Ok. Corey posted it and I skimmed over it and now that I'm deeper in to preperation it's not in the weather report any more. DOes anyone know where I can find instructions on how to build the Amazing LED Flashlight at home. (Legal instructions only, please. I don't want to build an Assault Flashlight and get zapped by some helpful alphabet agency).

Poppa Zebra

-- Poppa (pzac@castle.net), February 15, 1999

Answers

Art bell still advertises these, available at the "Sea Crane" co. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 15, 1999.

We bought several of these...going to give some as presents next Christmas. They are small, 7-3/4" x 1-1/4", use 3 AA batteries. The light is bluish and very bright! You sure don't want to shine it in someone's eyes. They won't "light up a room", but they really have a purpose, we think... You can order them through the C. Crane catalog, !-800-522-8863.. (great catalog) They have a website, they just list it as ccrane.com

-- Suzanne L (SuzanneL@like.thoseflashlites), February 16, 1999.

This is not hard. But I guess it is easier to ask than to search. At the top of my browser is a button labeled *FIND* Guess what happens if I type LED in the little box and hit ENTER? Yup! I find (FIND, get it?) your post! Now, I hit ENTER again, and viola!, mucho info! 'Course, I can select the OPEN button, and type in www.kiyoinc.com/WRP111.HTM which WILL take me to the desired info. Or, I can ask somebody else to get me a drink. Hope you see the point.

-- Y2D (ImTired@Best.Now), February 16, 1999.

PS You might be amazed at the great information (maybe lifesaving) you will get by searching these posts.

-- Y2D (ImTired@Best.Now), February 16, 1999.

ie: Ask question, get answer. Search, get much information. Nuff said.

-- Y2D (ImTired@Best.Now), February 16, 1999.

Thanks for the update, Suzzane, I didn't think "Sea Crane" was right! <:)=

C. Crane Co.

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 16, 1999.

For the non-soldering-iron-impaired...

Radio Shack (cringe) has 12,000 MCD LED's for sale. If you live near me - too late. I bought all the 12,000s here! They also have 6,000s, but I did not get those. The 12,000 MCD ones they have are orange (looks more like red), but quite bright. If interested, look for their light green "Getting Started in Electronics" (something like that) book. It is 8.5" x 11", and has all sorts of electronic projects in it. I got it because it explains how to hookup an LED. It gives an equation to use to determine the ideal series resistor. If you get the wrong size, you will either burn-out the LED, or it will be too dim. I went with the 15-turn 1K trim-pot, for maximim flexibility (may add batteries/LEDs if TEOTWAWKI).

The equation in the book only covers a single LED. For hooking-up multiple LEDs, you will need a modified equation. Radio Shack has other books to look at for this. Anyone who was awake in high-school electronics class should be able to handle this.

Some complain that the orange/red light is bad for reading, but it seems OK to me. Never tried a lot of reading yet (will soon, to be sure). The light is focused in a very narrow beam by the LED - no reflector needed. Note, though, that the beam is very narrow. The LED will illuminate a small area 10-20 feet away. It does *NOT* produce a lot of abient light like a candle, or even a flash-light.

The white LEDs require a little more voltage, so they will take 3 or more batteries. I don't know a supplier for the white LEDs, but it should not be hard to find one.

If you go the Radio Shack route (cringe, Radio Shack, bad mojo), they have lots of battery-holders, little project boxes, etc.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@anonymous.com), February 16, 1999.