after 2.5months. the light was extremely dim by that poing, but still lit up. for the first month the light was still very usable.
i sold that one to a friend who wanted it, and made a new one for myself in pewter. this one probably has around 10hours on it.
increased current will decrease the led life...but it should still outlive you /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
basically, after 800ma, a 1watter won't put out any more light, but just get hotter and suck more current.
you'd be better off with the 3d, and taking advantage of the smaller form factor.
if you prefer the 4d, you could add a bit of resistance, but i think 1.2amps would be pointless in terms of increase output, and only decrease ledlife.
the first one i made, i did a runtime test on it, and gave up after 2.5months. the light was extremely dim by that poing, but still lit up. for the first month the light was still very usable.
i sold that one to a friend who wanted it, and made a new one for myself in pewter. this one probably has around 10hours on it.
increased current will decrease the led life...but it should still outlive you /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
basically, after 800ma, a 1watter won't put out any more light, but just get hotter and suck more current.
you'd be better off with the 3d, and taking advantage of the smaller form factor.
if you prefer the 4d, you could add a bit of resistance, but i think 1.2amps would be pointless in terms of increase output, and only decrease ledlife.
PlayboyJoeShmoe
Flashaholic
My 4C mod is plenty cheap....
Basically giving this thread a bump....
Basically giving this thread a bump....
Pellidon
Flashlight Enthusiast
Elektrolumens has a good page on doing this Here. You can also disembowel the switch assembly and solder the wires directly if you are into vivisection. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Don't open up the reflector as much for a plain emitter and use it without the optic. The surgery on the flashlight is similar for most of the mods. Check the sticky post on the Homemade and Mods forum for more inspiration.
Don't open up the reflector as much for a plain emitter and use it without the optic. The surgery on the flashlight is similar for most of the mods. Check the sticky post on the Homemade and Mods forum for more inspiration.
Everyone's talking about LED mods but the simplest way to improve the yellow beam is put in a xenon bulb. I got an XPR103 at Radio Shack for 2 bucks and it's a heck of a lot better than the stock bulb. There's also the new Magnum Star bulbs with the focusing tip (make sure to get the new ones that specifically say xenon on the package) that are 3 or 4 bucks each. Finally, if you want to go crazy, get five powerstream.com 1/2D Battlebot cells and a WA 01160 halogen bulb and a metal reflector so the bulb won't melt it, and some kind of charger for the nicads. You'll end up with a monster light that no LED light can come anywhere near. Normally this is done with a Magcharger though, which already comes with a charging stand and metal reflector.
