my first ever mod - disappointing

[ifpo238]

Performed the Eveready 2 AA to 3 CR123A mod, using a 6 D-Cell MagLite bulb. Results were disappointing. Should I have popped in the 6V RadioShack bulb instead of the 9V Mag bulb that I used? Would that be brighter?

I'm looking to build something with about the same footprint (size), but something that shines more like a Q-beam. (I'm very interested in throw, and not as concerned with a big, wide, beam.)

Should I be focusing on the reflector, the power supply, or the bulb? Should I be considering LED or HID? :thinking: (Sooo much to learn, and all I want is a cheap, uber-bright, shirt pocket spotlight...)

I'm brand new here, and I'm overwhelmed with the vast amount of information to absorb. Is there a FAQ?

Thanks in advance for your help, and for overlooking my newbieness.

-jeff

 

[Drewfus2101]

Like you said, that is a 9V bulb that your only giving 6V. Go pick up a 6V bulb and it will be much brighter. You might even be better of with a slightly lower voltage bulb.

 

[Drewfus2101]

The brightest cheapest incan bulb that I tested at 6V, is the Radioshack HPR50, 4 cell bulb.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5722/lumenswd3.jpg
*the lumens rating is not accurate, so don't quote the numbers, but it does make for a good comparison between bulbs tested here.

 

[ifpo238]

Thanks for the quick response!

I think I am giving it 9 volts. I'm using 3x123A batteries in series, and they're 3 volts each. I think I'd be overdriving the 6 volt bulb, but that's what the original mod instructions on the Internet said to do. I just figured the bulb would burn out pretty quickly if I did that. That may be the point, though. I've never overdriven a bulb... Would a 6 volt bulb pushed by 9 volts be brighter than a 9 volt bulb pushed by 9 volts?

-jeff

 

[ifpo238]

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I am at 9 volts, though. 3x3-volt CR123A batteries in series makes for 9 volts, yes?

Not sure if the 6-cell Magnum Star bulb I'm using (made for 9v) would be as bright as that 6v Radio Shack bulb overdriven at 9v. Not sure how much more quickly that 6v bulb would burn out, either.

Very cool spreadsheet, btw. I think I love it here.

-jeff

 

[wquiles]

Performed the Everready 2 AA to 3 CR123A mod, using a 6 D-Cell MagLite bulb. Results were disappointing. Should I have popped in the 6V RadioShack bulb instead of the 9V Mag bulb that I used? Would that be brighter?

I'm looking to build something with about the same footprint (size), but something that shines more like a Q-beam. (I'm very interested in throw, and not as concerned with a big, wide, beam.)

Should I be focussing on the reflector, the power supply, or the bulb? Should I be considering LED or HID? :thinking: (Sooo much to learn, and all I want is a cheap, uber-bright, shirt pocket spotlight...)

I'm brand new here, and I'm overwhelmed with the vast amount of information to absorb. Is there a FAQ?

Thanks in advance for your help, and for overlooking my newbieness.

-jeff

Jeff - no worries, and don't let this initial venture into modifying flashlights bog you down. Some projects work great, some don't. As you do more, the success ratio keeps getting better and better. Read and study the works from others here - the more you research the better the chances the project will work alright, and don't be afraid of asking "before" you start the project - maybe somebody else already tried something similar and they can steer you in the right direction.

Hang in there - it is a fun hobby!

Will

 

[The Dane]

A 6 cell M*g bulb will draw .65A at 9V =:mecry:
A ROP low will drav 1.9A at 9V =

So in short keep Your setup, just change the bulb, and be supprised.

 

[Drewfus2101]

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I am at 9 volts, though. 3x3-volt CR123A batteries in series makes for 9 volts, yes?

Not sure if the 6-cell Magnum Star bulb I'm using (made for 9v) would be as bright as that 6v Radio Shack bulb overdriven at 9v. Not sure how much more quickly that 6v bulb would burn out, either.

Very cool spreadsheet, btw. I think I love it here.

-jeff

I guess I can't read well. For some reason, I thought you were just using 2 batteries.

At 9V, the ROP bulbs will either pull too much current and give you very little run time, or the bulbs will blow because of too much voltage.

The Radioshack Krypton KPR112 (5 cell / 7.5V) will run good at 9V and can handle more voltage, so you won't have to worry about blowing the bulb. I didn't get to test a 6 cell Mag bulb, but based on the other Mag bulbs I tested, the 6 cell should be brighter than the Radioshack bulbs.

Maybe you have another problem. Maybe your getting extra resistance in the light somewhere, causing the bulb to not get a full 9V. Can you check the voltage at the bulb holder? Remove the bulb and cut it on and check with a multimeter. Maybe try another 6 cell bulb.

 

[Starlight]

You are making the same mistake that most people make when they are new to hotwires. Battery voltage is NOT the same thing as voltage delivered to the bulb. Every battery has some voltage sag when it is put under load. Smaller primary batteries like CR-123 have much more sag than big rechargeable batteries. Resistive losses in your light also contribute to this voltage loss, so it can be different for lights even of the same type. You have to differentiate between people talking about supplied battery voltage on a mod and people that mean Actual voltage at the bulb. Actual voltage can be varied by changing battery types, changing resistance, and by using regulators that use much higher battery voltages, but reduce and regulate what gets to the bulb.

 

[LuxLuthor]

You are making the same mistake that most people make when they are new to hotwires. Battery voltage is NOT the same thing as voltage delivered to the bulb. Every battery has some voltage sag when it is put under load. Smaller primary batteries like CR-123 have much more sag than big rechargeable batteries. Resistive losses in your light also contribute to this voltage loss, so it can be different for lights even of the same type. You have to differentiate between people talking about supplied battery voltage on a mod and people that mean Actual voltage at the bulb. Actual voltage can be varied by changing battery types, changing resistance, and by using regulators that use much higher battery voltages, but reduce and regulate what gets to the bulb.

