http://www.harborfreight.com/27-led-portable-worklight-flashlight-67227.html

This LED light has two sets of LEDs and a switch that cycles as follows with each press of the switch:
1. flashlight mode
2. off
3. worklight mode
4. off
back to 1.

Would it be possible to bypass the flashlight mode entirely, so that the switch cycles between off and worklight mode?

 

Should be a relatively simple mod, assuming there are wires on the switch:

find the wires from on switch

- one is power in
- one is power to light
- one is power to flashlight

Cut the wire powering the flashlight, and connect to the wire powering the light.

 

Ernie's psychic - and exactly right as usual. (I had to take it apart and see).

Here are the pix.

 

Ernie's psychic - and exactly right as usual. (I had to take it apart and see).

Here are the pix.

So after disconnecting the wire powering the flashlight, you left it hanging (I can't see anything it's connected to in the pic)?

I can just remove the disconnected wire from both attachment points (instead of just one, as in your pic) and use it as the wire to connect power to the worklight, correct?

 

So after disconnecting the wire powering the flashlight, you left it hanging (I can't see anything it's connected to in the pic)?

Correct. I wanted to be able to hook it back up.

I can just remove the disconnected wire from both attachment points (instead of just one, as in your pic) and use it as the wire to connect power to the worklight, correct?

Correct. Use it to jumper the two pins of the switch like I did with the orange wire.

Have fun.

 

Got it working. Thanks!

 

I'm not psychic, but at 7 years old my very first project was lighting my tree house with a battery, small light, and a key held by thumbtacks to make the switch.

With such a simple device I expected two PCB's to hold the LEDs (those are dirt cheap to make), but real physical wires to connect them as any other method would be cost prohibitive.

You're not going to find a flex cable in there, expect wires.

The switch wiring follows (proceeds?) the switch function.

 

OK, so next question (hey, I bought my first soldering station, so I want to use it! ):

How would I wire 3 of these lights (all modified as per above discussion) so that the switch on one of them controls all three lights? I'm using them to light up a cabinet (works great for that) and would prefer to press one switch rather than all three.

 

Well... you have two options, but I don't like either.

First is to have one set of batteries run all three lights. Obviously you cut your ON time down (and by more then a factor of 3).

Next is to parallel the batteries which may or may not give you similar run times. If the batteries are not in the exact same state of charge (the expected condition) the stronger batteries will try to charge the weaker ones. A series diode keeps them from charging each other but also limts the available voltage & power.

To connect, take the one wire you found that switches on the worklight in one unit and connect that to all three units. Take the other wire from the battery (I assume it is negative but one never knows till one looks) and make that connect to all three units.

If you are parrelling the batteries then you also need to connect all three positive terminals together.