Brightest 3D Mag mod?

[I came to the light...]

I've been on the LED forums for a while, but this is my first post about an incan. I've got 2 3D Mags lying around, and I would love if I could make something great out of 1 of them.

Like I've said, I'm not experienced here. I looking for something as simple as "buy these parts and replace them." I don't know if there's any really good mod that's that simple, but I'll definitely do it if there is.

Specifications:

• simple!
• fits 3D Mag
• inexpensive (I don't know how much mods normally cost, but I'd like to keep this below $30 if at all possible)
• flat output (again, my lack of experience is emberassing. I don't know if all incans have this, or if none do... )
• runs no less than 1/2 hour
• uses rechargeable batteries
• given above specs, as bright as possible

I hope I'm not setting impossible standards. If I am, what's the closest thing out there? (Either that, or, if you think you know all there is to know about incans, think of it as a challenge )

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Gunner12]

Bump the price up a bit more and you could probably make a Mag85.

Glass window
Metal reflector
9AA-3D adaptor
9 NiMh AA batteries
Welch Allyn 1185 bulb
Bulb adapter

I think that's it for parts.

 

[I came to the light...]

Bump the price up a bit more and you could probably make a Mag85.

Glass window
Metal reflector
9AA-3D adaptor
9 NiMh AA batteries
Welch Allyn 1185 bulb
Bulb adapter

I think that's it for parts.

just a few questions...

where can I buy these things?

I was looking at some ROP "recipes", and they suggest using a borofloat lens and a pelican big D replacement bulb. Are these also best for the mag-85?

in the linked thread they refer to "potted" bulbs - couldn't I just get a potted bulb and skip the adapter?

could you give an estimate of the price?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Gunner12]

The ROP is a 6v Pelican bulb over driven to 7.2-8v

The Mag85 is a 9.6v bulb overdriven to 10.8-11.7v

The ROP bulb will pop with the Mag85 setup's voltage and the 1185 bulb will be dim with the lover voltage of the ROP's setup.

I'm not sure where you would buy potted bulbs now. They might still be available though.

Estimate?

Well, depends on how much you want to spend.

Cheapest would be to buy parts form KD. Reflector is $15, adapter is $10, window is $3.07 for 5.

Bulbs can be found in the Marketplace.

You can also use 3 unprotected 18650 batteries to power the bulb(protected ones will trip from he current draw).

Total lowest price should be around $60 if you go cheap for everything.

I don't post here often. Other members would have better recommendations.

 

[Cydonia]

A good 9AA battery holder by fivemega is $39 alone. The aluminum reflector is $25. The Boro lens is $5.50. The bulbs are $6 each. You should use a KIU bulb socket... about $15 more. Many suggest using Sanyo Eneloop NiMh AA cells because of their low self discharge (charge them, forget them for months and they still hold useful charge - unlike cheap Energizer NiMh etc., that fade very fast after a charge - leaving your flashlight "half dead" when you need it etc. ,) So add up to $30 more. Then you need a hobby charger - add $30 more minimum. It's hard to do for under $150 really.

The sad news, really, honestly, is that it's not cheap. If it were, "everyone" would have a pumped up Maglight on steroids.

(I really really wish someone would make a sticky for "how to upgrade a big D maglight". This theme of question is asked on a daily basis... and has been for years. A resource would help new users with all the info they need in one sticky thread.)

 

[jugg2]

IIRC the adapters from Kai will not handle the current draw of these bulbs. Yous should probably use fivemega's adapters.

 

[Wattnot]

IIRC the adapters from Kai will not handle the current draw of these bulbs. Yous should probably use fivemega's adapters.

I too want to take my pathetic 3D Mag and make a Mag85. I've spent a total of 6 frustrating hours across 2 days now and still have not reached a point where I feel comfortable ordering anything. There seem to be conflicting reports (a perfect example above) and a lot of difficulty getting information.

It would be great to have a 1 stop shop for ALL of the RIGHT parts! Yes, I realize there are several different manufacturers here but what might not be apparent to the "enlightened" is how daunting and confusing this is to the "unenlightened!"

