Mag mods, LED and what else?

[customh]

I'm thinking about getting the Nite-Ize IQ switch and LED upgrade combo. Has anyone had experience with these, or should i do something else to make my min brighter? I'm noob to the light-modding world and want to learn. I am also curious of mods to do to my 2D mag. Suggestions are very welcome, Thanks!

 

[Elton]

i have the Nite-Ize led bulb for my 3d mag and will its pretty dim but i i have my surefire if i want something brighter i have it in my truck just in case i need to hit something with it or fix something

 

[Derek Dean]

Howdy customh, and welcome to CPF,

Check this out:

http://www.batteryjunction.com/tle-6k2.html

Now, this is a drop-in module for a 3-6 cell M*glite, requiring no other mods...... BUT you could use it in a 2 cell light IF you got a couple of 3AA to D cell converters, available here (#16).

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=119033

However, TerraLux is supposed to have a neat new, very bright LED drop-in specifically designed for 2 cell lights in about 2 months..... might be worth waiting for while you look around the forum.

You could also upgrade your reflector (possibly a MOP "medium orange peel") to smooth out the beam, here:

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=150395&page=1

Only deal with that reflector is that you would have to bore the hole out a bit larger to fit the new LED..... but you could get the same effect by "sputtering" a little Krylon clear paint on the reflector...... see here:

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=158870&highlight=sputter

AND finish it off with a new glass lens for 99% transmission of all that bright, beautiful new light..... from here:

http://www.flashlightlens.com/item--UCL%AE-Lens--UCL_Lens.html

You want the 52.1mm by 1.90mm thick UCL (ultra clear) WITHOUT the LDF coating (a diffusing coating that takes your spot beam and makes it into a flood beam, which you wouldn't need because you smoothed it out your beam with the new MOP reflector, OR 'sputtered' your old one, OR left it the same for an incredible, long throwing spot).

Be sure and check out the modder's forum:

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=17

Lots of neat stuff you can do to a M*glite. Look around, and have fun!

Derek

 

[customh]

Thats pretty overwhelming, I'm curious as a bit of getting my feet wet in this, if i could keep using the incandescent bulb if I got the 3aa to D converter. I'm also curious how they work, whether they step up the voltage or just put them all in parallel.

 

[GeorgePaul]

...if i could keep using the incandescent bulb if I got the 3aa to D converter. I'm also curious how they work, whether they step up the voltage or just put them all in parallel.

No, you couldn't use the original bulb. The 3AA to 1D holder referred to above puts the batteries in series, so the voltage is stepped up. So you would wind up with 1.5V X 6 = 9V with two of these in your 2D Maglite. The orginal bulb would go You could use a Maglite Xenon bulb for 5 cell lights with this configuration.

 

[customh]

Alright, thanks, really need to pick both up, or get an LED, what is the best, or would be the best for a 6AA powered light?

 

[Gunner12]

For the 6AA-2D sized mag, maybe this might work, like Derek Dean said(Terralux Seoul Led upgrade)

Or a Roar Of Pelican mod

For the Minimag, wait till the Terralux seoul up grade comes and there are also many other mods for this one, just search around. The brightesst MiniMag Mod that I know of is the Hotwire Kit (review)

Good luck finding what you want!

And Welcome to CPF!

 

[customh]

The minimag has already got the 11 buck nite-ize iq switch and led upgrade combo coming, and I want more runtime on the 2D than the ROP will give me.
Are you telling me that link is the Terralux Seoul? I want the best LED that would go with a 6AA config. Is that it? or is the one that they will have in a couple months better?

Also, what is the best reflector, I want cammed action, but possibly a "bulb and switch body" that gives me a lockout option too.

 

[GeorgePaul]

... really need to pick both up, or get an LED, what is the best, or would be the best for a 6AA powered light?

The Maglite 5-Cell C & D Flashlight Magnum Star replacement bulb only costs about $3, so you might as well pick this up. I think you'll like the Terralux MiniStar5 SSC P4 drop-in better for long-term use -- very bright, regulated so that it stays at the same brightness for a long time, should last a very long time, and it's rugged.

 

[GeorgePaul]

... I want more runtime on the 2D than the ROP will give me.
Are you telling me that link is the Terralux Seoul? I want the best LED that would go with a 6AA config.

If you want maximum runtime, then LED is the way to go. The TerraLUX MiniStar5 SSC P4 U bin LED upgrade for 3-6 C/D cell Maglites TLE-6EX does use a Seoul Semiconductor (SSC) LED.

 

[GeorgePaul]

...what is the best reflector, I want cammed action, ...

Check this out.

 

[customh]

Took apart my dad's 3D Mag which was all corroded inside, and in the process the switch body broke. Does anyone sell those?

Also have a 2AA Minimag with the old lettering on the lens holder. The spring in the part that holds the bulb is broken, and I don't know how to get it out to fix it. Any ideas?

Oh, about the LED I PM'd TigerhawkT3 and read the post here and I'm between 3 LED modules. I want best combined runtime and brightness, which of these three will give me that?
1. MagLED
2. TerraLUX Seoul
3. Malkoff Seoul

 

[TORCH_BOY]

Welcome, The Nite-Ize IQ switch does add some resistance to the light, some of the
LED upgrade modules will not be as bright as they should with this switch.

 

[customh]

The nite-ize module is just for getting my feet wet, I ordered it even before I found this site, and on the switch I would have gotten it even knowing that information because it is so nice for what it does.

I found out how to fix the old minimag I have here, was as easy as going to their site and finding the parts place, I have yet to call them and see what the parts cost.

And about my last post there, what LED module would you go with for a 2D Mag with 2 3AA to D converters?

 

[customh]

I think I just committed heresy or something as I just spent 15 bucks on flashlightking.com on STOCK Mag parts, including a reflector, that was the worst sin. Otherwise, they were just needed parts to get an old minimag and a 3D up and running again, switch assemblies, seals and the like.

Still want to know which LED drop-in is the best though!!

 

[GeorgePaul]

And about my last post there, what LED module would you go with for a 2D Mag with 2 3AA to D converters?

Personally, I would go with the new TerraLUX MiniStar5 SSC P4. Nice bright Seoul P4.

 

[customh]

How about if I stay 2D?

 

[Gunner12]

The magled upgrade(review) gives a runtime of about 22 hours to 50%(3D) But has a huge drop at the begining and uses a Luxeon. It has about 65 lumen of output (at first, then drops to 35-40 lumen). The Terralux Seoul upgrade has a runtime of 20 hours to 50%(4D) I'd guess more then 10 hours runtime with 3D and less with 6AA. Malkoff has the best performance (about 200 lumens out the front) but the runtime is about 6 hours to 50% from what I've heard, but you can have it set to highpower or low power.

Terralux is coming out with a Seoul upgrade for 2D-3D maglites, at least that's what I heard.

Or you can send it to malkoff (the 2D).

The best balance is the Terralux upgrade IMHO, but if you want to stay 2D, you'll have to wait or swap the led in an existing drop-in to the Seoul if you want better performance.

I want best combined runtime and brightness, which of these three will give me that?
1. MagLED
2. TerraLUX Seoul
3. Malkoff Seoul

 

[roadie]

mount multiple laser diodes to make a laser spot maglite

[[ i will do it someday myself ]]

 

[customh]

Well gunner, thanks for the help and all others, looks like I'll be doing what Derek_Dean said first, and Gunner said again-- wait for the new Terralux. Meanwhile I'll have to get a Fenix E0 and a new reflecor and lens for the mag 2D.