I bought this light to see how bright the Cree MC-3 emitter was with a single 18650. (I like this size for a flashlight - not too bulky)
DealExtreme: $39.23 UltraFire MC-C2 MC-E (BIN K-WC) 3-Mode Tactical LED Flashlight (1*18650)

Anyway, I was not really that impressed with the output, although it was very bright, I was expecting more. So...

I bought this P7 emitter:
DealExtreme: $15.37 SSC P7 C-Bin LED Emitter with 21mm Heat Sink Base (3.6V~3.7V)

Then found this P7 driver:
http://kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=1770

Which is designed for a single battery supply as well as up to 6 volts supply.

(Input voltage 2.7V-6.0V, buck circuit)

The Kaidomain custom driver, which is made up of 2 X 1400mA 7135 drivers (I believe), does what they claim with a 6 volt supply. I measured 2830 mA's current draw from 2 X 3.0 volt CR123 primaries!

* Using an Ultrafire protected 18650, I get about 1.9 Amps current draw.
* Using an AW protected 18650, I get 2.4 Amps current draw.
* Using 2 X 3.0 volt lithium primaries, I get 2.8 Amps current draw!

So I have found, that it also matters which brand of battery you use for the 18650's.

Note: The pictures are using a single 18650 supply, which is plenty bright, and I think is the best fit for current draw vs battery capacity.

Of course, you can buy a P7 light from DX for less than my parts if you include the cost of my first light, but I wanted brighter, and it wasn't too bad just for the upgrade in case you have something similar that you want to upgrade.

Not too much modification was needed for the conversion...




* Enlarge the hole in the aluminum reflector to fit the larger P7 emitter.
* Adjust the tail cap spring and some small adjustments in how far certain areas of the host were threaded in to get the length for the 18650 to the right length.
* Switch out the stock emitter with the P7. (using thermal adhesive)
* Replace the driver!

The result is awesome! VERY nice for the size. I have a P7 mod that I did with a host that takes 2 X 18650's. I used the P7 'drop in' emitter from DX that comes with the reflector and driver all in one for that mod.

For this one, using the Kaidomain driver, it is considerably brighter than that larger light when using 2 X 3.0 volt CR123 batteries! SCHWEET!
Jay

(Pictures with only a single 18650 supply - 6 volts is much brighter!)






Update:

I received a new light from DX today. This one:
DealExtreme: $35.00 SpiderFire SSC P7 SSC P7-C 2-Mode 900-Lumen LED Flashlight with Strap (1*18650)

It is in the same host as the one I modified in this thread, but a different driver. I don't know much about the driver, but I get over 2800mA's battery current draw from a single 18650!

This is my smallest and brightest light. Awesome light!

The one thing that you would want, is to get your 18650 from AW. The AW battery gives over 2800mA's to the P7 emitter. But an Ultrafire is no more than 1200mA's current draw. (in this light)

So the battery makes a huge difference. The AW batteries are expensive, but worth it in this application!

Also, the light has two modes... high/low. The circuit seems to be in the tail switch. You must turn the light completely off to switch modes. This is the only thing that I do not like, but it would be easy to replace the switch to make a single mode light...
Jay

Edit: Yep, the two modes was in the switch. There is a 6.1 ohm resistor in there. I just changed out the clicky to make mine just on/off single mode.



Click here to see my list of projects and tutorials!

Very cool Jay. Can you use that mod in the 3405?

Hmm, I think I'm more impressed by your patio/pool area :P LOL

NICE mod as always, good sir! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I'm sure it could work in the 3405! And that host has a nice thick head for good heatsinking...

With that driver, the 4.5 volt supply would be perfect! The only thing I would wonder about, it the plastic reflector. The P7 puts out a lot of heat...






HumanSymphomy, thanks! We won second place in an International builders contest for our design at the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. (I must give credit to my wife Brandi for the idea of the flat lid)

I wanted a swim through tunnel cave, but was thinking a huge waterfall over the top.

