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For years I carried a Solitaire linked to a Swiss army knife. I graduated to an Arc-AAA. Then a Shoppe MM with a LUX for my AA. Then an EverLED for my 3D and some Diamonds for my other 3Ds.

There are even more impressive replacements for the std. mag bulbs here...and some reflectors that'll make even the std. bulbs look better...stick around.
 
Mag Lite:

Take one of your 2C M@gs and load it with 3 CR123 lithium cells and drive a 5D cell krypton bulb from Radio Shack (KPR112?) with it. There've been several threads on this simple mod here on CPF. It'll make your little M@g heart go pitter pat. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I have a 4D mag. It sits right next to my surefire 6P. I look at the mag, then I look at the surefire, 1/5 the length and alot slimmer and I tell myself pick one from the outside cause they both put out the same amount of light.
 
Don't worry, you won't be the only mag owner here. Even though some people hate to admit it, they are by far the most popular flashlight around here, if only for the bodies. As long as you're happy with it, then it's a good light.

I'll admit it, when I was in a difficult situation and needed a flashlight quick, the very first flashlight I grabbed was a 3D mag, even though I had a shelf of about 60 others to choose from. It was almost like a reflex. I later went back to grab a surefire E2 and brinkmann LX, but ended up using the Mag most of the time.
 
So this topic has come up again has it? You know, I think if Mag put in a faceted plastic reflector it would be a fantastic light. Right now the reflector is the weak point for me. It can certainly throw, but it is very nasty. I think everything else about the Mag is great. The durable body, reliable switch, cammed head, and everything else besides the reflector are just great. The other weak point is that it uses alkaline batteries and a krypton/xenon bulb, but that is their market. Whatever complaint we CPF'ers have about the crappy voltage drop of alkalines and yellow beams of incandescents doesn't matter to Mag Industries, because it's a Consumer flashlight, and a damn good one at that. Just my 2 cents.




Of course, it doesn't hurt to put in a UCL lens, solid aluminum Perfect Mag Reflector, cram it full of 123 batteries, get a HOT bulb from Carley or Welch Allyn, and turn it into a Mag sized spotlight.
 
Mag Lite:
when i needed a flashlight, i bought some cheap lights, but my dream was a maglite (here in my country, good lights aren't very common). when i started searching, i decided to buy a Stremlight TwinTask 3C (SL TT 3C is how you will see it here). Now, i think is not the best of the light, since i have and know other lights, but is a LOT BETTER than a magline IMO. i have only used one set of batteries, and i only have to say WOW!. they use so little power that a single set of batteries can last for many weeks using it everyday. Mag can't do that, at least not as shipped.
try a diferent flashlight, just one, (SL TT's ,PM6 Led, Surefire G2, Infinity Ultra, for example) and you will never use any of your mags again
 
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soloco said:
So this topic has come up again has it? You know, I think if Mag put in a faceted plastic reflector it would be a fantastic light. Right now the reflector is the weak point for me. It can certainly throw, but it is very nasty. I think everything else about the Mag is great. The durable body, reliable switch, cammed head, and everything else besides the reflector are just great. The other weak point is that it uses alkaline batteries and a krypton/xenon bulb, but that is their market. Whatever complaint we CPF'ers have about the crappy voltage drop of alkalines and yellow beams of incandescents doesn't matter to Mag Industries, because it's a Consumer flashlight, and a damn good one at that. Just my 2 cents.






[/ QUOTE ]

Totally agree. If Mag put in a better reflector (a textured one like Surefire uses), they'd be so much better. Get rid of the focusability and instead use a nice reflector that sends beam with a nice large hotspot and good sidespill (throw is less important than lighting up an area, IMO). The other change they need to make is to offer LEDs.
 
[ QUOTE ]
soloco said:
Of course, it doesn't hurt to put in a UCL lens, solid aluminum Perfect Mag Reflector, cram it full of 123 batteries, get a HOT bulb from Carley or Welch Allyn, and turn it into a Mag sized spotlight.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tell me more. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Are there any threads on Mag modifications?
 
Soloco..good post...it was a great light for me as a consumer...

There will be a revolution and whether or not mag comes along with it remains to be seen...(other stuff aside).

