Mag 2C and 4C High Output Mods

[Ginseng]

I had so much fun with the cheap and easy mod described in this thread that I decided to refine things a little bit. Keep in mind that in the true sprit of amateur modding, I stole liberally from those who did it first and added a little bit of my own.

This first picture shows my revved up Mag 2C. It uses a Radio Shack KPR112 krypton bulb. This bulb is spec'd at 6V and 650 mA. Nominally, it's a 5-cell bulb. In this case, powered by 3xCR123, it is significantly overdriven at around 7.2V. Below the body tube is the battery carrier I made. Based on kz1000s1's lead, I went to Home Depot and found a length of Bristoltherm CPVC Hot-Cold Water pipe. It is identified as 7/8" OD and 3/4" ID. I found that the ID is actually a bit smaller, perfectly fitting around a CR123. The OD is about 1/8" smaller than the ID of the Mag 2C body, but that's were a couple of layers of industrial grade duct tape come into play. I wrap just enough to create a perfect slide-in fit with the barrel to make it rattle-free.

Below the battery carrier are the three CR123s. Below that is my Neat-O, self adjusting fake battery slug. It consists of a variable length of 1/2" copper water pipe, two copper endcaps and a spring. I used a 1/2" x 1.5" x 0.41" compression spring also found at Home Depot. This little thing is nice on a couple of counts. 1) You can cut a different length of 1/2" copper piping depending on the specific blanking need, 2) different length compression springs are available for each application, 3) copper provides an excellent conduction pathway for the juice. There is an example of a longer length spring in front of the batteries.

This next picture shows the assembly of the Neat-O battery blanker. You just slide an endcap on the pipe, insert the spring, slide on the other endcap and install in the flashlight. The caps are just loose enough to allow the spring to seek its length. Alternatively, you could remove the stock Mag spring and use this to make up the space to the endcap. In this case, I would extend the battery carrier down into the endcap to provide stability to the battery stack.

The next picture shows my Mag 4C ready for its transformation. Going in will be 6xCR123 and a KPR144 bulb. This bulb is rated at 14.4 volts so it should be driven at spec. My guess is it will provide somewhere upwards of 150 lumens. I will probably try to get a 7th CR123 in there for some serious overdrive. The real fun will come when the Carley bulbs go in.

I am considering starting up a group buy for some Carley bulbs and adaptors. I am presently researching this and will be back in another thread to post options and troll for interest. Stay tuned for details. Thanks to Lemlux and Paul_W for the inspiration. I think that this kit, while not exotic or difficult to put together, will provide you with a 2C-form factor torch that will produce at least 14 times the light output of the stock configuration for under $50. That's 285 lumens of eye-sizzling fun. If you're interested in learning more about this monster mod, check out this thread.

Wilkey

restored 12/21/06

 

[flashlightlens]

I moved my post to a different thread.

 

[Ginseng]

Very nice. Since I don't have access to a lathe, as many don't, I try to present options that can be exercised simply either off-the-shelf or with a hacksaw or dremel. I would love to be able to do the things you guys with lathes do. I'm just a frustrated tinkerer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif What I'd like to see made on a lathe is an insert for the tailcap that would add the capacity for an extra cell. A flat spring or short coil spring would maintain pressure.

Wilkey

 

[PaulW]

Wilkey,

Way to go! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif You keep improving on what has been done. And I had thought there was no more to be found at Home Depot to help in my projects. Now I find that you've invented yet more ways to use what I see there.

I really like your Neat-o battery slug. It solves so many problems. You'll go down in history for this one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Paul

test edit

 

[Darkcobra]

You don't need the Neat-O Slug for the 2C right?
Basically, just the PVC and tape?
Is the cap harder to screw on?

Thanks!

 

[Ginseng]

Darkcobra,

You don't need the Neat-O slug for the 2C. The tailcap is difficult to screw on though because it's a little tight. And since the threads on the Mags are nowhere near the quality of an Arc, it might take couple of tries. I put the Neat-O slug in and it screws in very smoothly and keeps a decent, not crushing tension on the battery stack. Also, the spring tension is tight enough so that no loss of contact occurs when you tap the end of the light on a hard surface. And if you use the Neat-O slug, you need to grind off the anodizing on the inside of the tailcap to create an electrical path. Only a minute or two with a Dremel, but still, maybe more trouble than it's worth.

Wilkey

 

[Darkcobra]

Thank you Sir!

Joel

 

[lemlux]

I just now noticed the battery blanker. I really like it and intend to copy the idea. Thanks, Ginseng.

 

[Ginseng]

Knock yourself out Lemlux. Only caveat is that with this particular size of tube, the cap is too big to fit in the inside bore. But I've been able to trim the tube and/or do something else to make it work. In general, the concept has utility.

Wilkey