gadget_lover
Flashaholic
Hi Folks,
There's been a lot done with dimming lights recently. The ARC4 is a great example of an excellent light that appears to be even more usable now that it can be dimmed way down for close-up work or extetended run time.
I've been successful with dimming the ARC LS using parts that only cost a buck or so. I was asked to see what could be done with the L4. I borrowed an L4 to see if there was a place to stuff a resistor in the tailcap.
So, what is this mystery part? What does it do and how does it allow an L4 to go from dim to bright?
It's a temporary variable dimmer made by simply removing one coil from a 500 ohm, 10 turn wirewound linear potentiometer. The pot I tore apart was NTE electronics #502-0102. Resistance from end to end is about 35 ohms. The pot can be ordered from sourceresearch.com
This coil has a bit of maksing tape wrapped around the wire near the lower end. The ends overlap on purpose. The coil is the same diameter as the end of the L4 battery tube. It works as a variabble resistor becasue one end is on top of the other. The battery tube touches the highest point first (about 30 ohms to the case, then progessivly more.
At some point the wire nearest the ends are touching, leaving near to 0 ohms.
I inserted the coil into the Z57 (??? the clickie) tailcap. It is capable of going from less than an ARC LS to what appears to be full L4.
Some possible improvements are:
1) Add soldered area to the ends for final low resistance contact.
2) Attach to some sort of carrier to ensure it's always in position.
3) Add some protection so that the grinding of the tube does not wear it out quickly.
Problems:
1) It flickers a little while turning, but not when the tailcap is sationary.
2) I'd like to see it get even dimmer.
3) It is not anchored.
4) I've only had it working for a few hours, so I don't know the lifespan.
I am hoping for suggestions and critiques. I'd love for someone to market such a beast if they can be made reliable.
Daniel
There's been a lot done with dimming lights recently. The ARC4 is a great example of an excellent light that appears to be even more usable now that it can be dimmed way down for close-up work or extetended run time.
I've been successful with dimming the ARC LS using parts that only cost a buck or so. I was asked to see what could be done with the L4. I borrowed an L4 to see if there was a place to stuff a resistor in the tailcap.
So, what is this mystery part? What does it do and how does it allow an L4 to go from dim to bright?
It's a temporary variable dimmer made by simply removing one coil from a 500 ohm, 10 turn wirewound linear potentiometer. The pot I tore apart was NTE electronics #502-0102. Resistance from end to end is about 35 ohms. The pot can be ordered from sourceresearch.com
This coil has a bit of maksing tape wrapped around the wire near the lower end. The ends overlap on purpose. The coil is the same diameter as the end of the L4 battery tube. It works as a variabble resistor becasue one end is on top of the other. The battery tube touches the highest point first (about 30 ohms to the case, then progessivly more.
At some point the wire nearest the ends are touching, leaving near to 0 ohms.
I inserted the coil into the Z57 (??? the clickie) tailcap. It is capable of going from less than an ARC LS to what appears to be full L4.
Some possible improvements are:
1) Add soldered area to the ends for final low resistance contact.
2) Attach to some sort of carrier to ensure it's always in position.
3) Add some protection so that the grinding of the tube does not wear it out quickly.
Problems:
1) It flickers a little while turning, but not when the tailcap is sationary.
2) I'd like to see it get even dimmer.
3) It is not anchored.
4) I've only had it working for a few hours, so I don't know the lifespan.
I am hoping for suggestions and critiques. I'd love for someone to market such a beast if they can be made reliable.
Daniel