Maybe a Dumb Question...

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Liquidspaceman

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Hello, I'm a noob here so go easy on me.

I have an AA mini maglite. I noticed that there is a Cree LED upgrade kit that costs about 20 bucks. I'm assuming this Cree LED is the same kind of Cree LED used in the "professional" flashlights you all are accustomed to using.

That being said, if I do the upgrade on my mini-mag, will it instantly become some mini flashlight powerhouse? I'm not saying it's going to be turned into a Surefire. But I mean, it's the same LED... I'm guess that the electronics inside have a lot to do with the output as well...

So that being said... is it worth it to upgrade a Mini-Mag to a Terralux Cree LED (TLE 5EX)? I know everyone might have their own opinions and in the end it's my decision. I'm just wondering if YOU would do the conversion.

I know it's a trivial question. Probably small potatoes (I mean heck it's just a dang 20 dollar upgrade right?). I would appreciate it if you answered anyway. Even if to just say, "Jeez, it's a 20 dollar upgrade, just do it and hush your yappy."

Thanks in advance.
 
:welcome:


If you're looking for a high performance light and not so much just an upgrade for the old m@g then I'd recommend something else.
However you could do worse for $20. It won't reach near the brightness of one of the ~$50 AA lights that we worship around here, but it will definitely be a step up from a standard mini-m@g.
The LEDs can't be driven too hard in those upgrades because there isn't any real heat sinking. The Cree XR-E won't make the prettiest of beams either... it will be sort of ringy kind of like the stock bulb was. But if you really want to upgrade that light it is likely one of the best choices.
You can do a search for that model name (using the bottom search bar) to see if you can dig up some old threads on it as well. I don't remember if there were any quality issues for that particular model or not.
 
I would probably save the money to put towards a LF5XT (which has been the recent object of my flashlight obsessions.) but there's a lot of good stuff in that price range that might be more appropriate for your needs. That's not to say that there isn't a lot of cool stuff out there for mini-mags. There's a lot of really long running options like the mj led that make a standard mini-mag the ideal hurricane light. I happen to think the tle-20 from terralux is a pretty nifty and balanced setup, even though the nicha led is not the powerhouse the cree is. Have fun, and of course:welcome:
 
Hi and welcome to CPF :wave:.
Your mini-Mag AA is as bright as it could be,do not get the upgrade,put a block on your computer for this web-site,and be happy with your light :nana:.
 
:welcome:

Not sure where are you from but if you have a Costco around where you are, go check out their Maglite combo. The Costco in my area is selling a 2AA and 3D LED flashlights package for about $35. That saves you from converting your Magmini and who knows, you may want to use incan someday?

With Aloha,

Clarence
 
even whith much less than the full power in other lights - because of the bad heatsinking with the inserts - the difference will be unbelievable!
You - like anyone else - will NEVER EVER go back to an incan in an 2 AA light

"Better" lights like Fenix, Jetbeam, ..., offer more options with their multi-output levels.
imho they are worth it.
I'd go with one of them and mod the Minimag with some loooooong running led and lithiums - for emergencies in some 5-10 years
 
+1 to what yellow said. I did this when I first found CPF and was happy with it until I got my first Fenix. Now my little mag just lives in my tool box.
 
Cree is just a company that makes LEDs. Around here, Cree usually refers to there XR-E model of LEDs, which is used from sub $10 lights to lights costing hundreds of dollars.

IMO it is better to save up a bit more for a new light but that's just me. I'd get a drop-in like this for the minimag. Long runtime and good output.

If you were to buy a new light, what price range, size, output, beampattern, and modes(low output, high output, strobe, etc. or none at all) would you like?

:welcome:
 
Thanks for all of your help. I think I'll upgrade the mag with that MJ LED and then get a Fenix TK20 to add to my collection.
 
I've done the SMJLED and the 5EX upgrades before and they are very different animals. The SMJLED is for a light you want to run forever on a set of batteries and yet have usable light for walking in the dark in pitch black or around the house. The other upgrade provides a lot more light but a lot less runtime (I guess about 1/6th). Before I would do the Cree upgrade again I would just buy a stock Minimag 3AA LED, or even a 2AA. Lowes had them on sale for under $11 and may still have them on sale. I bought 8 2AA and would have bought some 3AA but I already have 4. They are not quite as bright as the upgrade you are referring to but they are wayyyy brighter than the stock 2AA incan model, they run longer, and they are stock and have a warranty (if that concerns you with an $11 light).

I bought 3 SSC-P4 LEDs for $6 each and put one in my 3AA LED and now it is twice as bright as stock with the same run-time (~11hours). The SSC mod is outlined somewhere on the forum and does require some work but is a great mod. Just keep in mind that with any of the higher-powered MM mods the LEDs will be throttled down as they heat up because there is no heat-sinking in a MM. My SSC-P4 turns blue after extended usage due to the heat.

Even though a lot of people rag on Mag lights I do like them due to the low cost and ease of modification. They are simple to use, take common batteries, and are very tough for the price. I would not be happy losing one but I would get over it a lot faster than losing a SureFire, NovaTac, Ra, or other more expensive light. I also don't get upset when I drop or scratch a MM, it adds character to it.
 
I think, I would leave the Maglite as it is (maybe put in the new Xenon-filled lamps, they are quite bright... for a Maglite-AA) and buy a Fenix P1D. You won't be disappointed by the 180 Lumen of maximum output from this 7,1cm long (or short?) little powerhouse :eek:


Timmo.
 
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