Newbie, needs idea's for old flashlights I have. Fulton Angle-Head and Kel-Lite 5D

[nitetimeistheritetime]

Hey everybody. I just hope I'm not being annoying. I just discovered this world of aftermarket stuff for lights and I'm kind of freaking out. This is so awesome, I've been into lights since I was 13 or so. I have quite a few, standard stuff; Mag 2 cell and 6 cell, surefire G3 I got as a door prize, mini mag 3 cell LED, Pentagon light MOLLE, and a streamlight 3 cell I can't remember the name of (that's currently riding my shotgun. But the coolest to me are my old Kel-light 5D police light. It's sort of a proto Mag-Light I think, or maybe an imitator I don't know. And Also a Fulton MX 99 angle-head army flashlight that my mom gave me from her army days. Basically want to get some ideas from you fine folks about potential set-ups for them. They both take standard smooth base type bulbs (like mag-lights, sorry I don't know the term) and the Kel has a head quite a bit wider then the Mag-light and the Fulton Army a bit smaller. So if you have an idea for different power sources or light emitters I'd appreciate it. Basics like new lenses and such are a given. Thanks and sorry if post is too long

 

[csshih]

I don't really know anything regarding modding of old lights, but I'd like to welcome you to CPF!

Also another Californian here

if you have any questions regarding current-day lights, I've got a bunch of answers.

 

[nitetimeistheritetime]

thanks CSSHIH I do as a matter of fact. I'm trying to decide what small single AAA or AA Light to get. I'm looking at Fenix, got any recommendations?

 

[Chrontius]

Welcome to CPF! I've personally made an old anglehead (not a Fulton, a boy-scout thing) into a ROP-low, (ROP stands for 'Roar of the Pelican'; the ROP low is a 11-watt high pressure xenon bulb running on six NiMH or two li-ion cells)

The Kel-Light can also be made into a hotwire; (Hotwire is a term for upgraded incandescent lights; it implies a certain upgrading, or 'hotwiring', and is also descriptive - the light bulb is literally a hot wire) which, I'm not sure, but I'm fond of my ROP, and if you can find some 4/5 D cells, it should work for you. Alternately, I've seen LED upgrade modules; the five-cell Mag LED modules should work fine in it, and are known for good throw and great runtime (if less than stellar overall output).

Kel-lights are something many of us here have a soft spot for. Don't sell the thing just to pay for the latest LED - that'll be outdated in a few months, but a classic stays classic forever (and can be upgraded every six months).

thanks CSSHIH I do as a matter of fact. I'm trying to decide what small single AAA or AA Light to get. I'm looking at Fenix, got any recommendations?

Depends on what you want out of it. Nitecore's EzAA is incredibly light and small for a AA; Jetbeam's Element is incredibly stylish and very nice to use. Nitecore's (newer) stuff uses the "piston drive" mechanism, which is very robust; their old stuff was also pretty simple to operate, while offering a great set of customization features. Fenix's E01 offers incredible runtime and respectable brightness from a tiny 1xAAA light. More information, please?

 

[M@elstrom]

The Fulton Anglehead & Kel-lite would be better left unmolested as collector/sentimental pieces :thumbsup:

FWIW The Kel-lite was produced before the Maglight


BTW :welcome:

 

[nitetimeistheritetime]

Wow you are so cool Chro, I wouldn't sell the Kel, it's such a cool dinosaur hehe. I found a thread on hot-wiring, definitely gonna look at that, it would be really cool to have that old light blasting some high end lumens. And also about the ROP for the Fulton, this is a stupid question but what bulb is it exactly from Peli?

 

[nitetimeistheritetime]

I know, but I just can't leave well enough alone. Started with mag xenon bulb in the Fulton that got pretty bright. I have this weird thing about maximizing anything I have in at least some direction (brighter, long runtime etc.) Anyway anything I do to em' will be completely reversible.

