Cheap Headlights

leapingbuddha · 02-07-2011, 11:57 AM

At Harbor Freight I picked up two 26 LED flashlights. They had 3 AAA batteries in them. I removed the batteries ans soldered wires to the connections and mounted both to the cowling under the EZ-GO logo. Ran a wire to a toogle switch and then to one 6 volt battery. Presto, cheap headlights. They seem to be a bit brighter than before. Are LEDs voltage specific? Or will they burn out at this higher voltage? Happily Solar Powered Motoring In Baja

fishb8 · 02-07-2011, 12:06 PM

Leapingbuddha,
Is it bright enough to work as headlights? or is this in conjuction with your other headlight.

Gale Hawkins · 02-07-2011, 12:26 PM

Hey that is cool. When on the road even in daytime it makes it a bit more safe.

We have 12v bulbs in the head lights and LED tail lights and power them across two 6v batteries with an inline fuse so we do not melt any wires should there be a short in the lights or switch.

leapingbuddha · 02-07-2011, 01:21 PM

Yes they are may only headlights and I was surprised at how well they worked. I will also run them in the daytime too. They were $3.45 at Harbor Freight store and are oval shaped and flat so it was easy to mount. A little bigger than a cigarette pack.

bigjohnrider · 02-07-2011, 01:41 PM

Dont`cha love Harbor Freight !

Russ/TN · 02-07-2011, 01:46 PM

Elegant and efficient solution!
At 6 volts you are overdriving them by 25% and thats why they are brighter.
Overdriving causes excess heat which is what will kill them.
They may last a long time...or they may go poof!
If you can figure what resistor would bring 6 volts down to 4.5 volts you could
put one in line to each headlight and then they will be much more likely to last a long time.

leapingbuddha · 02-07-2011, 01:53 PM

Thanks: I do love HF and Buggies Gone Wild. Just the info I needed.

fishb8 · 02-07-2011, 02:06 PM

I will look into this, it sounds like a good idea.
I found this at HF.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-3-4-q...-98504.html#sf

fishb8 · 02-07-2011, 03:51 PM

leapingbuddha,
do you have the link to what you bought? or maybe the candle light output?
My wife was just complaining about the headlight not being bright enough.
Thanks.

leapingbuddha · 02-07-2011, 05:09 PM

I looked at the HF website and did not find it listed. I just happened to be in San Diego and went into one of the HF stores. The flashlight dosent have packaging or specs. It is flat with a magnet and a hook on the back side, about 4 inches by 2.2 inches. It also has on-off switch on the front and 3 more LEDs on the side for a smaller light. They came in blue/black. If it dosent work for headlights they sure work good for flashlights. Good luck

02-07-2011, 11:57 AM	#1
leapingbuddha Getting Wild Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Moiser, Oregon and Baja Posts: 103	Cheap Headlights At Harbor Freight I picked up two 26 LED flashlights. They had 3 AAA batteries in them. I removed the batteries ans soldered wires to the connections and mounted both to the cowling under the EZ-GO logo. Ran a wire to a toogle switch and then to one 6 volt battery. Presto, cheap headlights. They seem to be a bit brighter than before. Are LEDs voltage specific? Or will they burn out at this higher voltage? Happily Solar Powered Motoring In Baja

02-07-2011, 12:06 PM	#2
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	Re: Cheap Headlights Leapingbuddha, Is it bright enough to work as headlights? or is this in conjuction with your other headlight.

02-07-2011, 12:26 PM	#3
Gale Hawkins Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Murray KY Posts: 219	Re: Cheap Headlights Hey that is cool. When on the road even in daytime it makes it a bit more safe. We have 12v bulbs in the head lights and LED tail lights and power them across two 6v batteries with an inline fuse so we do not melt any wires should there be a short in the lights or switch.

02-07-2011, 01:21 PM	#4
leapingbuddha Getting Wild Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Moiser, Oregon and Baja Posts: 103	Re: Cheap Headlights Yes they are may only headlights and I was surprised at how well they worked. I will also run them in the daytime too. They were $3.45 at Harbor Freight store and are oval shaped and flat so it was easy to mount. A little bigger than a cigarette pack.

02-07-2011, 01:41 PM	#5
bigjohnrider Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Elloree,SC Posts: 28	Re: Cheap Headlights Dont`cha love Harbor Freight !

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02-07-2011, 01:46 PM	#6
Russ/TN Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Central Tennessee Posts: 150	Re: Cheap Headlights Elegant and efficient solution! At 6 volts you are overdriving them by 25% and thats why they are brighter. Overdriving causes excess heat which is what will kill them. They may last a long time...or they may go poof! If you can figure what resistor would bring 6 volts down to 4.5 volts you could put one in line to each headlight and then they will be much more likely to last a long time.

02-07-2011, 01:53 PM	#7
leapingbuddha Getting Wild Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Moiser, Oregon and Baja Posts: 103	Re: Cheap Headlights Thanks: I do love HF and Buggies Gone Wild. Just the info I needed.

02-07-2011, 02:06 PM	#8
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	Re: Cheap Headlights I will look into this, it sounds like a good idea. I found this at HF. http://www.harborfreight.com/3-3-4-q...-98504.html#sf

02-07-2011, 03:51 PM	#9
fishb8 Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 539	Re: Cheap Headlights leapingbuddha, do you have the link to what you bought? or maybe the candle light output? My wife was just complaining about the headlight not being bright enough. Thanks.

02-07-2011, 05:09 PM	#10
leapingbuddha Getting Wild Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Moiser, Oregon and Baja Posts: 103	Re: Cheap Headlights I looked at the HF website and did not find it listed. I just happened to be in San Diego and went into one of the HF stores. The flashlight dosent have packaging or specs. It is flat with a magnet and a hook on the back side, about 4 inches by 2.2 inches. It also has on-off switch on the front and 3 more LEDs on the side for a smaller light. They came in blue/black. If it dosent work for headlights they sure work good for flashlights. Good luck

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