Vari-Needle Ver. 2 - Pics
Finally got a 5W HD inside the big Brinkmann 2D dual-switch light, and out popped the VN2 (Vari-Needle II). Here's the light next to an EL Blaster VI (w/resistance long removed):
A look down the VN2's business end:
A look down the business end of both lights:
The Brinkmann reflector is smaller, shallower, and not in the same league as a Maglite reflector, so a pedestal had to be built with the Luxeon's negative grounding tab cinched under a threaded hole with 4-40 screw in the side of the pedestal (not done yet in the pic, Arctic Alumina was still setting up):
And finally the beamshots, first with the VN2 switched on Low (VN2 on left):
And then on high:
Although there was a rather large, dim corona around the VN2's hoptspot which I would have had to back up across the room to capture on camera, it should still be noted that there was not much change in brightness between the two switch settings. This is because the original Brinkmann's dual-switch setup has its resistance set to handle 4.5V, not the 9V it has to channel now, and thus almost all the power still makes it through. But the switch unit capsule is comprised of two cast plastic halves held together by a couple of snap tabs. It would be just a matter of prying it open and replacing the existing resistor with something a little heftier if lower light output was required of the dimmer button, but being this was an experiment on two-stage light output feasibility using a premanufactured light host, I did not bother. Besides, the thought of a bunch of springs and other parts flying out when the switch capsule was opened was rather daunting.
Took the lux readings next:
EL Blaster VI (Direct Drive w/resistors removed) - 2860 lux
Vari-Needle II - 2240 lux on Low, 3160 lux on High
The head of the VN2 is too small to accept a Mag reflector, and no doubt the lux readings would approach the 6000-8000 lux ranges of the Space Needle II if such a substitution could be made.
So on this light, the "dimmer" switch can be thought of as just a battery life extender, while still producing nearly the same photon output to the naked eye.