She said, 'why not a flat lid?'
I said, 'that would look like a canal'.
She said, 'but it would be way more usful.'

So I just had to make it look good. Then was born the idea of the steps up the center and the water features!

The 8' deep, swim through tunnel cave has a huge bench in the back with jets. There are controls inside as well for turning on the jets and the sheer descents that come out the lid and over the openings of the cave! Water down the center steps as well. 4' openings, and 16' across the front!

But best of all... I put a nice little shelf, which is 'inset' into the podium on the inside of the cave! A bottle of Patron and a shot glass sits in there at all times!
Jay

That is swell, sir! SWELL!! ;D

Come on over and go for a swim!

But if you go into the cave, it is a must, to have a seat and take a shot or two!
Jay

I'd love to! The cave looks sweet. I don't drink, however I DO on special occasions which I believe this would be one of those types of ordeals :P

Whenever I see your avatar, it looks like your 'slamming' beers!
Jay

LOL that's what everyone says :P It's merely a pepsi 8-)

Oh....oh my god... you gotta come here and build us one of those!!









Please?

Oh....oh my god... you gotta come here and build us one of those!!

Ya jay and while we wait on the constriction crew to put in the hi dive,
Maybe a laser or 3? [smiley=bath.gif]

That's not a cave...its a grotto. Very nice.

In the industry, we use names like grotto and cave. Usually, we say grotto when it is a shallow cave. (like sitting back under a ledge)

The 4' wide, 8' deep tunnel goes back 10'! And since I designed and built it, I call it a 'swim through tunnel cave'.



larrball, I haven't got any built in laser effects, but there is some nice lighting. I have the color lights that can rotate colors, or just leave on a certain color you like best.

I have a separate light in the tunnel (a couple of feet up from the bottom - about 6' deep). The idea was not only to have light in there, but to give the effect of a train coming out of a tunnel type look...
Jay

O my gawd... just when you think it couldn't be any sweller, it IS!

Now that's nice at night jay.
Thought i read somethang about you *and lasers..

( but i'll bet everyone can POOL *together) *

* *;D

A house with that pool, near where I live, no less than 10.000.000€. (ten fucken millions)

I live in 35 square meters....

Woe! I can't imagine spending 10 million! (because I could never afford that)

It was good to get the 'favors' with all of the sub contractors that I know from being the project manager of a well known builder in the area. So because of that, I built this pool for actually LESS than material cost...

Plus, since our suppliers liked us so well (since we were building about 60 pools a year), they gave me all of my equipment for free! I'm talking all the bells and whistles too! I have an in-house wall mount controller, a spa-side controller, another controller in the cave, and a wireless remote controller as well! I also got an upgrade that allows me to make a phone call to start the spa. So that if we're out to dinner and decide we want to go over for shots and get into the spa, I can make phone call to my system and start the spa heating!

The total cost in parts for the equipment set on this project, which has 5 different pumps, was over $10,000 dollars. NO CHARGE! The solar guy put my solar on for free too! That's about an $8000 dollar solar system by itself for an 800 square foot pool.

I am not trying to brag, I hope it doesn't sound that way. It's just that I was very happy about this. And I still get excited just talking about it, even though I built it 5 years ago!
Jay

You need to post a picture of the cave with the lights on.

How about a daylight close up?


Jay

I bet you throw an awesome party

Now we're talking!

Bring it on!
Jay

That Jay is hands down the coolest pool / cave I've ever seen. I can imagine the quiet intimate raunchy fun I could have in that pool. Oh and I made it a little better..

I hope those have ir filters

Took the words out of my [s]mouth[/s] fingers, good sir.


Pool + Lasers, that's something I've always wanted. When I get my own pool (first I've gotta get a house :P), you can bet I'll install some RGB fun

Ha ha! That is better!

As you can imagine, when I go out in my backyard at night with lasers, the pool is one of my target areas...
Jay