DBSAR,
Thanks for the update on your testing. I think an honest 5 lumen will be not possible to achieve for a 7 day run, or even four. We cannot cheat the current physics behind our lights…
I will continue to work on the Manker Boney mod, the only reason I am going with AAA is that there is a light for it already, though I agree that the AA would be 2-3x longer run time/output.
Gearbest says that they will give me store credit and points for the light, which is fine for this situation.
The light is much worse off than I first posted about, it is totally glitchy and sometimes won’t come on at all, and when it does, it has varying brightness, but what I found out, is that, while it won’t make it brighter, aluminum foil at the bottom of the battery tube, makes it operate consistently.
There is paint where it shouldn’t be where the positive battery post makes contact, do you have any ideas of how I can reach down in there to remove the paint (anodizing?) overspill?
A bit of scotch brite and chuck a pencil in a drill. Drop in the scotchbrite, use the drill to spin the pencil (eraser side out) an give it a buff…
If it quits, send it to me, I will try to fix it for you…
3 lumens would be fine for my “personal” needs. Even 1 lumen equivalent to the moonlight mode of a SNW D40A is still OK by me.
Yeah, if beam is focused enough, 1-3lm should be plenty for emergency light.
I’m currently testing a modified 16340/CR123 light i got form ebay for 5 bucks for emergency “candle” use with 3 to 5 lumens. So far with a resistored back driver on Low mode running a Warm White wide-angle Luxeon clone LED. ( roughly 2 3 lumens) it can run a week continuously. Testing the high mode now, (roughly 10 12 lumens. with a CR123 it can be stored for years for emergency.
What are maratac and armytek doing to achieve 200hr@1.5lm on a AAA?
Is it the kind of thing that could be replicated reliably?
No idea, that is what I am trying to replicate here. I mis-estimated lumen on the first batch, but I did get over 168 hours on a AAA with one component changed. Only a lumen +/- .5 lumen.
I have the 180uH inductors in today, so I will mod the last one for now and get it off to Mhanlen next week at the latest.
Nice, keep us updated on this. I am understanding the “resistored back” driver method is another avenue to explore here. Keep us up to date on your testing with this method. I am working this joule thief type of driver, perhaps we will come up with something blended on this that will work….
I will post a photo of the mod soon. ( its of a $5 Trustfire Mini-01 clone, and used a resistor to lower the output, but increase the run times. Some of the joule thief type drivers are more efficient than others with lower outputs.
Updated the OP.
Modded two more with the other inductors (220 and 180uH) and sent them off to Mhanlen for his light level testing… Will update when I find more out from him…
I would be interested in at least 1, possibly more once final details are released.
Just got them today. Mail has been slow this week for me, I’ll have some readings this weekend and start the tests.
Silver silicone is supposedly conductive according to Ham Radio lore and in the Black automotive 3M stuff you’ll see flecks of aluminum so perhaps. Non-flecked blue and clear are not conductive- I’ve tested those.
Having given it more thought, I’m withdrawing my interest as I realize that I would really prefer a AA format for a light like this, but I commend the development and the concept, and the thread is an interesting read. Wishing it success!
Phil
1x AAA. 3-5 lumens. 168 hrs.
if can be achieved will set in stone what a cockroach light is
Just an update, the light levels were all around 1 lumen regardless of the inductor size… The kicker is that the Thorfire PF03 I just got for review last week has a one lumen mode that supposedly has a 200 hour run time. I will test it and report back…
Any other ideas are welcome….
Any update on the Thorfire PF03?
First I’ve heard of a “cockroach light”, and I love the concept.
I’d be up for a good number of lights running on AA or AAA batteries, Lithium primary compatible, that output between 2-7 lumens and can run for 170+ hours on it’s lowest setting… of if only one setting, I’d prefer to see about 150 hours for a 1-2 lumen light… depends on the battery it uses I suppose… much higher capacity with AA.
You get the gist.
2+ for me.
Please consider full range AAA compatibility too: alkaline, nimh, li-po, li-ion
I’d certainly be interested in at least a couple of these.
Any updates?