Review of Lemlux's 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Lemlux was kind enough to send me an Energizer DB 4AA souped up with an evil concoction of 420-Lumen bulb, steeply overdriven by 6 lithium 123's.

Man, is it ever bright.

Even in broad daylight, it is obvious that this light is brighter than even my freshly charged Streamlight UltraStinger, the absolutely brightest flashlight I had on hand.

Here are the light warriors:

Note the high-tech Focus-Lock with pinpoint tightest-focus indicator of my own exclusive patent pending design:

Actually, due to the configuration of the bulb and its relationship to the DB's reflector, best focus is achieved by unscrewing the bezel nearly all the way out.

Power comes from a whopping six (6) Duracell 123 lithium batteries in parallel:

Here's a beamshot comparison against the UltraStinger (DB on right with WriteRight on lens) on the ceiling from about 15 feet below, in broad daylight (both lights on tightest focus):

And here they are against the door inside my pitch black laundry room from 36 inches away (DB still on right, both lights on tightest focus):

Note the larger, brighter, and more even hotspot of the DB. And this is with the DB shining through a layer of WriteRight. Lux measurements will come eventually, when I find a sufficiently big piece of real estate to back far enough away from so as not to overload the light meter (or possibly melt it).

Not bad for $30 bucks, huh? Anybody wanna send me an M6 for a head-to-head test?

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

 

[Lux Luthor]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Looks awesome! Can you make out what bulb he's using? I assume it's a Carley.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Hey Lux,

Here's a quote from Clark's own post a while back about the setup:

"...a couple that I've loaded with 6 serial / parallel 123 cells and an overdriven W/A 6.3 V 1.92 A design bulb that generates > 420 L."

If that makes sense to you, it should tell you which bulb was used..."W/A" = Welch/Allyn?

The DB's lens (and therefore reflector, I would assume) gets pretty hot after a few minutes though, but then it is the nature of this particular beast that it be used "tactically" (although I got the wrong dang color for that)...

 

[Klaus]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Its the WA 01148 which unfortunately has a slightly higher filament height (ups - how to say that better than a higher height - sounds terrible to me) and therefor the problems with the head falling almost off

Klaus

 

[txwest]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Klaus,
I think "slightly higher filament" would surfice. TX

 

[lemlux]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

As I cautioned Mr. Bulk, this bulb is hazardous to the health of his reflector if run for extended periods. Charlie, you may be interested in knowing that my sale of my 8X to TripleDouble and my 8X charger to rycen is currently earmarked to fund my purchase of an US.

The W/A 01315 bulb rated at 6.27 V 1.42 A which is winging it's way to Mr. Bulk at this moment will generate only 3/4 the wattage and heat of the 01148 and almost as much light. Better yet, it's just as focusable as the OEM bulb. No high tech electrical tape is required. (Actually Mr. Bulk seems to have substituted or added clear tape.)As I've posted, the relatively expensive W/A 01315 at $7.18 @ has become my general purpose favorite for 6R applications.

After I follow through with installation of Carley 2" aluminum reflectors bonded to 2" Mag Charger tempered glass lenses this package (and my DB6AA and DB8AA rechargeable packages) will be able to tolerate much longer run times without "bending" polycarbonate parts.

Tx: Klaus used emotionally editorial language on the W/A 01148 because he's only unloaded 2 units of his lifetime supply of the bulb thus far. He's hoping that the longer filament height will come in useful with my Carley reflector experiments. Then he,I and the rest of you may have a greater appetite for the bulb.

This 01148 bulb is disappointing with 6R cells but will probably equal or exceed Mr. Bulk's light output in a DB8AA with 7 rechargeables and a dummy.

BTW, my bored-out center ream holes on the DB reflectors have considerable variance in their size and roundness at tightest focus. Charlie's reflector is at or near the tightest and roundest end of that spectrum. Also, the width and thickness of various bipin bulb filaments considerably affect beam quality. Without WriteWright the 01148 beam is prone to displaying filament ziz-zags -- Sort of like an evil pumpkin grin. (edit -- maybe this grin is what attracted Klaus to the 01148 in the first place

)

BTW, I've loaded this thread a couple of times and find it curious that it is a random occurence as to whether one or the other of Mr. Bulk's photos may show up as an empty frame with an "X" in it or whether both photos load. Usually I see the frame with X only when I search and load an old thread -- I presume that old photos are deleted to preserve bandwith.

 

[Klaus]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

LOL

Klaus

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lemlux:
I find it curious that it is a random occurence as to whether one or the other of Mr. Bulk's photos may show up as an empty frame with an "X" in it or whether both photos load. Usually I see the frame with X only when I search and load an old thread -- I presume that old photos are deleted to preserve bandwith.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hm, I have same problem, but right clicking and selecting "show photo" brings it up right away. Maybe it is indeed a bandwidth preservation mechanism...

 

[BugLightGeek]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

OK...maybe it's just for my clarification, but, I have a couple questions:
1. What bulb is being used in that monster?
2. Did you have to replace or alter the reflector to withstand the heat?

I altered my 4AA DB last night and have it ready to be filled with 6 123a's...now all I need to do is find out which lamp/bulb to use...

