LED Mod in July Popular Science

RonM · Jun 18, 2004

Check out page 92 of the 7/04 issue of Popular Science. It's a short article on modding a flashlight to use LEDs. The article also has a link to the online instructions.

It should be noted that the article is in their "Ask a Geek" section. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

DBrier · Jun 18, 2004

I read it and there wasn't too much info there. Maybe because of the stuff that goes on here I am desensitized to to a simple LED mod.

alberto · Jun 18, 2004

Pretty basic stuff. Maybe good for young flashaholics-to-be.

UnknownVT · Jun 18, 2004

[ QUOTE ]
alberto said:
Pretty basic stuff. Maybe good for young flashaholics-to-be.

[/ QUOTE ]

Cool! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Does it mean if I follow that....
I'll be
YOUNG? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RonM · Jun 18, 2004

Nothing new in the article for us battle hardened flashaholics. Just glad to the topic promoted in a major magazine. PopSci is evangelizing for us.

rdshores · Jun 20, 2004

It's a more interesting mod if you use ultra violet LEDS.

eebowler · Jun 20, 2004

I don't understand why the resistances he used are so high? From what I have calculated, resistors such as 1.5 and 2 ohms should be used for 3 cells. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif

Negeltu · Jun 20, 2004

Let's say 3.5 Vf with If of 0.02A

3 cells... 1.5V a piece in series = 4.5V

That gives you (4.5 - 3.5) / 0.02 = 50 Ohms For EACH led /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

KevinL · Jun 20, 2004

I hear the term "direct drive" a lot around here. If you add the resistor, does it still count as DD?

Negeltu · Jun 20, 2004

RonM · Jun 20, 2004

Interesting. To me direct drive would be anything that didn't have active circuitry (regulation, boost, etc.) But that's just me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

UK Owl · Jun 21, 2004

A simple constant current circuit for a 3 or 4 cell torch, or a boost curcuit for a 1 or 2 cell torch would have been worthy of this forum.

But the simple series resistor suggestion.....

.... Kinda lame !

Negeltu · Jun 21, 2004

What's so bad and lame about it? It gets the job done which is what MOST people care about. I have mostly used resistors in my mods...and I get many times more run time than I do with the stock incan bulbs...

LED Mod in July Popular Science

RonM

Flashlight Enthusiast

DBrier

Enlightened

alberto

Enlightened

UnknownVT

Flashlight Enthusiast

RonM

Flashlight Enthusiast

rdshores

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eebowler

Flashlight Enthusiast

Negeltu

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KevinL

Flashlight Enthusiast

Negeltu

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RonM

Flashlight Enthusiast

UK Owl

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Negeltu

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