Good Mag 3 D cell mod changing only the reflector/bulb?

[zx7dave]

I am looking for option to upgrade a 3 D cell MAG but keep the same power (3 D Cell). I am fine with Incandesent or LED. Any thoughts out there? Will I get significant better lighting or will I have to get into a different power source for that? I'm trying to bring it up to the SF M3T level or similiar.

 

[MikeSalt]

If you are using alkaline D-cells, your choices are limited to LED-based solutions. More powerful incandescents would require higher-current cells.

So, you do not want anything more complex than swapping reflectors and bulbs, so that rules out a Malkoff-style upgrade. Your best bet is a drop in LED upgrade, something like this...
http://batteryjunction.com/tle-6k2.html

 

[MikeSalt]

Ooops, that is the 4,5 and 6 cell upgrade. Let me find the 3-cell one.

 

[MikeSalt]

This is the right one...

http://batteryjunction.com/tle-6exb.html

 

[sysadmn]

I'm trying to bring it up to the SF M3T level or similiar.

I would be really surprised if you could do that with 3D Alkalines. I'd love to be proven wrong! About the best common bulb swap is running one under - using a 2D magnum star (Xenon) in a 3D (pretty dicey), a 3D Xenon in a 4D (works, but might shorten life), or the 4D in a 5 or 6D. Not bad, but not Surefire territory.

I wonder if you could run a 3.0v or 3.7v D36 (bulb or bulb+reflector) in a 3D mag? Hmmm.

 

[zx7dave]

Thanks for the info.

 

[swampgator]

using a 2D magnum star (Xenon) in a 3D (pretty dicey)

I instaflashed the last two Krypton bulbs I tried, so I would be hesitant to try it with a Xenon bulb.

 

[mdocod]

brightest incandescent option I know of is as follows:

Pick up a G4 bi-pin to PR base
http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=3076
Or get the high quality one from FiveMega, but for this power level I don't see it as necessary...
Then pick up the 3.6V 2.1A bi-pin bulbs from the same place
http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=3075
Those should in theory be in the same ballpark as a MN15 (maybe +/-30%) brightness wise.... probably a little dimmer as lower voltage bulbs are less efficient and these are slightly lower wattage overall also.

You would have to use NIMH cells for this bulb however..

A cree dropin is probably the better solution at this voltage level, the terralux boost version (2-3 cell) is probably the way to go for simple drop-in performance.

 

[zx7dave]

Thanks!