Installing secondary mode switch. New idea?

Hi all.


Has anyone ever thought about drilling a hole though a host to install an additional switch to toggle between power modes?

Wanting to do something that was (hopefully) original I went to the hardware store and bought a very ugly switch to try this out. Very excited to get going!


Has this been done before on a handheld? I know it is common with lab builds.
I am using moh's guidesman.

Any input is most welcome!!

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UPDATE:
WARNING: THIS MAY HURT THE EYES. IT IS CRUDE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!































I soldered all the parts together and here she is.

That strange white growth - yes indeed - it is a switch!
It toggles the 445 between 1150ma and 1800ma on a test load. The difference in brightness is hardly a large one. At 1800ma it pushes out considerably more heat though.


I am sure the masterminds could come up with a much nicer design but I was too impatient to wait for a nice switch to arrive.

Will put some beam shots and a video up if anyone is interested. I can also post some pics of how I did it if you want help.

Hope this aids some person in the future!

Sure, I thought about it and kinda implemented something like that ("cheap fun project" link in my sig), but it was with
a homebuilt driver. In order for this to work, you would have to know exactly how the
particular driver works so you know where to tap into the circuit with your button.
Also instead of drilling a hole into the host you could install a reed switch on the interior and activate the switch with
a magnet from the outside. Magic!

Also instead of drilling a hole into the host you could install a reed switch on the interior and activate the switch with
a magnet from the outside. Magic!

Click to expand...

Cool project! In a labby you have much more space to work with though. I am wondering about handhelds specifically.
I have been doing some experimenting with a modded driver working with lazeerer's ideas and think I may have a working solution.

Just found something posted a while back where a limiting resistor was toggled on/off.
http://laserpointerforums.com/f48/custom-side-button-cu-al-dual-brightness-host-32958.html
As far as I gather that would be quite inefficient for a 445's current.

As for the magnetic reed switch.. well.. lets just say I got a little too excited and drilled a massive hole in the side of my guidesman already :shhh:.