How to convert a standard incandescent flashlight to an LED based flashlight. Everyone knows the new high-light output LED's are the rage in small hand-held battery powered flashlights.

It used to cost a lot of money to get access to high-light output LED's, but they have become cheaper and are now available for less than a dollar. In this example project the LED cost 25 Cents! That's a pretty reasonable price for a new flashlight.

The advantage of LED, is the output of light without all the heat generated by the incandescent (hot wire in a vacuum.) That means less power used and flashlight batteries that hit the landfill less often. Using a combination of rechargeable batteries and incandescent replacements means you'll probably never see the landfill, since the low power drain will mean you'll rarely even have to recharge your batteries as often.

So this is a green project too! Go green, have some fun!

The flashlight bulb part usually unscrews from the body of the flashlight. Take your flashlight apart, and remove the incandescent bulb.

Separate the parts so you can put the flashlight back together once you've completed the LED wiring.

Next we'll unsolder (better use solder wick) the connections where the incandescent bulb makes connection to the metal sleeve with the dab of solder in the middle.

Once you've wicked away the solder, you may have to wiggle the wire a bit to break it loose from the residual solder.

Now you have to separate the glass bulb from the bayonet connector. Be careful, if the bulb is glued solidly it could break. Use gloves, or just grab and smash with pliers. Next you will connect the LED in place of the glass bulb. Polarity makes a difference. Be careful to align the LED's flat side to the negative (outside connection to bayonet.)

Next solder the center lead (positive LED connection) while holding the bayonet connector upside down. Then pool the solder so it can solidly contact the center "pole" of the battery.

Don't forget to let the bayonet connector cool down. Then put your new LED flashlight back together again. You have a high light output LED in place of the incandescent bulb.

Flick on the flashlight. If you soldered the LED correctly, the light should come on. If the flashlight doesn't light, you may have the connection reversed. In most cases, all you have to do is put the batteries back in upside down, then flick the switch again.