Simple mod?

[Birddog]

OK, I've been reading all this flashaholic stuff for awhile now and I want to try the simplest (to me) of mods. I have an old bicycle light that has a Krypton bulb powered by 2 C cell batteries. Is there a drop in LED that replaces this bulb? Is there some other simple mod I'd have to make to power it up a little? I can probably handle some simple basic newb soldering, I'm not totally incompetent. Is this the right forum or should I have put this under the "mods" forum?

If this works, next on the list is modifying my old Cateye EL300, the one with 5 worthless LEDs. If this has already been done, please re-direct me.
TIA,

Birddog

 

[Szemhazai]

You simply have to buy 5 good quality leds i.e. Nichia and replace old ones...

 

[Buck91]

I used the lambertarian PR based led upgrade from terralux (the TLE-1F IIRC) to attempt to upgrade a crappy trek 2.4w halogen 4AA bike lamp. Horrible. So I threw the LED in my army surplus light. Horrible. The reflectors just couldn't handle the LED properly (it sat too high). So I threw it in my Solo headlamp with heavy stipple reflector and it works pretty good. So there it stays.

Hopefully that side emitting LED will work better with your reflector than the lambertarian did (it should). I personally want to try the SMJLED pr upgrade one of these days.

 

[Birddog]

GOOD GRIEF, is there anything a little cheaper than the Ever-Led? $40 is a little steep for this project. Surely there is another alternative. Thanks, at least I know more now than I did this AM.

Birddog

 

[WNG]

Try a 2-cell MAGLED drop-in for ~$20.
If it fits, and the reflector can focus the output usably, it's the least amount of modding for a boost in LED output.

If it can't satisfy, it may be more fruitful to create your own. There are some great examples here.

IMHO, reflectors can't maximize the current crop of LEDs' output. A percentage of forward output is unfocused and lost as spill. Fine and dandy if you want that spill to help peripheral vision. Great for work and walking pace. But not really optimal for biking. It's too weak where it's needed and a rider overrides the beam quickly...weak spill, weak peripheral vision.
Good optics provide a uniform beam pattern, optimal for riding where a smooth low artifact beam helps discern objects better.

 

[Buck91]

Everled for $33

You may also consider the SMJLED PR-base upgrades from lighthound or the sandwich shoppe.