I'm not complaining about this site, though . . . it's a great site and I love that people have been making/selling really nice custom stuff here . . . but for all of the recipies I've tried to follow, I feel like I've been doing a really messed up Rubic's cube for the past 2 days!! Some of the problem have been the differing opinions as to what's best . . . other problems have been unanswered emails and PM's. The biggest problem has been clicking a link for a part only to find it's not available, then finding a newer thread with a newer part that I now have to research.

I might just buy FIVE of each item and then help my fellow noobs by offering a "one stop Mag85 shop" and just ship them everything!! Feel free to sell me your stuff wholesale and I'll package all of the needed parts, including charger and batteries! I'm serious! You guys have no idea what this is like!

By the way, the one piece I have not been able to find at all is a holder for 3 18650 cells for a 3D Mag85 conversion (or better yet a 3S2P setup) Does such a beast exist? It's not a big deal . . . after reading about the Eneloops, that seems to be the way to go since my biggest concern is discharge during non-use.

:wave:

 

[jugg2]

I too want to take my pathetic 3D Mag and make a Mag85. I've spent a total of 6 frustrating hours across 2 days now and still have not reached a point where I feel comfortable ordering anything. There seem to be conflicting reports (a perfect example above) and a lot of difficulty getting information.

It would be great to have a 1 stop shop for ALL of the RIGHT parts! Yes, I realize there are several different manufacturers here but what might not be apparent to the "enlightened" is how daunting and confusing this is to the "unenlightened!"

I'm not complaining about this site, though . . . it's a great site and I love that people have been making/selling really nice custom stuff here . . . but for all of the recipies I've tried to follow, I feel like I've been doing a really messed up Rubic's cube for the past 2 days!! Some of the problem have been the differing opinions as to what's best . . . other problems have been unanswered emails and PM's. The biggest problem has been clicking a link for a part only to find it's not available, then finding a newer thread with a newer part that I now have to research.

I might just buy FIVE of each item and then help my fellow noobs by offering a "one stop Mag85 shop" and just ship them everything!! Feel free to sell me your stuff wholesale and I'll package all of the needed parts, including charger and batteries! I'm serious! You guys have no idea what this is like!

By the way, the one piece I have not been able to find at all is a holder for 3 18650 cells for a 3D Mag85 conversion (or better yet a 3S2P setup) Does such a beast exist? It's not a big deal . . . after reading about the Eneloops, that seems to be the way to go since my biggest concern is discharge during non-use.

:wave:

I was in the same position as you, wondering exactly where to buy everything from so that I wouldn't end up half way through, and not be able to find everything.

Basically:

fivemega for your battery adapters, reflectors, bulbs, and bulb adapters

Lighthound for your lenses

Kaidomain also sells reflectors, and bulb adapters

Circuit City sells Eneloops

B&M store for the host

charger is up to you


How is that list? I hope it helps!:thumbsup:

 

[I came to the light...]

I really don't see where a $150 estimate comes from. All I have to do is replace the bulb, lens, reflector, and batteries, right? I already have the light.

Lens is $6: http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1079

Bulb is $9: http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1070

reflector is $15: https://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=4023

That's $30 + batteries. But I have a few questions:
1) is there a D-cell sized 3v rechargeable battery?
2) can the pelican replacement bulb take 9v? 12v?

 

[RichS]

IIRC the adapters from Kai will not handle the current draw of these bulbs. Yous should probably use fivemega's adapters.

Well that's a little upsetting considering I just ordered 7 if them! I ordered 2 each for me and a friend of mine to build our 2D ROPs, and 3 more for a Mag85 I'm building.

Will they at lease handle the draw of the 6 Cell 2D ROP config??

 

[ptirmal]

I really don't see where a $150 estimate comes from. All I have to do is replace the bulb, lens, reflector, and batteries, right? I already have the light.

Lens is $6: http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1079

Bulb is $9: http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1070

reflector is $15: https://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=4023

That's $30 + batteries. But I have a few questions:
1) is there a D-cell sized 3v rechargeable battery?
2) can the pelican replacement bulb take 9v? 12v?

1. No, all nimh would yield 1.2v mainly
2. No, some have used 7aa with 2 dummy cells, but you risk instaflashing the bulb...

