I did some checking... a 123 mod....

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

While out and about looking for lights (STOP ME!) I grabbed a Dorcy 3D light at K-Mart, four Panasonic C cells at Family Dollar, a Garrity G-Tech copy at a dollar store (along with 2 Panasonic Ds), and an Eveready 4D Waterproof at Oshmans.

Upon arriving home I put new Ds in the Eveready - nice beam with tight hot spot, tweaked the rim of the bulb on the Dorcy (which I had getto modded with cardboard and C Cells) - decent beam somewhat splotchy, and last but not least...

Found that 3 123 Liths are just a smidgen longer than 2 Cs, 4 123 are about 1/2" shorter than 3 Cs.
The only light I had to try it on is a PUKY Lumilite K-2C (Was crappier beam than the Eveready Industrial 2D that I have since 3Cd and KPR102d).

I wrapped 3 123s up in paper and stuffed them in. With a Dorcy Worklight 14.4 bulb it was a weak sister as expected. With a 6 cell Mag bulb it is pretty bright, but my god what a crummy beam! I just tried it against a KPR103 run by 4Cs and it isn't that bright.

If I can locate a 2 or 3C Mag or mag copy I'm going to have some fun!

What bulb would be best for 3 123s and for 4 123s?

 

[Monsters_Inc]

Hey ya know JoeShmoe, that's given me an idea! Ever since I modded my Mag2D to 3C's, I've unwittingly embarked on the journey to get more more MORE! Maybe stuffing some 123's and an upgraded bulb is the next step. Let me know how long the 123 batteries last in a "normal" made for C/D cell light.

 

[kz1000s1]

I just bought a 2C Maglite from Home Depot and put in 3 123 Surefire cells in 1/2" PVC pipe with a 6 cell krypton bulb. The beam is the best of any maglite I own, just some faint rings. Much smoother than my 3C, and a tighter focus as well. Over twice as bright as the 3C with an RS Xenon bulb. The next thing I will try is an overdriven 5 cell bulb.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I believe I mentioned that I will be looking for a 2 or 3 C Mag to play with.

I have had great fun playing with C mods.

As I say, all I have right now is this Lumilite hunk of crap which throws a beam with two 'wings' being brightest and the whole thing just as splotchy as anything I've EVER seen.

As to life of the mod, I haven't used up any batteries in a long time. I have too many lights that I run for just seconds or maybe minutes at a time. Most batteries I have replaced for time or for extra brightness (3Cs in place of 2Ds or 4 in place of 3 etc.).

C Mags are getting hard to find around here.

I guess I could do a D Mag.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I just did a ghetto mod of 4 123s into a 2D mag.

I don't have the correct bulb. I merely touched the button and the KPR102 was a flshbulb. In there right now is a Dorcy Work Light 14.4V bulb.

The beam is yellowish and while much better than the Lumilite, still not up to my standards (not to mention that I have now ruined the beam in that Mag when it goes back to 2D.)

I think I know where to go look for a C Mag. It won't be cheap there, but they should have it.

 

[kz1000s1]

My 2C mag was $15 at Home Depot. They had quite a few of them in 3 colors. According to Mag-lite's Website, Ace Hardware carries 3C's, though I've never seen one there.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I was once in a hardware store near downtown off of Canal or Navigation or some such that had back then a mind boggling bunch of Mag stuff.

I'll try my local Ace first, then one over on Telephone... I don't go near downtown unless I GOTTA!!!

I'm thinking two C Mag with 3 123s for 9v with a bulb for a 7.2 Makita or other work light.

This mod stuff is making me crazy! I did 4 Cs into one of my old Sams 3D Value Lights. For some odd reason a KPR103 and an XPR103 both did the flashbulb thing. Another KPR103 is in there now and pretty doggone bright!

 

[Monsters_Inc]

All these flashbulbs JoeShmoe, aren't you feeling the burnt hole in your pocket by now?!

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

At less than a buck a bulb for the ones I'm blowing up it don't hurt TOO bad...

Wish I could easily find some more Halogen bulbs though.

I am more obsessed and in tune with the flashlight thing than I've been with darn near anything!