Rigor,
I do not currently own an incan light, but I say that you should respect this flashlight's old look (retro?) and use an incan bulb. I like the idea of using three 18650's in parrallel and using a 5W bulb of some sort. Maybe you can run them in series (so you do not have to worry about balancing the Li-ions), and use a lower wattage ~11V bulb. Wasnt some higher voltage bulbs more efficient? I don't know (I know the wiring in the chassis becomes less lossy at higher voltages). This way you do not have to worry about trying to add enough heat sinking material to keep an LED cool. With this ~5W bulb, you can always get it frosted so you have a decent looking beam, but it is a high enough wattage that you can still see far enough away to make it usable. Use today's technology, but make this thing still look "original". That includes the use of a light bulb (which should be brighter and somewhat more efficient than what was used "back then"). Then you got your high tech batteries that will give you seemingly infinite hours of runtime for intermittent use. I am not well versed on current mid-wattage bulbs. I always thought that you can get some high lumen (<300?), small sized, bulbs that are under 10W or so (used in higher end incans from today). Am I wrong?
What if you add some circuitry to this (PWM) so you can get a few modes of brightness by pressing some switch somewhere (without much modding to the case much)? This adds to the utility of the light by giving you lower modes (replace your fenix for late night treks in the house
). This would add to the cool factor and it would simply be a "nifty" light. Can many drivers from the Sandwich Shoppe that are made for LEDs also work for incan (with incan being a resistive load)? They are current regulated. Imagine one with a SOS mode. Sure that mode is almost useless on the UIs of most compact LED flashlights now, but imagine this function on an incandescent light! That would be cool for once! Circuitry possibilities are endless.
Besides, there is a Cree in every other light now a-days (I say that in almost a bad way). This bulb could be lower wattage for long runtime (boring), something like a low ROP (excessive), or something right in-between that makes you say, "wow" when it is first turned on. I insist on a slight diffusing film just to make the light more enjoyable. Diffused bulbs in the time probably were not common, as was long runtime with decent brightness of course.
Or, what about squeezing in something like a MR-16 bulb (sealed bulb with integrated faceted reflector). You wont need to diffuse the bulb since a reflectored setup mated with a concave/aspheric lens should give you a more diffused beam, right? What if you scan the Surplus Shed for a replacement aspheric lens with same diameter and focal point? They have a new optics search function that may aid you.
Finally, if you do want to go the LED route, use a drop-in or something (replaceable). If the bulb is a screw base, then EverLED has a bulb that works (I think). Mounting the Cree to a star and getting an empty bulb base and stuffing it with aluminum foil might work. Just power it at like 200mA for lower heat levels. Your Star/tinfoil heatsink would work, as it worked for me decently even at higher currents going to the LED. With a Cree Q4or Q5, you should get plenty of decent light. If all else fails, you can use the SMJ-LED with a resistor. Talk about long battery life!!!
Well, what do you think? Its great you want to mod one of these, but give the old incan something different (with a little of the same -a bulb). It will add to its class in a way. I had a "old-fasioned" lookalike 2C light from Advanced Auto and I modded it with an old Luxeon warm white emitter/lens to make it look old, but it just plain sucked. The stock bulb was "cooler" and not as dorky as the lousy warm white LED. I wish I had an old light like this. Maybe I will have to visit ebay and see the selection. Hmmm... Well, good luck. :candle:
-Tony
