Rayovac Kid's Headlamp Luxeon Mod

[bikeNomad]

Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

I just made a Luxeon mod for the Rayovac kid's headlamp using one of my LT1308B step-up current regulators.

I changed the LED current setting to 190mA because of the lack of heatsinking and to extend the battery life.

The pictures and text areon my web site.

Though this is a good cheap headlamp ($6), the shallow reflector and lack of heatsink possibilities make it a mediocre choice for a Luxeon mod.

It would work far better (though probably dimmer) with a single high-brightness Nichia, because you could use the reflector at the right focal position.

 

[ElektroLumens]

Re: Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bikeNomad:
I just made a Luxeon mod for the Rayovac kid's headlamp using one of my LT1308B step-up current regulators.

I changed the LED current setting to 190mA because of the lack of heatsinking and to extend the battery life.

The pictures and text areon my web site.

Though this is a good cheap headlamp ($6), the shallow reflector and lack of heatsink possibilities make it a mediocre choice for a Luxeon mod.

It would work far better (though probably dimmer) with a single high-brightness Nichia, because you could use the reflector at the right focal position.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

bikeNomad,

Nice job! I like the regulator you are using. I'm working on a LT1308 circuit myself.

Try this mod with the better headlamp. Can't remember the model, but it was the adult headlamp with the 4 AA battery compartment just behind the light. The headlamp I am using (Rayovac Sportsman) has a lot of room for heatsinking, and you can put the step up regulator in the battery housing in place of 2 of the batteries? I am using a step down with the 4 AA's, in my mod of this Sportsman model)

I think your keeping the power down is a good idea, for battery life. Even at 200mA, a fair amount of light comes out of the Luxeon.

Is there room in you mod for a collimator?

Wayne www.elektrolumens.com

 

[JollyRoger]

Re: Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

Great mod, ned. I really like your mods...

Do you know yet if you'll be able to make me that certain other mod we talked about???

 

[papasan]

Re: Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

i've got this headlamp with a zetex circuit running the LS at ~320mA through most of the battery life with NiMHs...i thought there might be heat problems, but there haven't been any...and i've run it through a dozen or so battery cycles at least with NiMH and alkalines...

i like this mod alot...it's *alot* lighter than my 4AA headlamps and noticably lighter than my lightwave illuminator...i also like that there's no connecting wires to break between the light and battery units...my favorite mod so far...

 

[bikeNomad]

Re: Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

papasan, how's your battery life and focusing?

 

[bikeNomad]

Re: Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ElektroLumens:

Nice job! I like the regulator you are using. I'm working on a LT1308 circuit myself.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Did you see my circuit? I'm using the LBI input for current regulation... it works quite well.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Is there room in you mod for a collimator?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

d'oh! Of course there is... should have checked. I have one from the last LS/O that I burned up...

in fact, you could fit a LS/O in here directly by just extending its screw holes to the corner.

Thanks for the suggestion. Off to get my hot glue gun...

 

[bikeNomad]

Re: Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by roger:
Great mod, ned. I really like your mods...

Do you know yet if you'll be able to make me that certain other mod we talked about???

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The higher efficiency and smaller one? I don't think I'm going to be able to do it within the constraints. Higher efficiency means bigger. And this circuit would be hard pressed to get more than 85% efficiency best case.

 

[papasan]

Re: Rayovac Kid\'s Headlamp Luxeon Mod

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bikeNomad:
papasan, how's your battery life and focusing?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

no focusing, the reflector was removed...just used the LS optics...

get close to 3 hours of constant good light from 1.8AH NiMHs before the light drops down to a dim level for hours after that...haven't really done any formal alkaline tests...