"Surefire Mini Beast"

[Arcoholic]

\"Surefire Mini Beast\"

I finally took appart my UK 100 and discarted all the bits that apeared to be useless such as the thermal fuse and what ever else i deemed "not needed" for my project . So here it is
i decided to turn my 12PM into a Hid powered light and yes the UK 100 Ballast does fire with 4 123`s. I also got a perfect 3" turbo head to machine down ( forgive me) to take the Solarc SEL i decided to go this way because of the extra throw over the 2.5" reflector.
But before i proceed i would welcome any input you guys might have because i do not want go ahaed on the trial and error basis any more.
I was also wondering if the UK 100 Ballast would start and run without damage on a pair of Pilas.

Thanks
David

 

[LEDagent]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

VERY COOL! I wish i had the expertise to tamper with my spare UK100 ballast. I don't have the machinary to mill my own mods.

THe UK 100 ballast is designed to work ONLY with HID 10W bulbs from Solarc. Its a different beast than incandescent bulbs...so don't try it.

Also, i'm a little worried that you are running 4 123 batteries with the UK ballast. The ballast is spec'd to run at 10V...not 12V. It may seem okay at first because reasoning suggests that 8 alkaline batteries = 12V. Alkalines drop in voltage quickly so the ballast doesn't experience 12V for very long. Also, if you noticed while taking apart your UK100, you'll see a thermal circuit and a resistor pack. I THINK the resistor pack to there to regulate the input voltage...so the ballast probably isn't recieving 12V with the resistors in place. Since you took it off...i'd be VERY VERY carefull to not turn it on with FRESH lithium batteries. It WILL blow your BALLAST...not the bulb. Your ballast will recieve too much power and will fry. It may work now, but maybe you are using the batteries once used for your stock 12PM.

 

[Arcoholic]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

The UK Ballast works like a charm on 4 123`s ichecked this after another CPF`er assured me that it was O.K.. And yes it works very well with a runtime of about 80 min.
The voltage in those 123`s with a one amp load drops of fast enough. I also spoke with an engineer from Walamp and he seemed to think it is fine. As for the other bits attached to the ballast they are 1. Thermofuse 2. Transistor package to protect against reverse polarity.
Got a date with my machinist on the weekend to machine housing for the ballast.
Will check in with more news and pics as soon as i figure out how to post them.

 

[Arcoholic]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Well housing is finished and all components are installed. The ballast housing ads about 2 inches to the 12PM.
I ran two set`s of batteries and it fires up perfectly everytime. The beam is outrageous tight and very very bright. I am not super happy with my machining skills but it turned out O.K. now if i could only figure out how to post pics. Any idea?

 

[K-T]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Mail them to me and I'll post them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Arcoholic]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Just fire one pic of to you
Thanks for helping out

 

[K-T]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

It does look good - if you anodize the aluminum parts black it wouldn't even look like selfmade. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Here you go:

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Fixed for now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/knight.gif

 

[B@rt]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

IS is acting up again... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif try hosting it on logicnerd's site /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[K-T]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Fixed it - mind giving me logicnerd's address? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[B@rt]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

CPF pic hosting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Cool light indeed! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Deleted member 684]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Beamshots!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Man... made me regret selling my 12PM even more.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

What's the runtime on this thing? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[shiftd]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

WOW
KEWL

BEAM SHOT!!! I DEMAND BEAM shot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mind giving a bit more detail? like the pic of its guts?

 

[Arcoholic]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Glad you guys like it.
Thanks. I will look into anodizing it over the next couple of days, it might be a bit tricky since i live in the sticks.
I also thought about redoing the extender in 2 pieces rather than holding it together with posts and two o-rings.
It is to bad that i left some toolmarks on the outside of the reflector being a novice at this.
Beamshots and gutshots are comming if KT is kind enough again to post them for me.
David

 

[Arcoholic]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

BTW
runtime on 4*123 is about 50-80 Min depending on how often you fire it up.

 

[K-T]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Just send the pictures my way, Arco - no problem at all. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[HunterSon]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Wow, that was fast, It only seems like the other day we were talking about this over coffee.

 

[Arcoholic]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

I had some spare time and a lot of drive last week.
Let me know if you want to get together for a shootout HunterSon and maybe you have some ideas on how to get good beamshots.
David

 

[K-T]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Here is the second image: /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[Arcoholic]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Thanks again K-T.
As you can see there is only three parts to be made from scratch the top plate connecting to the milled down and opened reflector has a groove on the other side to hold an o-ring. The tube housing the ballast is made from an old Mag bored open and the bottom piece that attaches to the 12PM body. The ballast is connected to an old N1 stem and spring and the circuit is secured with a 2 amp diode style fuse. I used epoxy putty to hold the N1 to the ballast.
Now i just need to clean it all up and finnish it visually.
again Beamshots will follow.

 

[Ginseng]

Re: \"Surefire Mini Beast\"

Elegant. Very nice mod!

Wilkey