A really, really easy 10 minute 18V power tool flashlight mod.

I think I got it. It is now dark out side so there is no light coming in thru the windows. I have 4 pictures, first the control shot with nothing but the ambient light in the room. All 4 of these shots are under exposed and are actually brighter in real life. This to show relative brightness.

If you reduce the width of the browser window, it is possible to view all three lights at the same time.

The control shot.

Now this next shot is the original incandescent

next is the 8 Nichia bulb, the brightest of the 3.

and lastly the triple emitter bulb that can be purchased almost anywhere on EBay and Amazon for around $3.

I was in Lowes yesterday and got 2 of these on clearance.



Same as the other 2, it falls right in place. It has the driver in it so it runs on 12-24V no problem.

I also converted an old Ridgid light that I had that also uses 18V Li-ion batteries.
This light was a little more difficult as I had to cut a 49mm hole in the lens and glue the MR16 to the lens. The insides of the light were a little more sophisticated, it had it’s own 18V to 12V board so that the stock incan ran on 12V
This light took a little longer, not 10 minutes, more like 45. The stock bulb drew 0.90A. The LED is brighter and draws 0.20A
I know this type of bulb is advertised as 3W but in reality it is more like 2W.

My Harbor Freight drill light mod: The Suckyest Flashlight on Planet Earth (or Uranus) - Harbor Freight 18V Drill Light

I have another one that might get an MR-16 …

I have a 4th Ryobi to mod. Once again I will use a 12-24V MR16 bulb and even though this Ryobi is only 9.6V, I will drive the LED’s to full brightness with the 9.6V. Anyone care to guess how it will be done?

Hint, it’s easy, and cheap.

$0.99 Chinese boost converter? Dc-dc 2a Converter Module Adjustable Step up Boost Power Supply 2-24v Input for sale online | eBay

Yep, that is easy and cheap!

Went ahead and did your mod on my old Ryobi FL1800 18V Worklight using the Echosmart 6w/35w Bright White Dimmable MR16 Bulb (P/N 1001401210 on packaging) from Home Depot. They also just reduced the closeout price from $4.33 to $3.53.

Hooked the bulb up to a freshly charged One+ Li-ion 18v Battery and let it run for not quite 5 minutes and don't think heat will be a issue. I removed the old incandescent bulb holder, test-fit the new MR16 bulb and had to take my Dremel tool and remove some material from the light head in the spot where the old incandescent bulb mounted to allow the MR16 bulb to sit flush. Soldered the wires to the new bulb then reassembled the light, using some 100% Silicone caulk to glue the bulb in place.

Light output is probably at least 3-4 times greater vs the old incandescent bulb, is much brighter/whiter and has a nice flood pattern that illuminates a good-sized area out to at least 50 feet. While I haven't tested runtime, even if it is a bit less, I feel the mod has totally transformed a formerly feeble light into a vastly more useful lighting tool.

OP - Thanks for creating this thread and for your helpful replies to my PM's.

Link to Home Depot MR16 Bulb - my local store had them on a Closeout Endcap Display for $3.53 each. http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-35W-Equivalent-Bright-White-3000K-MR16-LED-Flood-Light-Bulb-ECS-16-35WE-WW-FL-FS1-BL/206127761?keyword=ecosmart+1001401210

Good to hear! :+1:

As far as run time, you should see a great improvement. I measured 0.8A draw on my original incandescent bulb and you are drawing probably 0.25A with a fully charged 18V pack. That draw will go up as the pack runs down, but I would think you could expect at least twice the run time, even with the great improvement in light output.

That will be great if this simple mod yields increased runtime, too! I took my light outside this evening and did a comparison with my brothers identical but un-modded light. We both agree the improvement in output and the brighter/whiter tint of light is amazing and he can't wait until I mod his.

Thanks again, Dave!

So, gave my newly modded Ryobi FL1800 Worklight a workout last night. Was installing a pair of Nilight 18w 4" Flood Lights purchased from Amazon on my Chevrolet Silverado Pickup as auxiliary back-up lights. Had the Ryobi running continuously for over half an hour and it never even got warm. Can't thank dchomak enough for creating this thread!

Hey, thanks for the thanks :slight_smile:
How about some pictures?
Wow, I just looked up your light from your posted model #. You have the newer updated light. I was assuming you had the older model as I.
That’s a nice looking light!

Hi guys, thanks for this idea dchomak, I did it but I guess I need a driver? To reduce the power to 12v, cause I just checked the led board on my light while on, is showing 17.59v. and that is with the big lithium from Ryobi. I've used the light so far for like 2 hours total time but the battery is still at 3 bars out of 4. This is my light: Sylvania ULTRA LED 9MR16-830-FL35 Flood 12V Replaces 50W MR16 lamps (74042). Awesome light, I can find my cat easily in the neighborhood now. Where can I get what is needed? Or should I change to a different bulb? just an idea! anybody though of adding a dimmer to the flashlight?

Solder looks ok, then hot glue around the wires just in case they separate

Drill holes for zip ties

Trigger wants to fly off

After a straight hour of use the plastic over the led fell

You can tell the tabs melted inward as illustrated by the cat

With the plastic cover

Without it

ok so my led bulb is 700 lumens, 9 watts, 12v. it already has a driver that does not reduce the power to the led board. looking at the fasttech website and cross referencing with ebay, can i get this: item http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/262620728267?

and put it between the switch and the mr16 as is or would that be a no no.

I got a few MR16 bulbs from the clearance rack at HD a while back with the intent of doing this mod, when I apply a DC voltage to the terminals, the light turns on, and then goes out slowly. How did you open the bulb up to get at the driver DCHOMAK?

Clever use of MR16 ! :sunglasses:

To be able to run a “12V” MR16 bulb on an 18V (21V) battery, the MR16 bulb should be non-dimmable.
Non dimmable means it will have a constant current driver in it so that when it is over volted the same amount of current will flow through the LED’s
If you don’t know whether your MR16 has a constant current driver, you can check by measuring the input current to the bulb at 12V vs 18V. A constant current driver (non dimmable) will draw less input current at 18V and more current at 12V

So, the Echosmart 6w/35w I used from Home Depot died. Haven't tried looking at HD or Lowes for a replacement - any recommendations?

What is the max depth that will fit in the Ryobi housing? There are some 12w and 15w mr16 on ebay, but the are quite long

I lave an older Milwaukee 12V incandescent light that’s a candidate fore the LED swap… just haven’t had the time…

Hm, I have a 14.4v Ryobi FL1400 incandescent light. Guess I better try this.

Nice, it is surprising how this bulb fit your torch so well!