Maxablaster mega-flashlight is a step away from lightsaber
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 3rd 2008 3:38AM
posted Feb 3rd 2008 3:38AM
[Thanks, Trev]
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So that explains the random beams of light I see every night at roswell.
It would be cool if I could get the link to work >,<
38... mi... mii... million? Stick that on the space station and probe that around the place, if there's life out there they'll definantly responde to that!
Nah this thing would be great for boating at night. Whenever I'm cruising the Mississippi at night I'm bound to come across a barge or paddleboat like the Mississppi Queen... and if you've even been on the oncoming end of one of those things at night you'll know they shine their blinding spotlight right at you until your clear... maybe with this thing I could compete back, maybe those idiots will know how it feels.
"...watch as faces melt Raiders of the Lost Ark style..."
That was an awesomely-cheesy scene.
Hate to be a party pooper but wouldn't this thing either be illegal or require a licence in most countries? I mean you could easily blind drivers or possibly even plane pilots with this thing.
Is there actually any need for something this powerful with a concentrated beam?
As long as you use it responsibly (don't point it at aircraft for God's sake) any not use it maliciously then there really should be no reason that you would need a license to own or operate it.
After all, you don't need a license to own/operate a "grand opening" spot light for you're new furniture store's grand opening / going out of business sale.
It's "only" about a bright as the sun. If you take a 12" mirror and use it to reflect the sun at something (like you can with your watch or whatever) that will give you an idea about how bright this light is. The sun doesn't take down aircraft, you just don't stare at the sun.
He built it because he could. Why does there have to be a need for it?
You mean like a screwdriver or other commonly available tool?
when I thinuku of aircraft, Im thinking jumbojet or sophisticated jet flying at night. I highly doubt any of those planes still rely on a piolets vision for ever second to stay in the air. Ever heard of auto-piolet? And small dinky planes will probably be flying during the day, in which case this beam will blind them no more then the sun would.
Just to dredge up this old conversation. The only time a big plane would be low enough to be blinded by something like this would be on take off or landing, neither of which is done by the auto pilot.
You know, it's not quite as bright as the picture depicts. I've got the 30 million version of it (at least I assume its along the same linage as it looks EXACTLY the same) and while it is FRIGGIN' bright, I don't think anybody is going to be taking down planes with it.
The stand is nice, but a tripod mount would be even better. It also comes with a carrying strap. :-)
Perhaps it's a modification of the one I have, I dunno, as of right now, the link/site is dead.... maybe someone turned the flashlight onto the server. Idiots.
He modified the flashlight using an existing one he had. I read the article on PopSci a while ago so I don't remember the details exactly, but I believe he used a special order mercury bulb (or some other high intensity type material) and put it into a custom made mirror kit. The guy even has a safety lock put into the thing.
The Maxablaster was built around a Thor chassis, the Thor being a commercially available spotlight. The CandlePowerForum thread in which he discusses the building of the maxablaster is here:
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?goto=lastpost&t=125819
He's since crossgraded to a less efficient but more consistent electronics setup since his old electronics fried on him.
Seriously, to everyone who thinks they have one of these, you don't. If you have a Sam's Club or similar HID light, then you're close, but custom HIDs are always expensive and awe inspiring, even compared to those big halogen torches most of you are used to.
Looks like he has a huge boner.
Yep, I certainly thought that first.
looks like he's having a light-on...
... no?
Now if only they can harness that power into a lightsaber hilt and get the light to end after a few feet.
I want a damn lightsaber.
"I see your Schwartz is as big as mine."
Thank you, Mel Brooks.
Yes, but do you know how to handle it?
i was waiting for this reference.thank you.
I can see the warning now....
"Keep away from mirrors"
38?! i have a 2 million candle power and it nearly burned my brothers eyes out. this thing is scary.
Stop teasing Batman dammit!
I thought my 2million Candle torch was bright. This is clearly capable of blinding, so any company releasing it would need some serious insurance against lawsuits.
Like a number 2 pencil?
The best way to communicate with E.T.: Morse code.
Just flip this flashlight on-and-off to get the dashes and dots.
Then again, this can be a very deadly weapon.
"I shall blind you with my light!"
Wonder how hard/easy it'd be to adapt it for home defense...
You'd probably want to have a pair of googles that have light filters on them, that are linked (via wire and/or bluetooth) to the switch on the "flashlight", so that the goggles reduce the amount of incoming light to keep the wearer from being blinded by his own light. Behind the light filter, have an optional set of low-light enhancers (so you can use the combination in the darkness in your own house, and not have the low-light enhancers compromised by the bursts of light).
Second, some sort of focusing lens work on the light ... so you can select it to do a wide beam (blinding light) or narrow beam (burning light).
So, you hear something go thump in your house at night, you put on your goggles (next to the bed), get out the flashlight (under your night-stand), and go see what's out there. Think you see it? Turn on the wide-beam light. If it gets hostile, make it a narrow/focused beam.
These things should be illegal. Think of all the poor aliens flying about!
With infra-red filter, it makes a very useful night vision system for the
military use. This one must be designed for that.
I wonder if God will make a mass purchase of these - to make his blinding bright light even more blinding and brighter?
Bruce Springsteen was seeing 35 years into the future...
"She was blinded by the light, cut loose like a deuce another runner in the night..."
I have one of these and they are often rebranded under different names, the one I have is the Cyclops.
This is a modified light, Custom Build costing around $1800. The man who created it just recently updated the electronics, etc. in the light and how it produces around 52 MILLION CP!!! here is the direct link to the build http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=125819
So theres a 38Million CP torch, but arent there much more powerful lights available already?
"is a step away from lightsaber"
Judging on the size, colour, and almost everything else about it, it's quite a few steps away from being a lightsaber... plus the guy holding it isn't wearing a Jedi robe. >:(
Amaazingly cool!
cool!
I bet you could write your name on the moon with that damn thing.
So that's why AT&T is having outages, this guy took out their satellite.
seriously, this thing is a weapon.
I'll take my surefire over this any day...
"I bet you could write your name on the moon with that damn thing."
CHAIRFACE!
Ya, but the promo picture in the article, looks like a scene from Space Balls. "May the Schwartz be with you!" or "I see your xxxx is as big as a mine!"
So this is what Marcus used on the tank to keep the Kryll away.
I actually happen to have one of these! I live in Alaska, so it gets pretty useful up here in the winter time! They sell them at Lowes, Home Depot, and I've even seen them at Fred Meyer!
But the thing is: It doesn't light up the sky like shown, and it's kind of a drag to use. It runs out of battery quickly (10-15 minutes) and you have to charge it for awhile to use it again.
It's sure fun to hit people's houses all the way down the street when it's dark out though!
No really you don't have one of these. This one has $1800 in modifications done to it (basically a totally new light using only the original plastic housing) and puts out a real 52 million candlepower. The ones sold at Costco, Lowes, Harbor Freight, etc do not come close to hitting their 10, 15 or 20 million candlepower rating.
apparently it can be used as a cock extension as well
>>You thought the goggles did nothing before?
Excellent Simpsons reference.
Awesome. "He made it because he could". That is the reason anything wonderful has ever been made. I think I see its light from my house!
You'd probably get arrested if it's light so much as touched a commercial airliner's cockpit window. I guess they could see you pretty well if you pointed it up at the International Space Station. Other than playing around with it, I don't see much use for it. It must use up batteries pretty quickly.