Cheap LED Flashlight!!!

[Brad Petria]

Hi,
LED flashlights are expensive. I had a spare 2 D cell flashlight. I
ordered two high output LEDs ($2.99 ea.) from Jameco Co. part # 217525CD
(MCDP-3004C). I took a standard flashlight bulb and carefully removed the
glass bulb. I wicked away the solder at the bottom exposing a hole. I bent, at
right angle, the short negative leads of each LED and inserted the two LEDs in
the bulb base. I soldered the positive leads at the base bottom and negative
leads to the side. Now I have a flashlight that is bright enough for 98
percent of what I use a flashlight for, and it draws about 18 ma!!!!!!

Brad

Tip for your old computer (reduce discard pollution too):

If you can't sell your old computer, don't throw it away. Use it to backup
your software by transferring files/folders from your new computer or laptop
to it. I transferred my Windows folder and other stuff to my old computer
using "PC Link", which I downloaded from www.simtel.net (cool site).

http://www.simtel.net/pub/dl/52792.html (info or download)

 

[techforce]

Nice ingenuity. So the LED's are rated at 1.5VDC each, which means you had
to put them in series inside the gutted bulb?


"Brad Petria" <bpetria@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:3fa25b4e.1463586@news.bellatlantic.net...

Hi,
LED flashlights are expensive. I had a spare 2 D cell flashlight.
I
ordered two high output LEDs ($2.99 ea.) from Jameco Co. part # 217525CD
(MCDP-3004C). I took a standard flashlight bulb and carefully removed the
glass bulb. I wicked away the solder at the bottom exposing a hole. I
bent, at
right angle, the short negative leads of each LED and inserted the two
LEDs in
the bulb base. I soldered the positive leads at the base bottom and
negative
leads to the side. Now I have a flashlight that is bright enough for 98
percent of what I use a flashlight for, and it draws about 18 ma!!!!!!

Brad

Tip for your old computer (reduce discard pollution too):

If you can't sell your old computer, don't throw it away. Use it to
backup
your software by transferring files/folders from your new computer or
laptop
to it. I transferred my Windows folder and other stuff to my old computer
using "PC Link", which I downloaded from www.simtel.net (cool site).

http://www.simtel.net/pub/dl/52792.html (info or download)

 

[Jim Yanik]

"techforce" <toomuchspam@messedup.com> wrote in
news:j4Aob.1399$Y26.1020912@news2.news.adelphia.net:

Nice ingenuity. So the LED's are rated at 1.5VDC each, which means you
had to put them in series inside the gutted bulb?


"Brad Petria" <bpetria@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:3fa25b4e.1463586@news.bellatlantic.net...
Hi,
LED flashlights are expensive. I had a spare 2 D cell
flashlight.
I
ordered two high output LEDs ($2.99 ea.) from Jameco Co. part #
217525CD (MCDP-3004C). I took a standard flashlight bulb and
carefully removed the glass bulb. I wicked away the solder at the
bottom exposing a hole. I
bent, at
right angle, the short negative leads of each LED and inserted the
two
LEDs in
the bulb base. I soldered the positive leads at the base bottom and
negative
leads to the side. Now I have a flashlight that is bright enough for
98 percent of what I use a flashlight for, and it draws about 18
ma!!!!!!

Brad

Actaully,he said he soldered them in parallel.
"I soldered the positive leads at the base bottom and negative
leads to the side."

But he's running 3.6V(3.4-3.8 V) LEDs without any current limiting resistor
on ~3V of battery,so he's not getting the full 3000mcd output,and not using
the cells efficiently.
--
Jim Yanik,NRA member
jyanik-at-kua.net

 

On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 18:11:00 GMT, bpetria@verizon.net (Brad Petria)
wrote:

Hi,
LED flashlights are expensive. I had a spare 2 D cell flashlight. I
ordered two high output LEDs ($2.99 ea.) from Jameco Co. part # 217525CD
(MCDP-3004C). I took a standard flashlight bulb and carefully removed the
glass bulb. I wicked away the solder at the bottom exposing a hole. I bent, at
right angle, the short negative leads of each LED and inserted the two LEDs in
the bulb base. I soldered the positive leads at the base bottom and negative
leads to the side. Now I have a flashlight that is bright enough for 98
percent of what I use a flashlight for, and it draws about 18 ma!!!!!!

Brad

Just curious, how does the light compare to a normal flashlight?

-Chris

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Sat, 1 Nov 2003 01:57:50 +0000 (UTC), Jim Yanik <jyanik@abuse.gov>
wrote:

Actaully,he said he soldered them in parallel.
"I soldered the positive leads at the base bottom and negative
leads to the side."

But he's running 3.6V(3.4-3.8 V) LEDs without any current limiting resistor
on ~3V of battery,so he's not getting the full 3000mcd output,and not using
the cells efficiently.

Some white LED's now come with internal current limiting and boost
regulators.
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/starlite.htm
http://www.sinounion.com.hk/NIGHT_PEARL_LED_BULB.pdf (About $7/ea).
I doubt if the $3 Jameco LED's were this type. It would therefore
need a series resistor, regulator or other current limiter. Two cells
will not yield enough output to be useful. Three cells will fry the
LED's.

Comparison of various commerical LED flashlights:
http://www.uwgb.edu/nevermab/led.htm

LED FAQ's
http://members.misty.com/don/ledx.html
http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/ledleft.htm
http://www.lightemittingdiodes.org


Here's a do it thyself conversion of a Mini MagLite
http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_lighting_flashlites.html

Flyback circuit for driving white LED with one battery cell.
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=3892
I've built it and it works.


--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com

 

[uk-hamman]

hi
I have a single blue Led torch
and it runs on 3v button cell i done a test the other day in a dark country
lane
i saw a ( nation speed limit road-sign) and then
walked in the oposit direction shining my single led torch
at it until i was not able to see it any more

to be honest the road bent before this actually happened
and i was 340-feet away from the sign ..and still lit

i thought this was amazing , for such a small thing
its not got any external lenses or maginifyers added to it
nor is it got any direction or light deflection refelctors
, sipmly a led and a battery in a little plastic keyfob


any one want one , i can supply one for
2.99p post paid to Uk only let me know
limited stock

de paul