Maglite 3D $8.98 @ Target

[NumbersGuy]

Yesterday found some of the 3D Maglites, regularly $17.99, red tagged to $8.98. Bought 2.

Returned today, no red tags left, but the unmarked ones scan $8.98.

Not bad for a lifetime type flashlight. This was at the Miami / West Kendall store.

As always, YMMV.

 

[EF9]

im gonna check my local target tomorrow!

 

[rancherlee]

good deal, the 3 D-cell ones work GREAT for making a LED flashlight out of, managed to fit about 25 superbright (7000mcd) white LEDs in one.

 

[JimRaynor]

huh rancherlee i'm interested, more info please on how to do it? how much better is it?

 

[EF9]

Originally posted by: rancherlee
good deal, the 3 D-cell ones work GREAT for making a LED flashlight out of, managed to fit about 25 superbright (7000mcd) white LEDs in one.

wow, must be bright!

 

[0roo0roo]

i don't get it, is this an led flashlight?> or is that guy just modding it?

 

[zigCorsair]

Originally posted by: rancherlee
good deal, the 3 D-cell ones work GREAT for making a LED flashlight out of, managed to fit about 25 superbright (7000mcd) white LEDs in one.

I don't suppose you have any statistics on how long the battery lasts you do you? That'd be wayyyy cool if ya did . Sounds fun (and bright)!

 

[ParatoOptimal]

Rancherlee,
Could you please supply a how to and any info on battery life?

Thanks

 

[johneetrash]

wow that sounds interesting. info please

 

[BG4533]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i don't get it, is this an led flashlight?> or is that guy just modding it?

He just modded it. It is a normal maglite with a single bulb.

 

[pete777]

Hi
how did you moldded it?
thanks

 

[redls1]

They are still 13.98 at my local store

 

[VitoVonAntwon]

rancherlee, where did you buy the leds from?

VitoVOnantwon

 

[dc]

no go in the few socal stores i checked, still 13.xx

 

[Dataman]

Battery life will depend on just how many LED you put in there and what you drive them with and what you drive them through.

If you use 1 led and limit to 30mA or 20 , plan on a wild increase in battery life.

If you use primay cells, the life will probably be close to the shelf life of the batteries since you're probably not going to use this 24/7. If you use rechargable NIMH or NICAD, they self discharge and you will probably be able to use them longer than you eventually feel comfortable with since you have to be careful not to discharge the rechargables too far.

Remember too, that most rechargables drive @ 1.2vcd for most of their discharge cycle while primary cells push 1.5 to 1.7 and dwindle to nothing.

A circuit designed for rechargables might allow dammage to the LEDs if some new high performance primary cells are used.

As far as the "through" part, you'll need a regulator circuit be it a constant current source or small light bulb(resistance changes with temp.)or simply a resistor.

Pack in lots of LED's and battery life is reduced but the light can really get bright still with much less power than a regular bulb.

If you want to make your own and battery life is top prioity, keep the drive current down on the LED to put them in a more efficient operating range. It'll cost pretty good to add lots of LEDs though.

My white "night light" runs for 1/2 year on two aa cells and it runs 24/7.(Some white LED will run on <3vdc)


Maglites make nice LED flashlights!

interesting stuff.

 

[WolverineGator]

Luxeon LED 3D Cell MagLite Modification:
http://lambda10.tripod.com/3dmag.htm

Here's another one:
http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_lighting_flashlites.html

 

[rancherlee]

I see someone beat me too it, I did this with my 4D maglight, managed to get 25 LED's in there. Its "brighter" but its more of a flood light than a spot light. You can't see as far but you can see ALOT more around you. I left it on for 24 hours straight and it was still lit up. I used used a pcb board from radio shack and cut it to fit inplace of the reflector.

ALSO you can get the LED's DIRT CHEAP on Ebay, I bought them from a company in Hong Kong off ebay and it cost me 22.50$ Shipped for 100 7000mcd leds.

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: DatamanMy white "night light" runs for 1/2 year on two aa cells and it runs 24/7.(Some white LED will run on <3vdc)

Please explain how you managed to get that run-time... the typical single-LED light running from 2 x AA would run for a few hundred hours at most, a couple of weeks not half a year.

 

[Dataman]

"Please explain how you managed to get that run-time... the typical single-LED light running from 2 x AA would run for a few hundred hours at most, a couple of weeks not half a year."

It's all in how you use the LED. Very low power for longer runs still provide useful light. The LED's make the most of very low current.

You've got to keep your mA as far down as you can while still providing the light you need but the light from that little "marathon runer" is fairly dim.

 

[FungusFeet]

Originally posted by: rancherlee

I left it on for 24 hours straight and it was still lit up.

Yes the battery life of LEDS amaze me. I have one with 9 LEDS, and forgot it under the couch cushion. A few days later it was still strong... Do LEDS also have decent lifetime?

 

There were about three left at my local Target (Ann Arbor, at AA-Saline Road). They scanned for $9.47, which is still a great deal. As I was getting mine, another guy came up and grabbed one. I got a blue, but there were also green.

 

[BraveUlysses]

Originally posted by: FungusFeet

Do LEDS also have decent lifetime?

Yes. Usually over 100,000 hours.

 

[NumbersGuy]

Hypothesis: the $12.98 price is 25% off, the $9.00 is 50% off; some stores are behind on the discount.

Suggestion: Discounts change either Thursday or Friday (don't remember). Recheck again, may be $9 and $6 respectively.

As always, YMMV - g/l
(I got 2 blacks & 2 grays)

 

[KKCC]

I checked by me & they had the 3 D size reduced to 13.77. The single AAA was 3.47 in green, & 4.99 for the other colors. I grabbed the one green left.