Single LED Flashlight - Need help with design.

[daanderson911]

Good Afternoon,
I have been working on a small project for quite a while, but I am not an electronics, or by ANY means an LED guru. I need some suggestions, but my options are vary limited... So, here goes...

What I need in an L.E.D.
- Superbright white LED that will illuminate a 4ft. section of wall at 10ft.
(General use, similar to a flishlight)
- Measurements as follows: Absolutely no larger than 9.95mm. (Perhaps
10mm LED slightly shaved around the edges? I would prefer something
the size of 5-6mm overall)
- There is no limit to the length, just the diameter.
- At least 6hrs continuous use using batters no larger than 8MM. (Lr41 is
what I am currently using. Can expand from 3 batteries up to 6 total.
(I haven't a clue what the output for an LR41 button cell is)

If ANYONE could give me some ideas, I would be eternally greatful, because as it sits right now, I'm kinda clueless on any sort of LED to use.. Thanks in advance for any possible suggestions...

 

[Marduke]

Overall light size? It sounds like the right existing 1xAAA or 2xAAA light is what you want.

Does tint matter?

Specifics would help.

 

[daanderson911]

Overall light size? It sounds like the right existing 1xAAA or 2xAAA light is what you want.

Does tint matter?

Specifics would help.

No preference on tint - anything that would work in place of a flishlight at a max distance of 10 ft. Essentially, entire assebly would be no larger than
9.95mm X 88.95mm (Ideally 9mm diameterX 88mm length)

No switch assembly ideas at the moment, because I have that part taken care of - a spring loaded 4pin circut switch. I will check into the 1XAAA lights and see where that leads me.

EDIT - The 1XAAA and 2XAAA LED's would work, but the housing on those lights are to big, by about .27mm, not counting the casing.... Great thought tho - Very close to what I'm after, just a little on the big side.

 

[daanderson911]

Overall light size? It sounds like the right existing 1xAAA or 2xAAA light is what you want.

Does tint matter?

Specifics would help.

No tint preferences. Anything that would work at distances described above in place of a regular flashlight.

The 1XAAA and 2XAAA penlights I saw were about .27mm too big. (Not including any casing or housing. Great start tho.

 

[Marduke]

Well, 1xAAAA might work (yes, quad A)

But just so you know, in that size with that runtime the brightness will be DIM DIM DIM.

Cree XP-E behind an aspheric optic will give you a sharp circle of light at the required distance.

 

[KuKu427]

- Superbright white LED that will illuminate a 4ft. section of wall at 10ft.

How's this for the LED?
http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.com/product_info.php?products_id=755

Cree XP-E behind an aspheric optic will give you a sharp circle of light at the required distance.

XP-E behind a Ledil LISA XP lens will give you more than 4ft of light, and if you take off the holder it's a hair smaller than 9.95mm.

Maybe button cells stacks wired in parallel for the power source?

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

Might a Mako work? You might also be able to have someone turn down a AAA light .27mm(about .010"), if it isn't going to be carried as is. (meaning it will be inserted into something else before use.)

 

[daanderson911]

How's this for the LED?
http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.com/product_info.php?products_id=755


XP-E behind a Ledil LISA XP lens will give you more than 4ft of light, and if you take off the holder it's a hair smaller than 9.95mm.

Maybe button cells stacks wired in parallel for the power source?

That LED looks like it just might be in the range of what I am looking for...I ordered one to see how well it works.but with that....


I know I'm goingto sound like an idiot, but I don't know what you are talking about with the "XP-E and Ledil LISA XP lense"...
Could you please tell me more?

 

[KuKu427]

Don't worry about it! Still lots of stuff I don't know either!

Cree XP-E is a type of LED
http://www.cree.com/products/xlamp_xpe.asp

LISA XP is a lens designed to focus the XP-Es light output
http://www.ledil.fi/datasheets/DataSheet_LISA-XP.pdf

 

[Tora]

I don't know if you are looking to build this light or you need a light source to fit into something else as you work on it. I will go with the latter and simply say two words - snake light. Doctors use them to go into bodies. Remember, so long as there is no length limit but it must be small in diameter, you are not limited using a fiber optic cable of any diameter you wish. Connected to a light box of your own design or hooked to a flashlight or even a household light, it would be infinitely flexible in operation, explosive atmosphere safe, cool...etc. You may even remotely view via fiber optics also...again, what doctors do....you could view on a screen and record also.

If expense is a limiting factor....build a light reflecting system using paper tubes and aluminum foil. A sort of periscope in reverse. You could direct the light using an aspheric lens. Crude ones are sold at hobby/craft stores as decorative "gems".

If you are building one, it is beyond my scope as I am, like you, a layman.

Any of the smallest diameter flashlights in existence would work with a remote power source wired directly to the flashlight for unlimited runtime (with length not being a limiting factor).

I don't know the parameters of the usage so I am limited in the response.

Please, more info...giving advise is the easiest thing to do as it doesn't take effort on my part - that is why I love giving it....now if I had to make things...well...too much effort!

 

[Tora]

Never mind - You are looking specifically for a type of LED...I finally realized. No advice - I am clueless on tech aspects. :o

 

[daanderson911]

Never mind - You are looking specifically for a type of LED...I finally realized. No advice - I am clueless on tech aspects. :o

Oh no, you are on the right path. I guess I didn't even realize the scope of details everyone needed! I apologize for that.
Actually, I'm wanting to incorperate a self-contained "fliashlight" in the above demensions... 100% contained. I have ordered a few different LED's to get them "in my hand", and work with them. I will probably either design or buy a lense based on the information I have been given. This still leaves me with the issue of the "rest of the light".
I was quite interested in the idea you suggested, because I can think of some seriously useful applications for other things, but for this particular project, I need to get a starting place, and I can go from there with intrinsic (-sp?) safety, heat requirements, shock requirements,etc.

In the mean time, I'm still open to suggestions on the type/number of batteries that would power the LED in question above. But, nonetheless, thank you for that suggestion - I am certian to put it to use in other applications!