USB Mega Flashlight

This project draws it's insperation and technical details from dan's http://www.instructables.com/id/Ultimate-Night-Vision-Headlamp---500%2B-lumens-with-/ and his http://www.instructables.com/id/Power-LED-s---simplest-light-with-constant-current/ 
Thanks to dan for his great instructables!

Where this instructable differs is that my four Cree xr-e LEDs are powered by a USB power supply. Any standard USB power supply will work with appropriate cables. My two main power supplies are a custom D cell holder and a Ryobi rechargeable power cell. I also have a plug in wall wart that will power the flashlight and a 12v outlet to USB adaptor that can be used to power it!

While using the D cell housing, the xr-e LEDs will put out a total of 840 lumens at 6v one amp! Standard USB delivers less power at 5v and half an amp but the LEDs  still output a very respectable amount of light, maybe around 700 lumens. Unlike most flashlights this one does not produce a beam of light. It illuminates a 180 area in front of it! It's like having a 50 watt incandescent light at your side.

Building the flashlight cost approximately $40 us. Comparable flashlights on the market are probably smaller but cost in the range of $140. It would have cost me slightly more if I didn't have the electronics sitting around my basement from disassembled TVs and stereos.

This took me a while of mucking around with parts so I don't have pictures of the build. I can only explain what I did. Maybe if I build another I'll be able to take more pictures.

Update: We just got back from a camping trip and we brought the Mega Flashlight! We had a few days where we were trying to get the camp cleaned up for bed so animals wouldn't come around. Walking around with a directional flashlight makes it hard to see everything. I stood on the picnic table and was able to illuminate the entire campsite at once! Even though I wasn't helping clean directly, everything went much faster. Now even more I want to figure out how to hang the flashlight say from a tree or some other object.

Please remember to vote for this instructable for the contest!

Step 1 The USB plug

A female USB plug sticks out the back of the flashlight. The D cell holder has a male USB so they are very happy together!

Comments

[qwerty156]

Great project! If you use lenses for the less, the flashlight will 'throw' the light forwards instead of 'flooding ' the area, ie it will focus the light coming from the leds

[deyv]

Do you have a schematic/wiring diagram for this project?

Thanks

[EmmettO]

I followed the schematics here from dan's constant current circuit.

[rapidprototyping]

now if it was motion activated you could come into camp and the lights would come on. or you could protect your camp from animals by having a noise maker go off if anything moves just dont scare the p out of your own self

[TSC]

It's ok!

[EmmettO]

Thanks!

[TSC]

You'r welcome!