Harbor Freight 4 LED $7.00

On Sat, 21 May 2005 21:32:09 -0400, Spehro Pefhany
<speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

Yes, and multicolor LEDs are available these days that do patterns and
such like. But nothing at the component level with white LEDs that
I've seen. There are high power white LED modules available that run
off of (say) 12V but they are not from LED manufacturers that I've
seen, and they are probably too expensive for use in a <$50
flashlight.
Click to expand...
It should be possible to put a cheap LED strobing ic in the
flashlight if they aren't built into the LEDs. I happen to have a
small duel LED strobing circuit board that rapidly flashes the
two LEDs in an alternating pattern. The ic chip itself is a very
small surface mount unit. I don't think cost for the strobe
controller is much as the whole toy it came out of cost $1.

Also, if pulsing were going on, you'd see stroboscopic effects when you
moved the flashlight quickly, wouldn't you?

I've seen the strobing on rapidly opdating LED displays when
either they moved rapidly. I would think the flash rate would be
at a level that it wouldn't be noticed under most normal
conditions. I'm sure there must be an optimum flash rate for this
type of use.

Zero, more than likely.
Click to expand...
Kind of like the fluorescent lights in my kitchen? ;-)
 
On Sat, 21 May 2005 16:20:03 GMT, ehsjr <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net>
wrote:


Watson *knows* LEDs. You might want to do a little
research - perhaps find a flashlight with a LED such
as you describe - before trying to challenge him.

Ed
Click to expand...
Guess I had better leave Watson alone before I get bitch slapped
by Ed!
 
Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:
"ehsjr" <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
news:8CJje.5174$BF5.235@trndny06...

Henry Kolesnik wrote:

I just got a 4 white LED flashlight that uses 3 AA cells from Harbor
freight. I measured the current at 127 ma and and that leads me to

beleive

they are direct wired. Looking inside as best I can it looks like

all 4 are

in parallel and connect directly to the 3 cells in series. I think

LEDs are

supposed draw a lot less current if they have a dropping resistor.

I'm

guessing that a dropping resistor would reduce current draw

substantially,

increase led life and not reduce light output significantly. But I

can see

were I could easliy install a resistor. I also know just about

zero on

leds.
tnx


The Electronic Goldmine sells a 4 white LED flashlight for
$1.99. Item # G15184 Watch for the line wrap:


http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G15184&variati
on=&aitem=15&mitem=24

You didn't specify the Item # for the Harbor Freight
flashlight - I assume it is ITEM 3653-0VGA

Based on the catalog pictures, it looks like the Harbor
Freight light has a metal body, while the Goldmine's is
plastic. But I'll bet they use the same LED's. I
have the Goldmine unit - there is a bluish tint to the
light it produces. Does yours produce a bluish tint?

As Watson mentioned, overdriving LEDs does reduce their
life and their light output, so your thinking seems right
on target. But for either a $7.00 or a $1.99 4 LED flashlight,
it's probably not worth the effort to incorporate a
dropping resistor - unless experimentation, rather than
function, is the goal.

Ed


Man, for those prices, you can throw them away every time you change the
AA cells! But what I find problematic is that the length of that three
cell monster is over 7".



And if you buy the Goldmine flashlight I think you'll be
Click to expand...
dissapointed. Your Altoids creations out shine it, and
produce whiter light. I'll have to try it with real AA's -
I'm using NiMh. Dunno if the Harbor Freight lite would work
at ~3.6 using rechargeables.

Modifying the Goldmine for 1 AA cell might be a worthwhile
project. They'll also sell you a 4 white led cluster all
by itself, for $1.99. (Item G14877) It contains 5mm LEDs.
I don't have one so I don't know how it performs.

