LED Flashlight


LED Flashlight
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LED Flashlight

I suppose you could consider this an update on my previous LED flashlight. The small one is about 1 Watt and the larger one is about 1.5 Watts. Each LED (37,000mcd) draws about 20mA at 3.3V. But since the nominal voltage of the NiMH batteries is 3.6V, these LEDs run at about 3.45V, so they get bright!

The case is just a 4 AA or AAA battery holder with a switch. I solder the LEDs in parallel on the board, make four cuts to the holder, and break off the edges. I get the wires where I need them by removing and replacing the cover over the switch, solder the wires in place, and squeeze in the board. A simple homemade flashlight, just mom used to make. ... Okay, maybe not, but it’s handy, especially since it’s brighter than the multiple LED consumer flashlights at the store. I cut off the switch nub on the larger one to prevent it from accidentally turning on.