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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 02:10 - 30 Jul 2023 Post subject: All I want is a torch |
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Getting really pissed off looking so will ask here
All I want is a simple torch
Smallish but more pocket than keyring sized.
led not blub and USB rechargeable so I can charge it at home or car/bike
Squarish not round so it wont roll off a car wing or bike seat would be my preference
I do NOT want to have keep pressing buttons to cycle it off like my present one, just a simple on/off switch but
a second switch for say lower power mode might be acceptable.
I do not want/need magnets
I do NOT want UV mode or red/blue flashing lights
or SOS, or my gender pronouns flashed out in Morse fucking code.
It doesn't need to illuminate the sea of tranquilty on the moon or be 'tactical' whatever the fuck that is
I just want simple, practical pocket torch FFS
This type of thing come to mind.
I had one similar to it years ago but a modern led/rechargeable version would be ideal.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fae%2Fd0%2F22%2Faed0224f1cdad7762c3a1dfbdff58000.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=a38848bf7cc2805def7da7fde4e740c7a865537d25f6bcc687eba14a0310e438&ipo=images ____________________ bikers smell of wee |
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to v or not to v |
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to v or not to v World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Nov 2020 Karma :
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Posted: 07:49 - 30 Jul 2023 Post subject: |
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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225693842449? ____________________ current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either. |
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Islander |
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Islander World Chat Champion
Joined: 05 Aug 2012 Karma :
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CaNsA |
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CaNsA Super Spammer
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 10:33 - 30 Jul 2023 Post subject: |
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I bought these a few months back for wild camping n shit.
https://amzn.eu/d/3hRrAAw
Lightweight and decent. |
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :
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Easy-X |
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Easy-X Super Spammer
Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :
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Posted: 11:26 - 30 Jul 2023 Post subject: |
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This is what I have in my pocket right now:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004775534582.html
Fails: not USB chargeable but you could cover that with one of these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354636597901
...and obviously it's round. However if you leave the belt clip on it won't roll away.
Plus points: very bright for it's size, so much so you need to turn it down some times. What most torches do is have you cycle through modes with the power switch which gets very tiresome but the Trustfire has a concealed switch. Rotate the case (as if to open it and fish out the battery) a quarter turn and the button then does different things. It also drops to reduced output mode automatically when the battery is almost flat meaning you can rinse a bit more use in a pinch.
Note: 14500 lithium ion batteries are the identical size to classic AA to give you an idea of the overall size of the torch. ____________________ Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter |
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 May 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 11:36 - 30 Jul 2023 Post subject: |
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I hear you. I have one like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078KDBHPW/
(should stress that this isn't the actual item I bought, but looks identical)
Has an on-off push-button, and the lens focuses at will. Powered by a single AA battery which lasts for years, and this thing is INCREDIBLY bright. Had it 10 years now. Unbeatable ____________________ KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS |
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Kawasaki Jimbo |
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Kawasaki Jimbo World Chat Champion
Joined: 09 Oct 2015 Karma :
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Fat Angry Scotsman |
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Fat Angry Scotsman World Chat Champion
Joined: 12 Jan 2021 Karma :
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Polarbear |
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Polarbear Super Spammer
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 14:56 - 30 Jul 2023 Post subject: |
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Fat Angry Scotsman wrote: | |
Jesus. Stick a BMW sticker on it and charge north of a hundred smackers. ____________________ Triumph Trophy Launch Edition |
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stinkwheel |
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stinkwheel Bovine Proctologist
Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :
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stinkwheel |
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stinkwheel Bovine Proctologist
Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 15:17 - 31 Jul 2023 Post subject: |
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The Arkfeld looks nice but at 80 quid it aint cheap and I'd be buying a function I don't want and I see those models come with either a UV or laser option.
If they offered a cheaper base model with a simple on/off and maybe the thumb wheel used for selecting power. I'd consider it.
The Sealey looks pretty good and affordable, I may get one and force the autist part of my brain to cope with a side light output click through menu.
Edit:
Just ordered one, its only £15 had good reviews and looks a handy wee thing to have in your pocket.
Lets see how I get on with it
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51naYeOrREL._AC_SL1200_.jpg ____________________ bikers smell of wee |
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Fat Angry Scotsman |
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Fat Angry Scotsman World Chat Champion
Joined: 12 Jan 2021 Karma :
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Posted: 16:56 - 31 Jul 2023 Post subject: |
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WD Forte wrote: | The Arkfeld looks nice but at 80 quid it aint cheap and I'd be buying a function I don't want and I see those models come with either a UV or laser option.
If they offered a cheaper base model with a simple on/off and maybe the thumb wheel used for selecting power. I'd consider it.
The Sealey looks pretty good and affordable, I may get one and force the autist part of my brain to cope with a side light output click through menu.
Edit:
Just ordered one, its only £15 had good reviews and looks a handy wee thing to have in your pocket.
Lets see how I get on with it
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51naYeOrREL._AC_SL1200_.jpg |
I actually just bought the laser version of it since I actually need a green laser pointer and a new flashlight. Didn't cost me a button: business expense. ____________________ PRESENT: 2018 BMW S1000XR SE Sport.
PAST: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6F. 2021 Zontes ZT-125U. |
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to v or not to v |
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to v or not to v World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Nov 2020 Karma :
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A100man |
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A100man World Chat Champion
Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 12:14 - 01 Aug 2023 Post subject: |
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stinkwheel wrote: | It sounds to me like you need to get busy with an altoids tin, some potting compound and the guts of some disposable vapes. |
I'm almost embarrassed to admit, although not in this company, that I've saved the reflector off an old bike light for just such a project..
