A request to the mag-Charger-modders.

[Robert_it]

Hi experts,

I have read this fantastic forum for quite a while and I am getting a bit confused. Sometimes a very active and very big forum can be a bit daunting. I have made numerous searches and researched the matter quite a bit but really need some expert advice from someone who have actually done some of what I need.

I work at night inspecting aircrafts and need a powerful light with good flood, NOT a thrower.
I have bought a MCE ssc P7 and have been happy with it until the switch failed.
Then I bought a cheap Chinese "trustfire st80 2million lumens" which IS a thrower and have a very narrow beam. (poor battery life and in general is SHI…)

Now I thinking about using my redundant old Mag-Charger and modify it into powerful inspection light.
I have normal hand tools, a dremel, drills, soldering iron and ECT. But NO lathe or milling machine so I Need something in spare parts (lego), not something I have to manufacture.
I would like to be able to use the Charging holder for the ease of daily charging but do not mind to modify it to accommodate a higher voltage charge as long as I can just "click" it in.
I use my light for about 1-1 ½ hour then 2 hours break followed by another 1-1 ½ hour. I need full power and distance is between 5- 10ft (engines and gear) to 40ft (wings and tail)
Anyone who can give the right "recipe" for such a task? I am thinking that a 3 led setup will give the best flood/beam ratio? I have seen a lot on this forum but cannot seem to get it all together. It is always for a non-charger model or not a flood but thrower mod?
Does anybody have a complete "kit" or a complete list of stuff that goes well together?

I would really appreciate any time used helping me on this


Thanks in advance
Robert

 

[alpg88]

you need regular maglite, and either halogen mr16 flood, or led mr16 flood. i would prefer led for your build.
get 4c mag roll up a sleeve from paper (or find pvc pipe that has right diameter in and out) to use 3x 18650 cells, get this socket, a 12v bulb, and you're done.

turning magcharger into flood is possible, but there is no need for extra bulk and weight, 4c will work fine.
usually those led bulbs take 0.3-0.5 ah, with average 18650 cells you will get4 or so hours runtime.
for halogen you would need more volts, (led mr16 have driver that works with 10-14v), halogens will run shorter period of time, and heat up, (you'd need a glass lens for halogen.

if you insuist on magcharger, you can use the same bulb, mr16, but, you wont be able to use the above socket, you'll have to wire up the bulb somehow, original magcharger socket is too small to take mr16 as is.
now the power, you need 3xli ion cells, magcharger is basicly a 2,5D mag, so 3x 26500 will fit and will provide enough voltage for led bulb.
as for bulb, go to e bay type in led mr16 and you'll get thousands of results, i used bulbs with 3x cree leds, and bulbs with 15 5050smd leds with lens, just choose wider angle bulb.

 

[Brigadier]

http://www.batteryjunction.com/terralux-tle-300-mr-ex.html

 

[SmurfTacular]

^ beat me to it. Terralux sells a 700 lumen triple LED drop in for the magcharger. That combo seems to be the fan favorite of cops, but it seems to be a thrower. Or if you don't mind using a regular 3D or 4D maglite, you can buy Der Witchels triple p7 kit, it'll do about 2700 lumens. Includes everything but the P7s and the batteries. The reflectors in the kit are great for flood.

 

[alpg88]

it s a thrower, i got one, not the beast beam for upclose, as for 3xp7, yea that one is great, i have that one too, you could flood half the hangar with that thing,

 

[Robert_it]

WOW I am impressed,

less than an hour an already 3-4 reply's.

I still however be interested in using the mag-charger with the wall charger.
The ease of just clicking in on the mid shift break and return to a fully charged torch is a very nice thought.

I did try the Terralux but the old 600 lumen's MiniStar TLE-300MR and although it is better that the OEM it is still not really bright and it started to be unreliable after 6-8 month of usages and is now useless. (flicking and not responding on the switch + needs constant tapping)

I am hoping someone have done a rebuild with a similar setup like the Terralux but with better LED's + higher current and perhaps 9 or 12 AA rechargeable with a custom build charger fitted to the OEM charger?

As I stated earlier I do not mind tinkering and modified as long as a miller-machine or Lathe is not involved.


Thanks for all your time

Robert
Robert

 

[F250XLT]

This is actually posted in the wrong forum, this is for buying and selling. You will get more responses when it gets moved to the proper place :thumbsup:

 

[DM51]

Moving it to H&M...

 

[Robert_it]

Thanks... Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[alpg88]

nothing really has been done to mod tle, not that i know of anyway,

different batteries\chargers , that is easy, you can do it,


if tle wasn't bright enough, than you need 3xp7,
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2919842
or this
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=288560

but without lathe and miller-machine you wont fit it in magcharger,
not much really is available for magchager, besides tle, or different halogen bulbs and FM head, but they are not flood as 3xp7.

 

[fivemega]

6S/2P AA battery pack
7.2 volt
4600mAh
WA1111
Ceramic slug
LOP aluminum reflector
80 minutes run time
Gun metal gray type III

And still can be upgraded to 5000mAh Eneloop pack which means LSD long run time.
Battery barrel needs quad bore and some folks can do that.
If brightness of WA1111 is too much, next lower choice is WA1274 and next higher choice is 5761.
This system can be recharge by original cradle which will take much longer but doable.
Orange peel reflector provides soft beam which is still focusable and if softer beam is required, partially etching the bulb is another choice.