Modify a $4 light to be brighter than a SF E2

[jlomein]

My non-flashaholic friend sent me this video which he thought was very interesting.

http://lifehacker.com/software/diy/mod-a-5-flashlight-into-a-95-light-261114.php

The guy takes a cheap $4 flashlight, bores out the 2xAA tube to stick in 3xCR123, and replaces the lamp with some cheap Radioshack Xenon lamp. In his tests he shows it turns out brighter than his Surefire E2 (advertised 60 torch lumens).

This seems like a great mod to get bright lights into the hands of non-flashaholics for under $10. Safety may be a concern because I'm sure heat will be an issue. It has an all plastic body, and most likely a plastic lens and reflector.

 

[FILIPPO]

I think that there is the same thread somewhere:thinking:

 

[LEDninja]

It might be easier to use a minimag (metal body won't melt) and 14500 batteries (no boring of battery tube). A ceramic bulb holder, metal reflector and glass lens are needed and can be obtained here:
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&
Batteries at bottom of page.
Charger here:
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2463
Instructions section K here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=979627&postcount=4

A simpler mod is in section I:
New bulb and boring out the stock Mag reflector.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

Ummm, Very interesting

 

[defusion]

with the costs of batteries i would rather buy something like one of those maxfire's.
factory solution, and just as bright.

 

[ocharry]

guys i made one of these things and well it sure does get hot if you run it for more than a few minutes at a time,, i made it to use at work ,, and well,,it is bright but i don't think it is worth the time to do.... it melted the base of the reflector and the bulb socket is kinda squishy now,, the light i used had a metal reflector with a plastic coating on it,,,, that bulb really gets hot driving it like that,,,,but hay i only have about $4.50 in it.. batteries are here at work so i didn't have to buy them... just my .02

ocharry

 

[carrot]

Saw this one. It was kinda depressing. I had to sweet-talk my A2 so it knew it wasn't getting replaced.

 

[wjf2000]

here is a similar mod. www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/maglite_2c-123a_mod.htm

 

[knot]

He didn't say how much the batteries cost






I just removed a resistor that was in the tailcap of my cheapo 2x123 with this modular cree both batteries are under three volts and I cannot believe how bright and how much throw this has. It blows away any LED light I have. I thought it was bright before but got to thinking there might be a resistor under the clicky. Sure enough.......

 

[bfg9000]

Same video was posted just a month and a half ago. And it's just a three cell version of the one cell Buckalite or two cell Buckalite II from a year ago.