Icebreak
Flashlight Enthusiast
Disclaimer: Always use eye protection when experimenting with SuperBulbs.
The Subject: WA01185 9.6V, 3.15A SuperBulb in Mag 3D running 2x5x123.
I ran this bulb the first time for close to two minutes and melted the standard Mag reflector to the point that it began to collapse. I was so pleased. This was on 1x5x123. I ran it again maybe 20 times at around 30 to 40 seconds per use with a new standard reflector.
In anticipation of OP PMR and because other folks (much more knowledgeable than I) let me know that double barreling would combat 3A induced voltage drop, I configured a 2x5x123 pack using electrician's tape and special Office Depot inking dowels.
To make the connection with the little positive Mag spring, I crudely yet tightly, twisted a length of stripped 10-gauge single strand house wiring into concentric circles to a size that would connect with the batt pack's anodes and barely brush the interior of the battery tube. The tightest circle dipped downward a bit to seat itself nicely into the positive spring reservoir when under pressure. I made a similar yet smaller, flat spiral for the connection between the stripped (thanks soloco) cathode end of the pack and the original compression spring.
I was sceered of the power so (Can you tell I don't know what I'm doing?) I hooked the pack up to an old rechargeable drill motor for a 10, a 20 and a 30 second run just to take the initial surge of amps out of the pack.
Dropped the parts into the barrel and fired it up. Outstanding! Killer photonic authority. Ran it over a period of several days around a dozen or so times in 30 to 60 second bursts with no problem. (except warping another new Mag reflector which, for some reason, gives me a case of the jollies)
A few weeks ago I was reading CPF and a small palmetto bug appeared on the wall above my monitor. Palmetto bugs are large roach-like insects that find their way into even the most fastidiously kept households here in the south. If you are busy, you can run them off and they will eventually return in hopes of inspecting an empty coffee can which, I believe, they think is transportation to the outside world. They are correct. This is not a bug you want to squash in your home. I guess that's another thread.
Anyways, I spot him with the 1185 from a foot out and unlike all my other lights, he don't like it. He moves away giving me the antennae as he scoots. I'm liking this control over the little beastie but then, POOMPH!...glass crash...dim, dim, dimmer, nothing.
I punched the switch to off, wait a moment and removed the bezel and was a little surprised with my inspection. My apologies here. I have very little experience with photography. I borrowed a co-worker's camera and failed miserably at my attempts. I wanted to show the standard lexan lens because it was a kind of photograph of the crash seen. Also, I wanted to show the standard reflector because there was very obvious evidence of hot glass impacts to its' interior. I will submit an awful, fuzzy photo of the remnants of the exploded bulb in a moment.
The surprise I had was that the filament was still intact, black, but still intact. How can that be? I would also like to know what caused the pastel chartreuse powder to dry paint itself to the inside of the remaining shard of the bulb.
From there I thought about what had gone wrong.
Was it some unnoticed bit of fingerprint oil? I didn't think so because the bulb had many successful runs. Was it something to do with those crude spirals of copper? I thought, "Maybe."
Then, a wonderful thing happened. A cardboard tube arrived at my office. In it were two Perfect Mag Reflectors with Orange Peel texture. Man, are those not beautifully superior examples of craftsmanship? I dropped one in a new Mag 3D. Took the 2nd to last Ginseng GB, Carley potted, Welch Allyn 01185 from a ziplock bag and carefully cleaned it with rubbing alcohol. I let it dry for a moment and installed it, making sure that at no time the glass was touched. I then installed the copper DB anode piece, the 2x5x123 batt pack and the copper cathode piece; finally and gently bring home the end cap with compression spring.
I fired up the rig. That was incredible. Best beam I've ever seen in real life. Until, 15 seconds later POOMPH!...glass crash...dim, dim, dimmer, nothing.
Karap! Now I'm down to my last 1185. I have a renewed suspicion of the positive copper spiral. I've wrapped the outside of this piece in electrician's tape thinking that maybe it shorted the first and second bulb because the high level of power blew right through the anodizing of the inside of the battery tube.
Surely, the possible solutions are to get more CAWA01185s and change the 2x5x123 configuration to rechargeables.
Still, I would like to know how a stable system became unstable and what that greenish yellow powder is.
The teenage palmetto bug was last seen while he was flung then flew away from the coffee can transport, landed safely, scampered toward the end of the concrete steps, hesitated, gave me the antennae and wriggled into the surrounding grass. I miss him. I'm sure we'll meet again. What a rebel.
