Re: [APML] OT: LED Flashlights

[KGKIRKLEY@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/17/03 3:37:45 AM, banburys@sonic.net writes:

>I have a number of commercial red LED flashlights. All of them have a
>major drawback--when I need both hands free, they end up being held in
>my teeth. There are some really nice headband mounted units like the
>Princeton Aurora--except they only make them in white.
>
>I happened to notice a 12 LED red tail light in a local auto parts store
>here for only 7 bucks. Its enclosure was clear plastic, and I decided to
>try cutting it open it to make a decent LED headband flashlight.
>
>Its current drain at 13 volts was 100 mA, and the light output would
>burn a hole thru clouds!
>I changed the dropping resistors and found I could get very useful light
>at 10 mA using a 9 volt transistor radio battery.
>At 50 Ma, the light is good enough to hunt for that black set screw (or
>whatever) I invariably drop in the dirt in the
>middle of the night.
>
>I didn't realize LEDs like this could be had so cheaply!
>I put together a web page showing how I assembled a headlamp in case
>anybody else is interested:
>
>http://www.sonic.net/~banburys/LED_Flashlight/
>
>Cheers--Steve

Steve:
I've been using headlamps for a long time because they leave your hands free.
I currently use the Princeton Tech Aurora you mentioned but I had to remove 
the circuit board with LEDs and install a deep red gel filter infront of the 
LEDs. About a year ago I contacted Priceton Tec to encourage them to make 
Aurora's with red LEDs and market them to the astronomy community but they 
haven't, so far.

Kent Kirkley
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