I have several new 3AA lights and have a question of y'all (USA members)

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hi,

I got several budget lights from China and my first thought was to "mod them", by putting T6 leds in all of them. Since that first idea, I have also thought about just checking them all, make sure they work, lube them, clean them and sell them as they came.

I can mod them all, but they all have tiny hollow heat sinks and even with a little copper love, they will get hot really fast. Some have drivers, but if I use the drivers, then they really won't be much brighter than the stock leds, so why waste the time? If I do them direct drive (as I first intended to do), then they will be pocket rockets and get hot in a few minutes. (but they will be bright!).

So tell me, what do y'all think? (Since I'm going to sell them here on BLF, if anyone in the USA, wants them). Stock lights at cost + a couple bucks shipping, or modified lights with T6 leds in them?

If I just sell them stock, then I would probably sell a few of the T6 emitters as well, at cost + shipping.

Here's a list of what I got.

Ebay Seller cenn2010 = Banggood.com -Shipped from Calif.

1x Sa-9 Zoomable CREE Q5 LED Flashlight An imitation of the SIPIK CK91

Manafont

1 x SMALL SUN ZY-S8 3-Mode Memory

1x Small Sun - ZY-A28 Flood-to-Throw Zooming 3-Mode Memory

1 x SMALL SUN ZY-S1 120-Lumen 1 Mode
1 x Small Sun - ZY-P4

2 x Small Sun - ZY-S9

1 x Richuang P35D 10W

2 x SIPIK CK91 Flood-to-Throw Zooming Cree Q4 Convex Lens

2

I would just sell them as-is. My general thoughts are...

-3AAA is not really going to drive the XML that hard. IIRC AAA eneloops top out at ~800ma before voltage sag, no where near enough wattage on tap to really get the XML warmed up.

-Theres no guarantee the XML will be optimal with any of those reflectors. Yeah you could heatsink it get it all mounted proper... and end up with a big doughnut.

-I'm guessing the $ value of the solder-mounted XML emitters and lights sold separately is going to be worth more than that of the modded lights.

-Even if you could somehow get an 18650 in there and push it optimally, theres no telling whether the springs and tailcap switch in those cheap lights can handle the current.

3

oh... if youre selling mounted XMLs I am definitely interested.

What flux and color BIN are they?

What size heatsink are they soldered onto?

I am looking for a U2 on a 20mm star or 24mm disk, thanks!!

4

I have an Ultrafire A3 that draws 2 amps from a single AAA eneloop cell . Always wondered if that discharge rate was still safe for these batteries...

5

Note the "IIRC" in my comment above... so I most certainly may not be correct on that.

6

@kramer5150 I think they will push much more than 800ma for more than just a couple minutes. All of the DD 3AAA lights I have done so far, will push more than 800ma and voltage sag on a DD doesn't seem to have the effect it does with a driver. Mine last about 10 min before dimming and about 20 min before getting very dim. It's long enough for a little "wow" light. The aspheric lights look fine with a T6 and the others... well krylon fixes all those rings.

These lights all went for around $10 or less each and the emitters are from CNQG. They are 1C and on 16mm stars. I think if I made them up, I would have to go about $20+ each and I think that's still reasonable for a modded budget T6 light, but I just don't know for sure yet. That's why I asked for opinions. I was just looking for something different, but I don't know if it's really worth the time.

I really like those 3AAA SIPIK lights.

7

I am sure someone out there on the www has tested them for lifespan, capacity and LSD at this "C".... maybe I'll google search it later

8

No interest in the lights but if you sell the emitters I'll take 2 or 3 off your hands.

9

I'm starting to think that I should just buy about a "hunnerd" of these XM-L T6 & U2 on stars and just resell them.

Of course the day after I ordered them, Cree would come out with something else and obsolete them.Tongue Out

10

LOL! True that! I sure wish Craig would carry the T6 3C bins, not just the T5 3C bins. He'd sell all he could get around these parts.

11

I would be surprised if you were able to sell them for more than the $$ sum of the parts. (~5-$10 for each host and ~$8 for the XML). Thats just kind of the way it is with flashlight forums. Based on what I have seen it takes years to build up a reputation as a custom builder, to where members are willing to pay more for the intangibles (labor, craftsmanship, testing...etc).

12

Personally, if I had half your skill, I'd get the XM-Ls and do modding projects. These won't utilize XM-Ls well. The two XM-L zoomies I have are rather disappointing compared to what they could be. I'd sell these on ebay and get double or more what you paid for them and start "snow balling" toward investing in selling your more elaborate handywork. People will pay for it.