 

[nitetimeistheritetime]

Welcome to CPF! I've personally made an old anglehead (not a Fulton, a boy-scout thing) into a ROP-low, (ROP stands for 'Roar of the Pelican'; the ROP low is a 11-watt high pressure xenon bulb running on six NiMH or two li-ion cells)

The Kel-Light can also be made into a hotwire; (Hotwire is a term for upgraded incandescent lights; it implies a certain upgrading, or 'hotwiring', and is also descriptive - the light bulb is literally a hot wire) which, I'm not sure, but I'm fond of my ROP, and if you can find some 4/5 D cells, it should work for you. Alternately, I've seen LED upgrade modules; the five-cell Mag LED modules should work fine in it, and are known for good throw and great runtime (if less than stellar overall output).

Kel-lights are something many of us here have a soft spot for. Don't sell the thing just to pay for the latest LED - that'll be outdated in a few months, but a classic stays classic forever (and can be upgraded every six months).



Depends on what you want out of it. Nitecore's EzAA is incredibly light and small for a AA; Jetbeam's Element is incredibly stylish and very nice to use. Nitecore's (newer) stuff uses the "piston drive" mechanism, which is very robust; their old stuff was also pretty simple to operate, while offering a great set of customization features. Fenix's E01 offers incredible runtime and respectable brightness from a tiny 1xAAA light. More information, please?

Just EDC with good runtime, super brightness isn't really important, also not too expensive as I have a dreadful habit of losing things

 

[csshih]

Just EDC with good runtime, super brightness isn't really important, also not too expensive as I have a dreadful habit of losing things

ooh! lets toss up some IMHO good ones!

Nitecore D10, 47s QuarkAA, Fenix LD01

btw, do you do instant messaging? its always fun to have a chat to get newbies up to speed .. now off to bed for me.

 

[leukos]

Here's a good thread for your fulton: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=220044

And for that G3, you can make that rechargeable.
You'll need two of these: http://www.lighthound.com/AW-17500-Protected-Rechargeable-Lithium-Battery_p_99.html
And one of these: http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire-WF-139-Charger-for-14500-17500-18500-18650-RCR123-37-volt-Lithium-Battery-Charger_p_2279.html

 

[nitetimeistheritetime]

The Nitecore, Fenix, and Quark look awesome. Right now I'm torn on spending my not very much money on either a Fenix LOD or similar, or getting a few parts to upgrade stuff I already have. The pull of a new bright thing is so strong.......

btw Luekos thanks for the fulton and G3 info

 

[DM51]

Welcome to CPF, nitetime.

It looks like you'll fit in well here! You'll find lots of good ideas for modifications in the Homemade & Modified sub-forum. Most lights can be renovated/improved, as you'll discover as you look around.

 

[Chrontius]

Dumb question: will Malkoff modules fit a Kel-Lite?

 

[nitetimeistheritetime]

This is only based off reading the instructions from his website but it looks like it won't without some modification of some sort, the geometry is wrong plus the kel has the a sliding switch type thing that goes up into the head.

 

[Chrontius]

So much for that bright idea. (Ha!)

I know, but I just can't leave well enough alone. Started with mag xenon bulb in the Fulton that got pretty bright. I have this weird thing about maximizing anything I have in at least some direction (brighter, long runtime etc.) Anyway anything I do to em' will be completely reversible.

Two Saft lithium thionyl chloride batteries, at 3.7 volts each. (These are toxic waste when used up, BTW!) One Magnum Star xenon bulb, six-cell. Net result: something that'll run for hours, at 200+ incandecent lumens, and has a shelf life measured in decades. Perfect for that unanticipated hurricane. Alternately, the Lithium Sulfur Dioxide cells here are a bit better behaved with regards to toxicity... a four-cell Magnum Star should be quite bright on a pair of those.

 

[nitetimeistheritetime]

Those Saft batts look awesome, think I'm gonna save up and do just that.