Ed
 
"Spehro Pefhany" <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote in message
news:13nv81959c0bn6mufenres3ao8e89vqhge@4ax.com...
On 21 May 2005 15:46:41 -0700, the renowned "JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com
wrote:

Heck, I'm still stuck on 'fret-saw'. )-;
Rich Grise

:Jeweller's saw? Sort of like a hacksaw with a thin narrow blade
:(shorter than a hacksaw but with similar throat).
: Spehro Pefhany

Wow. Just look at the throats on some of these dudes:
http://www.google.com/images?q=fret-saw

When I heard it, I thought of something like this
(photographed with an actual fretboard, no less):
http://www.google.com/images?q=fret-saw+lmii


Confusingly, at least on European website called something that looked
like that (presumably with finer teeth for metalcutting) a jeweler's
saw. Nothing to fret about, I guess.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
Yes. A 'piercing saw'. This is really the 'jewellers' version. A 'fret
Click to expand...
saw', in the UK, is the wood saw used for cutting instrument 'frets',
hence the name.

Best Wishes
 
"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov.> wrote in message
news:Xns965DC6B555AC3jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.84...
"mc" <mc_no_spam@uga.edu> wrote in
news:428e9d03@mustang.speedfactory.net:

White LEDs require about 4 to 4.5 volts. That is about what comes out
of the AA cells. The internal resistance of the LEDs is probably
sufficient. Newer LEDs have more internal resistance than older ones.





Actually,the Nichia white LEDs have a drop of about 3.5 volts at their
rated current;25ma.
The spec sheet,IIRC,said 3.2v-3.9v.
the 10 I checked were mostly 3.4V.
--

If you use enough, over time you will find that the 5mm white Nichia's use
Click to expand...
all their spec voltage range at RT - not all within one batch though.
Fortunately they do not move very much with temp.
 
On Sun, 22 May 2005 03:19:14 +0000, Si Ballenger wrote:

On Sat, 21 May 2005 16:20:03 GMT, ehsjr <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net
wrote:


Watson *knows* LEDs. You might want to do a little
research - perhaps find a flashlight with a LED such
as you describe - before trying to challenge him.

Ed

Guess I had better leave Watson alone before I get bitch slapped
by Ed!
Click to expand...
I was, astonishingly, only recently informed as to what, exactly,
a bitch-slap is. I has ass-u-me-d that it was just a limp-wristed
slap administered while bitching out the recipient. (lithp optional.)

I was _wrong_! Imagine your surprise!

A bitch-slap, the way it was explained to me, really, only a few
days ago, is a book-standard man-slap, followed in practically the
same movement, by a backhand to the other cheek.

The times, they are a-changin'!
--
Cheers!
Rich
------
"A man was playing golf one day when a little frog hopped out the water
at a water hazard and croaked, "I am a magic frog, and since you are the
10,000th person to play through here, I'm prepared to offer you one of
two magic gifts: First, for a whole year you can have the most fabulous
sex life that anyone ever had; beyond your wildest dreams. Or, second,
for a whole year you can be the best golfer the world has ever known.
Which do you prefer?" The man thought a bit and said that he'd take the
golf. Well, the man holed his wood shot from where he was, completed the
course in an average of 2 per hole, and went round in 22. Quickly he
attracted the attention of the sports world, and became the world's
best-known golfer, setting course records wherever he went. A year later
he was playing the same course inhabited by the frog, and at the water
hazard the frog hopped out and said, "Well, the year is up, and you now
revert to the 18-handicap player you were before. But tell me, I was a
little surprised that you chose the golf -- I take it your sex life is
outstanding?" The man said, "Well, I have no complaints in that
department at all, which is why I chose the golf." "How many times did
you engage in sex last year?" inquired the frog. The man thought a little
and said, "Oh, eight or ten times, I guess." "Damn," said the frog, "that
doesn't strike me as very satisfactory." "Oh, I don't know," replied the
man, "it doesn't seem so bad for a Catholic priest from a little town in
South Dakota.""
 
