[MOD] homemade crappy XR-E headlamp

Other Types of Lights LED Headlamps
1

Hi there, I’ve salvaged an old emitter from a broken CR123 light and re-used it to make that :



It’s direct drive, since I use some 3,6V primary lithium cells. My cousin gave me about 20 of those so I’m covered for next few years.
I soldered a reverse cliky switch and hot glued everything on a aluminum U profile for thermal dissipation. the reflector is epoxied on the emitter star. A length of paracord is glued on a piece of mouse pad and a piec of foam is added for comfort.
It’s really light weight so I can wear it for long time.

Beamshot :

So, is it budget-approved ?

2

It isn't crappy if it works to satisfy it's function, and you're learning skills along the way that help prevent destroying expensive parts later on. Congrats! :beer:

3

What has it done to your face?? ;)

4

That’s creative, true BLF spirit right there. :slight_smile:

By the way are you sure those are disposable primaries? It is written as 14500 on it, which is supposed to be rechargeable isn’t it?

5

A new light built around an led. Nice and it works to boot.

6

We use those SAFT batteries at work in the Air Force for comm equipment - the retail price on them is about $15, each.

7

I’ve got to ask, what ipx rating have you given to it :bigsmile:

8

The stories are true, the identities were changed to protect the innocent.

9

Yup, I hoped that it was some li-ion rechargeable batteries when he shows me those…but after some researches on the interwebz, I found that someone tried to charge it…it exploded !

I saw a price of 4€, but SAFT is a french factory I think so…
Anyway, I got these free 8)

10

Thing is about those batteries and why we use them in critical comm equipment, they have a VERY flat discharge curve. They go and go, then —poof—, dead.

11

[PDF doc on those cells](file:///C:/Users/Don/Downloads/LS14500.pdf). SAFT calls them primary

…… verrrrry low self discharge rate

amazon sells

12

nice done!
i like such builds :slight_smile:

i have some if that SAFT cells from ventilators.
and use them for direct driving leds without fear of toasting it :smiley:

13

They were used in alarm system, to power up the sensor I think…I’ve yet to measure the current that this LED drains from the battery to have a approx. autonomy.

14

Quality is defined as, adherance to specification.

15

^This :wink:
I measured a current of 200mA, those batteries aren’t made for high drain so it’s limited.
But the brightness is sufficient and it offers me an autonomy of about 13 hours