I think the most expensive part is the batteries/charger setup

 

[Wattnot]

Lens is $6: http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1079

Bulb is $9: http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1070

reflector is $15: https://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=4023

The bulb link went to the wrong place. I cannot find the 1185 on lighthound's site. If it's there, please link me! There is no search function that I can find. I've been told www.light-edge.com has 1185's but their site has been down all weekend.

That reflector has a 15mm hole. They have another one with a smaller hole. Which hole size do I need if I buy kiu's socket? What about other sockets? What if I use potted lamps? Who sells potted 1185's? People selling stuff here don't always put all of the specs in the ad and I'm having a hell of a time getting info via PM's. Kiu's mailbox is full and he's not answering emails. To be fair, he looks swamped and it is the weekend.

 

[PurpleDrazi]

Who sells potted 1185's?

I got my potted 1185's here . . .

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?p=2052488#post2052488

Francis

 

[Wattnot]

Okay . . . cool. So I'm assuming the potted bulb means it's shaped like the stock bulb and that I don't need any special socket? Does that also mean the hole in the reflector can also be stock?

So if my assumptions above are correct, I would just need a lens, reflector, battery pack or adapter with my cells, and I'm set? Or do I need some sort of switch? I'm okay with the stock switch if it will work.

Thanks for the info! :wave:

 

[jugg2]

Well that's a little upsetting considering I just ordered 7 if them! I ordered 2 each for me and a friend of mine to build our 2D ROPs, and 3 more for a Mag85 I'm building.

Will they at lease handle the draw of the 6 Cell 2D ROP config??

IIRC, they will melt and destroy themselves under the high current draw due to their high resistance. The ROP high bulb draws over 4 amps according to LuxLuthor's Destructive Incan Bulb Test. Fivemega's adapters I linked to in my above post are very high quality, and will easily handle the load.

 

[smokelaw1]

Okay . . . cool. So I'm assuming the potted bulb means it's shaped like the stock bulb and that I don't need any special socket? Does that also mean the hole in the reflector can also be stock?

So if my assumptions above are correct, I would just need a lens, reflector, battery pack or adapter with my cells, and I'm set? Or do I need some sort of switch? I'm okay with the stock switch if it will work.

Thanks for the info! :wave:

The holw in the relector can be stock, but DO NOT use the stock reflector with the 1185--it will melt. In the ROP Lo, I think you would be OK, at least for short runs, but I would not recommend it.

For the mods you are discussing, you do not need a switch. Add a bulb and bulb adapter (if not using potted) to your list. Also, of course, a charger.

Good luck! I'm really just starting nit he hotwire game myself, it is fun, but a bit addictive. And by a bit, I mean like crack cocaine is a bit addictive.

 

[RichS]

IIRC, they will melt and destroy themselves under the high current draw due to their high resistance. The ROP high bulb draws over 4 amps according to LuxLuthor's Destructive Incan Bulb Test. Fivemega's adapters I linked to in my above post are very high quality, and will easily handle the load.

Ok, thanks. If this is the case, then I'm wondering if my money would be better spent on AW protected 18650 batteries, and just doing a li-ion version of the ROP and Mag85 mods. I've seen plenty of posts that the protected AW 18650s will power up both of these mods. Pros - Less expensive, fewer batteries to charge, I already have the charger, li-ions holds the charge better, have many other lights that use 18650s, relatively safe due to the built in protection, etc. Also, FM doesn't have the 9AA holders in stock anyway.

Any downsides to going this route??

 

[divine]

I too want to take my pathetic 3D Mag and make a Mag85. I've spent a total of 6 frustrating hours across 2 days now and still have not reached a point where I feel comfortable ordering anything. There seem to be conflicting reports (a perfect example above) and a lot of difficulty getting information.

If you are that worried, you could always just order a premade Mag85 for some more money. A borealis is a Mag85, www.blackbearflashlights.com

 

[ptirmal]

as far as reflectors go, you can use any reflector opening hole size that will fit the bulb... it is only dependant on the bulb diameter not the kiu socket... if you can try to get a hole barely bigger than the diameter of the bulb to prevent light leakage, if not no biggy...

If you want it to be perfect you can buy the smaller hole reflector and carefully drill it out to the exact diameter of the bulb...

 

[jimjones3630]

bulbs and bipins

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178144
here you go for bulbs and potted bulbs

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=168090

bipin

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=168089

reflectors
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=171150

above 3 all from one source.