BatNinja's Beacon Light Tutorial

batninja

Well-Known Hunter
I love Radio Shack...

In one afternoon, I picked up all the parts I needed to install a light into my psberetta/serenity beacon on my MLC2.

Here is the parts list:

Mini Krypton Flashlight Lamp (272-1150, $2.85)
Blinking LED Module (276-299, $4)
Hook-Up Wire (278-1224)
Heat-Shrink Tubing (278-1627B)
2 AA Batteries
Industrial Velcro

I stumbled across the LED module in an RS outlet store, and wondered if it could used as a base for the beacon light, as it included a battery case with an on/off switch. I'm unable to find this item on their website, but found this image through a Google search. Weird.

pRS1C-2160481w345.jpg


1. I cut off the tiny circuit board/LED assembly, which left me the red and black power wires.

2. Solder a few inches of red/black wire to the leads on the Krypton bulb. Cover the soldered area with small pieces of shrink tubing, heat-gun them, and covered these two with a larger piece of tubing.

beacon_assembly_1.gif


3. Slip two small pieces of shrink tubing over the bulb side power wires, and a larger piece over both the wires on the box side.

4. Solder the red and black wires from the bulb assembly to the box assembly wires.

5. Slip the two smaller pieces of tubing over the connections and heat-gun them in place.

5. Slip the larger piece of tubing over the smaller two and 'gun it in place.

6. Add Industrial Strength Velcro to the back of the battery box and to the inside of the pack, and you're ready to roll!

beacon_assembly_2.gif


NOTE: To keep the assembly from sliding out of the beacon (due to gravity), add a small drop of hot glue where the wiring comes out the base opening.

Here are the pics of mine. The Krypton bulb is super bright!

beacon_8.gif


beacon_9.gif


beacon_7.gif


Let me know if you have any questions!
 
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Good info! I hope folks can still find it. Great little kit!

Here's a pic of the mounted beacon:

beacon_10.gif


Again...BRIGHT LIGHT!
 
It does get a little warm. :)

I was worried about it melting the shrink wrap, but it's been on for over an hour now, and no signs of stopping. I plan to run it on a fresh set of batteries Saturday, keeping an eye on it, to see how it goes, running the batteries down to get an idea of longevity.

I stayed away from LEDs because they light up, not out. So the majority of the light was pointing toward the ceiling of the beacon instead of out the slits. There are other bulb options out there, but you may have to hard-solder the wiring directly to the bulb, as the opening is too narrow to fit most standard lamp socket assemblies.
 
It does get a little warm. :)



I stayed away from LEDs because they light up, not out. So the majority of the light was pointing toward the ceiling of the beacon instead of out the slits. .

I understand.
We sandblasted my LED to "frost" it so it would light "out"
 
WOW...I love your tutorials bro.....always so easy to understand...

AND WOA!!! that light is awesome!!!:eek:

Great work..(y)
 
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Super bright bro, thanks for sharing that info. That will help lots of folks out who need to see "the light" LOL Good stuff. :) :cheers(y)

God knows my pack was never that bright, wheres my time machine!
 
Thanks so much for posting this. I've got my first jet pack (a MOW) on its way, and I had NO IDEA how to wire a light. This is perfect..and perfect timing. Thanks for sharing!
 
YES!!!

I had a similar idead with the bulbs but I did not know how to power them. I repainted my JP tonight and I just needed some lights. On Holloween I installed my RF lights too, so after I get this in I will be a fully lighted fett!!!

:cheers
 
Found the pack at the local Radio Shack, they had lots of them. So hopefully everyone else can find them. Just need to get a Krypton bulb now.

Eric, did you try running it out to see how long it lasted with fresh batteries? Just curious.
 
Does anyone have access to these setups (Mini Krypton Flashlight Lamp (272-1150, $2.85) and a Blinking LED Module (276-299, $4)), minus the Aluminium Beacon of course, that would be able to send one over my way.

The only place that could sell these over here are really hopeless and kept trying to sell me the flashing LED bulbs.. :S
 
Hey guys! I was wondering if it would be possible to use a blue blinking LED light with this set up? Would I just have to add a resistor or more to it than that? Or do they make blue Mini Krypton Flashlight Lamp?

Thanks!

Levi
 
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