Mag, LED recipes

[PA~MagPhreak]

New Guy here, sorry if I'm posting in the wrong thread. As you can see from my tag, I LOVE Mag-lites. I wouldn't consider myself a flashaholic (yet), but I desperatly need to upgrade my Mag 3D, and my back-up mini-mag, that I use for work. I love Mag's for their functional yet elegant style but I'd be an idiot to not admit they are a bit on the weak side, stock.

So, here's the spec's I'm looking for:
Needs to remain stock in apperance(with exception to anything inside the lens); this isnt just preferance, it's required for my job.
min. run time of 20min-1hr.
Adjustable cam.

I am thinking I want to go LCD for two reasons, runtime:lumens, and bulb temp. This light will be serving a twofold purpose. Patrolling and self defence; i.e. BLINDING people. That said I think a high temp LED would be best without actually burning someones retinas.

I dont have any expirence modding but am willing to jump head first into the deep end for positive results.

Let me know what you expirenced flashaholics think. And if this question needs to be moved to another thread.

Thanks for the help:wave:.

 

[Marduke]

Might want to check the stickies:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=193434

:welcome:

 

[tx101]

Simplest solution ..... get a Malkoff dropin :thumbsup:
He has the "standard" dropin using a P4 emitter
and the scorching P7 dropin

:welcome:

 

[Gunner12]

Check the thread Marduke pointed to, many options there.

Also avoid the MagLED drop-ins. Previous generation of LEDs, or lower bin LEDs(both aren't as good as what the others have). Also lack of heatsinking.

IMO buy a new light instead of upgrading the Minimag.

:welcome:

 

[spencer]

What are you looking for 2D? 3D? 4-6D? Or a C cell light?
What do you want to run it on? Alkalines or NiMH?
Flood? Throw? A combination of the two?
We need more info.

BTW :welcome:

 

[PA~MagPhreak]

3D
recharagable for sure, sor NHiM... or Li-Ion:thinking:
and I would like to keep the adjustable cam but from looking around I'm not sure that's gonna be an option so I guess something in between.

 

[spencer]

You can make a pretty decent P7 Mag that will run for about 3 hours on 3D NiMH cells (10Ah). There is a really good tutorial for the P7 Mag here. You would probably be best off using the driver suggested there.

In theory its really easy:
- Remove the bulb holder and cut the switch down
- Get a heatsink for the P7
- Get a P7 LED
- Make the driver as seen in StefanFS's tutorial
- Wire everything up
Optional:
- LOP reflector for a smooth beam
- Glass lens

Getting everything together can be the hard part.

With everything including battery's it will be under $150. Less if you have the host already. This light will put out 800 lumen.

 

[PA~MagPhreak]

That sounds like a winner. I think 800 lumens will be enough. Its a hard to determine what will satisify my illumination anticipation, and what will be overkill; blinding and irritating everyone I work with and around.

Is it common to have such a hard time deciding on a final build? Or only when your on a strict budget with your wife nagging about unnecessary hobbies:rolleyes:.

 

[spencer]

Is it common to have such a hard time deciding on a final build? Or only when your on a strict budget with your wife nagging about unnecessary hobbies:rolleyes:.

When I built mine I put a lot of thought into mine. I wasn't really on a strict budget but I wanted to keep costs down. That and my dad thought it was way overkill.
If you use the multimode driver in StefanFS's build then it will have multiple modes. Then you can turn it down.