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RGB ZIP-LIGHT MODIFICATION
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RGB Zip-Light Modification, retail (NFS) (No web URL known)
Last updated 03-03-22

This product was originally a Zippo Zip-Light, which has been modified to an RGB (red/green/blue) LED flashlight that features a circuit inside to make the LED do tricks that even a self-flashing LED cannot do. This modification was performed by a Candlepowerforums.com member who goes by the pseudonym WildRice.

It fits in a standard Zippo cigarrette lighter body, and is actuated by flipping the lighter's lid up.

SIZE

To use the RGB Zip-Light, install it in a Zippo cigarrette lighter body first, then you can go to town.

To install this module in a Zippo body, remove the "guts" from the Zippo first by pulling them straight out. Place the original Zippo guts in a drawer or somewhere else so you can find them if you want to use them later.
Insert the module into the Zippo's body, orienting it so the red lever on one side of the module faces the front edge of the Zippo, and the large metal piece on the other side of the module faces the back edge of the Zippo, where the lid hinge is.
Press the module straight down into the Zippo's body until it stops, press the metal piece on the module out (horizontally) (you may do this at any time prior to installation), and flip the Zippo's lid closed.

If there is any lighter fluid in the Zippo, wipe the inside of the lighter body until it's dry with toilet paper or nasal tissue first, before installing this module. Set the guts (the internal mechanism of the lighter) aside for several hours to allow the lighter fluid to evaporate.

Flip the lighter's lid up to turn the light on, and flip the lighter's lid back down to turn it off. This activates and deactivates the light.

Flip the lid up once for steady green.
Close the lid to turn it off.
Flip the lid up again for steady red.
Close the lid to turn it off.
Flip the lid up again for steady blue.
Close the lid to turn it off.
Flip the lid up again for red and green dice on together.
Close the lid to turn it off.
Flip the lid up again for red and blue dice on together.
Close the lid to turn it off.
Flip the lid up again for green and blue dice on together.
Close the lid to turn it off.
Flip the lid up again for all three dice on together.
Close the lid to turn it off.
Finally, flip the lid up again for a color wash mode, where the colors cycle with a cycle rate of approximately 0.3Hz.
Close the lid to turn it off.

Like it reads on the back of many shampoo bottles, "lather, rinse, repeat". In other words, flipping the lid up again turns the green die on.

To change the batteries, first remove the Zip-Light from the lighter. Insert the edge of a sharp object liike a razor blade in the seam between the two halves, and pry the case apart, starting at the top of the case near the red switch or the beefy spring thing for the Zippo's lid. There is a wire connecting the two case halves together; please don't pull the case halves apart hard enough to break this wire.

Remove the two used CR2016 or CR2032 cells from the battery holder, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Place two new CR2016 or CR2032 cells in the battery holder, flat-side (+) positive first.

Place the two case halves together, aligned correctly with one another, and gently snap them together.
Finally, insert the Zip-Light back into the Zippo cigarrette lighter body, and close the lid to turn the light off.

This battery change procedure sounds more difficult in print than it actually is to do in person.

This is a custom-made, one-of-kind flashlight, so if I beat on it or try to drown it in the toilet and succeed at either, I might not (well, probably will not) be able to obtain a replacement. So I won't perform the more abusive tests for this website sakes. Therefore, this section of the web page will appear significantly more bare than this section of the web page on a page about a commercial flashlight.

Here is the module itself that fits in a Zippo cigarrette lighter case.

Beam photograph (red die energised) at ~12".

Beam photograph (green die energised) at ~12".

Beam photograph (blue die energised) at ~12".

Beam photograph (all three dice energised) at ~12".
LED does not display all three dice illuminated at once properly,
so I was not able to obtain a proper photograph of it.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED (red die) in this device; newest (03-25-12) spectrometer software settings used.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED (red die) in this device; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 640nm and 660nm to pinpoint peak wavelength, which is 651.755nm.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED (green die) in this device; newest (03-25-12) spectrometer software settings used.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED (green die) in this device; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 515nm and 535nm to pinpoint peak wavelength, which is 526.876nm.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED (blue die) in this device; newest (03-25-12) spectrometer software settings used.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED (blue die) in this device; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 450nm and 470nm to pinpoint peak wavelength, which is 458.984nm.

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.

Brief video on YourTube showing the RGB Zip-Light modification in action.

This video is appoximately 41.7347856458 megabytes (42,166,170 bytes) in length; dial-up users please be aware.
It will take no less than two hundred eight minutes to load at 48.0Kbps.

TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased on Ebay on 05-03-05, and was received on the afternoon of 05-16-05. It was modified by a Candlepower Forums member.

UPDATE: 02-17-08
I am saddened to report that the creator of this light, Jeffrey Rice (aka "Wildrice" on Candlepower Forums) passed away on 02-01-08.
This web page is in Jeff's memory.
Even though this product was babied because it is not a commercial product, I'll be even more careful with it now.

(OEM): Zippo Mfg. Co.

Flashlight built into lighter

RGB 5mm LED

Medium spot

Product actuated by opening lighter lid

None (Lighter lid acts as protective cover when not in use)

2xCR2016 or CR2032 coin cells

Unknown/unable to measure

NO WAY HOZAY!!!

2xCR2016 cells

57mm H x 38mm W (not incl. hinge) x 12.50mm D

47.80g (1.690 oz.) incl. batteries

USA

Unknown/not stated

RGB Zip-Light *

Do you manufacture or sell an LED flashlight, task light, utility light, or module of some kind? Want to see it tested by a real person, under real working conditions? Do you then want to see how your light did? If you have a sample available for this type of real-world, real-time testing, please contact me at bdf1111@yahoo.com.

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