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dangerous dave
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

im modding my oldham lamp to take a 6v sealed lead acid and up rating the bulbs to suit so am just after some advice.can anybody recommend anywhere to get the 6v halogen and the pilot light and what would be the max power before it starts to cook the reflector saw some 6v 1.7a 100 lumen bulbs was worried that it would cook the lamp

Thanks Dave

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owd git
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

caving supplies, Buxton / on line, :thumbup:
talk to Phil he sorted on for me a few years back.
O.G.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Some Oldhams have plastic reflectors, some steel. Worth checking this first? I modded an old one to 6v, with a Petzl battery pack that I already had and replaced the main bulb with a screw in LED bulb which is instantly more than double the light. This cost me around £20, but I can't remember where I got it from....CustomDuo? Ebay? Somewhere online anyway. I just left out the pilot bulb as I didn't have a suitable 6v replacement at the time. Never got round to getting one, maybe I will now! Let me know if you find one :thumbup:

Yma O Hyd....

NewStuff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Possibly Your local Maplin, depending on fittings (MES or Flange/MCC). I know they do MES bulbs at 6v, but I can't remember offhand what the current rating is.

Full Disclosure - I work for them.

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

Roy Morton
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

For the pilot you might still be able to get pushbike rear bulbs which worked on the 6V dynamo's. Probably old tech now.....bit like me 😞

"You Chinese think of everything!"
"But I''m not Chinese!"
"Then you must have forgotten something!"

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

You could keep it the same and try an LED retro fit. I actually make one (sorry about the plug), and you could have up to 325lm ! at around 3.4W input power.

If you interested have a look at:

http://www.mineexplorer.org.uk/ledlighting.htm

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

NewStuff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

I think most of us have seen these in action, and they're great drop-in upgrades. Far better than the LED bulb upgrade. If I didn't make my own lights, I'd have one myself.

Although I am debating one for my spare Oldham... Not sure how I'd sneak it past the missus though. Mr Mike - Will your upgrade run on a 2s Li-Ion pack? or do I need to run it in a 1s config?

"Mr Mike" wrote:
You could keep it the same and try an LED retro fit. I actually make one (sorry about the plug), and you could have up to 325lm ! at around 3.4W input power.

If you interested have a look at:

http://www.mineexplorer.org.uk/ledlighting.htm

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

Dark Prince
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Mr Mike,

Will it work on the Oldham L16 Li-ion battery?. Nominal voltage is 4.2v.

DP

dangerous dave
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

im trying to stay away from LED options as i find after a few hours it hurts my eyes as i found in a north wales quarry i found the glow of a carbide much nicer than the white light of led

so a second option is to run a 4.8v nimh battery but it would overvoltage the bulbs by.8v would that fry em tho given tolerances n all that

dylrobs
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#10

This is a good website for bulbs and leds to fit a standard oldham: www.reflectalite.com

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#11

"dangerous dave" wrote:
im modding my oldham lamp to take a 6v sealed lead acid and up rating the bulbs to suit so am just after some advice.can anybody recommend anywhere to get the 6v halogen and the pilot light and what would be the max power before it starts to cook the reflector saw some 6v 1.7a 100 lumen bulbs was worried that it would cook the lamp

Thanks Dave

Before I became one of Mr Fellows converts I built myself a 6v lamp (albeit using ni cads) - I seem to recall that I bought the bulbs from Brewsters down at Frankfort Gate.

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#12

"Dark Prince" wrote:
Mr Mike,

Will it work on the Oldham L16 Li-ion battery?. Nominal voltage is 4.2v.

DP

Yes, works from 2.3V - 6V inputs. But if it is the new caplamp head that goes with it, I am not sure it if will fit in to it.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#13

"NewStuff" wrote:
I think most of us have seen these in action, and they're great drop-in upgrades. Far better than the LED bulb upgrade. If I didn't make my own lights, I'd have one myself.

Although I am debating one for my spare Oldham... Not sure how I'd sneak it past the missus though. Mr Mike - Will your upgrade run on a 2s Li-Ion pack? or do I need to run it in a 1s config?

"Mr Mike" wrote:
You could keep it the same and try an LED retro fit. I actually make one (sorry about the plug), and you could have up to 325lm ! at around 3.4W input power.

If you interested have a look at:

http://www.mineexplorer.org.uk/ledlighting.htm

No, it was designed for standard of the shelf lamp batteries. It is a boost power supply topology. Will work with FX2, FX3, FX5, Oldham, Single Cell Li-Ion/Polymer, 2,3,4 cell Alk/NiCAD / NiMH, oh and the 4.1V Oldham Lead Acid of course. 😉

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#14

"dangerous dave" wrote:
im trying to stay away from LED options as i find after a few hours it hurts my eyes as i found in a north wales quarry i found the glow of a carbide much nicer than the white light of led

so a second option is to run a 4.8v nimh battery but it would overvoltage the bulbs by.8v would that fry em tho given tolerances n all that

That is interesting, is it just the colour of the LED or the brightness. Your not a migraine sufferer are you?

Because if it is just the colour, I could make you a warm white version, less power output, but still in the 250lm+ mark, but more like a normal light bulb, soft.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

dangerous dave
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

#15

"Mr Mike" wrote:

"dangerous dave" wrote:
im trying to stay away from LED options as i find after a few hours it hurts my eyes as i found in a north wales quarry i found the glow of a carbide much nicer than the white light of led

so a second option is to run a 4.8v nimh battery but it would overvoltage the bulbs by.8v would that fry em tho given tolerances n all that

That is interesting, is it just the colour of the LED or the brightness. Your not a migraine sufferer are you?

Because if it is just the colour, I could make you a warm white version, less power output, but still in the 250lm+ mark, but more like a normal light bulb, soft.

i just found after standing next to the carbide i just found it easy to see in and less glare and after a while my eyes strained under led. and in pictures i find led is just harsh blue tone and a ****** to color balance.

how much would a custom jobbie with warm white leds cost

Mr Mike
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#16

"dangerous dave" wrote:

how much would a custom jobbie with warm white leds cost

Nothing, same price as normal.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

dangerous dave
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

#17

"Mr Mike" wrote:

"dangerous dave" wrote:

how much would a custom jobbie with warm white leds cost

Nothing, same price as normal.

something to think about when ive got some cash spare, ive ordered a 4.8v 5Ah battery to play with so will rock that for now and see how i get on with that

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#18

I can fully endorse this product having used one for some time before I started producing lamps myself.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

stuey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#19

Prior to buying a Fellows Nuclear Flash, I stuck a Cree in an oldham. It is a very useful lamp.

You need to think what whack you get for your watt.

Get a nice led, or fog up the lens with some grease to mellow it a bit.

Personally, I think the name of the game is being able to see as well as possible, wherever you may arrive.

Hence, ideally you need something which is capable of providing longevity, whilst being able to light big holes up.

If I was in your shoes, I would be asking myself what single LED I could put in an oldham.

This is the way to go. IMO Either that, or fork out for a fellows.

KH....
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#20

Interesting debate, the headlong rush for more lumens has come to the point where the "quality" of light is being discussed.
My old modded oldhams, frosted 10W halogen (ME lamp for under £50.00) was the very best underground to see with, but the battery to power it,SLA was too heavy for SRT! I now have a custom LED lamp which is wonderful, I use it 99% of the time on the setting which is nearest to my old lamp!