This blown flashlight bulb, I submit for your forensic skills.
The Subject: WA01185 9.6V, 3.15A SuperBulb in Mag 3D running 2x5x123.
I ran this bulb the first time for close to two minutes and melted the standard Mag reflector to the point that it began to collapse. I was so pleased. This was on 1x5x123. I ran it again maybe 20 times at around 30 to 40 seconds per use with a new standard reflector.
In anticipation of OP PMR and because other folks (much more knowledgeable than I) let me know that double barreling would combat 3A induced voltage drop, I configured a 2x5x123 pack using electrician's tape and special Office Depot inking dowels.
To make the connection with the little positive Mag spring, I crudely yet tightly, twisted a length of stripped 10-gauge single strand house wiring into concentric circles to a size that would connect with the batt pack's anodes and barely brush the interior of the battery tube. The tightest circle dipped downward a bit to seat itself nicely into the positive spring reservoir when under pressure. I made a similar yet smaller, flat spiral for the connection between the stripped (thanks soloco) cathode end of the pack and the original compression spring.
I was sceered of the power so (Can you tell I don't know what I'm doing?) I hooked the pack up to an old rechargeable drill motor for a 10, a 20 and a 30 second run just to take the initial surge of amps out of the pack.
Dropped the parts into the barrel and fired it up. Outstanding! Killer photonic authority. Ran it over a period of several days around a dozen or so times in 30 to 60 second bursts with no problem. (except warping another new Mag reflector which, for some reason, gives me a case of the jollies)
A few weeks ago I was reading CPF and a small palmetto bug appeared on the wall above my monitor. Palmetto bugs are large roach-like insects that find their way into even the most fastidiously kept households here in the south. If you are busy, you can run them off and they will eventually return in hopes of inspecting an empty coffee can which, I believe, they think is transportation to the outside world. They are correct. This is not a bug you want to squash in your home. I guess that's another thread.
Anyways, I spot him with the 1185 from a foot out and unlike all my other lights, he don't like it. He moves away giving me the antennae as he scoots. I'm liking this control over the little beastie but then, POOMPH!...glass crash...dim, dim, dimmer, nothing.
I punched the switch to off, wait a moment and removed the bezel and was a little surprised with my inspection. My apologies here. I have very little experience with photography. I borrowed a co-worker's camera and failed miserably at my attempts. I wanted to show the standard lexan lens because it was a kind of photograph of the crash seen. Also, I wanted to show the standard reflector because there was very obvious evidence of hot glass impacts to its' interior. I will submit an awful, fuzzy photo of the remnants of the exploded bulb in a moment.
The surprise I had was that the filament was still intact, black, but still intact. How can that be? I would also like to know what caused the pastel chartreuse powder to dry paint itself to the inside of the remaining shard of the bulb.
From there I thought about what had gone wrong.
Was it some unnoticed bit of fingerprint oil? I didn't think so because the bulb had many successful runs. Was it something to do with those crude spirals of copper? I thought, "Maybe."
Then, a wonderful thing happened. A cardboard tube arrived at my office. In it were two Perfect Mag Reflectors with Orange Peel texture. Man, are those not beautifully superior examples of craftsmanship? I dropped one in a new Mag 3D. Took the 2nd to last Ginseng GB, Carley potted, Welch Allyn 01185 from a ziplock bag and carefully cleaned it with rubbing alcohol. I let it dry for a moment and installed it, making sure that at no time the glass was touched. I then installed the copper DB anode piece, the 2x5x123 batt pack and the copper cathode piece; finally and gently bring home the end cap with compression spring.
I fired up the rig. That was incredible. Best beam I've ever seen in real life. Until, 15 seconds later POOMPH!...glass crash...dim, dim, dimmer, nothing.
Karap! Now I'm down to my last 1185. I have a renewed suspicion of the positive copper spiral. I've wrapped the outside of this piece in electrician's tape thinking that maybe it shorted the first and second bulb because the high level of power blew right through the anodizing of the inside of the battery tube.
Surely, the possible solutions are to get more CAWA01185s and change the 2x5x123 configuration to rechargeables.
Still, I would like to know how a stable system became unstable and what that greenish yellow powder is.
The teenage palmetto bug was last seen while he was flung then flew away from the coffee can transport, landed safely, scampered toward the end of the concrete steps, hesitated, gave me the antennae and wriggled into the surrounding grass. I miss him. I'm sure we'll meet again. What a rebel.
This blown flashlight bulb, I submit for your forensic skills.
