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Sold/Expired 3D mod with MCE lamp

Jerzy G.

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Messages
2
Location
Rochester Hills, MI
Hi All,

This was my first mod of the 3D Maglite. I researched the market shopping for some nice DC-DC converters, and decided that it has to be a 3D, as fully discharged batteries go down to 0.9V (3 x 0.9V = 2.7V). All decent converters (efficiency more than 80%) require Min. of 2.7V input voltage.

I decided to go with "Fatman" from taskled.com http://www.taskled.com/fatman.html This DC-DC with LED current feedback allows you to set up to 1A. One could change but 1 resistor on this board and go higher, but you would have to use Li-ion or multiple AAs to prvide more input current. Keep in mind that input current increases as the batteries discharge. At 0.9V per cell (or 2.7V input voltage) the input current increases to about 2.18A! I decided to use highest bin CREE MCE lamp available from Digikey http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=MCE4WT-A2-0000-000M01CT-ND
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I won't bother you with basic switch modification, which is well documented https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/171366
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I had home-made heat sink for this mod
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I tested the modified maglite before final assembly. I turned the pot all the way to pump 1.04A into MCE lamp (I connected 2 LEDs in parallel, and then 2 of those sections in series). The overall voltage on MCE lamp is around 6.8V, and current going through each LED is approximatelly 500mA.
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Now final assembly - use lots of thermal compound
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The front end-of-business
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It's not until recently I had a chance to appreciate this flashlight awesome output. My family went for few days camping - pitch dark at night, but night was changing into a bright day with this maglite!

Jerzy G.
 
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