MXDL mod for Super Bright Flashlight!

jayrob · Feb 11, 2008

This is the best host I have found for the Cree mod so far: (This mod uses the Cree Q5, powered with an AMC7135/1050mA driver) This first picture shows the size comparison...

The reasons I like it best are:
1. It uses 3 X AA batteries. So, were talking huge capacity, and longer run time. And, not to mention, you can use the Lithium AAs, which have like a 10 - 15 year shelf life!

2. Check out how the emitter fits up into the reflector!

3. The light is nice and solid, well built, and a great 'feel' in your hand. Even the tail switch is metal!
4. Last, but not least, probably because of the way the reflector is fit, along with the battery/driver combo, this baby is noticeably brighter!

Here's where I got the light:
http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Brightest-A...yZ106987QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Although the light itself cost a few bucks more, the driver is only about a buck fifty. (but you have to buy 10) http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1885

But trust me, if you held this light in your hand, and tried it out, you would not care about spending the extra money! It's AWESOME!
Jay

amkdeath · Feb 12, 2008

jayrob said:
This is the best host I have found for the Cree mod so far: (This mod uses the Cree Q5, powered with an AMC7135/1050mA driver) This first picture shows the size comparison...

The reasons I like it best are:
1. It uses 3 X AA batteries. So, were talking huge capacity, and longer run time. And, not to mention, you can use the Lithium AAs, which have like a 10 year shelf life!

2. Check out how the emitter fits up into the reflector!

3. The light is nice and solid, well built, and a great 'feel' in your hand. Even the tail switch is metal!
4. Last, but not least, probably because of the way the reflector is fit, along with the battery/driver combo, this baby is noticeably brighter!

Here's where I got the light:
http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Brightest-A...yZ106987QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Although the light itself cost a few bucks more, the driver is only about a buck fifty. (but you have to buy 10) http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1885

But trust me, if you held this light in your hand, and tried it out, you would not care about spending the extra money! It's AWESOME!
Jay

lolz nice mod, bit to pricey for 24.99 tho...

jayrob · Feb 13, 2008

I have done 4 different configurations of the Cree Q5 modification so far. From left to right:

1. The 5 mode driver with 2 X RCR123s (The CR123 3.0 lithium primaries work good too if you want the long shelf life)
2. AMC7135/1050mA driver with 1 X 18560 in a 'drilled out' MXDL.
3. AMC driver in a 3 X AAA host. (Good capacity, and lithium shelf life)
4. AMC driver in a 3 X AA host. (Awesome capacity, and lithium shelf life)

I have really been favoring the AMC7135/1050mA drivers!
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1885
The recommend input voltage is 3.6V~4.5V. So, you can use a variety of battery configurations. You can never have too many good lights. One for the work bench, tool box, tackle box, glove box, night stand, etc... That's why I like the lithium batteries. No more of those, 'going to use a flashlight when you really need one', only to find out that the batteries are dead, or they leaked inside...
Jay

jayrob · Feb 16, 2008

Although I haven't tried it yet, I'm sure this battery will fit the MXDL:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/protected-17670.html
It would be perfect for the AMC7135/1050mA driver in an MXDL. The battery dimensions are 17mm X 67mm. I know the 18650 is the correct length. (67mm) And we all know that the RCR123's are the correct diameter. (17mm) You would charge this battery in the same charger that you would charge the 18650...
Jay

amkdeath · Feb 16, 2008

jayrob said:
Although I haven't tried it yet, I'm sure this battery will fit the MXDL:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/protected-17670.html
It would be perfect for the AMC7135/1050mA driver in an MXDL. The battery dimensions are 17mm X 67mm. I know the 18650 is the correct length. (67mm) And we all know that the RCR123's are the correct diameter. (17mm) You would charge this battery in the same charger that you would charge the 18650...
Jay

18650's are 65 mm long, not 67. 18650 is read like this: 18 (wdth) 65 (length) 0 (0 is just at the end to show u can read it this way).

im preety sure you would be bette roff with a 14650, because the layer of plastic they use for the cover and make of the battery adds a few mm of thickness.

regards,

amk

jayrob · Feb 16, 2008

amk, here is a link to some 18650 batteries:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/li18322mahre.html
You can see in the description that they are 67mm long.

But, even if there is only a couple of mm difference, it won't matter. The MXDL tail switch has a spring loaded brass contact. It gives you over 1/8" of movement there. Or, if the battery is just a 'hair' short, you can easily use a small flat magnet on the negative end of the battery. But the chargers that I have are the same fit for 18650 and 17670 battery length.

So, like I said before, I am sure that the 17670 batteries will fit perfectly into the MXDL. Even though I have not personally tried them. I think that the 14650's would be too 'sloppy' and loose inside. You would have to wrap them with tape or paper to keep them from rattling around...
Jay

amkdeath · Feb 16, 2008

JAY:

They are longer by 2 mm because of theprotection circuit. so, if 1767's are 67mm long, + the protection circuit = 69mm. that is too loong! once again, descriptions are read liek this:

18 witdth
65 lenght
0 doesnt stand for anything

so, thats why you will have a tight and barely "fit" fit with 17670's. the 14650's are AA width, + the wrapping, which would bring it to exactly CR123 width. the wrapping on the 17670's would make it too fat. also, the length of the 17670's + the protetion circuits would make it an impossible fit. 14650's will fit, and they wont be loose and sloppy.

jayrob · Feb 16, 2008

amkdeath said:
JAY:

They are longer by 2 mm because of theprotection circuit. so, if 1767's are 67mm long, + the protection circuit = 69mm. that is too loong! once again, descriptions are read liek this:

18 witdth
65 lenght
0 doesnt stand for anything

so, thats why you will have a tight and barely "fit" fit with 17670's. the 14650's are AA width, + the wrapping, which would bring it to exactly CR123 width. the wrapping on the 17670's would make it too fat. also, the length of the 17670's + the protetion circuits would make it an impossible fit. 14650's will fit, and they wont be loose and sloppy.

