Ultra Stinger mod to 1 Watt or 5

[Bullzeyebill]

I want to have my Streamlight Ultra Stinger modded to take a 1 Watt HD, or 5 Watt led. It sounds like a good idea to me. Would have good run time, particularly in 1 Watt mode. Battery stick is very reliable. Want to have it done by one of CPF modder's. Does mod sound like a good idea? Bill

 

[Rothrandir]

you'd probably a pretty far throwing beam /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

i'd go with a 5w...certainly not a 1w.

don't remember what voltage the battery pack is, so you might need some resistance or a regulator.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Voltage is 6 volts. Not sure there are enough mAH's for a 5 watt. Ultra has a nice big reflector, textured bottom half, and shiny smooth top part.. SL keeps fooling around with their reflectors texture wise. I believe stock incadescent is 20 Watts. Last totally bright for one hour. Actually, would be ok for 5 watt led.

 

[Rothrandir]

6v?

oh...that sucks /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

but you could always use a bb750 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

yup...that's the way to go /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

just make a heatsink, get a bb750, and post the results here /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

you do have a long throwing light already though right? i would hate to make a longthrowing light like the ultrastinger be only good for close/medium if you don't have another longthrower to replace it.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

It is a long throw lite. They changed reflectors, Ultra used to have a fully textured reflector. Made a wider, evenly shaped beam, still with reach I had put the add on Ultra head on my old Super Stinger. That head had the fully textured reflector. The Super Stinger was stolen. I thought that my new Ultra body would work with that older head, which had not been stolen, it was on my StingerXP. Turns out that that head will not fit on the new ULtra body. Different threads. The beam on the new Ultra Stinger is very narrow, and will not smooth out when I adjust it. Oh well. I might take head back to dealer (he does warranty work for Streamlight, and is the major distributor for Streamlight in Northern California). Thought I could turn Ultra into a strong LED lite. I need to have a modder do it for me.

 

[Rothrandir]

i'd volunteer, but modding a >$100 light scares the shift outta me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

if you can handle everything else, i can make a heatsink for you...

i was just worried about you modding the light to medium range, and no longer having a long throw light. you need to have at least one light from each catagory you know... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[shiftd]

dang
i don't have a long throwing light, any suggestion? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twak.gif
sorry off topic

 

[Rothrandir]

lol /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

well, if you want a fast charging light, the streamlight ultrastinger is the best. 2.5hr acdc charger

if you don't mind 10hr charging, then get the tigerlight

of course, the charge times are from empty, and you would likely never need to have your ultra on the charger for more than an hour, or your tigerlight for more than 4 hours /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


and then there's the maxabeam /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twak.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bullzeyebill]

I am still in thinking stage about mod. I did just take it outside and compare to my SL 20XP with a 20 Watt 20X bulb (not much run time, but has power of 20X model). There was no compariston between my XP and stock Ultra Stinger. Ultra must be 3x brighter with way longer reach. Maybe will not mod after all. I still like idea of a stick rechargable LED light that you can charge without taking battery out of lite.

 

[Rothrandir]

ok, then i would recommend modding another light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

you want to keep the ultra for long throw. if you can mod a lesser recargable, that would be better /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

but...i believe you would be the first!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[shankus]

Definitely the 5 Watt, probably the high dome, like Mr. Bulk's Space Needle II.
And definitely a regulator. It might not be as brilliant as the stock Streamlight Ultra Stinger, but it won't be a slouch. It should run longer than the stock light, and be constant brightness to boot.

There is a comparison of the Ultra Stinger to the Space Needle II.
SN II faces down incandescent wolf pack

The 5 Watt Space Needle II compares favorably to the Ultra Stinger in these tests, and outperforms it on at least one test that I saw. But the Space Needle II is an overdriven 5 Watter.
The BadBoy 700 drives the 5 Watt at spec., right?

My Megaclops is overdriven, with fresh batteries to about 10 watts. With my cells right now at 1.44V, it draws 850 mA. I assume the Space Needle II is about the same, since it tests better on a light meter, and has a tighter hotspot, due to the high dome.

