Taking a White LED Taking a White LED Lamp ForwardLamp ForwardStuart FranceStuart France

The 1998 versionThe 1998 version

24 Nichia 5mm white LEDs24 Nichia 5mm white LEDs Current controlled DC-DC step-upCurrent controlled DC-DC step-up Oldham or CEAG headpieceOldham or CEAG headpiece Continuously variable brightness knobContinuously variable brightness knob

or 2-position pilot-main settingor 2-position pilot-main setting

3 x NiMH 18650 battery in Petzl box3 x NiMH 18650 battery in Petzl box originally 6 volt Kirby kidney pack on leadoriginally 6 volt Kirby kidney pack on lead

Has anything happened Has anything happened in the past 10 years?in the past 10 years?

Microprocessors costing 50pMicroprocessors costing 50p Software seen as an asset not a riskSoftware seen as an asset not a risk Battery technology advancesBattery technology advances Powerful single die white LEDsPowerful single die white LEDs Lenses for the aboveLenses for the above LED torches become consumer itemLED torches become consumer item

Updating the lamp specUpdating the lamp spec

3 x 3W Cree modules run at 2W (from Tesco) 3 x 3W Cree modules run at 2W (from Tesco) 3 x P4 in triple lens dichroic unit also possible3 x P4 in triple lens dichroic unit also possible

Push-button on-offPush-button on-off Brightness knobBrightness knob Current controlled step-up to about 10 voltsCurrent controlled step-up to about 10 volts Microprocessor for:Microprocessor for:

Power on/off functionPower on/off function Battery voltage measurementBattery voltage measurement Battery state LED signallingBattery state LED signalling

Green, green-red, red, flash main beam, force off, when:Green, green-red, red, flash main beam, force off, when: 100-50%, 49-20%, 20-10%, 10-0%, 0% left100-50%, 49-20%, 20-10%, 10-0%, 0% left

CEAG caplamp shellCEAG caplamp shell

Totally waterproofTotally waterproof no charger keyway, no rotary switchno charger keyway, no rotary switch IP68 push button, IP68 brightness knobIP68 push button, IP68 brightness knob IP68 metal cable gland, siliconed insideIP68 metal cable gland, siliconed inside

Tall bezel for dichroic lamp modulesTall bezel for dichroic lamp modules Black sleeve to stop scatterBlack sleeve to stop scatter Nitrile rubber o-ringNitrile rubber o-ring

Li-ion battery packLi-ion battery pack

Two 18650 cells, nominal 8V 2.5AHTwo 18650 cells, nominal 8V 2.5AH Off the shelf £20 charger from CPCOff the shelf £20 charger from CPC

Metal battery box, ends sealed with PUMetal battery box, ends sealed with PU Over-current cut-outOver-current cut-out Two pin connectorTwo pin connector

spare line socket acts as a blanking plugspare line socket acts as a blanking plug Attaches with super-velcro to flat area Attaches with super-velcro to flat area

cast on rear of helmetcast on rear of helmet

Push ButtonPush Button 3-second push to power on or off3-second push to power on or off Bicolour LED in middle shows for 15 secs Bicolour LED in middle shows for 15 secs

after power off to indicate battery levelafter power off to indicate battery level visible in cave when reflected off a handvisible in cave when reflected off a hand

Brightness knobBrightness knob

Gives 6-to-1 power ratioGives 6-to-1 power ratio Suits small and large passagesSuits small and large passages

SoftwareSoftware

PIC12F675-04I/P (DIL8 package)PIC12F675-04I/P (DIL8 package) Easily reworked for other battery typesEasily reworked for other battery types Battery monitoring can be disabled by Battery monitoring can be disabled by

jumper which allows any battery <10 jumper which allows any battery <10 volts to be used in an emergencyvolts to be used in an emergency It will then deep discharge a Li-ion pack, It will then deep discharge a Li-ion pack,

and ruin it, but extract all the energyand ruin it, but extract all the energy