Right now and for the last few years they seem to be content with lawyers.
 
[ QUOTE ]
soloco said:
You know, I think if Mag put in a faceted plastic reflector it would be a fantastic light.

[/ QUOTE ]

I kinda disagree. True a faceted reflector would give a better beam, but I would say >95% of the people out there want a smooth reflector. Among the general public, and even on this board, people want to know how far the beam throws. That's why lightmeter measurements are so popular, that's why the 3W are so popular, that's why there was such a big hype when LED's could finally outthrow incandescents. Besides, you can always defocus a smooth reflector, sure it has a few rings, but it's still usable.

About mag joining to revolution, I really don't think the revolution has come yet. LED's are a big step forward, but if you think about it, what do we really get? An unbreakable lightbulb at 50X the price? I'm sure most people don't mind spending a couple of bucks on a lightbulb now and then. Greater efficiency? Not at the levels current LED's are at, they're not that much better if at all. If we look at all of the LED flashlight companies, which one has really made that much of an impact in flaslhights? None really. Arc was the first and foremost, and even without a lawsuit, it really didn't look like it was going to be much competition to Mag. LED's are still an emerging technology, I have a feeling Mag is just waiting for all the small players to die out before it comes out and perfects the technology at 1/10th the price.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Mag_Lite said:
Are there any threads on Mag modifications?

[/ QUOTE ]

Only about a billion. Look in the "homemade and modified" section. By far the easiest Mag mod is the EverLED. Just drop it in and replace the crappy stock bulb. It will make a 2D brighter than a 6D, and give you better battery life. I was comparing a stock 5D Mag tonight against my EverLED in a 3D mag, the stock 5D was EXTREMELY pathetic in comparison.
 
Looks like new convert is beeing born. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I have 4 Mags so far. Three MiniMags. One with the Opalec, one is waiting for its sandwich when I have a chance to finish it. One is 3 AA. I still think about the best replacement for the bulb. Have red luxeon which would go pretty nice with the black body. The last one is Solitaire. I want to build something with led into it.

No single thought about using them as they are.
 
Mag Lite, Welcome! Glad to see you display your name proudly /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif. I own 68 Maglites currently. Most have been modified or are in my collections though. I don't use any "stock" Mags for daily use. Two of my favorite Mags that I use a lot are my mini Maglite with the T-bin 3Watt MM+ LED from "The sandwich shoppe", and my $80 MagCharger modified that will hold its own against an expensive Surefire M6. Nothing wrong with a modified Mag /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. We all have them and modify them regularly here. Glad to see you have joined us. Enjoy!
 
I have modified a 3D Mag to put out a higher quality beam by transplanting a faceted Dorcy reflector into the stock Mag reflector. With a xenon bulb, it makes a fairly bright, round beam without remnants.

However, there is still that problem with the alkaline batteries. Good brightness for a few minutes....then a slow descent into mediocre yellowness. It's so annoying. Maybe somebody will build a regulator board for incandescent lights?????

Also, the weight of the larger Mag is getting to be a major annoyance factor for me. Especially after owning several lithium/xenon lights like the G2Z and E2e. These lights weigh only a few ounces and put out a perfect beam that is nearly constant brightness throughout the battery lifetime.

Another annoyance factor with the larger Mags is associated with the weight. This is idea of trying to use a handgun or tools when fooling around with what might as well be a cement filled lead pipe in your other hand. Very clumsy to manage. Something like the G2Z outclasses a Mag 3D by far.

The Mag 2C is a fairly nicely balanced ergonomic light. I have modded one of these with a Micropuck and luxeon with NX01 optics. It's a very serviceable light with great beam quality.

Another consideration with the heavy aluminum lights like the Mags is that when they drop onto a hard surface like concrete, it is likely to sustain serious damage or burst bulb. I usually am holding tight to these lights when in an area with hard surfaces. The Streamlight 3C is a wonderful flood light and has become my choice of light for many serious tasks- it is nearly indestructible and will laugh off any drops onto a concrete surface.
 
