Another mod, this time a cheap $3 headlamp that Iāve had for years, but never really used regularly due to the light being poor.
This was before I knew about the proper good flashlights and headlamps, and only went to the local hardware store for lights.
It has four 5mm cold white spot beam LEDs and three 3mm red LEDs. Low brightness setting turns on the middle two LEDs, high brightness setting turns on all of them. It takes 3x AAA batteries and has a decent runtime.
Original tint and beam:
PCB with new LEDs, the two in the middle are 2300K and the outer ones are 3400K. This means that on the ālowā brightness the light is pretty warm, while on the āhighā brightness it gets mixed to a lovely tint of around 2700K with more flood and brightness. Red LEDs are still the same.
Beam profile with the middle 2300K LEDs. Camera @5000K:
Beam profile with all the LEDs, 2300K + 3400K. Camera @5000K:
Beam profile of the red LEDs. Camera @5000K:
Indoor beam shot of the two 2300K, dark wooden hallway with white doors and door frame. Camera @5000K:
Indoor beam shot of the two 2300K and two 3400K. Camera @5000K:
Indoor beam shot of the red LEDs. Camera @5000K:
The headlamp itself, it can be angled and itās pretty great to wear for the price.
So the LEDs made this cheap light into something Iād actually use more now that the light is a lot better.
Itās perfect for indoor use, as itās pretty floody and easy on the eyes due to the warm tint. Perfect for reading a book in a tent for example.
Iām most likely going to be hunting these cheap 5mm headlamps and see which has the best UI and modability if thatās a word.
Iāve found a cheap $10 one with a 3W CREE XP-E R3 main LED with a clear reflector and two 5mm LEDs on the sides. That makes for a nice dual-purpose headlamp since the CREE LED will throw decently with 150 lumen, while the two 5mm LEDs can be swapped for either 2300K or 3400K for warm white indoor light. Itās also 3xAAA.
I absolutely love these LEDs, thank you so much for discovering these, rngwn.