BINGO! For typical stock Maglites, you can plan on 300+ milliohms of resistance. Multiply that times the amps the bulb uses at a particular voltage range (see test link in my sig), and you will see the voltage drop just because of resistance. Voltage at the bulb ("Vbulb") can easily be 1-3 volts lower than you measure from battery voltage ("Vbat").

Drewfus2101, I forgot seeing your excellent chart before, but looked up the 2008 thread here. I didn't know anyone else was as "bulb-o-cidal" like me. With your permission, it would be great to add your thread link as another reference in my destructive testing thread. It would be good to add your test methods, and assumptions you made (i.e. how you measured/determined Lux and how converted to display Lumens).

 

[Roberts30]

I'm doing the EXACT same mod.. I have a question though. If I use a Krypton KPR112 from RadioShack, will I blow the bulb using my three rechargable cr123's?? (12.6v Fresh off the Charger) Thanks Alot!

 

[ifpo238]

So, the cheap eveready host is likely the source of a good amount of resistance. I don't have tools to measure (yet), but that makes sense. I also picked up a really cheap eveready 2-D hosts at home depot for under 3 bucks (for two flashlights)... I could fit 4 of the CR123As in there with a little work. I may try overdriving the 9 volt Magnum bulb with a 12V power supply. That oughtta brighten things up...

 

[alpg88]

Jeff - no worries, and don't let this initial venture into modifying flashlights bog you down. Some projects work great, some don't. As you do more, the success ratio keeps getting better and better. Read and study the works from others here - the more you research the better the chances the project will work alright, and don't be afraid of asking "before" you start the project - maybe somebody else already tried something similar and they can steer you in the right direction.

Hang in there - it is a fun hobby!

Will

exactly. bulls eye.

i made few dozens mods to different lights, may be more. not all of them worked right away, i have had number of failed projects (i'm pretty sure there will be more), but at the end you learn one way or another, with every failed attemt, you learn, how not to do it next time.

you'll get it right next time

 

[Drewfus2101]

Drewfus2101, I forgot seeing your excellent chart before, but looked up the 2008 thread here. I didn't know anyone else was as "bulb-o-cidal" like me. With your permission, it would be great to add your thread link as another reference in my destructive testing thread. It would be good to add your test methods, and assumptions you made (i.e. how you measured/determined Lux and how converted to display Lumens).

I would be honored. I got the idea from your tests. I saw that I had a lot of the Mag bulbs laying around, and decided to pick up some other commonly used bulbs locally, and see what happened.

I'll go back and edit it with more info when I get a chance like you suggested.

 

[3D black mag]

Hello I did the eveready mod to and was disapointed with the runtime and bulb life until I realized that a p60 drop in fits almost perfect you could use something like this Cree R2 Drop-In 1-Mode LED Module (3.7V~18V / 26.5mm x 29mm) with 3 cr123's or 3rcr123's or this Xenon Bulb 7.4V 15W with 2 rcr123's and a spacer or 3 cr123's. I also put electrical tape under the switch as a easy way of stiffening the switch so it didnt switch on in my pocket as easy.


3D black mag

 

[ifpo238]

Thanks for the info! I can't seem to get the links to work, though... :-(

 

[Roberts30]

Thanks for the info! I can't seem to get the links to work, though... :-(

I have the Cree R2 in my Solarforce L2, and it puts out roughly 200 lumens. If you are familiar with Ebay, do a search for Cree R2.. I have had great luck with the seller: itc_shop
Good Luck, Let us know how it goes

 

[3D black mag]

Hello sorry about the links I can't get them to work but both are from dealextreme you can find them there.


3D black mag

 

[SafetyBob]

I second the KPR112 bulb from Radio Shack. I did that to my green, swivel head Ray-O-Vac cheap flashlight (my first "real" mod) and I couldn't stop laughing until the batteries started loosing power.

My second try at the same thing (just for grins) was horrible. Quality control on a $1.28 flashlight is not what would be described as good. So my first was good and my second was bad. Every mod with a M@g has been very, very good.

Bob E.

 

[ifpo238]

so, i tried the m@g 9v bulb in an eveready 2D host. it had a bigger reflector. tried it first with 4 cr123a batteries, thinking it would handle the 12 volt power supply and just shine brighter. that, apparently, was a mistake. the bulb blew in less than a second.

popped in a new bulb (patting myself on the back for having ordered 4 to play with), and ran the same host with 3 cr123a's. bingo. not sure if this bulb was better, or if the bigger reflector made the difference, but this was closer to what i was looking for.

i played with the smaller eveready mod, and i think i may have been a bit too hard on it. it's bright. it just doesn't have the throw that i was after. not sure it could with that reflector. the 2D's reflector does the job, though. it lit up the street, and made me grin.

now, will these cree led's be even brighter?

i do have a couple of the radio shack 112 and 118s to play with. did some of that last night. i tried one of each, but found the m@g bulb brighter. haven't tried them in the bigger reflector; it may focus them better... maybe i'll play with them some more before i relegate them to the "i may use these for something someday" box in the garage.

here's a question for y'all: how bright an incan can you get before you have to move away from plastic (bodies/lenses/reflectors) due to heat? if i'm honest, i'm really lookin' for something to show off at deer camp. i would like it to be usable, too, though, which for me means i need to be able to run it for about 5 minutes at a time...

-jeff