Mag_Lite Welcome.
The colour of incandescent light turns more yellow(already a bad colour) as the batteries in an unregulated system dies.Also, I think,(someone correct me if I am wrong)that as the temperature of the fillament reduces, the bulb starts to produce more and more invisible infared 'light'thus wasting whatever little energy there is left.These two factors makes it somewhat harder to make out detail when batteries are not at their freshest. White LEDs maintain their colour throught the batteries life so, if you put your used batteries from your maglite into a LED light, I gurantee that you will have alot more usable light than what the maglite was giving you.

Second point. LEDs don't blow like bulbs do. If a LED is powered within specs, it will produce light down to 50% birghtness from 10000-100000 hours! Do the math! What InTheDark said about the price is however true. For ideal, superbright LED systems, you will have to give an arm and maby a leg to get the best.People who use flashlights regularly will benefit more than those who don't unless,of course you become a flashaholic like the rest of us and derive some strange type of pleasure from owning a bunch of bright shiney things. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif(no offence to the rest of you guys)

Efficiency wise, depending on the power output of the particular system you have,(will soon be getting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif) they will either be as efficient as incancescents, or can be up to 5 times more efficient.Higher output/lower efficiency.

One cool thing I like about LED flashlights are that some of them are regulated,ie, they give constant light output till the batteries are almost dead (deader than incandescent dead).You hardly find this in incandescent flashlights. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

The most important thing to do is have fun while you spend you time and money.
 
Size form & durability.
I started out with Mag 3D as a EDC on a belt holster at work. After several years changed to a Rayovac Roughneck 3D it had a better reflector and was much lighter and didn't roll, the beam was just as focusable. Missed the wackability of the Mag for the threatning dogs that one may encounter but a fair tradeoff none the less.

Tried a UK 4AA for a while, great light but the down side with them was the bulb module, replacement costs are kinda spendy. Now I carry a Princeton Tec-40 with rechargable NiMH batts and a Magnum Star bulb. I really like the reflector and you can use PR bulbs that are easily available. For the size and weight the Mag lights don't make much sense anymore if you have to carry them around all day as others have noted. For 1/4 the size and a lot less weight you can carry a equivilent of a 4D Mag in a package thats a little bigger than a Mini-Mag with decent run time and runs on cheap AA batteries.

Most of the time you won't even notice them on your belt (a 3D mag on a belt holder has been known to cause plumbers crack) Mags still have a place in the light world IMO, but for inovation they have had nothing new in a LOONGGG time. Ten years ago almost all the service techs used to carry a 3D or 3C light of some kind. Now a days nearly everyone in my line of work has 4 AA lights or rechargable streamlights. We use flashlights all day (HVAC work) and by looking at what people are using I think it's a good indication of the trend and of what works well. Mags are not there any more, I see most guys don't even have a mini mag rattling around in thier tool box as a back up any more. Now the backup lights are either LED's or little UK 2 AA lights or PT Blasts. More/better light for the application.
 
Hi Mag Lite...

well I can show you some pics, why officers loves SureFire /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif

Mag Lite 3C (fresh batteries)
mag~Kreis~.jpg


SureFire Z3 with P91 HOLA (fresh batteries)
sure~fire~kreis~.jpg


Note that these pics are not manipulatet. They are from www.tactical-gear.de, a webpage made by police officers to teach students.

In the middle you can see the SureFire lamp from the pic:
groessenvergleich.JPG


But I think, MagLite is ok for civilian use.

Greetings, Metin
 
[ QUOTE ]
HEK_Hamburg said:
Hi Mag Lite...

well I can show you some pics, why officers loves SureFire /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif

Mag Lite 3C (fresh batteries)
mag~Kreis~.jpg


SureFire Z3 with P91 HOLA (fresh batteries)
sure~fire~kreis~.jpg


Note that these pics are not manipulatet. They are from www.tactical-gear.de, a webpage made by police officers to teach students.

In the middle you can see the SureFire lamp from the pic:
groessenvergleich.JPG


But I think, MagLite is ok for civilian use.

Greetings, Metin

[/ QUOTE ]

Those pictures say a 1000 words!

One other point, besides the superior beam quality of Surefires over Maglites, they also have an equally superior size:brightness ratio.

A Surefire 1/4th the size of a 2D Maglite can deliver 3-4 times the lumens.
 
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