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36 Comments
- bigben, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5First off, the point of this article is not that he turned a flashlight into a flashlight. It is a lesson in DC-DC voltage step-up. He could have used 2 batteries, but these LEDs are designed to run at 3.3 volts. Obviously 3 volts will not be as bright.
As far as the schematic goes. It is not a Zener diode, it is a Schottky diode. A Zener diode has a P-N junction, but a Schottky diode has a metal-N junction. It is designed to have a fast switching rate, so it can be used in a switching power supply. Before you go off making fun of people, it might be wise to know what you are talking about first. The circuit symbol is different than that of a zener diode. Go to http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_3/10.html, and it is obvious that the schematic is from the manufacturer of the MAX756 chip. There is no reason for the author to remake a schematic for the chip when he is just following the guidelines for it. The point of the project is a beginner circuit, that fits inside of the flash light.
Of course you can buy an LED flashlight. The purpose of a mod is to make something so you don't have to buy it. It is to design something yourself, for a feeling of accomplishment. Instead of being a lamer and flaming this guy, how about having some respect. - EmileVictor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Kinda pointless considering Maglight is switching to LED clusters soon anyway.
- gummyAvenger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3You can also buy an "LED upgrade" for a mini mag at Wal-Mart for $5.
- 404notfound, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4So he a turned a flashlight into... a flashlight?
- jordanross, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2this was on MAKE Blog first.
- whatsMYname, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I think I'll just wait for Maglite to come out with the MagLed or whatever they call it.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1my dad has a led meglight it is a regular maglight with a diffrent bulb..
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The nay sayers have it all wrong. It's not about having a flashlight, or turning a flashlight into a flashlight, it's about learning a little bit about how things work. Most DIYers don't do it themselves because it's easier, or faster, they do it just to do it. It's a hobby and last I checked hobbies don't usually make sense.
To the people who say: "it's easy", yes, it is easy. Most things in life are easy once you know how to do them. - geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1He turned a very decently constructed flashlight that uses a conventional bulb into a perfect flashlight that uses an LED bulb; lower power requirements, brighter, less expensive "bulb" to replace.
Not a massive hack, but one he should get credit for. Digg for the cause. - Dangerman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For illumination tools, SureFire is the ONLY way to go. They are not cheap, but you can saw a MagLite in half with the knurling on the barrel if for some odd reason you want to. Plus they last forever.
check em ->http://www.surefire.com
they can be had new for right around dealer cost on eBay. - matthewsr2000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i just think the ingenuity of this project deserves a digg!!
so damn tiny, the guy has some experience behind the 'ol iron for sure. i would've never *dreampt* to make something like this, i would've just tried to design my own water proof enclosure which would've looked fugly at best!
and best of, bulb swaps are easy with the socket being built into the flashlight!!
double dugg if i could. . . - bigben, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The author gave the part number of the diode. If you want to build it, you can look up the part number. If you actually looked at the article, you will see that it is very basic. The blog actually gave more about it the the original author. It was merely a series of pictures on Flickr.
- MaggieL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1By the way, Candlepowerforums is dead in the water. Maybe their batteries...but when a site URL ends in "vb"...well...
- bulbboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0In an emergency leds win out over incandescents, lasting longer and more robust. How many times have you dropped a torch and the bulb conks out, just when you need it most.
This usually happens in movies just before the aliens start to swarm.
You're unlikely to ever be in the same situation a la pitchblack, but its handy to have an led
flashlight that you know will work when you switch it on without worrying about bulb life. - MaggieL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Convert your AAA Mini Maglite or AA Mini Maglite into an energy efficient LED flashlight with the TerraLUX MicroStar1. The surface mount LED and PowerPush technology generates 20 Lumens of white light"
http://www.pocketlights.com/terralux_microstar1.asp - Dhalgren, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1BTW, for someone who thinks he can make one of these, the blogger is pretty stupid...
1N5817 is a diode. Look at the fricking circuit diagram. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I have a Garrity LED flashlight so I don't need to make my own, but I dugg anyway cuz I'm a sucker.
- CaptSnuffy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm not sure what the article author is smoking, the 1N5817 appears to be a zener diode on the schematic. Did the author not make the schematic or something?
- wilf_brim, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Kind of gross overkill, as you can get a good LED flashlight for less than $20. I'm not surprised that Maglight is considering switching to LED clusters. They are much better. I'll probably try and snag another one before hurricane season.
- fuggo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0screw the mini mag light, get one of these:
http://www.inovalight.com/site.html?X1-ov - xgraxe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I simply found a led with the correct voltage requirements and switched it in for the bulb in my mag light. Longer battery life, just as bright, perfect white light, no circuit board required...
- abbtech, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Well since there are LED flashlights available it isn't a necessary hack but it is well done and very interesting! If you already own something why not make it better! Get your white LEDs here:
http://alan-parekh.vstore.ca/product_info.php/cPath/4_6/products_id/14
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http://hackedgadgets.com - DarkCloud14, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Quote:
"So he a turned a flashlight into... a flashlight?"
HAH.. exactly what I was thinking... - cosmotic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Link to the article not your blog
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is easy. With basic knowledge of circuitry, one could do this without intstuctions.
- beanwaur, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0...so why the hell did he build a circut to up the voltage when he could have just added another battery
- CaptSnuffy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0You're absolutely right bigben
I mixed up the different diode symbols (not easy to remember subtle differences). Still don't you think the author should recognize it's a diode at the very least? - oneMadRssn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0i just wanted to have it known. this link sucks. i only dugg it so that i have a link to the comments with good links.
- Malik04, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0pointless indeed...
- gyrfalcon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0What a waste of time... this place has cheaper products:
http://www.niteize.com - themuffinman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"...so why the hell did he build a circut to up the voltage when he could have just added another battery"
My thoughts exactly. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Is this a grass-roots advertisement for a Maxim chip?
- Meshyf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0lol I agree with Emile
- ifonly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0i thought this said flesh light ;)
- kohno214, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Bought mine at Walmart for about $8.00.
- echosierratwo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0before all you nonflashaholics chime in check out http://candlepowerforums.com/ If and when Mag does switch they will be !@#$, just like they are now.Nothing will change. LED upgrades are !@#$. The BIN lots are off colored and are not powerful at all (there is a whole science to LEDs). a good LED for $20. hahahahahaha, I think not. Once you've done your research you'll all soon realize that your statements are a bit premature.
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