On Sun, 22 May 2005 18:34:38 GMT, Rich The Newsgroup Wacko
<wacko@example.com> wrote:

On Sun, 22 May 2005 03:19:14 +0000, Si Ballenger wrote:

On Sat, 21 May 2005 16:20:03 GMT, ehsjr <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net
wrote:


Watson *knows* LEDs. You might want to do a little
research - perhaps find a flashlight with a LED such
as you describe - before trying to challenge him.

Ed

Guess I had better leave Watson alone before I get bitch slapped
by Ed!

I was, astonishingly, only recently informed as to what, exactly,
a bitch-slap is. I has ass-u-me-d that it was just a limp-wristed
slap administered while bitching out the recipient. (lithp optional.)

I was _wrong_! Imagine your surprise!
Click to expand...
My suprise you believed it!

A bitch-slap, the way it was explained to me, really, only a few
days ago, is a book-standard man-slap, followed in practically the
same movement, by a backhand to the other cheek.

The times, they are a-changin'!
Click to expand...
I can only imigine who was explaining that to you. ;-)
 
Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:
"ehsjr" <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
news:KeVje.150$nb.145@trndny03...

Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:

"ehsjr" <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
news:8CJje.5174$BF5.235@trndny06...


Henry Kolesnik wrote:


I just got a 4 white LED flashlight that uses 3 AA cells from

Harbor

freight. I measured the current at 127 ma and and that leads me to

beleive


they are direct wired. Looking inside as best I can it looks like

all 4 are


in parallel and connect directly to the 3 cells in series. I think

LEDs are


supposed draw a lot less current if they have a dropping resistor.

I'm


guessing that a dropping resistor would reduce current draw

substantially,


increase led life and not reduce light output significantly. But I

can see


were I could easliy install a resistor. I also know just about

zero on


leds.
tnx


The Electronic Goldmine sells a 4 white LED flashlight for
$1.99. Item # G15184 Watch for the line wrap:



http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G15184&variati

on=&aitem=15&mitem=24


You didn't specify the Item # for the Harbor Freight
flashlight - I assume it is ITEM 3653-0VGA

Based on the catalog pictures, it looks like the Harbor
Freight light has a metal body, while the Goldmine's is
plastic. But I'll bet they use the same LED's. I
have the Goldmine unit - there is a bluish tint to the
light it produces. Does yours produce a bluish tint?

As Watson mentioned, overdriving LEDs does reduce their
life and their light output, so your thinking seems right
on target. But for either a $7.00 or a $1.99 4 LED flashlight,
it's probably not worth the effort to incorporate a
dropping resistor - unless experimentation, rather than
function, is the goal.

Ed


Man, for those prices, you can throw them away every time you change

the

AA cells! But what I find problematic is that the length of that

three

cell monster is over 7".




And if you buy the Goldmine flashlight I think you'll be
dissapointed. Your Altoids creations out shine it, and
produce whiter light. I'll have to try it with real AA's -
I'm using NiMh. Dunno if the Harbor Freight lite would work
at ~3.6 using rechargeables.

Modifying the Goldmine for 1 AA cell might be a worthwhile
project. They'll also sell you a 4 white led cluster all
by itself, for $1.99. (Item G14877) It contains 5mm LEDs.
I don't have one so I don't know how it performs.

Ed


Richard Cappels had a project on his web page that replaced one cell
with a V boost circuit. It's in series, so there's nothing to do other
than remove one cell and put the dummy cell circuit in its place. That
might be the way to go with a three cell light if you're using
rechargables.

Here's the URL
http://mail4.cableaz.com/~cappels/dproj/vboostLED/vboostLED.html
Click to expand...
Clever!
 
On Sun, 22 May 2005 22:41:43 +0000, Si Ballenger wrote:
On Sun, 22 May 2005 18:34:38 GMT, Rich The Newsgroup Wacko
On Sun, 22 May 2005 03:19:14 +0000, Si Ballenger wrote:
On Sat, 21 May 2005 16:20:03 GMT, ehsjr <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net

Watson *knows* LEDs. You might want to do a little
research - perhaps find a flashlight with a LED such
as you describe - before trying to challenge him.

