ROP/LE First Mod Complete!

Gather App
Candle Power Forums

Help Support Candle Power:

mattyg

mattyg

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
80
City & State/Province
The Rainy City
After the long sourcing battle (well it wasn't really a battle, just a wait) I was finally able to assemble my ROP/LE this morning. The reflector & batteries (Thanks rscanady & AW!) came last night so I charged them overnight and assembled everything this morning prior to work. Haven't really had a chance to test the light but it's definitely way brighter than my 3D Mag w/ 5C cells. The beam of both bulbs have a really nice bright spot color-wise and good throw. I also like how the bulbs gently die out when they are turned off - much like a headlight or spotlight.This is my first 'real' flashlight mod and it went really well. Absolutely no problems. Here's my setup (unfortunately my girlfriend has the camera in SE Asia so no pics):

Bulb: Pelican 3854 Big D rechargeable bulb(s) High & Low
Reflector: Stock sized cammed aluminum LOP
Lens: Glass UCL
Batteries: 2x 'AW' 18650 L-ions
Battery sleeve: 5/8" rubber heating tubing slit lengthwise
Tailcap: De-anodized w/ sodium hydroxide drain cleaner. Used a cut-down-to-fit thin rubber washer to hold a small conical (#86) spring in place so the tailcap can be removed and replaced without losing the spring.

OK, so I have the mod bug now.

I want to do another drop-in mod on my 3D Mag. Is there a ROP setup for this light - what battery configuration fits?

I'd also like to get my two Mags Hard Anodized. Looks like the group buy coating thread is closed. Anyone know where else this can be done?
 
Last edited:
Congratulations, the toughest part is sourcing these components.

Before the ROP mod there was the Mag85 (more on this later). I waited SIX MONTHS for the components. Metal reflectors were as rare as hen's teeth with gold fillings. And for bulbs to be mounted in the PR base - our group buy ran for a year. Building the ROP out of readily available parts was a driving factor behind my decision to design it as I did - this is a light born as a solution to a supply crunch as much as it is built to produce ridiculous lumens at a reasonably affordable price point with minimal modding.

Good idea on the rubber washer, I may have to try that some time.

No GF, but that's also why I have the camera with me all the time. :p

There is no 'optimal' ROP configuration that will fit a 3D Mag without wasting too much space, but fortunately this was already filled by a light that came before the ROP, as I mentioned, the Mag85. Do a search for this one and you'll find plenty of info.

Mag85 with PR-base bulbs (ie. WA1185 bulbs mounted in a PR base, rarer) - build instructions are the same as the ROP. Replace power pack with qty (3) of 3toD holders, which hold 3 AA batteries in the space of a D cell. Of course, put AA NiMH cells inside those adapters. Assemble, light up, and party.

Mag85 with bipin bulbs that are not mounted in a PR base - the bulbs are easier to find but you will need a ceramic bipin socket and an allen key. Remove Mag switch core, butcher it, solder bipin socket to switch core, reinstall. Put bipin bulb in socket and follow above instructions.

There have been complaints about the ROP's PR base socket being inefficient, but between this and the amount of hackery involved in installing a bipin socket, give me the 'instant gratification' PR base any day. :)
 
Thanks for the excellent idea KevinL. :goodjob: And keep 'em coming! This is a less expensive hobby for me than watches, guns & car mods; all of which I've been into at one point or another.

Looks like light-edge has the turnkey kits for Mag85 ready to ship. Even though I already have a 3D host it'll probably be cheaper to buy that rather than trying to source all the components separately and get gouged for shipping.
 
Last edited:
mattyg said:
Looks like light-edge has the turnkey kits for Mag85 ready to ship. Even though I already have a 3D host it'll probably be cheaper to buy that rather than trying to source all the components separately and get gouged for shipping.
Click to expand...

What's the link for that????
 
Wow, nice!

I like the design.. he even gives you the high performance CBP1650 cells and uses the PR-base bulbs (keyword: "Potted") with the drool-inspiring Fivemega battery pack.. AWESOME. Fivemega's work is out of this world. Why am I suddenly tempted?! :D
 
Good work Mattyg! I have a couple of ROPs and i absolutely love them! I'd love to build a M@g85 as well...but my larger ROP is 3D, and on the hola...it goes for 1 hour+ at a very flat discharge so the M@g85 might seem like a toy after that =/


Might build a M@g100 though mhmm.
 
KevinL,

It's a bored 3D running a stack of 18650s in parallel. The cells aren't even fully broken in yet and it has no problems giving me 1hour+ (not constant though, like...20 or 30 minutes per play/use session). I'm thinking about getting it cut down to near 2D size so it'd be smaller and not waste space but it also happens to be a perfect M@g100 host if i leave it uncut hrmm...
 
Now these are SERIOUS ROP users ;)

Actually that does lead me to another interesting thought - Fivemega did bore certain Mags for 3 x 17500/17670 in a triangle layout. This would essentially give us a 2S3P (2 cells in series, 3 parallel stacks of them) for nominally 3000mAH/17500 or 4200mAH/17670 in a Mag2D or 3D configuration.

I would never trust a 2S1P configuration of 17500/17670 to run a high output ROP bulb where all the fun is, but a 2S3P brings the maximum discharge rate down into safe territory. In fact, 2S3P using 17670 would only pull 1C from the cells.. very forgiving compared to the 2C+ draw I usually hit the 18650s with. Plus, at 1C, you'd get a whole hour of runtime from the ROP.

Thanks for giving me ideas for a 3D version of the ROP. Of course some additional work is required to bore the body, but I've never known that to stop any serious flashaholic ;)
 
Looking forward to seeing another ROP LE version KevinL! 2S3P of 17670s would indeed be interesting. My 2S2P 18650 already looks regulated, can't imagine how nice 3 parallel stacks of 17670s would be! Runtime would be very similar too, 4200mAh (17670s) vs 4400mAh (18650s). Some day, i might try out the LG 2400mAh (18650) and see how they go.
 
I'll toss the idea out here and let someone who is interested in a 3D Mag run with it, just like I've done for many other ideas. This config may be less popular, and more costly (FiveMega's stuff is always awesome, and does tend to be the 'pay for what you get' kinda gear), but would provide a substantial amount of juice. At the moment I'm quite happy with my 2C version running the HOLA. Put the high output lamp back in it last night and things have never quite been the same again :)

The LG cells are great stuff - costly, but good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top