How would I make a FL mod with a single female USB connector?

[DrmChld]

I have been thinking about just making a flashlight mod for a 18650 battery that only has a female USB plug at the end that is regulated to 5v.

I am hoping to get a passthrough cable for my car, and why not just take advantage of it everywhere? Put the battery in pocket, work bag etc... String the 7ft cable anywhere I like and suck away.

Anyone have any plans for these yet? Or any idea how to wire the USB plug to battery? I'm thinking red to hot, black for neutral? lol But I haven't cut into a my only spare USB ext cable yet to find out.

 

[AttyPops]

I have been thinking about just making a flashlight mod for a 18650 battery that only has a female USB plug at the end that is regulated to 5v.

I am hoping to get a passthrough cable for my car, and why not just take advantage of it everywhere? Put the battery in pocket, work bag etc... String the 7ft cable anywhere I like and suck away.

Anyone have any plans for these yet? Or any idea how to wire the USB plug to battery? I'm thinking red to hot, black for neutral? lol But I haven't cut into a my only spare USB ext cable yet to find out.

Caution: Do NOT mess with the battery charging stuff, in particular connecting the wires from a USB plug/cord to the battery unless you know what you are doing or you will be making some form of pipe-bomb. It will go boom. Please read up a bit first.

Check for USB pass through posts. Also check for charging posts. If you want to make a 5 volt PT, you don't need a battery. It's a "direct PT"... no battery. You do need a 2.0 amp or better power supply. There's a ton of posts on making a PT. Red is hot, black is ground. The outer shell is ground of the connector, the center pin is hot. You'd want a 3.0 amp button.

An 18650 is a 3.7 volt battery. Using only one, you'd need a booster circuit to go to 5 volts. If you want to add a charging circuit on top of that it gets complicated. You have to know what you are doing, or consult with an EE.

You're ideas are good, but the post is a bit scary. Please check into it all a bit. I encourage people to get into electronics in general, and modding too, but I don't want you to get hurt or burn up your house/car. So be careful.

 

[DrmChld]

I wasn't looking to charge the batteries via USB, will be using a regular Li-On charger. I just want to put a on/off switch, power indicator LED, and the female USB. That way I can use it for my USB passthrough and even us it to charge my MP3 player.

I found a wiring diagram for this so should be fine. Except for connecting a 5V regulator.

 

[AttyPops]

DrmChld, USB is a 5 volt standard. Why do you need a regulator?

The direct PT's are basically a 3.0 amp button, with a usb connection powered by a 2.0 amp (or more) USB power source. LED+resistor and master cut off optional. You can wire the cord directly, or through a connector.

IDK what that has to do with charging MP3 players, other than you can also use the power source for that. If you use the connector, you won't have to cut your USB cord.

 

[bstedh]

I think he is looking to build a battery pack that he would plug his PT into... I have looked into this myself and so far have mixed feelings about how well it will work... His PT would be running at the 3.7V which may be fine as long as you don't expect to get that 5V experience.

 

[AttyPops]

I think he is looking to build a battery pack that he would plug his PT into... I have looked into this myself and so far have mixed feelings about how well it will work... His PT would be running at the 3.7V which may be fine as long as you don't expect to get that 5V experience.

If that were correct, why is he talking about adding a 5 v regulator? Besides, the title said he wants to build a flashlight mod with a usb connector.

If he wants a portable USB charger, I think ipads have a 2.0 ish amp requirement. So a charger that worked for the ipad would work for this, I would think (check the specs). I still don't understand what he is attempting to communicate.........

If he wants a PT with a USB connector rather than hard-wired, see post #4. This is so he doesn't destroy his USB cord. Most people direct connect them so they don't pull lose. OTOH, the eGo PT's, for example, have a connector on em. Some modders do it that way too. Either way.

 

[bstedh]

I re-read it and you are correct. I think he is looking for a battery pack with a step up regulator. As long as he is not looking to charge the thing internally it would be feasible but probably not overly efficient. A two battery pack with a standard 5V regulator would probably work better. I was thinking of adding a usb port to my VV to do something similar but then decided that with my VV I no longer have a use for my PT =]

 

[BadState]

I believe what OP is describing is not a passthrough made from a flashlight, but rather an 18650 flashlight battery pack, boosted up to 5V, so he can use it as a general purpose USB portable power supply. He could then use it to power a separate passthrough, or to charge his MP3 player etc.

 

[BadState]

I re-read it and you are correct. I think he is looking for a battery pack with a step up regulator. As long as he is not looking to charge the thing internally it would be feasible but probably not overly efficient. A two battery pack with a standard 5V regulator would probably work better. I was thinking of adding a usb port to my VV to do something similar but then decided that with my VV I no longer have a use for my PT =]

Beat me to it. I think you're right about using 2 cells and a regulator instead of boosting a single cell. If the battery stays in your pocket anyway weight and size are less of a consideration.

 

[AttyPops]

Ok, well... just a note. USB is already a 5 volt standard, so any pre-made charger would output that, and not blow up if you f'ed it up. However, I suppose any of the 5 volt box mods would work... I use one. I suppose I could just separate the atty connector from the box and use USB cords/plugs to connect it. The button would be on the USB then, with the master switch on the box.

If that's it, OP, just look at the 5 volt box mods. There are linear regulator versions, and switched mode regulator versions. You need 2 cells for those, unless you use boosting regulators. Then look for buck/boost.

EDIT: ANOTHER way is to put an atty connector and USB connector in parallel. Then you could vape it, or connect USB. A 3 position switch could bypass the button and atty, to have USB-only operation with no need to keep a button pressed. Then you would have a switch with:
1) Atty + Button Press
2) Off
3) USB 5v out only.

Still need boost for a single battery solution

I think I remember a post about a 3 position switch before..........

 

[DrmChld]

I believe what OP is describing is not a passthrough made from a flashlight, but rather an 18650 flashlight battery pack, boosted up to 5V, so he can use it as a general purpose USB portable power supply. He could then use it to power a separate passthrough, or to charge his MP3 player etc.

This is exactly what I am looking to do. But without it being boosted up for 5V. I am going to use a regulator and 2 batteries.

I like the idea of adding the 3-way switch with a 510 connection and a USB connection.

 

[AttyPops]

This is exactly what I am looking to do. But without it being boosted up for 5V. I am going to use a regulator and 2 batteries.

I like the idea of adding the 3-way switch with a 510 connection and a USB connection.

Cool.. Sorry 'bout the confusion, I wasn't sure what you were asking. Basically, you're adding a USB connection to a 5 volt mod then. Vape or charge. lol.

There are posts about using battery charge packs for mods.... might be interesting to rig an atty connector onto a USB connector so you only need one port! (cool idea, huh? Plug-in USB 510 connecor. Of course, you still need a "vape button". Hmmm)

AttyConnect==--button---USBConnect
.....................|________


Gee... Now I'll have to file a patent....lol. jk

Basically that's a 5v PT plugged into a generic USB charger power pack. As long as the power pack could deliver 2.0 amps and would hold up.....