BuddTX
Flashlight Enthusiast
I just found a GREAT use for my Opalec Newbeam Mini Mag conversion.
Earlier, I posted a question of how cost efficent the Opalec is, compared to the Princeton Tec Attitude. (Both are 3 LED lights) The Attitude is 17.95, whereas the Opalec is 27.95 plus shipping plus the cost of a Maglight. I added a tailcap, and that brought the price up to about 45$.
The purpose of this post is not to bring up the Attitude/Opalec discussion again, you can read about and comment about that here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=002358
The reason for this post, is that my Opalec Newbeam will NEVER get a new set of batteries!
Because of the unique "red" LED low battery indicator, all of my used AA batteries will now go into a box, and will be fed to my Opalec. I have put several "used" AA batteries into my Opalec Newbeam, and, lo and behold, the red LED did not come on!
Because of the DC to DC converter and voltage regulation, even though the Opalec will get "used" batteries, it will give me full brightness until the red LED comes on.
This is a really cool feature, and I don't know how expensive it is to implement, but this is a feature that I would like to see in future lights!
So, while more expensive than another 3 LED light (the attitude, which BTY takes 4 AAA batteries), this light will allow me to use up batteries that I would have otherwize thrown away, and give me "full brightness" until the red led comes on.
While not the brightest LED light I own, (I have a Lambda Illuminator and a ARC LS Second) I actually prefer this light for midnight excursions about the house.
OH, BTY, even though this is a "modified" light, since both lights are comercial products, I thought I would post this here, instead of on the "modified" forum.
Earlier, I posted a question of how cost efficent the Opalec is, compared to the Princeton Tec Attitude. (Both are 3 LED lights) The Attitude is 17.95, whereas the Opalec is 27.95 plus shipping plus the cost of a Maglight. I added a tailcap, and that brought the price up to about 45$.
The purpose of this post is not to bring up the Attitude/Opalec discussion again, you can read about and comment about that here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=002358
The reason for this post, is that my Opalec Newbeam will NEVER get a new set of batteries!
Because of the unique "red" LED low battery indicator, all of my used AA batteries will now go into a box, and will be fed to my Opalec. I have put several "used" AA batteries into my Opalec Newbeam, and, lo and behold, the red LED did not come on!
Because of the DC to DC converter and voltage regulation, even though the Opalec will get "used" batteries, it will give me full brightness until the red LED comes on.
This is a really cool feature, and I don't know how expensive it is to implement, but this is a feature that I would like to see in future lights!
So, while more expensive than another 3 LED light (the attitude, which BTY takes 4 AAA batteries), this light will allow me to use up batteries that I would have otherwize thrown away, and give me "full brightness" until the red led comes on.
While not the brightest LED light I own, (I have a Lambda Illuminator and a ARC LS Second) I actually prefer this light for midnight excursions about the house.
OH, BTY, even though this is a "modified" light, since both lights are comercial products, I thought I would post this here, instead of on the "modified" forum.
