Brinkman 1AAA mod: Microlux!

evan9162 · Oct 3, 2002

Hiding inside this:

Is a white Luxeon, with the optics crammed in the bezel. Observe:

The emitter is epoxied to an aluminum pedistal, which is in a brass sleeve to make it fit the flashlight body. The "switch" is very touchy

(that's what I get for using bent wire

).

It uses an A23 12V battery. Needless to say, the Luxeon kills the poor sap

Now I just need to find some 1/3AAA NiMH (little buggers are hard to find!

)

Compared to an Arc-AAA:

-Darin

vcal · Oct 3, 2002

Originally posted by evan9162:
Hiding inside this:
Is a white Luxeon, with the optics crammed in the bezel. Observe:
The emitter is epoxied to an aluminum pedistal,
It uses an A23 12V battery. Needless to say, the Luxeon kills the poor sap

Now I just need to find some 1/3AAA NiMH (little buggers are hard to find!

)
-Darin

Nice work...you've made a little junior dragon there!

p.s.-to get some 125mAh 1/3AAAs try: www.tnrtechnical.com -should make that little monster for about 15-20min. or so..

Lux Luthor · Oct 4, 2002

Damn!!,

Now I have the urge to gut one of my Arcs for the stepup!

PS. Where do you get those little Brinkmans? Does Walmart have them?

evan9162 · Oct 4, 2002

Actually, I had this little flashlight for about 8 years, tossed away in a box somewhere. It was a little Christmas gift from family friends, so I really don't have any idea where you could get one.
I found it rummaging through some stuff one day and instantly thought: mod

-Darin

B@rt · Oct 4, 2002

Wow!

What's the runtime with an A23 12V battery?

vcal · Oct 4, 2002

Originally posted by Lux Luthor:
Damn!!,

Now I have the urge to gut one of my Arcs for the stepup!

PS. Where do you get those little Brinkmans? Does Walmart have them?

Sadly, Lux-AFAIK Brinkmann doesn't make those alum. ones anymore. (the one I have is about 6 yrs. old). They were sold at W.Coast Target Stores.

cave dave · Oct 4, 2002

Sure they do,
Check out the brinkman site:

http://www.thebrinkmanncorp.com/acb/showprod.cfm?&DID=8&CATID=2&ObjectGroup_ID=3

B@rt · Oct 4, 2002

here is an adress were they sell them for $3.99

CDNN

vcal · Oct 4, 2002

Originally posted by cave dave:
Sure they do,
Check out the brinkman site:

http://www.thebrinkmanncorp.com/acb/showprod.cfm?&DID=8&CATID=2&ObjectGroup_ID=3[/Q UOTE]
Thanks,-found it: "promax-micro-AAA-$14.95...somewhat different than the ones we have, but looks OK.
BTW-Radio Shack had what looks like the same light in a gift combo 2 years ago with a digital EL watch-$15. This newer one has a twist tail switch and a non-pin type bulb...Just found mine in a dresser drawer.

vcal · Oct 4, 2002

Originally posted by *Bart*:
here is an adress were they sell them for $3.99

CDNN

Does look like a nice little buy-for a "bulb" light.

p.s..-I just fired mine up and it's output is WAY better than my Mag. Solitaire, at least....

evan9162 · Oct 4, 2002

Originally posted by *Bart*:
Wow!

What's the runtime with an A23 12V battery?

I would imagine very short!

I had put a blue LED in this before (thanks to Daniel Ramsey for the idea) and used the A23 for that. So with the partially used battery it wasn't much brighter than an Arc-AAA. I put a fresh A23 in, and it was pretty bright (see beamshot). However, after about 30 seconds, it had dimmed considerably.

Going to look at ordering some 1/3 AAA's to feed this. Hoping for better runtime and brightness.

If I can get the bent-wire switch working, this could turn into an EDC light

evan9162 · Oct 17, 2002

Well, got the 1/3 AAA batteries today - first set on the charger

Here's a pic to get an idea of how small they are.
From left to right 1/3AAA, A23 (12V), AAA, AA, the beast these little buggers will be fed to

New beamshot when they're done charging!

-Darin

evan9162 · Oct 17, 2002

I think I'll take the name suggestion and re-dub this creation the Baby Dragon

Beamshot up!

Yeah! I like this thing

-Darin

yclo · Oct 17, 2002

Whoah!!!

Nerd · Oct 17, 2002

Say where did the mag lite AA beam go? I can't "find" it in the picture?

evan9162 · Oct 17, 2002

Just so everyone believes that such a bright light can come in a small package

Beam shot w/ flash (note my NIST-grade beam comparison setup)

-Darin

vcal · Oct 17, 2002

Originally posted by evan9162:
Just so everyone believes that such a bright light can come in a small package.
-Darin

It'll be really interesting to hear how long the run time is on that light.

p.s-my old Brinkmann's bezel is waay too small for any Luxeon optics.

vcal · Oct 17, 2002

[No message]

evan9162 · Oct 17, 2002

Originally posted by vcal:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by evan9162:
Just so everyone believes that such a bright light can come in a small package.
-Darin

It'll be really interesting to hear how long the run time is on that light.

p.s-my old Brinkmann's head is way too small for any Luxeon optics.

<hr /></blockquote>I estimate 15 minutes at full brightness, 45 minutes max usable light. I checked the current, and at fresh charge it pulls 400mA.

The collimator is too big for the Brinkmann bezel. I had to file down about 1-2mm from the diameter of the optic for it to fit (good thing the bezel covers that hack job

)

-Darin

Lux Luthor · Oct 18, 2002

Awesome!!!

By the way, I saw another Al single AAA light at Kmart last night. They're 2 for $5.99. They have a SF-like tailcap - rotate for constant on, push tailcap for momentary on. I almost bought them, but I stopped myself.

Brinkman 1AAA mod: Microlux!

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