Modify small Black & Decker Power Fail lights???

[rlhess]

Hi, I have 7 Black and Decker SafeLites scattered around my home. They're starting to need NiCd replacements.

It uses two NiCds and a 2.5V 300mA lamp.

I was wondering if there were any LEDs I could replace it with.

I realize I don't have the voltage for a white one, but if I could perhaps find a turquoise or an orange that was very bright that would work at that voltage.

I don't want to go to the expense/trouble to put in a converter...

They work OK as they are, actually, but LEDs are nicer. Peak beam is about 60cd...if I could do that with a few LEDs and widen it, that would be good.

OR if you know a little plug-in LED power fail light, that would be good, too.

Thanks!

Richard

 

[Empath]

Originally posted by rlhess:
OR if you know a little plug-in LED power fail light, that would be good, too.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I don't know of an LED one, but I know of a couple that are very easy to mod, plus they have standard user replaceable cells.

The Leviton power failure lights are small, and uses two user replaceable NiCd cells. It also uses a PR based lamp that would readily accept a TechAss PR LED 2cell lamp. Since the lamp will light until the voltage gets down to .7 volts, it would give you hours of light in a power failure.

The Garrity power failure lights have the same battery and lamp arrangement, but comes with an additional Indiglo® type night light.

 

[snakebite]

dont forget the sino uniuon replacements.
i did that to a ge power fail light.
had to swap the polarity though.
take your vom to it and make sure shell is neg and bottom contact is pos.
easy to replace the nicads.

 

[EMPOWERTORCH]

At 2.4V you're going to have to use GaAs or GaP+ technology LED's which limits you to Red, Orange, "Neon", yellow and yellowish green LED's. I think for yellow and yellowish green you would be almost able to direct drive them straight from the Nicads. I know of 2 contenders, manufacturer-wise... Toshiba and Kingbright. Toshiba LED's are the most intense between these two, but they are current thirstier than the Kingbrights. They are slightly more expensive as well!
I don't have pictures of these lights to hand, so I cannot advise on layout.

Both brands are available through Maplin Electronics. http://www.maplin.co.uk
I am shortly modifying some of those battery powered "push" lights to LED operation but will have to experiment with the LED's and the layout before finalizing my design. These would function as manually operated emergency lights in my abode.
I am never far away from a torch, and my arsenal of lighting weaponry grows so this place will never be dark!