USER MODIFICATION
Brinkmann Legend mod + LED by Alaska Illuminations

Brinkmann Legend mod by Alaska Illuminations, retail $ (see below)
(See below for contact info)
Last updated 03-18-07

LED light


This user-modified light started life as a Brinkmann Legend single AAA incandescent. Daniel Ramsey of Alaska Illuminations modified it into a very bright LED flashlight using a single Nichia 6400mcd white LED and a tiny 12 volt battery commonly used for cigarette lighters, the keychain remote for car alarms, and remote controlled light switches such as those offered by Radio Shack.

This modification appears very professionally done, and you can't even tell the light didn't come this way from the factory unless you read the print on the original package that references an ordinary light bulb.




SIZE:



The sample arrived spotless and gleaming, in its original Brinkmann packaging; complete with a Duracell "21/23" 12 volt battery and the other accessories normally supplied with the light. Once you put in the battery, the light can be used immediately. The switch is on the tailcap, and has four basic functions: press lightly for momentary light or for signalling, press a bit harder until it clicks to allow for continuous burn, press it again until it clicks to turn it off, and rotate the black end cap until it clicks to lock the light in the off position so it doesn't accidentally turn on in your pocket, purse, backpack, or camping bag.



Battery changing is about as straightforward as it gets. Unscrew the tail assembly until it comes off, and insert the little 12V battery into the barrel, button end (+) first. Screw the tailpiece back on, and be done with it. Although the dead battery is small enough to be flushable, please vaccum it up or throw it in the household garbage instead. :-)




As a modification, this is the most professionally made one I've encountered to date. The flashlight looks like it was supposed to come that way, and the battery goes in the same way as the original AAA cell did. The only visible difference (when holding the unlit flashlight in the hand) is there's a white LED in the bottom of the reflector instead of a glass bulb with a wire in it. Daniel even took the time to clean & polish the flashlight before placing it back in its package.

The initial brightness is an amazing 60,000+mcd, but that falls very rapidly as the tiny battery is sucked down. The beam is narrower than usual due to the reflector, and this contributes significantly to the high reading. Because of the small battery size, this is a light that delivers its best performance when used for only brief periods at a time, rather than just letting it burn and burn and burn as you might do with a larger flashlight like Lighwave, Arc, or Tektite models which use much larger batteries.

The flashlight itself is attractive and reasonably sturdy. It is made of a bright anodized aluminum with rubber sleeves on the barrel and bezel assembly to help you keep a grip on things. It comes with a black finish split ring and a special removeable high-tensile steel "adapter" ring that fits around the barrel just above the tailcap. This "adapter" allows the split ring to be affixed so you can carry the Legend with your keys. The light can be comfortably carried in a pocket without this ring.
The tailcap switch is made of black plastic and is also knurled so as to make it easier to turn when you want to use the lockout function.



Beam photo. Initially measures 60,000+mcd. (!)


Underexposed to show the narrower than usual hotspot.

The light was originally intended to have an adjustable beam, and that feature is somewhat retained even with the LED. Turning the bezel does noticeably change the beam characteristics from a fairly concentrated central hotspot (as shown in these photos) to more of a soft semi-flood pattern.


Compared to an Arc LE. Daniel's light is the one on the left.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrometer plot of the LED in this flashlight.
Ocean Optics USB2000 Spectrometer on loan from WWW.TWO-CUBED.COM.



TEST NOTES:
As this is a user modification, it will not be rated or graded like a commercial product.
For additional information, please E-mail Daniel Ramsey, the person who did the mod.
Battery life will be tested as soon as I obtain more of the size 21/23 (models MN21 or A23) 12 volt cigarette lighter batteries.


UPDATE: 03-15-00
Daniel normally sells this modification for $25.00, though you can get a break if you buy 6 or more when the price drops to $18.50 each.
To any Candlepower Forums member its $20.00 plus shipping (usually $2.50)

Alaska Illuminations
P.O. Box 872863
Wasilla AK. 99687-2863
ph. 1-907-892-6747



Do you manufacture or sell an LED flashlight, task light, utility light, or module of some kind? Want to see it tested by a real person, under real working conditions? Do you then want to see how your light did? If you have a sample available for this type of real-world, real-time testing, please contact me at ledmuseum@worldnet.att.net or send your potential victim to:

Craig Johnson
c/o The LED Museum
490 Forastera Circle
Sacramento CA. 95834-2709
ph. Please e-mail for phone number (costs me $0.50 a minute, use only if urgent)

Unsolicited flashlights appearing in the mail are welcome, and it will automatically be assumed that you sent it in order to have it tested and evaluated for this site.
Be sure to include contact info or your company website's URL so visitors here will know where to purchase your product.


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