pcmike
Enlightened
Alright Hot Wire guys, I have quite a bit of questions and I'm getting lost. I've been reading the forums for two days straight now and my mind is in a jumble! Your advice and help is urgently requested and will be used in the decision I make, so please be accurate and straightforward.
Alrighty, first let me lay out what my expectations/wants are in a modified Maglite:
* I want nothing bigger then a 3D host
* I want lots of runtime (70mins plus) at a *MINIMUM* of 400 lumens
* I want to use ONLY AA rechargeable cells (everything else is too exotic/expensive for my blood)
* I want the light to be extremely reliable
* I don't want to have to do anything special (e.g. wait hours after taking batteries off charger just so bulb won't blow)
* I want be able to have maximum flexibility when it comes to bulb choices (e.g. I want to be able to put out over 800 lumens at reduced runtime, I also want to be able to find bulbs well into the future)
With the above in mind I have worked up a possible specification using a 3D host:
LOP Reflector = $020.00
Borofloat lens = $005.00
High Temp KIU Switch = $025.00 ($03.00 s/h) (could be less if I get adapter and install on my own)
Battery Adapter = $036.00 ($04.30 s/h)
VANSON V-6988 Charger = $022.95 ($10.14 s/h)
AA Titanium 2600 mAh NiMH = $029.00 ($2.90x10)
Bi-Pin WA01306 = $018.00
total = $173.39
Even though I was able to come up with the above, I still have a ton of questions and they are:
1) What runtime can I expect with the above?
2) What is the formula to figure out runtime?
3) What kind of lumens can I expect?
4) Will I have to do anything special with the batteries before using them directly from charger?
Despite the above specification, I'm still really not trusting myself. I'd really like to see a specification from someone else that would meet my expectations/wants outlined above. I'm really sorry for making this post in the first place, but I just have to. I'm completely lost. After reading this forum for two days solid (seriously, no sleep) my mind is just spinning in circles! Please guys, give me the details and help me out, I would really appreciate it. Hopefully in the future this thread can serve as a "receipe for success" for others who just stumble upon this message board like me! I've really learned alot in all my reading, but I still really am confused, please help me! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Alrighty, first let me lay out what my expectations/wants are in a modified Maglite:
* I want nothing bigger then a 3D host
* I want lots of runtime (70mins plus) at a *MINIMUM* of 400 lumens
* I want to use ONLY AA rechargeable cells (everything else is too exotic/expensive for my blood)
* I want the light to be extremely reliable
* I don't want to have to do anything special (e.g. wait hours after taking batteries off charger just so bulb won't blow)
* I want be able to have maximum flexibility when it comes to bulb choices (e.g. I want to be able to put out over 800 lumens at reduced runtime, I also want to be able to find bulbs well into the future)
With the above in mind I have worked up a possible specification using a 3D host:
LOP Reflector = $020.00
Borofloat lens = $005.00
High Temp KIU Switch = $025.00 ($03.00 s/h) (could be less if I get adapter and install on my own)
Battery Adapter = $036.00 ($04.30 s/h)
VANSON V-6988 Charger = $022.95 ($10.14 s/h)
AA Titanium 2600 mAh NiMH = $029.00 ($2.90x10)
Bi-Pin WA01306 = $018.00
total = $173.39
Even though I was able to come up with the above, I still have a ton of questions and they are:
1) What runtime can I expect with the above?
2) What is the formula to figure out runtime?
3) What kind of lumens can I expect?
4) Will I have to do anything special with the batteries before using them directly from charger?
Despite the above specification, I'm still really not trusting myself. I'd really like to see a specification from someone else that would meet my expectations/wants outlined above. I'm really sorry for making this post in the first place, but I just have to. I'm completely lost. After reading this forum for two days solid (seriously, no sleep) my mind is just spinning in circles! Please guys, give me the details and help me out, I would really appreciate it. Hopefully in the future this thread can serve as a "receipe for success" for others who just stumble upon this message board like me! I've really learned alot in all my reading, but I still really am confused, please help me! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif