Mag 2D LED

[Mental]

Hi

I bought a Maglite 2D LED this week and want to brighten it up, any suggestions on
what I can do to improve the output ? I'm beginning to think I should have bought
the incandescent bulb model and just stuck a Fusion 36 drop in inside.

Thanks for any ideas

Mental

 

[PCC]

Short of doing a full-on mod (cut off LED tower, install an aluminum heatsink, install an LED/driver, etc) there isn't anything you can do to that light to make it any brighter, unfortunately. Well, actually, there is only one thing that you can do, but, it's not worth it IMO: trade out the Luxeon Rebel LED for the Cree XP-E from the newer 3D models. You'll gain around 40 lumens and the hotspot will shrink in diameter due to the smaller die of the XP-E. Note that you need to retain the 2D driver and just move the outer thimble with the LED attached to it from the 3D to get this to work.

 

[Mental]

Hmmmm, looks like the 2D LED was a mistake, never mind, I feel a 6D incandescent with a Terralux TLE-300M-EX might be ordered this week

Thanks for the reply

M

 

[PCC]

Why would it be a mistake? Sure, it takes some work to get it up and running, but, it will make a great host for an LED upgrade using an aluminum or copper heatsink. The reflector alone is one of the best reasons to go with this light as a mod host. One of my personal favorites right now is a 3D MagLED hosting a 2.8A driver behind an XM-L. You should get 600+ lumens for more than three hours out of this combo and you have the option to turn it down for even longer run times if you need it.

You can always sleeve your 2D for 3 C-cells then use any driver intended to be used with a single Li-Ion cell. Another way to go would be to use 2 D-cells and use a boost driver intended to be used with 2 AA cells like drivers meant to be used in Mini-Mag sandwiches. Since there's so much stored energy in a big D-cell battery you can go a little bit higher on the output side and get 275+ lumens (XP-G R5 driven at 1A) or more.

 

[c southers]

terralux makes some nice drop ins four the mag

 

[Mental]

Are the Terralux drop ins not for the incandescent versions only ?
I'm still struggling to get my switch assembly out, got a nice little tool
from RS last week but lost it somewhere in the house...!!

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=searchProducts&searchTerm=235-3801

Once I have the switch out I will try to follow some of PCC's suggestions

M

 

[march.brown]

Hmmmm, looks like the 2D LED was a mistake, never mind, I feel a 6D incandescent with a Terralux TLE-300M-EX might be ordered this week

Thanks for the reply

M

I bought an ordinary 2D Maglite and have a Fusion 36 in it ... I have two "3AA to D" converters in it instead of the two D cells and it works very well on the six AA Eneloops ... It works OK with just the two D cells but not quite as bright ... It also works very well with two 18650's ... It makes a nice bright floodlight if you don't need long range.

My Wifes 2C Maglite also is fitted with a Fusion but it is running on two Li-Ion 18500 cells and is great too ... That also will run on two C cells if needed.

We both like the Fusions for "round the house" use and hers is kept in the kitchen for emergencies along with her 3AA Maglite LED ... Mine is in the study with a selection of other torches (14 others actually) ... I just seem to accumulate torches ... Some in each bedroom and two in the lounge plus a couple in the car ... Then there's the EDC ones plus all the others that have been handed on to the children and grand-children ... There really is no logical reason to have so many torches is there ?

I don't know how long the batteries last in the Fusion torches , as I top them up every few months whether they need it or not.
.

 

[PCC]

terralux makes some nice drop ins four the mag

It won't fit the Rebel MagLED.

I bought an ordinary 2D Maglite and have a Fusion 36 in it ... I have two "3AA to D" converters in it instead of the two D cells and it works very well on the six AA Eneloops ... It works OK with just the two D cells but not quite as bright ... It also works very well with two 18650's ... It makes a nice bright floodlight if you don't need long range.

My Wifes 2C Maglite also is fitted with a Fusion but it is running on two Li-Ion 18500 cells and is great too ... That also will run on two C cells if needed.

We both like the Fusions for "round the house" use and hers is kept in the kitchen for emergencies along with her 3AA Maglite LED ... Mine is in the study with a selection of other torches (14 others actually) ... I just seem to accumulate torches ... Some in each bedroom and two in the lounge plus a couple in the car ... Then there's the EDC ones plus all the others that have been handed on to the children and grand-children ... There really is no logical reason to have so many torches is there ?

I don't know how long the batteries last in the Fusion torches , as I top them up every few months whether they need it or not.

The Fusion 36 won't fit the Rebel MagLEDs without some mods to the tower.