taillight from flashlight & red lens ?

[seeker333]

I'm thinking that a p7 flashlight with flash mode might make a super, economical taillight.

Just add a red lens and rig a mount.

I realize using a red emitter would probably work better, but I'm trying to avoid cost/trouble of a diy project. My main concern is my ability to make solder connections in such a small area.

Obviously the red-lens-over-a-white-light can work, since that's how its done on motor vehicles with brake lights.

Has anyone tried this? Seems like the output of a $35 p7 flashlight would translate into a formidable, affordable taillight (a dinotte is rated at 140 lumens, right?).

Thanks in advance for any useful info.

 

[mechBgon]

If the strobe rate is high, think carefully before using strobe mode. DiNotte flashing modes aren't anything like a disorienting strobe on a tactical flashlight. 1Hz on-off, 2Hz dim-bright, or approximately 4Hz in a 5-pulse dim-bright pattern with a pause inbetween.

S.O.S. mode might be civilized enough to use, insofar as the flash pattern goes, but then you're going down the road signalling S.O.S., which is probably not what you want either

If you want something powerful like a DiNotte, but cheaper, there's always the Whelen TIR3 or Nova BULL LED strobe heads, which are available in red or amber, as well as other colors you don't want to be caught using The Nova will work on ~9-16 volts, so you could probably cook up a battery pack from NiMH AAs in a holder for cheap. I have a Nova on one bike, and it has a range of flash patterns to choose from. Triple-blink is good, it's like a giant Cateye LD-500.