KevinL
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hmm.... it is interesting to re-read our old hotwire 'pushing the frontier' threads with today's perspectives.
And the reason I'm re-reading them is that I'm considering revisiting the hotwire frontier once again.
Recently I acquired a light that turned out to be very much of a lemon. It doesn't work properly. I decided I can do two things - I can argue with the supplier (argument in progress right now) AND I can develop a contingency plan to make lemonade.
Having gutted this particular host in order to send back the defective parts, I've figured it has enough space for at least 4 x A123Systems (LiFE) cells. For some reason I particularly like their cells - good stuff. High current capable, very little sag, intrinsically safe - what's there not to like
A 4S pack will give me 13.2V and more juice than I can possibly imagine using. (120A, 10 sec.. resistance welder anybody?).
I also found two Kiu bipin kits in my stash. that takes care of the bulb carrier.
The host was designed for a 50W hot-wire-less (I shall not say those 3 words. It's not "LED".) setup so thermal management should be ok. I have access to 15-amp 240V switches for a couple of dollars.
The host has an original 11.1V 3S3P unprotected li-ion pack. I am wondering whether I want to bother with this POS or just toss it for safety reasons. I am personally more comfortable with A123's especially at such crazy amperages.
Now I need a bulb. I have decided not to go crazy, for safety's sake. I know my limits.....I don't think I would want anything higher than 100W. Osram 64625HLX anybody? Makes me kinda wish I had not sold my stash of them (ex-USL owner here)
Note that my host has a fairly large head and I am not limited to MR16 bulbs. I can go a bit bigger.
Toss some ideas my way.....may the hotwire burn biggger and brighter!
And the reason I'm re-reading them is that I'm considering revisiting the hotwire frontier once again.
Recently I acquired a light that turned out to be very much of a lemon. It doesn't work properly. I decided I can do two things - I can argue with the supplier (argument in progress right now) AND I can develop a contingency plan to make lemonade.
Having gutted this particular host in order to send back the defective parts, I've figured it has enough space for at least 4 x A123Systems (LiFE) cells. For some reason I particularly like their cells - good stuff. High current capable, very little sag, intrinsically safe - what's there not to like
A 4S pack will give me 13.2V and more juice than I can possibly imagine using. (120A, 10 sec.. resistance welder anybody?).
I also found two Kiu bipin kits in my stash.
that takes care of the bulb carrier. The host was designed for a 50W hot-wire-less (I shall not say those 3 words. It's not "LED".) setup so thermal management should be ok. I have access to 15-amp 240V switches for a couple of dollars.
The host has an original 11.1V 3S3P unprotected li-ion pack. I am wondering whether I want to bother with this POS or just toss it for safety reasons. I am personally more comfortable with A123's especially at such crazy amperages.
Now I need a bulb. I have decided not to go crazy, for safety's sake. I know my limits.....I don't think I would want anything higher than 100W. Osram 64625HLX anybody? Makes me kinda wish I had not sold my stash of them
(ex-USL owner here)Note that my host has a fairly large head and I am not limited to MR16 bulbs. I can go a bit bigger.
Toss some ideas my way.....may the hotwire burn biggger and brighter!
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