|
I have had many people ask me, "How do I convert the
double barrel flashlight to 4.5 or 6 volts so it can run LEDs?"
Well William I. has some pics and instruction to help us out
with this one. In his own words:
Start out recommending only using 4.5 volts for an LED and
possibly 6 volts for the incandescent bulb. Heed my warning:
a nichia white LED will NOT last 5 minutes at 6 volts with
these batteries. ONLY run LED's at 4.5 volts unless you can
find a place on here to stick a resistor. So far, the bulb
has not blown at 6 volts, but this mod sure has increased
the light output tremendously.
|
 |
Start by removing the batteries, an important step to prevent
flying springs later! (Another hint from experience!) Then
remove reflector and lens cap. You will then see the white
switch assy. inside the black plastic housing with (2) small
Phillips screws holding it into housing.
|
|
Remove the (2) screws and then remove switch assy. by grasping
bulb and pulling lightly. Watch out for the small black plastic
piece that fits into the rubber switch button. If you lose
this the light will NOT
turn on and off, but it will still stay in whatever position
the switch happens to be in when re-inserted. If you are careful,
this black plastic piece will stay in the rubber during the
mod procedure and you'll never have to mess with trying to
get it back in there.
Now remove the spring from the side of the flashlight opposite
the switch. Clip the small black plastic collar off the battery
end of the spring so the negative end of the battery can touch
this end. Replace the spring.
You will need (2) small pieces of aluminum foil to do the
mod. Take a square of foil about 1" square and fold it
into a square about 1/4" wide on the sides. Place/push
this piece of foil into the top of the spring under the switch
area. This foil helps make contact with the new contact you
are about to make on the switch assy.
|
 |
 |
The switch assy. has small brass pieces for contacts on the
battery end. The Fig. [to the left] shows the brass pieces as
is unmodified. |
|
The Fig. [to the right] shows the modified switch assy. The
small, thin brass piece running along the edge is cut into
and removed from the switch assy. Then, fold up the piece
that extends over the center back towards the edge of the
assy. This is now the new contact that will connect with the
foil square on top of the spring.
Re-assemble the switch assy.into the black plastic housing
being careful not to knock out and lose the small piece that
goes into the switch rubber. Also, make sure the foil square
does NOT touch the center screw holding the black housing
onto the battery tubes. Replace (2) small Phillips screws
now and screw on the reflector/lens cap.
|
 |
 |
You will now re-insert the batteries but now they will be
put in a little differently than stencil on battery tube. Orient
the flashlight with stencil showing towards you and switch on
left side. Place (2) batteries in left tube with positive terminal
up towards bulb end. Now place either (2) more batteries IN
THE OTHER DIRECTION in the right tube for 6 volts or just one
battery and then an appropriate length of a #4 spring. If you
use a spring, skip the next step, if (2) batteries in right
side, follow next step. Battery cap has a hole in center of
cap contact that touches the battery. Make a small round disc
of aluminum foil and fit between battery and battery cap as
you screw it on so small positive tip of battery will touch
the cap contact. |
|
That's all there is to it. I have not actually tried the
LED at 4.5 volts yet as the last one I had went south at 6
volts. I put the bulb back in though and man is it bright
now! Didn't pop right off and hasn't yet. You might mention
to ALWAYS wipe off the bulb AFTER it is back in place so as
not to leave any skin oil residue on bulb. This will be especially
true running at higher voltage. The brightness of this AAA
running at 6 volts with incandescent bulb blows my "2D"
& "3C" Maglites away!
Thanks William I. for sharing this mod with FlashlightReviews.com!
|
