Ron Schroeder
Enlightened
I have been using the Energizer 4AA folding lantern for a while and have found it to be quite usefull but the low setting wasn't much lower than the high setting.
I took it apart and found it used 3 - 43 ohm resisters in the head, one for each LED. On High, it drives the head directly from the batteries and on low, it drives the head thru a 39 ohm resistor. The 39 ohm resistor is located on the switch PCB. I replaced the 39 ohm resistor with a 110 ohm resistor and now the low range is much more usefull. Left on all night in a dark hotel room, it allows my dark adapted eyes to keep me from stumbling into things but it is no so bright as to keep me awake like the low range was previously.
Simple mod but it was worth while for me.
Sorry, no pictures or "beam shots"
Be carefull on taking the lantern apart. You have to take apart the hinge in the head before splitting the case or you will break the hinge pins.
Since they are only $4.99 I think I will mod another one with a couple of 5W Luxeons
I took it apart and found it used 3 - 43 ohm resisters in the head, one for each LED. On High, it drives the head directly from the batteries and on low, it drives the head thru a 39 ohm resistor. The 39 ohm resistor is located on the switch PCB. I replaced the 39 ohm resistor with a 110 ohm resistor and now the low range is much more usefull. Left on all night in a dark hotel room, it allows my dark adapted eyes to keep me from stumbling into things but it is no so bright as to keep me awake like the low range was previously.
Simple mod but it was worth while for me.
Sorry, no pictures or "beam shots"
Be carefull on taking the lantern apart. You have to take apart the hinge in the head before splitting the case or you will break the hinge pins.
Since they are only $4.99 I think I will mod another one with a couple of 5W Luxeons