 

[Klaus]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Chris,

your questions are pretty much answered in this thread already - but lets repeat - its a WA 01148 at 6.3V and 1.9A slightly overdriven and the reflectors bulb hole was enlarged a bit and the hight of the filament is different and therefor the head isn´t threading on as securly and was taped to the flashlight body for safety. It is probably expected that prolonged continous use of the flashlight would result in the heat causing some melting of the reflector - but the two guys having those lightsabers at hand can certainly shed more light on this topic

Klaus

 

[BugLightGeek]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Thanks for the clarification. Now all that's left to do is get one of those bulbs.

Comments from the two owners of such lights would be appreciated

 

[Klaus]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Chris,

I answered your question on the bulbs in the other thread - Lemlux and I do have some limited supply of both types - the group buy seems to be closed for now though.

Guess the two guys will show up ASAP

Klaus

 

[lemlux]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Chris:

Klaus and I do not have an excess of 01315 bulbs. Their list price is $7.18.

I have only one 01148 bulb and Klaus has (previously had?)several more for which he has been contacted. The 01148 lists for $5.76. I wouldn't have parted with the 01315 I sent to Mr. Bulk except that I was concerned about the health of the reflector I sold him.

Toby, Ake, Kubolaw and Starlight joined me in a group buy from W/A last month to contend with W/A's $100 minimum order. I'm afraid that the price of the 01315 discouraged each of these guys from purchasing this particular bulb.

I don't expect to be far enough along in my various projects to participate in another group buy before late August at the earliest. Please read this thread to see discussion of the various W/A bulbs.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001904&p=3


Now that I look at Klaus' last response in the linked thread, it looks as though his lifetime supply has been reduced.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

ChrisM,

Sorry I did not get back into this -- preps for outta town visitors coming in for the 4th and all have been keeping us busy.

I see your questions have been answered, but I just wanna clarify I knew full well going into this one that the light is not usable like factory products -- it is for short bursts of intense bright light (ideal for my work purposes), as leaving it on for more than a minute or two results in the lens being too hot to touch and on the verge of distorting from the heat.

As for bulbs I've been surfing and searching and it appears the Europeans are really into this much more than us in our relative infancy. There are hardly any really high performance bulbs for outright purchase on the net, whereas on sites like Philips' there are dozens of choices for a myriad of slightly varying degrees of tradeoffs between light output and lifespan.

Wonder if they'd sell direct to us? But then of course, the duty/tariff picture comes into play. I mean $7-$8 bucks just for the BULB? You could buy two or three whole Eveready 2Ds for that!

 

[BugLightGeek]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

how much for one of each bulb?

 

[BugLightGeek]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Mr Bulk and Lemlux...thank you both for your posts. I guess it looks as though I'll be holding off on any bulb purchase for a while. Maybe next time.

Now, I understand the modified light is only good for 1-2 min bursts with either of these bulbs. Is the same true for the P61 mod?

 

[lemlux]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Chris:

The P61 Mod with NiMH's in the DB4AA and the P91 Mod in the DB6AA with NiMH's are each good for a full battery run so long as you back the lens off of the LA to dissapate heat.

Note that SF's specs for their 4R B65 battery says that a 65 L P60 will only generate about 50 L with the 4R battery pack. My DB6AA P91 suffers the same syndrome -- it is really no brighter with 6 rechargeables than my P90 is in my 9P.

This has given me confidence to move my DB6AA P91 mod from it's current DB6AA battery chamber bottom to a DB8AA bottom with 7 2450 NiMH A cells and a dummy. I think I'll be much happier with the output, and the slightly overdriven P91 should still have a very long life.

BTW, last night I put 3 @ 123's and an AA alkaline on both sides of a parallel DB6AA to drive a W/A 01278 9.0 V 1.1 A bulb rated at 244 L. I guess it's pulling about 9.5 V and 300 L with a re-rated life of 12 hours.

This should run for about 2 1/2 hours and be around the outer limits of extended run time temperature tolerance. I have placed this in my car as an emergency bright light.

 

[BugLightGeek]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

[drools over your 300L torch]

So, to make sure I read your post right, you can run that beast for 2.5 hours without worrying about melting anything?

Now, for the golden question, if it seems that I get in over my head on this mod (after I've saved up to buy all the parts) did I hear correctly that I can send my flashlight to someone for them to mod for me doing this mod?

If so, who? And, how much?

 

[lemlux]

Re: Review of Lemlux\'s 420-Lumen DB4AA Mod

Chris:

Snake and others have had enough heat problems with various bulbs and DB's that I'm not going to claim that you can leave it on for 2 1/2 hours with no heat worry. However, Klaus and I have generally found that 10W bulbs don't seem to do more than soften the top of the plastic bulb receiver protrusion on the tip of the switch / socket assembly. I have noted that extended use of a 14 W bulb has caused a reflector's silver finish to whiten somewhat without shape distortion.

You won't need to have anyone mod your DB6AA light-- There are two things you'd have to do yourself.

1. You may have to increase the size of the nipple on the top battery on each side so that it goes into the DB6AA recessed positive contact. Alternatively, you can disconnect the bottom and solder in contact buttons in the battery receiver hollow.

2.) bore out some breathing room in the center of the reflector.

You will need to buy a W/A 01278 bulb or two. I bought 6 at $2.04 @ plus shipping. I really only need to keep 3 of them. I will be far more likely to use a DB6AA with rechargeables and a 01315 for extended useage. My personal 01278 lithium applications will be for automotive emergency applications.