Guess I had better leave Watson alone before I get bitch slapped
by Ed!

I was, astonishingly, only recently informed as to what, exactly,
a bitch-slap is. I has ass-u-me-d that it was just a limp-wristed
slap administered while bitching out the recipient. (lithp optional.)

I was _wrong_! Imagine your surprise!

My suprise you believed it!
Click to expand...
What's to believe? I had made an ass out of you and me. Sheesh!

A bitch-slap, the way it was explained to me, really, only a few
days ago, is a book-standard man-slap, followed in practically the
same movement, by a backhand to the other cheek.

The times, they are a-changin'!

I can only imigine who was explaining that to you. ;-)
Click to expand...
I think I found it on the internet. ;-P Just a sec...
....<time passes>...
Well, I'll be hornswaggled! As usual, I went and did a google search
to back up my bullshit, and this kind of popped out of the woodwork:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bitchslap&defid=121011

So, I was wrong again! Imagine your surprise! =:-O
--
Cheers!
Rich
------
"There was a young girl from Samoa
Who pledged that no man would know her.
One young fellow tried,
But she wriggled aside,
And he spilled all his spermatozoa."
 
On Sun, 22 May 2005 22:41:43 +0000, Si Ballenger wrote:

On Sun, 22 May 2005 18:34:38 GMT, Rich The Newsgroup Wacko
wacko@example.com> wrote:

A bitch-slap, the way it was explained to me, really, only a few
days ago, is a book-standard man-slap, followed in practically the
same movement, by a backhand to the other cheek.

The times, they are a-changin'!

I can only imigine who was explaining that to you. ;-)
Click to expand...
A man-bitch, of course. You _are_ familiar with that term, aren't you?
;-P ;-P '=} - huh? wha?

How many blondes does it take to write a vocabulary test?

"A what?"
--
The Pig Bladder from Uranus, still waiting for that hot babe
to ask what my favorite planet is.
 
On Sun, 22 May 2005 08:57:38 +0000, Roger Hamlett wrote:
"Spehro Pefhany" <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote in message
On 21 May 2005 15:46:41 -0700, the renowned "JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com

Heck, I'm still stuck on 'fret-saw'. )-;
Rich Grise

:Jeweller's saw? Sort of like a hacksaw with a thin narrow blade
:(shorter than a hacksaw but with similar throat).
: Spehro Pefhany

Wow. Just look at the throats on some of these dudes:
http://www.google.com/images?q=fret-saw

When I heard it, I thought of something like this
(photographed with an actual fretboard, no less):
http://www.google.com/images?q=fret-saw+lmii

Confusingly, at least on European website called something that looked
like that (presumably with finer teeth for metalcutting) a jeweler's
saw. Nothing to fret about, I guess.

Yes. A 'piercing saw'. This is really the 'jewellers' version. A 'fret
saw', in the UK, is the wood saw used for cutting instrument 'frets',
hence the name.
Click to expand...
I used to have an X-acto saw, and an extruded aluminum X-acto miter box,
but it's apparently either buried in clutter at the moment, or I've lost
it in transit somewhere. It's just an ordinary miter saw, scaled down by
about a factor of 4, but with a human-sized handle.

Lessee...

Yikes! There _is_ such of a thing!
http://www.artstuff.net/xacto_saw_blades.htm
(first google hit on "X-acto saw" WOQ)

Just to be fair, I _did_ go to the first link above, which confirms
what I thought a jeweler's saw was.

I prob'ly should make up another nym for when I'm being the techie, but
the blood level in my alcohol-stream is approaching optimum.

How's "Rich The Drunk?"

Wow! http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/PROD/x-acto/BDJ01

Ain't the internet AMAZING?

Cheers!
Rich
 
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