Does anyone have a good source of bright, high efficiency white LEDs? I ordered some from Jade Mountain, then found out on an FAQ that those particular ones are no more efficient than a regular bulb.

Also, I saw mention somewhere of a small white LED that can be substituted directly for the bulb in a mini-mag. Most of the ones I have found state they need 3.5 volts minimum, or 2.5 volts maximum, etc. Any help there?

Would prefer replies coming from actual experience, and with verifiable url's, snail-mail addresses, or phone #s.

Thanks.

-- Joe (paraflyr@cybernet1.com), December 06, 1999

Answers

I found a great LED, I love it. It is Much brighter the the three LED flashlight that I have. I found it at http://www.bargainsolar.com/easy_living.htm

Hope this helps

-- xtech (boyer@cot.net), December 06, 1999.

Sorry the URL is http://www.bargainsolar.com/hot_new_items.htm for there LED. :)

-- xtech (boyer@cot.net), December 06, 1999.

Hi Joe: Here's a great site for you to check out.I think they might have just what you are looking for.....http://www.theledlight.com Good luck! Dan.

-- Dan Newsome (BOONSTAR1@webnet.tv), December 06, 1999.

I just received a flyer from C. Crane...they have a new flashlite called C C Expedition "that makes other flashlites obsolete". It has 7 brilliant white LED's, a heavy duty waterproof construction, and bulbs that last thousands of hours. Batteries that will last for thousands of hours of continuous use. Comes with an adjustable carry strap for the wrist. Powered by 3 "C" batteries. Exclusive with the C. CRane Co. $59.95 Their phone # is 800-522-8863 e-mail address is ccrane.com

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), December 06, 1999.

I bought a regular-sized Maglite with a 3-LED cluster from Realgoods.com. I also bought a little battery-op gooseneck lamp for reading. I'm very pleased with both. Real Goods has an assortment of LED products. There's a good search engine at the site, just plug in "LED". I also bought a Baygen adapted to take a 3-LED light and I'm pleased with that too. Sorry, I never give out personal information.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 06, 1999.

"then found out in a FAQ that those particular ones are no more efficient than a regular bulb".

And you believe everything you read in FAQ's?

LEDs are many times more energy efficient than an incandescent bulb...they beat any conventional lighting hands down for efficency.

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), December 06, 1999.

Thanks all for your responses. I guess I wasn't quite clear in the languaging of my request. At $30 to $70, the price of manufactured LED flashlights seems quite steep to me; I was after a source for *just* the LEDs themselves. With a $3.50 LED I can solder a resistor and convert one of my existing flashlights.

Old Git, as far as the "verifiable url's..." etc., I meant the sources of the LED's not of the posters. A source of white LEDs is elusive enough without chasing possible rumors.

Sorry for the confusion.

-- Joe (paraflyr@cybernet1.com), December 07, 1999.

Joe,

Cory Hamasaki's Weather Report #130 had all kinds of LED ephemera on it. I hope you can get there from here:

http://www.kiyoinc.com/current.html

Now, would you be a doll & let me know which red LED is directly transferrable to a mini-mag flashlight, if you figure it out, pretty please with sugar on top? & Which mini mag, really itty bitty {AAA} or double AA?

If you can catch Odd One on the classic forum, I think he qualifies as an expert by now. Anyone have an e-mail address for the Odd One? { odd one, as if he'd stand out in this crowd!}. I think he's on Cory's report, maybe you can reach him through there.

Good luck.

-- flora (***@__._), December 07, 1999.

Hosfelt Electronics, 800-524-6464, sells a super bright (23,000 mcd @ 20 ma). Operates on 1.9 to 2.5 vdc. Cost is 3.49. Should run about a million years. More likely 150/200 hrs. on alks.

It is an orange light, that fits nicely in the Garrity 2aa or 2d tufflite. I had to finagle (huh?) the led wires so that they contacted plus and minus polarity of the batteries. Don't worry about hooking them up backwards, they won't light; however Do Not let the wires cross, else pop goes the LED.

-- Lee (lchesson@bigfoot.com), December 07, 1999.

hosfelt has a 7 candle power white for 5.99, a 4 and 2 cd for 3.99,and many others. I have used the 7 cd in maglite replacement bulbs. (anyone want to make an offer?)

Have discovered something I consider important. The hosfelt 7 will also light off of 2 alkaline atteries somewhat dimly! it will easily show the other side of a 10 foot room. Most importantly 2 AA batteries will last over 3 WEEKS. 2 D alkaline cells for over 6 months!!!

-- tree (thetrees@bigfoot.com), December 07, 1999.

Did someone mention white LEDs? :-)

You can bulk-order them directly from the manufacturer (Nichia Chemical Corp.) for $4.00 each in 200 qty., $2.20 each in 500 qty., $1.60 each in 1,000 qty., $1.20 in 5,000 qty., $0.80 each in 10,000 qty.

That's we got them, by pooling orders into a massive bulk-buy. I've coordinated two of these, purchasing more than 3,000 LEDs between them. Unfortunately it's too late to try a third, but if things don't totally go to crap over the coming weeks we might can try again...

O d d O n e, who did jump with the forum...

-- OddOne (mocklamer_1999@yahoo.com), December 09, 1999.

And OddOne did a great job on those bulk buys. We got a good product at a great price thanks to him, and I like to thank him again for all the time and effort that he put into those bulk buys. (And, no, I don't have any spare LEDs either.)

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), December 09, 1999.

And if you visit OddOne's site you'll find pictures showing how to make a flashlight bulb from an LED, using the big Radio Shack ones.

Hey OddOne - just put 3 of your LEDs into one bulb base, with 3 dropping resisters. Wow, tight fit, looks great!

-- bw (home@puget.sound), December 09, 1999.

Started building LED 'task' lites in the Spring of '98, posting on the old GN forum -- not much interest. Bought all my LEDs from Hosfelt, their prices beating anything within sight (pun intended,) including Nichia. Started with the 23,000 mcd 20ma 10mm yellow ones @ $3.49, 'cause the price/output ratio was so good. However, those big circular shadows in the projected field were much too annoying to read by. So switched to 8,000 mcd yellow ones, 20ma, 5mm, @ $1.25 -- same price/output ratio, and much better projection pattern.

But for my money the LEDs which win the horserace at this time are from BG Micro, 800-276-2206. For $2.49 you get T1 3/4 white 4,000 mcd units, drawing 20 mA max at 3.6-4 volts. Now these should be half as bright as the yellow 8,000 mcd's mentioned above --- however, they're so powerful they almost blind you! So that's all I've been buying lately. You probably can still get them before Y2K if you call in the next day or so. BG Micro are very good people (Of course -- they're in the South.)

BTW, I design all my LED lites to be driven by nicads (recharged by small solar panels.) Of course, if you are privy to info that I'm not, then you can build your lites with alkalines -- since you know the chaos can't last more than several months.

Bill

-- William J. Schenker, MD (wjs@linkfast.net), December 09, 1999.