Recommendation Wanted for Headlamps

[chuck]

Miners light, extra flammable! I was a member of the earth science club in high school. One of the members had a carbide miners lamp. I was really impressed with the amount of light it put out compared to any of our battery operated lamps. Of course it could also easily start fires and spark explosions.

I am considering using a set of LED Christmas lights for under the table illumination. A string or two could provide enough light to eliminate the need for flashlights.

I have several spring loaded extension lamps (with and without magnifiers) for topside hobby work. I even have an old B&D "Snake Light" (recently replaced the Krypton bulb with a Luxeon LED module) and several hook style or clamp style utility lights. All of them seem to have issues with staying put unless I reef down on the adjustments and then there is the issue of moving/re-adjusting them as you move around. Head lamps don't seem to have that issue. The ideal solution would be to just flip the table(s) over. Will have to wait for the development of working force fields and anti-gravity units

[ScaleCraft]

When I was in South America (Colombia) our gas welder was a tank of oxygen and a big pressure vessel with a round handle on the top. You racked the handle around, which dropped carbide (or so I was told) into probably water...through regulators and made enough heat in the flame to weld and braze or silver solder.

The things we did out in the Llanos, patching aircraft (angle iron and bolts to hold a crumpled empennage straight to fly it in from the jungle), but when packing out the Helio for a trip to the jungle, found a standard two burner Coleman Stove was like three inches too long to fit the space.
What do you do?

Section it! Silver solder the case back together again, and the gas tube between the burners...using that same gas welder.

[Roy]

Miners light, extra flammable! I was a member of the earth science club in high school. One of the members had a carbide miners lamp. I was really impressed with the amount of light it put out compared to any of our battery operated lamps. Of course it could also easily start fires and spark explosions.

Is that the same stuff used in Bangsite cannons? Early Model Ts used the same thing, for their headlights. There was a can of water on the running board, next to the driver. The carbide was in the lid. When the driver turned the lid, some carbide went into the water. There were pipes which went to the headlights, where the gas burned. I think it was acetylene gas.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I think it was acetylene gas.

Yes.

[MYmoo]

All:

I am looking for a high quality headlamp that won't crap out on me. I had one from Harbor Freight (Quantum). It worked for about 18 months and then became flaky. New batteries didn't solve the problem, so there must be something loose in it. I had it partially apart but can't discover the cause.

In any case, I'm disgusted with it and wondering if you might know of one that works reliably.

Many thanks,

George

One reason for your 'limeted lifetime' led lamp is the fact

that many are subjected to overvoltage, and they 'burnout'

in a matter similar to an incedscant lamp.

I've had HF headlites (and other purveyors) burnout before

the included AA/AAA batteries went flat. due to low or no

series resistance with the LED(s).

If your old units last for 'x' amounts of time then they

can't sell you a new one.

Did'nt have to buy new batt's, but did create electronic

waste.



EM units work better because the have the necessary

failsafes to prevent failures and wont crap out as quick.
Cost's $$$$$ more.

Physical damage, all bets are off.

[webenda]

And you could duct tape it to your head, too!

That rectangular clip on the back slides into the slot on the front of your helmet.
What'll they think of next?

If you had a helmet, yes.

[webenda]

I use the Stanley HL2PKS, $10.49 for two at Walmart (out of stock of course.)

[webenda]

Mymoo will be happy to know it has resistors in it.
R1 101 101 ohm
R2 8R2 8.2 ohm
R3 5R6 5.6 ohm

It has a transistor also.
Q1 B9D Mosfet Transistor

It has an LED driver in it also.
Can't see it is because it is potted under a blob of black stuff.



I have had the two for 8 years.
Yes, the head band stretches. It has an adjustment. I just adjust it.
Yes, one of them is fussy about the slide switch. Push it too far and the light goes out.
One thing not complained about by anyone is flicker. I normally do not notice but about once a second there is a flick in the light. It is caused by the LED driver pulse circuit. That may bother the more sensitive among you. Doesn't bother me.

[G3750]

Wow! What a response. Thank you all for some (ahem) illuminating information and views.

Much to think about.

George