Wilkey!!!!

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Got my WA01318 bulbs yesterday. I would have taken this to email but I lost your addy somehow!

With the very same batts (4x123A + 1AALith) and referenced against a M*g Whitestar 5 cell driven by 3x123A + 1AALith) the Carley 809 was a smidgen less white than the Whitestar.

Then I picked a 1318 at random and placed it in the 3C M*g. Now the only reason the Whitestar beam can be seen in the WA beam is a slight light leak around the Writeright on the WS light!

4x123A + 1AA Lith driving a WA01318 through a piece of Writeright is a wall of light of epic proportions!

I'll see about beamshots.

THANK YOU for giving me the oportunity!!!!

Bright Lights Rule in theory. But usefull lights are best in real time!

 

[Ginseng]

Hehe,

I'm glad you like them Joe! Remember, you're running these babies at over 22 watts so please keep an eye out on your reflector. It won't take but probably a few short minutes of continuous on time to cause bubbling and melting.

I plan on running these on 4x123+1xAA lith in my C bodies and with 9xAA PowerStream 2Ah nimhs in my 3D. But then I've got a Carley aluminum reflector so I can probably get 20 minutes plus of full brightness before a recharge.

Th3 WA01318 is a true monster compared to almost any other bulb out there. PaulW estimated true output in a Mag to be around 350 lumens. I'm pretty pleased. Still, I can't wait to plug in my WA01185. It's rated at over 800 lumens but if it makes only 500-600 on 9xAA, I'll be happy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Wilkey

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I <have> a Carley Reflector that I could put in any light...

I just am very very scared of trying to mod it!!!

Any thoughts on how to accomplish it???

Would a big enough drill bit help?

I do have a Dremel....

 

[PaulW]

PBJ,

Ginseng taught me to use the Dremel to carve out the back of a Carley reflector so that the pedestal from the Mag would not hit it. I secured the reflector face down with a jig I made out of scap wood – just to get my fingers further away from the cutting tool.

I then attached the cutting guide used with the multipurpose cutting kit 565 or 566 – the one used for drywall cutting. I use only part of the guide. Remove the large circular part and retain only the small holder that screws onto the Dremel.

Use a 115 bit to carve away some of the aluminum directly around the hole – just to get it started. Then install the 117 cylindrical bit. Adjust the depth of the bit in the Dremel so that when you hold the tool vertical pointing down, the cutting guide will allow you to cut away about 3/4 of the depth of the hole. Make sweeping cuts until you have removed a cylindical portion large enough to allow the Mag pedestal to fit into the cavity.

I have done this and gotten almost professional-looking results. I wish I could find the inspirational photo that Ginseng posted of the back end of the reflector after he was done. If I can find it, I’ll add a link here later.

I also used a file to cut a lip around the outside edge of the reflector much as Otokoyama does on his reflectors. Picture is in first post on this page.

Paul

E D I T - Aha! I found the picture of the reflector backside here.

 

[Ginseng]

Paul,

That is outstanding! I'm a Dremel duffer but you are turning out to be an artisan. That is a great way to do it. Of course, you have to make absolutely sure you do not enlarge the hole all the way to the reflector surface, otherwise you will lose the ability to focus. You must leave a ledge inside to push the bulb pedestal down. You've got to get a digital camera Paul. Stuff like this deserves to be documented.

Good luck to you Playboy!

Wilkey

 

[PaulW]

Wilkey,

I hate to disagree with you, because that usually is a sign that I'm missing something, but let me do it anyway.

I am not aware that I am at all pushing on the pedestal with the reflector. In fact, if the reflector were in contact with the pedestal, the bulb would not move with respect to the reflector and the focus would not change. Thus the cavity must be deep enough to allow the filament to go through the point of focus and past it. Does that seem reasonable?

An "infinitely deep" cavity that would be formed by boring a hole all the way through will still allow the flashlight to focus. The only possible disadvantage is that part of the reflecting area would be lost.

Yeah, a camera. That would certainly make things clearer. But if I bought one, that would be a few less flashlights. Moreover, I can usually find a picture of yours (as I did above) that helps describe what I'm doing. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Paul

 

[Ginseng]

Paul,

Thanks for catching me on this. In fact I think I argued exactly your point on the massive "285 Lumen" post. You're right, the drillout in back must be deep enough to allow the filament to go past the focus point to allow focus. I just kept the hole small enough to hit the bulb retainer to try and save some small sliver of reflector surface.

Gosh, I must really be as burnt as I mentioned to you. I'm glad at least that people are getting their bulbs and are pleased. WA makes some excellent goods.

Wilkey