Technique for removing DB battery carriers (tubes) ?

[brightnorm]

I know this is laughably elementary, but I'm a non-modder who got inspired enough to at least insert 123s into a DB 4AA, but those darn tubes block insertion. These are not the easy slide-out carriers, but actual tight fitting tubes. In fact there appear to be two sets in each side. Even if I could extract the set closest to the tail I have no idea how to remove the set closest to the head.

Any and all suggestions are welcome. (do I hear faintly derisive snickering?)

Brightnorm

 

[Nerd]

hm... we can do this the easy way.. or we can do this the hard way.

I only have experience with the DB 6AA. It's batt holders comes in 1 piece. So I don't understand why you have the set closest to the head. What you can do is... remove the head, the bulb holder, unscrew the entire plastic part from the metal body, and you can poke it out.

 

[lemlux]

Brightnorm:

Any snickering will be from Klaus who told me what a Wimp I was for having the same problem.

1. Remove the head
2. remove the 2 screws holding on the socket/switch assembly.
3. Remove the socket switch assembly.
4. separate the head from the body by unscrewing the two brass colored screws that screw the head into the aluminum barrels.
5. Use a long flat head screwdriver to drive the spacers out.
6. Save the spacers to use in a UBH or SF 123 tube for A diameter cells.
7. Put the DB4AA back together.

Brightnorm, even though this is a PITA, you may luck out and have spacers that move out more easily than mine. Klaus only had to use his Aryan (Teutonic?) finger nails.

 

[lemlux]

Nerd:

There are 3 basic DB constructions.

The DB4AAA has proper sized tubes and comes with springs in the top end. Older versions had seperate screw-in caps and newer versions have a combined bottom end cap with a thumb screw that screws into the body between the chambers.

The DB4AA has A sized tubes with springs at the top end and a pair of spacer rings wedged into each barrell. Older versions had seperate screw-in caps and newer versions have a combined bottom end cap with a thumb screw that screws into the body between the chambers.

The DB6AA and DB8AA have removeable battery caddies and springs on separate battery tube caps.

 

[Nerd]

Thanks for telling Lemlux! Time to go to my local store and start fondling.. erh.. I mean getting to know those DBs...

 

[X-CalBR8]

Do they even still make the DB line of flashlights? I've not seen one for sale anywhere in ages. I'm just curious because once I learned that you could shove 123's in there, I've been wanting to try it. Now more than ever since Surefire lowered their prices on 123s. Has anyone tried to put a Carley #808 in a modded 4AA DB yet?

 

[Nerd]

Just know that the plastic reflector won't even take a old style mag charger bulb without melting into a gooey mess. The bulb holder softened, the bulb leaned to one side, touched the reflector, end of story...

 

[X-CalBR8]

That leaves out the Carley #808 then because it puts off quite a bit of heat.

 

[Nerd]

Of cos you can always use some epoxy putty to hold it in place. The reflector would whiten first, so you will notice your light getting dimmer, and eventually, cloudy, smoke appears, *frantically unscrews the bezel* Poof! Magical smoke, lots and lots of smoke. More smoke than you can imagine that bit of plastic give out. And the plastic continues smoking, thick grey smoke... $$$ smoking away....

 

[brightnorm]

Thanks Lemlux and Nerd. Lemlux thanks especially for that very thorough explanation (why would I expect anything less?)

Brightnorm

 

[lemlux]

DougS:

Here's where a number of us bought DB6AA's and DB8AA's at 2 for $25 last year. Their prices are now up 20% to 2 for $30.

http://www.nickandjack.com/enpremdoubba.html

 

[radellaf]

Does anyone still sell the stock DB6AA bulb?

 

[lemlux]

X-CalBR8:

The wider Carley T-2 1/2 bulbs would require you to grind off the T-2 1/4 bulb ring that protrudes from the DB socket.

I find overdriving the W/A 01315 6.27 V 1.42 A bulb with 2 * 3 @ 123's in serial parallel works fine in the DB4AA.

 

[Doug S]

Originally posted by X-CalBR8:
Do they even still make the DB line of flashlights? I've not seen one for sale anywhere in ages. I'm just curious because once I learned that you could shove 123's in there, I've been wanting to try it. Now more than ever since Surefire lowered their prices on 123s. Has anyone tried to put a Carley #808 in a modded 4AA DB yet?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Per Eveready, the 6/AA and 8/AA are discontinued. The others are still listed as current. Here is a link to their discontinued list:
http://data.energizer.com/datasheets/flashlights/discontinued_flashlight_index.htm