Maxablaster mega-flashlight is a step away from lightsaber

You thought the goggles did nothing before? Shine the 38-million-candle Maxablaster (which, we hear, has been bumped up to 52m in a recent build) and watch as faces melt Raiders of the Lost Ark style under its concentrated mercury arc plasma bulb powered by a 54 battery pack. Right now it's just the pet project of a Dutch engineer by the name of Ralf Ottow, which is probably for the best, since this would be far more effective at boring holes in concrete than lighting any scene.

[Thanks, Trev]

[G Man @ Feb 3rd 2008 3:50AM]

So that explains the random beams of light I see every night at roswell.

[John @ Feb 3rd 2008 3:54AM]

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!

[Christian Torkelson @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:00AM]

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.

[Hashbrown_Hunter @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:02AM]

"...watch as faces melt Raiders of the Lost Ark style..."

That was an awesomely-cheesy scene.

[Carbonize @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:04AM]

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?

[Nathan @ Feb 3rd 2008 5:11AM]

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.

[Stereodude @ Feb 3rd 2008 3:44PM]

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?

[Jeebus @ Feb 4th 2008 1:09PM]

You mean like a screwdriver or other commonly available tool?

[mike @ Feb 5th 2008 10:58AM]

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.

[Carbonize @ Feb 5th 2008 11:31AM]

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.

[Justin @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:12AM]

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.

[robo @ Feb 3rd 2008 5:44AM]

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.

[Chrontius @ Apr 20th 2008 4:25PM]

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.

[Bassir @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:27AM]

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.

[Detox @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:27AM]

Looks like he has a huge boner.

[Neebs @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:10PM]

Yep, I certainly thought that first.

[LordFarkward @ Feb 3rd 2008 9:20PM]

looks like he's having a light-on...







... no?

[MTigerV @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:47AM]

"I see your Schwartz is as big as mine."

Thank you, Mel Brooks.

[Nathan @ Feb 3rd 2008 5:12AM]

Yes, but do you know how to handle it?

[tbirdman @ Feb 3rd 2008 11:44AM]

i was waiting for this reference.thank you.

[hayyaan @ Feb 3rd 2008 5:40AM]

I can see the warning now....

"Keep away from mirrors"

[martin @ Feb 3rd 2008 5:49AM]

38?! i have a 2 million candle power and it nearly burned my brothers eyes out. this thing is scary.

[Chris @ Feb 3rd 2008 6:45AM]

Stop teasing Batman dammit!

[mattclarkie @ Feb 3rd 2008 6:56AM]

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.

[Jeebus @ Feb 4th 2008 1:12PM]

Like a number 2 pencil?

[octoberasian @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:18AM]

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!"

[john @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:20AM]

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.

[Kizorblade @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:00AM]

These things should be illegal. Think of all the poor aliens flying about!

[Yoshi @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:06AM]

With infra-red filter, it makes a very useful night vision system for the
military use. This one must be designed for that.

[Nick Darveniza @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:31AM]

I wonder if God will make a mass purchase of these - to make his blinding bright light even more blinding and brighter?

[pundit @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:48AM]

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 LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Feb 3rd 2008 9:21AM]

I have one of these and they are often rebranded under different names, the one I have is the Cyclops.

[Adam @ Feb 3rd 2008 9:28AM]

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

[srw985 @ Feb 3rd 2008 9:32AM]

So theres a 38Million CP torch, but arent there much more powerful lights available already?

[Blaktornado @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:04AM]

"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. >:(

[Tyler @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:14AM]

Amaazingly cool!

[silverblackvoid @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:30AM]

cool!

[Superevil @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:44AM]

I bet you could write your name on the moon with that damn thing.

[Sam @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:46AM]

So that's why AT&T is having outages, this guy took out their satellite.

[Ted @ Feb 3rd 2008 11:03AM]

seriously, this thing is a weapon.

[Kraig Roche @ Feb 3rd 2008 11:47AM]

I'll take my surefire over this any day...

[mech1983 @ Feb 3rd 2008 12:26PM]

"I bet you could write your name on the moon with that damn thing."

CHAIRFACE!

[John from Buffalo @ Feb 3rd 2008 12:56PM]

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!"

[Jordan @ Feb 3rd 2008 1:01PM]

So this is what Marcus used on the tank to keep the Kryll away.

[Kory Hearn @ Feb 3rd 2008 1:03PM]

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!

[Stereodude @ Feb 3rd 2008 3:38PM]

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.

[Naveed @ Feb 3rd 2008 1:30PM]

apparently it can be used as a cock extension as well

[billav @ Feb 3rd 2008 2:57PM]

>>You thought the goggles did nothing before?

Excellent Simpsons reference.

[Aerows @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:27PM]

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!

[RichardBronosky @ Feb 3rd 2008 9:15PM]

I saw a 35 Million Candle (IIRC) Light at Advance Auto Parts about 6 months ago. It was < $50. It looked just like this thing, except the main body (with the top handle) was yellow, and all the other pieces of plastic were black.