I got ambitious and ordered a few Cree lights from Deal Extreme a few weeks ago. My plan was to make a DIY LED system to switch to if my MR16 starts runing dim but I think I found a better use for at least one of them.

Here's a link to what I ordered:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6090

The LED's are mounted with a voltage regulator that goes from 3V-18V so they'll work with any battery setup I have from the smallest flashlight to the 14.4V battery I run the MR16 from so they're perfect for experimentation. While I was waiting for the bulbs to arrive I got to thinking about how pathetic the LED light I've been using is and how bad I wanted something better. After trial fitting the bulb into all of the lights I had I decided the Rayovac headlight would take the least amount of modding to mount it in so I got to work.

I tried out every piece of pipe and fitting I had in the garage and found this cap to be the closest. It was actually from a drain plug from my boat and has what I believe to be standard threads in it just like a bottle cap. I had to grind down the threads and enlarge the hole but eventually got it to drop right in. I used phone wire for the wiring and soldered the leads to the bulb and press fit them in the socket the old krypton bulb came out of. It took a lot of grinding, cutting and pressing, and then some good old fashioned ingenuity to get it all together but I'm relatively happy with the result. I wrapped it with a layer of duct tape after I took the pics and the tape is about the same color as the lamp housing so it doesn't look too ghetto.

Light is simply amazing. I'm charging the AAA nimh batteries right now and I plan to run it every morning until they die and I'll report back with run times. I can't wait to get out there tomorrow morning...

http://www.ovrrdrive.made2own.com/uploader/files/2/cree_1.jpg
http://www.ovrrdrive.made2own.com/uploader/files/2/cree_2.jpg
http://www.ovrrdrive.made2own.com/uploader/files/2/cree_3.jpg

Not bad for a $13 light (with red led's and another really dim white led that both still work) and a $10 cree eh?

It's hard to explain just how much I enjoyed the ride this morning with this new light...

I can see a bank of 2 or 3 of these easily replacing an MR16 setup as far as useable light goes. I rode for a bit with just this light and I had plenty of light to ride with comfotably. The spread pattern on it gives it a spot about 10 feet wide approximately 20' in front of you. No more guessing what's out beside you or wishing I could see something. It was simply look and see now. Even if I had to charge the batteries everyday I'd still use it. It's perfect.

I'll work on a few comparison pics tonight when I get back home.

I liked the light so well that I'll probably order a few more of them and ditch the MR16 eventually.