Another gift from a member and another crazy mod in the works

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

I received a 3AAA light in the mail, from another member, along with some other parts. It is one of those lights where almost nothing stock would fit, but I just like the looks of it.

ev1a

It held 3x5mm LEDs and the head is short enough that it can't hold something like a P60 drop in, as well as the fact that it's about 25mm ID (odd size), so what to do, what to do?

ev1b

I tore it down and thought about the P60, nope, It's a little bigger than a Mini-Mag ID, nope, well... Hmmmmm.... Hmmmmm..... Let me go look around.....

ev1c

A 3/4" Copper end cap fits well in the head (I could use a coupling, but I did not have one). A Mini-Mag glass lens, A Mini-Mag LED reflector, some copper rounds, an XM-L, a 20mm star, a bare circuit board. Hmmmmm.....

ev1d

The reflector is too tall, so I made a guess and cut it down with a Hacksaw. Sometimes my middle name is Rose. I did not measure, I just cut it. It came out about perfect length for what I need to do.

ev1e

The XM-L with one of those plastic centering rings that was in the King, works well with the reflector.

ev1f

Although you can't see it well, the reflector fits right in the copper coupling, which allows for the coupling to center it in the head. The glass lens firs right in the top lip of the coupling, where the coupling mouth is tapered, so the lens will be centered in the head too.

ev1g

20mm star fits in the retaining ring.

ev1h

The copper rounds do not help heat sinking much, but the retaining ring will screw in and actually tighten down on the copper coupling, so there will be some more mass for heat and the coupling will touch the head, so it just gets better. Also, with 3AAA batteries, it won't push much more than an amp at best.

ev1i

The plastic spacer just keeps the contact plate from touching the copper and it will all get a dose of AA for filler.

ev1j

The contact plate will be for Positive only. The battery holder will touch against the center ring. The negative has to go out to the body... somehow....

ev1k

By guess and by golly. I did not make measurements, but when I take off the cap end of the copper, it will be just about perfect height. It will touch against the Retaining ring and when it's all screwed in, it will be a nice "drop in".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More to come tomorrow...

2

As Abba once sung, here we go again. OL do you sleep? I'll have to come around one day so you can show me how to build lights and find for want of a better word stuff to build them with. You possibly cannot find all the parts you use in the few parts bins you have shown us previously. I reckon you have boxes full off, that word again, stuff stuffed under the bed. I will have to set myself a challenge and send you the worst light ever to mod. Na you would smile, turn around, turn back and a work off art would be in your hand. Are you magic?

3

To answer your questions - Yes, No.Wink

Thank you. I am not magic. I just have an eye for what something can be. Many others, like you, do that too. They are not all sucesses. Many times they fall in the circular file, with a loud thud.Surprised

All the parts for this build came from what I had. I have no more tucked away. I wish I did, that was the last 3/4" anything I had and all my 1" stuff is used up. The bins are getting lighter...

My wife would not let me store stuff under the bed, that spot is for the cat to hide when someone comes to the front door, so it's off limits to me, LOL.

I do sleep about 5 hours a day. Usually from 3AM to about 8AM. I never do too much sleeping. I might miss something!Tongue Out

4

Bring your best whacking stick… he’s a mean one :wink:

5

OL and Tom Bombadil. Won’t catch either one napping.

6

You guys are scaring me with all this whacking. Sounds to close to something else that some males like doing.

Sorry OL but you are wrong. If thats possible. No imagination at all. To me there is always somewhere to start that leads to a final product. I wish I had one though. Cheers.