Kawasaki Jimbo wrote: | .. Pifco |
Lol - beat me to it. ____________________ Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750
Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600 |
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 14:28 - 01 Aug 2023 Post subject: |
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Well the £2.99 keychain torch arrived and it didn't feckin work!
For £2.99 its not worth the time and money to return it
so I took it apart.
A poor soldering job on the COB negative lead was to blame
99% flux 1% solder so resoldered that.
https://imgur.com/d7vBcQ4.jpg
I has quick look inside and see a couple of transistors or mosfets and and 8 pin micro processor mainly.
https://imgur.com/T1s5HwV.jpg
A quick test before glueing it back together
https://imgur.com/5qXieCa.jpg
It's now working, its pretty bright and I'd say it's worth three quid as an occaisional short term pocket worklight.
6W at 3.7 volts is about 1.6 amps and the 500maH battery would probably only last around 15-20 minutes at that rate.
I noticed that it started to gradually step down the intensity after a couple of minutes to its lowest 'eco' setting.
Presumably this is to extend run time but I reckon it's also to keep the COB cool as it doesn't have a heatsink and unrestrained
could also overheat the wee battery which is in close proximity. ____________________ bikers smell of wee
Last edited by WD Forte on 14:31 - 01 Aug 2023; edited 1 time in total |
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recman |
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recman World Chat Champion
Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 14:28 - 01 Aug 2023 Post subject: |
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Coincidentally, I just bought a 2 pack of these little things from pingpongland for under a tenner.
Remarkably bright on the highest setting, USB C charging so I can just use the phone set up, magnetic magnety magnet, a little pop out stand thingy, a spring loaded clip on doo dah and a bottle opener for the Doombar I bought earlier.
Time will of course tell on durability/battery life, they'll get a decent test at work.
https://i.postimg.cc/fbPFT173/20230801-141630.jpg
P.S., almost forgot about the seizure inducing strobe function.
Last edited by recman on 14:36 - 01 Aug 2023; edited 1 time in total |
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recman |
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recman World Chat Champion
Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 14:31 - 01 Aug 2023 Post subject: |
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WD Forte wrote: | Well the £2.99 keychain torch arrived and it didn't feckin work!
For £2.99 its not worth the time and money to return it
so I took it apart.
A poor soldering job on the COB negative lead was to blame
99% flux 1% solder so resoldered that.
https://imgur.com/d7vBcQ4.jpg
I has quick look inside and see a couple of transistors or mosfets and and 8 pin micro processor mainly.
https://imgur.com/T1s5HwV.jpg
A quick test before glueing it back together
https://imgur.com/5qXieCa.jpg
It's now working, its pretty bright and I'd say it's worth three quid as an occaisional short term pocket worklight.
6W at 3.7 volts is about 1.6 amps and the 500maH battery would probably only last around 15-20 minutes at that rate.
I noticed that it started to gradually step down the intensity after a couple of minutes to its lowest 'eco' setting.
Presumably this is to extend run time but I reckon it's also to keep the COB cool as it doesn't have a heatsink and unrestrained could overheat the wee battery which is in close proximity. |
You are big Clive, where's my fiver? |
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 14:48 - 01 Aug 2023 Post subject: |
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I have also resurrected an old project
I experimented with 3 white leds in the stock bulb base and 2 rechargeable nimh
C cells on this old torch
2 nimh's is only 2.4V and it was crap, so got shelved
I had another of the same type of torch which used a poundshop USB phone charger power pack and a variable output DC-DC convertor run a 12 MR11 led
This worked pretty well as rechargeable led torch for a couple of years until it got FUBAR 'd
I kept the power pack and DC-DC convertor pcb and have ordered a wee 3W dimmable cob led that will fit(force) in place of the 3 leds.
The MR11 was a bit big fierce and too white
(damn whiteys!)
I hope I can adjust the warm white G4 Cob thingy to
a useful but bearable yet efficient level
dis fing
It has a mini usb in for charging and I diverted the 5V USB power out to the blue DC-DC convertor to power the 12v led
the 18650 li-ion cell can be replaced/upgraded ditto the led.
https://imgur.com/5aN4fRk.jpg ____________________ bikers smell of wee |
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 01:48 - 04 Aug 2023 Post subject: |
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OK so just got the green torch mod working.
laid the parts out with temp wiring to test the circuit works.
DC to DC convertor working, 3.7V in, 12.4V out
https://imgur.com/l3OE3pF.jpg
Got the led set to the best height for a nice spread beam
from the reflector
https://imgur.com/j263cv5.jpg
I got a warm white LED instead of cool white but atm I kinda like it as the 'orangey' light is kind of retro and looks like it did originally with new batteries but it's probably brighter than it was with original P13.5S bulbs they came with running on 3v.
https://imgur.com/wbxph7G.jpg
Here it is compared to the keyring torch with cool white LED in half power mode ( 3W-ish)
https://imgur.com/NVOWB0l.jpg
it's working but will leave it be to see how efficient it is re runtime, then tweak the bulb holder a bit after as its jammed in with small O rings atm.
I had difficulty reading how much current it was using then realised
the dc-dc convertor is probably putting out a high frequency
pwm -ish pulse which looks like DC
Powering the led from a small 12 battery it read around 200mA
so the 2500mah battery indicates a nominal 12.5 hours
but allowing for losses it should hopefully give a good 10 hours
before recharging but half that wouldn't upset me.
It does at least satisfy my requirements for a simple on/off rechargeable LED torch though.
Edit:
I also discovered a cock up I'd made in the previous experiment where it seemed to need charging more often than I felt it should.
I realised I had been switching the output side so even when turned off, the oscillator kept running night and day sometimes for weeks at a time!.
This had to have an effect on battery charge so this time
I'm switching the DC-DC convertor ON/OFF instead and this should gives it a longer runtime between charges. ____________________ bikers smell of wee |
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