Well, I'm not going to keep arguing with you over this amk, I guess the only way to know, is to try a 17670. I do know that I have 3 different battery chargers, all of which say they charge both the 18650, as well as the 17670. Only one slot for either battery...
Jay

amkdeath · Feb 17, 2008

jayrob said:
[quote author=amkdeath link=1194770080/90#102 date=1203199494]JAY:

They are longer by 2 mm because of theprotection circuit. so, if 1767's are 67mm long, + the protection circuit = 69mm. that is too loong! once again, descriptions are read liek this:

18 witdth
65 lenght
0 doesnt stand for anything

so, thats why you will have a tight and barely "fit" fit with 17670's. the 14650's are AA width, + the wrapping, which would bring it to exactly CR123 width. the wrapping on the 17670's would make it too fat. also, the length of the 17670's + the protetion circuits would make it an impossible fit. 14650's will fit, and they wont be loose and sloppy.

Well, I'm not going to keep arguing with you over this amk, I guess the only way to know, is to try a 17670. I do know that I have 3 different battery chargers, all of which say they charge both the 18650, as well as the 17670. Only one slot for either battery...
Jay
[/quote]

true let us know how it turns out.

Im not in the mood of arguing either, as I was just about to kill my open can MXDL...

regards,

amk

Gazoo · Feb 17, 2008

The dimensions of a RCR123 protected battery are 17 D x 36 H mm, two of them would be 72 mm's in length.

The dimensions of a 17670 protected battery are 17 D x 67 H mm

The difference is the 17670 is shorter by .2 inches. Therefore it should fit but may require a small spacer.

I don't understand why the thickness of the battery wrapper would matter, of course most batteries have wrappers.

Why would the 17670 wrapper be any thicker than the RCR123 battery wrapper?

jayrob · Feb 17, 2008

I am 99% positive that the 17670 battery would fit nicely in the MXDL, but I have no reason to buy one. Because, as you know, I have drilled out one of my MXDL's for an 18650 Cree mod. And you have seen my other AMC7135/1050mA Cree mods as well. But my chargers have the same 'slot' for either battery. (18650, or 17670) Also, the web site says 67mm for both. (protected) Anyway, I think if someone wanted to do a Cree mod using the MXDL, and the AMC7135/1050mA driver, this would be the battery to buy. If it fits the charger, it will fit the MXDL, which has some room for play, in the spring loaded tail cap contact...
Jay

jayrob · Feb 17, 2008

P.S. Just for some other information, this picture shows the length of known battery configurations that fit in the MXDL. So, we know that there is room for slight variations in overall battery length.

wooooooolazer · Feb 17, 2008

Hm, i would put that 1050ma driver in mine if only they didnt make you buy ten lol..the mxdl is great because of that peg at the bottom, it is like a half an inch long so you have a lot of room to fit a battery in there.

Oh yeah, i sure hope those calipers arent made of metal lol, shorting and lithium doesnt go good in the same sentance

...lazer.. ;D ;D ;D

jayrob · Feb 17, 2008

wooooooolazer said:
Hm, i would put that 1050ma driver in mine if only they didnt make you buy ten lol..the mxdl is great because of that peg at the bottom, it is like a half an inch long so you have a lot of room to fit a battery in there.

Oh yeah, i sure hope those calipers arent made of metal lol, shorting and lithium doesnt go good in the same sentance

...lazer.. ;D ;D ;D

Oh man, that would be bad. They are made of some kind of hard plastic. Yeah, I agree, the tail cap contact on the MXDL is great! I've used the 3.0 volt primaries, the 3.6 volt rechargeables, and an 18650. (in a drilled out MXDL) That's why I know the 17670 will fit...
Jay

amkdeath · Feb 17, 2008

jayrob said:
[quote author=wooooooolazer link=1194770080/105#108 date=1203264453]Hm, i would put that 1050ma driver in mine if only they didnt make you buy ten lol..the mxdl is great because of that peg at the bottom, it is like a half an inch long so you have a lot of room to fit a battery in there.

Oh yeah, i sure hope those calipers arent made of metal lol, shorting and lithium doesnt go good in the same sentance

...lazer.. ;D ;D ;D

Oh man, that would be bad. Their made of some kind of hard plastic. Yeah, I agree, the tail cap contact on the MXDL is great! I've used the 3.0 volt primaries, the 3.6 volt rechargeables, and an 18650. (in a drilled out MXDL) That's why I know the 17670 will fit...
Jay
[/quote]

i see, okay, u beat me. I guess it will fit after all!

now, back to the mod... Is there anyone who wants to trade a 1000mA AMC driver for a 350mA AMC driver?

jayrob · Feb 17, 2008

amk, I bought 10 of them. So I'll just send you one! You want the 1050mA one right? It was only like a buck fifty, and I don't need them all, so don't worry about trading or anything. After all, you did buy one of my heatsinks! I still have your mailing address from your PM...
Jay

P.S. amk, in case you haven't used this driver before, take a look at this picture. There is a spot on the driver that is marked 'Q2'. That is where you will solder your negative lead that goes to the emitter. The positive comes right from the middle (direct to the positive of the battery) The MXDL case must be grounded to one of the three holes on the side. The emitter is already isolated from the aluminum 'star' heatsink. So, you won't need to worry about that. As a friendly reminder, this driver is for a 3.6 to 4.5 volt supply.

MXDL mod for Super Bright Flashlight!

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