skill level 1 2AA 2 LED PR mods - bright @ cheap

[lemlux]

Well, cheap if you buy bulk 3.6v lithium AA low current cells (I got mine for about $2.50 @).

Also cheaper if you have some Nichia 5 mm LED's lying around.

Take:
a.) one each small 2AA PR base light (I used a closeout Radio Shack aluminum 2AA light purchased for about $5)
insert a Carley 912 T-2 1/2 bipin to PR adapter (cost $1.00)
b.) insert two nichia 5 mm led leads into the bipin hole (cost about $3.00)

Assemble together without resistors and you'll see two separate hotspots which give you a nice wide angle walking view and a very long life run time.

I had both the LED's and the 3.6 V AA's lying around so I just had to try. It worked out better and brighter than expected.

 

[Lantern Jack O.]

That Carley socket sounds like a great idea.

Where'd you get the cheap 3.6V AA lithiums? They usually sell for closer to $7-$9 each I think.

 

[EMPOWERTORCH]

Anyone know where to get the Carley socket from in England? This would make torch modding so much simpler!!

 

[lemlux]

I bought the 3.6 V lithiums on EBAY. They come up from time to time in batches of 6 to 20. Often they seem to be sold as excess by alarm companies.

 

[lemlux]

Bump:

I was able to plug two more direct drive LED's into a MiniMag 2AA and run brightly with 2 more 3.6V Lithium AA's.

I left the reflector out, I used a Ram ono-off switch endcap, and I removed the "do not remove" cap over the bulb socket to gain access to the bi-pin receivers.

 

[Lantern Jack O.]

Hey lemlux, how does that 2 LED mag mod compare to an Opalec?

EMPOWERTORCH,
Heh, I'll send ya some of those Carley sockets for a tracer. Just an idea. Mail me if interested.

 

[lemlux]

Lantern, Jack O

I haven't bought an Opalec yet because I've already blown my 5mm Nichia light budget, so I can't say. I can say that the total brightness is equivalent to running two of my Arc AAA's at the same time, but the beam is more diffuse and whiter. My Minimag already had WriteRight applied to the lens which adds to the diffusion.

I have 3 of John Bechto's 4 Nichia 6400 PR bulbs in various lights, an X5, 3 Arc AAA's, 2 Lightwave 2000's, and a 4LED 3AA Aluminum "Combatlight", an Infinity plus 2 Energizer 2LED area reading lights. I had 10 Nichia 5400's and now have 6 of them paired in 3 separate @AA lights with the Lithium 3.6V AA's. I also have 16 of Mr. Bulk's Photon clones.

 

[BugLightGeek]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lemlux:
I was able to plug two more direct drive LED's into a MiniMag 2AA and run brightly with 2 more 3.6V Lithium AA's.

I left the reflector out, I used a Ram ono-off switch endcap, and I removed the "do not remove" cap over the bulb socket to gain access to the bi-pin receivers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Lemlux...I have one of those lights (who doesn't) and would love to mod it to run 2 LED's. So, I took the 'do not remove' part off but I'm confused about how to add 2 LED's to it. I have modded it already to take one LED so, additional instructions would be appreciated.

Also, where can I get 3.6v Lithium AA's besides eBay? Have you found other sources?
[edit] I found some on Darksbane's website for $2.75 each [/end edit]

Any soldering involved? Are the LED's in parallel or serial? (even though that sounds like I know what I'm talking about, I need newbie instructions on this, please.)

 

[lemlux]

I've burned out one LED in one of my 3 paired 2 @ 3.6V AA lithium lights. Darksbane's comments make me remember John Bechto's comments about using various combinations multiple 3.6 V batteries to drive his 4 LED modules. John did use a resistor, so it may be risky to use 2 @ batteries with certain lower voltage Nichias.

My quickies also have absolutely no heatsinking.

 

[BugLightGeek]

hmmm...I'm trying to find newbie instructions on how to wire up 2-3 LED's to use in a mini mag mod. I plan on using resistors per said newbie instructions.

Now, if only I had some instructions...

 

[BugLightGeek]

Jack O Lantern -
Do you have any of those Carley bases left to sell? I'd really love to get one of those. Also, do you know the part number from Carley?

Post here or email me since I tried to email you but your email address is hidden