I've caught the disease!--have lamp questions

Help!! I've caught the M@g modding disease!! And I ahve more than a few questions--but just one (or two) for now--

Am I correct in assuming that since I plan on using CR123 primaries for now; and my initial vehicle is a 2C running 3xCR123, that I should be using 9.6V lamps? (I hope so, I just bought some!)

Also, what are your prime sources for lamp assemblies? I've got a fivemega bi-pin socket on order, and one from Kiu.

Thanks! Also, can you all maybe point to some threads that would be good primers on modding M@gs?

Another proud carrier of the disease!

Cribbage

Here are some good threads to start with on Magmods

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/120462

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1255813#post1255813

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/114094

http://members.misty.com/don/bulb1.html

http://flashlight-forums.com/index.php?topic=814.0

Here is a fairly comprehensive lamp spreadsheet if you have!

http://homepage.mac.com/rouses/flash/hotlamps-short.xls

9.6v lamps will not be very bright on 3 123's, which produce 9 volts. You might consider the 5cell Xenon Maglamp or the KPR series from RadioShack, I think the KPR112 is the one for 3x123, but I've always used Carleys or GH24's which are incredibly white on 3x123. My personal favorite is the Carley 1499 or the Reflectalite GH24.

Neither lamp is probably available locally, but both can be had from sources here on CPF, though the Carley is rare!

The Reflectalite is available here:

http://www.reflectalite.com/halogenpage.html

Bill

But by driving a <9v lamp at >9v, won't you burn it out alot quicker?

I bought the 6-cell M@g lamps for my first attempt, figuring they are the correct voltage.

Thanks

Cribbage

Yes you will, driving it at lower than specified voltage will give you a yellower light, at higher than specified voltage a whiter light.

Most CPF'ers want as white and as much light as possible, thus they overdrive their lights, shortening lamp life, (lamps are comparitively cheap), but increasing and whitening output.

Bill

I know, I am full of questions, but like I said, I am new to this

Doesn't over-driving a lamp result in higher amps throught the batteries, and possible issues with overheating or even damage? I am planning on using just regular CR123s for now.

Which voltage lamps woiuld you recommend? the next step down is 7.2v or 7.6v IIRC.

Thanks!

Ted

I would recommend ordering some Reflectalite GH24's, they are the best solution for what you propose.

Aside from that, try KPR118's from Radio Shack, or the Maglite XENON 5 cell lamp.

Bill

I appreciate the tips. One of the things I am trying to do in all this is learn the "why-fors".


Looking at the bulbs you recommended, it seems that the common denominator is the wattage, which is about 10W for all of them, given the voltage and the amp draw.


But what about the lower voltage lamps pulling higher amps through the batteries?


Doesn't that over-heat or over-stress the cells?


What about run-times? Do you get a longer or shorter run-time with an over-driven bulb?


Thanks again for all the answers!

Ted

Please confirm/deny my research

Please confirm/deny my research...

At least part of what offsets a lower voltage lamp than battery (e.g. 7.4v bulb on 9v 3xCR123) is that the cells' internal voltage drops under load.

There are a lot of modded 2C's out there, using the 3 x cr123 platform. I have used a Mag numstar 5 and 6 cell, then upgraded to a Carley 1057p then to a Carley H1499p. I even keep one of these in my garage using the Pelican 3854 LOLA. As stated above, the whole idea is to over drive the lamp, but with cr123's, you do have to be a little mindful of the amperage draw.

Carley CL 1057: 6.0v 2.0a @ spec (239 b-lumens) / 7.2v (450 b-lumens)

Carley CL H1499: 7.2v 1.84a @ spec (370 b-lumens)

The Pelican 3854 LOLA draws about 1.9A. There were some that had tried the Pelican 3854 HOLA, 24W, 4.3A, until we realized it was probably getting dangerous considering the voltage lag and amperage. my $.02