chillinn
Flashlight Enthusiast
I picked up a 1AA MDC body from dhunley, and I really like it with the Elite head. I have a quad of AW IMR 14500 cells, but I would like the option to run AA Eneloops, with the caveat and understanding that brightness will not be impressive, though runtime will increase considerably. For this to work, I will need a voltage-matched lamp. I can probably work out the voltage and current necessary (but feel free to offer recommended V & C values), but what escapes me is what the bipin lamp size is named for a bipin lamp that fits properly in the Tad Customs E-socket.
Anyone know the industry name for this lamp size?
Also, it occurs to me I have been playing fast and loose since getting interested in and using incan. The study of LED and cell safety that came before (for me) does not precisely apply. I did find this helpful thread, but it is old, cells have changed somewhat since then.
If anyone has the ability to test Tad Customs socket and the lamps in the first post for accurate figures for current draw, and post them, I am certain we would all benefit from the effort and appreciate it, (even if Tad Customs gives us those figures).
edit:
In my correspondence with Tad, I have learned that his bipin lamps are made custom for his sockets, and are not standard size. We will have to use trial and error to find a standard bipin that fits perfectly.
But with an idea I believe bykfixer suggested elsewhere (but with a Mini Mag lamp, can't find that post), using a Brinkmann 1xAAA (Mag bipin, more or less) lamp I had, I stuffed it into the socket, and tried it out with an AA Duracell with Elite head and Malkov MDC 1AA body. The lamp is unfocused, filament sitting too far above the socket to be focused by the reflector, leaving a dark doughnut hole in the beam profile. So I trimmed about 1/8th inch off the bipins, and stuffed it back in the socket. And viola, focused beam with a tight hot spot. It looks just like an MN01 with really low charge on a CR123A, maybe 4-8lm, for a few minutes. idk if it is because it is a Brinkmann lamp, but it is easily twice as bright as a Solitaire lamp, for a time. The cell I used wasn't brand new. Anyway, this works, more or less, for purposes of low level incan for tired or dark adapted eyes, with expected longer runtime and brightness than a Solitaire. It will only get better if a lamp could be discovered that is optimized for Eneloop NiMH voltage and current, to give a steadier and brighter output. But it is very close to what I was looking for, which is... well, it's an incan fixed focus Mini Mag Shorty clicky, but solid as a rock. This should also work with LiFePO4 14500 and a Mini Mag LM2A001 lamp, or with LiMn 14500 with a Lamptronix LM2A001 lamp, for AAA Mini Mag brightness, or AA Mini Mag brightness, respectively. I doubt many others will recognize its virtue, but I really like it.
edit2:
######## w00t ##########
Be prepared to be unimpressed. Are you sitting down? About a week ago, I wrote Tad to request that he offer a bipin lamp for his E-socket that was optimized for a single Eneloop. Unfortunately, and I understand why (not enough interest), it is not meant to be. But I was premature.
Ages ago, it seems now, I remember asking somewhere around these parts what an MN01 would do on an AA cell, and I was pretty much shot down for asking such silliness. "Won't work, no light." idk if it was scout24's tests earlier today (yesterday?) that inspired me or not, but feels just like unconsious luck what I did and have discovered.
Just for the heck of it, expecting absolutely no light, bulb not firing, I put an Eneloop in my MDC 1AA with Tad Customs E-socket and A3712 lamp (optimized for 16340 4.2v... 80lm) and IT WORKS! It's about 1 or 2lm, as bright as an original krypton Solitaire. Tint is yellowy, but it is a still a beautiful sight. I usually wake in the evenings and I am up all night, but when I wake, my eyes are extremely sensitive. Even the stock xenon Solitaire I have found irritating, and planned on buying old stock of the krypton lamps. So, for the first half hour or so, I have resigned myself, to avoid pain and tearing, to using a light with a Cree X-PE Red LED until my eyes wake up a little, then move to progressively brighter incan lights, starting with Efest IMR10440 and Lamptronix in a Solitaire (which is initially too bright, actually), and eventually I work my way to Li-ion with A3712 for the ceiling bounce by about dawn.
Red can be a real drag, cannot distinguish any color, and that wavelength makes it difficult to focus. Now, I have a near ideal solution, and I had it all along.
I did not think I was going to be a customer for Tad Customs A3012 "coming soon" lamps for 1xCR123A, because the A3712 works fine with 1xCR123A even if it is not optimized for the cell, but less light was actually what I was after. But now I realize I will be purchasing some of those when available because I expect on an Eneloop, it might give me a couple more lumens over the A3712, which will be supurb. 4 lumens on a safe chemistry, and a lamp that won't quit, and I will be a very happy customer (already am).
