How to transform a used fire extinguisher into a very unique flashlight.

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Originally Posted on http://www.motormayhem.net

I decided to use LEDs rather than a traditional light bulb because they last longer and are more durable. I was planning of visiting my local electronics store but ran out of time so I ended up purchasing a mag light led upgrade kit from the hardware store next to my house. It consisted of three LEDs connected to a small circuit board.

I then removed the black jacket on the circuit board and filed down the sides of the chip and the inside of the tip on the end of the fire extinguisher hose until the LED's fit inside the yellow tip on the end of the hose.

I then cleaned out the fire extinguisher by unscrewing the top from the tank and cleaning it out with a hose. I also removed the plastic tube attached to the inside of the top. I then unscrewed the hose from the top valve assembly.

Next I removed the small valve that the handle presses down to release the contents of the tank. This then gave me a hole from the hose to the tank and from the tank to right underneath the handle (location of switch). This is easily done by simply pushing it through the bottom of the top valve assembly.

Now we can begin to route the wires through the hose. I simply pushed them through the hose so I had about two inches sticking out of either end. This allowed me to solder on both ends while the wire was inside the hose. You can also run a straightened clothes hanger through the hose to allow the hose to be bent and hold any position.

At this point you can solder the light to the wires and stuff it in the end. Make sure you solder the + contact on the circuit board to the wire you will connect tot he battery because my circuitry only worked one way.

I then attached the - wire to the - terminal of a single AA battery located inside the tank. I then ran the + from the battery and from the light up through the hole where the valve push button was, before I removed it. This then allowed me to put a small pressure switch under the handle so it will turn on only when the handle is pressed all the way down.