Perhaps one of the BadBoy 750s, or a pair of BadBoy 500s or 400s paralleled, or a combination of a 400 & 500 (900 mA).

Or for the real go-getter, a BB 750 paralleled with a
BB 400 or 500 (1.15 A - 1.25 A). For the maniac, (2) BB 750s. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Do you know what the capacity of the standard battery pack is for the Ultra Stinger?

 

[Bullzeyebill]

I just checked. It is 1.8 Ah. Doesn't sound like much, but is able to drive a 20 watt bulb for one hour, unless I am mistaken about bulb wattage. It is rated at 75,000 candle power. 20X is rated at 30,000, and 35X at 40,000. It will probably drive a 5 watt bulb 2-3X longer,maybe 4X. NiCd battery stick runs fairly flat (remember I had had a Super Stinger conversion to Ulta previously). I would need someone to do whole mod for me. Should I wait for longer lasting 5 watt leds?

 

[shankus]

No it doesn't sound like much, and I'm sure the LED would run more efficiently from it, like you said.

I say throw caution to the wind, and do it with the 5 Watters that are available now. (Bugle blows..."Charge!" Uh, I mean, "Charger!") /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif

And as an extra added bitchin'ness (and expense), you could get some high capacity NiMH, and make the runtime even longer. Those are C or D cells, right? Just a 2/3 length, something like that? You might be able to get cells with 2 or 3 times that capacity, or more. My AA NiMH are nearly twice that (2100 mAh).
As far as using different cells goes, you might be able to put a combination together that would direct drive the 5 Watt (with no regulator), although you might not be able to charge it with your stock charger (Um, forget I suggested that.).

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Shankus, the cells are sub C. Five of them. 1800mAh. I would be happy if a 5 watt drove for 3-4 hours. I have fast charger, as well as slow charger. I could always carry an extra battery stick. Also, NiCd have a very slow discharge rate and can sit around unused for more than a month without significient loss. Hell, have two extra battery sticks available.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

The thing is, I need someone to do the whole mod, if I proceed. Mod to 5 watt LED. Would keep stock battery stick, NiCd.

 

[shankus]

I think it would be an awesome mod. I hope you go for it. I wonder how much it would cost, altogether. How much was the Ultra Stinger?

 

[LEDagent]

You probably already know this, but, you would need a SE 5 watt LS if you want to use the Ultrastingers reflector. I think they're hard to come by...aren't they?

Anyway, good luck on your quest. The Ultrastinger is one of my favorite all-around lights. I've owned one but sold it to get the Tigerlight. Now i'm thinking about trading again for the Ultrastinger. It's slim body and ability to fast charge is VERY appealing! A 5 Watt LS combined with a big reflector like the Ultrastinger's would be awsome.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Shankus, I got a good price on Ultra. $109.00 for kit. Ultra Stinger, AC, DC, and two charger cradles. I got the fast charger. I already had a standard Stinger slow charger which will work with Stingers, Super Stinger, and Ulta Stinger. I have a seperate fast charger for my two Stingers: can not use that fast charger for Ultra. I have been using Stingers since 1998 or thereabouts. I splurged for this Ultra because I had a weak moment, and wanted to replace stolen Super Stingers (actually had two stolen).

LedAgent, and Shankus, thanks for encouragement. Let me know if you know anyone who could take on this mod project.

 

[shankus]

Why would it have to be an SE?

Here are some posts about the 5 watt high dome in lights with reflectors:
Space Needle Version II
any comparisons : spaceneedle II + the megaclops?
AB 5 Watt Luxeon HD Mag 2D mod... *beamshots!*

 

[shankus]

The only modder I have seen that mods per requests, is AB. There may be others, it's just that I haven't seen any in my surfing of CPF.

And AB did some 5 Watt high dome mods on Mags, so he has experience with 5 Watters. He is an electrical and civil engineering professor at a university in Canada, knows his stuff, and is a friendly, patient fellow.