In before vicv complains, yeah, YELLOW! Warm incan! It is BEST (short of going all red light) for super-sensitive waking eyes when the ambient light is pitch black.
Ok, I warned that no one would be impressed, no one is falling out of their chair on this news, unless they are laughing at me, but I think this is about as kick-*** as can be.
Anyone know the industry name for this lamp size?
Also, it occurs to me I have been playing fast and loose since getting interested in and using incan. The study of LED and cell safety that came before (for me) does not precisely apply. I did find this helpful thread, but it is old, cells have changed somewhat since then.
If anyone has the ability to test Tad Customs socket and the lamps in the first post for accurate figures for current draw, and post them, I am certain we would all benefit from the effort and appreciate it, (even if Tad Customs gives us those figures).
edit:
In my correspondence with Tad, I have learned that his bipin lamps are made custom for his sockets, and are not standard size. We will have to use trial and error to find a standard bipin that fits perfectly.
But with an idea I believe bykfixer suggested elsewhere (but with a Mini Mag lamp, can't find that post), using a Brinkmann 1xAAA (Mag bipin, more or less) lamp I had, I stuffed it into the socket, and tried it out with an AA Duracell with Elite head and Malkov MDC 1AA body. The lamp is unfocused, filament sitting too far above the socket to be focused by the reflector, leaving a dark doughnut hole in the beam profile. So I trimmed about 1/8th inch off the bipins, and stuffed it back in the socket. And viola, focused beam with a tight hot spot. It looks just like an MN01 with really low charge on a CR123A, maybe 4-8lm, for a few minutes. idk if it is because it is a Brinkmann lamp, but it is easily twice as bright as a Solitaire lamp, for a time. The cell I used wasn't brand new. Anyway, this works, more or less, for purposes of low level incan for tired or dark adapted eyes, with expected longer runtime and brightness than a Solitaire. It will only get better if a lamp could be discovered that is optimized for Eneloop NiMH voltage and current, to give a steadier and brighter output. But it is very close to what I was looking for, which is... well, it's an incan fixed focus Mini Mag Shorty clicky, but solid as a rock. This should also work with LiFePO4 14500 and a Mini Mag LM2A001 lamp, or with LiMn 14500 with a Lamptronix LM2A001 lamp, for AAA Mini Mag brightness, or AA Mini Mag brightness, respectively. I doubt many others will recognize its virtue, but I really like it.
edit2:
######## w00t ##########
Be prepared to be unimpressed. Are you sitting down? About a week ago, I wrote Tad to request that he offer a bipin lamp for his E-socket that was optimized for a single Eneloop. Unfortunately, and I understand why (not enough interest), it is not meant to be. But I was premature.
Ages ago, it seems now, I remember asking somewhere around these parts what an MN01 would do on an AA cell, and I was pretty much shot down for asking such silliness. "Won't work, no light." idk if it was scout24's tests earlier today (yesterday?) that inspired me or not, but feels just like unconsious luck what I did and have discovered.
Just for the heck of it, expecting absolutely no light, bulb not firing, I put an Eneloop in my MDC 1AA with Tad Customs E-socket and A3712 lamp (optimized for 16340 4.2v... 80lm) and IT WORKS! It's about 1 or 2lm, as bright as an original krypton Solitaire. Tint is yellowy, but it is a still a beautiful sight. I usually wake in the evenings and I am up all night, but when I wake, my eyes are extremely sensitive. Even the stock xenon Solitaire I have found irritating, and planned on buying old stock of the krypton lamps. So, for the first half hour or so, I have resigned myself, to avoid pain and tearing, to using a light with a Cree X-PE Red LED until my eyes wake up a little, then move to progressively brighter incan lights, starting with Efest IMR10440 and Lamptronix in a Solitaire (which is initially too bright, actually), and eventually I work my way to Li-ion with A3712 for the ceiling bounce by about dawn.
Red can be a real drag, cannot distinguish any color, and that wavelength makes it difficult to focus. Now, I have a near ideal solution, and I had it all along.
I did not think I was going to be a customer for Tad Customs A3012 "coming soon" lamps for 1xCR123A, because the A3712 works fine with 1xCR123A even if it is not optimized for the cell, but less light was actually what I was after. But now I realize I will be purchasing some of those when available because I expect on an Eneloop, it might give me a couple more lumens over the A3712, which will be supurb. 4 lumens on a safe chemistry, and a lamp that won't quit, and I will be a very happy customer (already am).
In before vicv complains, yeah, YELLOW! Warm incan! It is BEST (short of going all red light) for super-sensitive waking eyes when the ambient light is pitch black.
Ok, I warned that no one would be impressed, no one is falling out of their chair on this news, unless they are laughing at me, but I think this is about as kick-*** as can be.
Last edited:
