new to mag 85

[mrartillery]

I have been reading alot about the Mag85 on CPF and i am still a little fuzzy on it, im sure someone will have the answers i need. First of all why will the bulb in a potted WA 1185 system not be lined up? How far off center are they, and how will this affect the beam

 

[powernoodle]

PM sent with Mag85 recipe.

cheers

 

[Patriot]

Powernoodle, would you please send me the recipe too. I've been reading a lot, but I'm fuzzy on a few things also.

Thanks

 

[mrartillery]

thanks for the recipe, planning on building one soon. does anybody know what type reflector a surefire uses? i think its a light stipple but not for sure. also ive not decided whether to use a potted or bi-pin bulb, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each? also the light is going to be used more as a toy than anything else so which would be the best option for me, potted or bi-pin?

 

[cutlerylover]

All I can tell you is Bi-pin bulbs are cheaper and easier to find...

 

[iamerror]

thanks for the recipe, planning on building one soon. does anybody know what type reflector a surefire uses? i think its a light stipple but not for sure. also ive not decided whether to use a potted or bi-pin bulb, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each? also the light is going to be used more as a toy than anything else so which would be the best option for me, potted or bi-pin?

A Bi-pin setup will be slightly brighter because the switch has less resistance. It is a little trickier to build and more expensive at first. The bulbs, though, are cheaper than potted ones. I would recommend the potted option for simplicity.

 

[mrartillery]

thanks for the posts, but does anyone know what style reflector a surefire uses? I think its a light stipple but not sure? want to use this style for mag85. and i am in the process of getting a kit to modify my switch.

 

[Alin10123]

A stipple reflector will get you close to a SF like beam however it will kill almost all of your throw even with a light stipple. With a hotwire light like this. I'm pretty sure you wont be using it at close range. With that said... i recommend a smooth reflector to take advantage of the throw. Unless you're going for a flood light.

 

[021411]

Could someone forward me the recipe? Thanks.

 

[jimjones3630]

Seems like perception is based in relationship to experience. The snail riding on the back of the tortus said, "slow down, we going so fast I'm getting dizzy."

I have a M@g85 with HS camless FM reflector in a 3d 9x1450, and a 9/AA holder with Sanyo's 2700'a in it and both paks give me all the throw I'd want. I like the wall of light and it throws almost a 100 yards I bet.

It's the one of the ones I'd take along in the car in case I break down, or I get called out at night to go to unkown paces.

For throw I have a M@g85 with 3in head aka Elephant 9sx2p AA's (18) and I think it's a thow monster with long run time. I'd take it if looking for lost dogs, kids, stuff like that.

Figuring out how and where your going to use a light will probable help in choosing which light you nees. It has for me anyway.

Jim

 

[Rogue1987]

Could someone also send me the recipe? Thanks!

 

[Josey]

Is the recipe a secret?

Here's my take:
The Mag85 is a Mag light (usually a 3D Mag, but not always) that uses the WA1185 bulb, which pumps out 700 to 900 torch lumens. Better cells and less resistance in your light largely determine whether your light does 700 or 900 lumens.

What you need:

1) The WA1185 bulb, which you can find on B/S/T or web sources. The bi-pins are easiest to find and usually fit in circuits that have less resistance (more brightness), but you can also get potted, which look like regular Mag bulbs.

2) Because the 1185 puts out so much heat, you'll need a boro lens/window (flashlightlens.com and other sources). The stock plastic lens/window will melt. Some people use the UCL, which lets out more light, but does not stand up to heat as well over long periods.

3) Also because of the heat, you'll need a metal reflector. Three factors here: smoothness of reflecting surface, size of bulb hole and whether it is cammed or non-cammed. The surface of reflectors ranges from smooth, light orange peel, medium orange peel, light stipple, medium stipple, heavy stipple. The smooth throws the beam the farthest, but has some artifacts (shadows). The heavy stipple is a clean, massive wall of light with little throw. LOP and MOP are nice compromises. The smaller the hole, the more light the bulb will reflect. Cammed reflectors use the stock focusing system of the light. Non-cammed are for bulb holders like the Kiu that don't focus. FiveMega makes a reflector with a removeable cam. It has a relatively large hole. You can find all these reflectors on B/S/T. Sandwich Shoppe has the M2, which can be had with a very small hole.

4) A socket for the 1185. If you have a potted 1185, use the stock system. The bi-pin requires a ceramic socket. FiveMega makes a bi-pin adaptor which slips into the existing Mag socket. The Kiu ceramic socket has the least resistance, but it requires a fair amount of modding to the stock Mag switch. These are all found on B/S/T.

5) Cells and a battery holder. The 1185 is run off 9 NiMH cells or 3 Li-Ion (or two or more parallel sets of three Li-Ions in series) (Positive to negative is a series connection/positive to positive, like jump starting a car, is parallel.) If you use 9 AA NiMH cells (use eneloops), you'll need a special battery holder from FiveMega or Modamag or others. Same with most Li-Ions. However, AW is selling C cell Li-Ions which can drop into a 3C Mag with an extender and run the 1185. (You need to know what you're doing to run Li-Ions, which can be dangerous, but lots of advice here in the battery section.) You can also run 8 1/2D NiMH cells in a 5D Mag and avoid having to buy a battery holder; this approach is larger, but gives you better runtime. FiveMega holders sometimes have a charging port so you can charge the batteries as a pack. FiveMega often offers complete Mag85 packages.

6) Regulation: The Hotdriver is a circuit that holds the 1185 at a constant brightness for as long as the cells hold their charge. However, this is a controversial issue because the person who makes the Hotdriver (AWR) has had serious problems delivering some of his products. But it's cool if you can get it.

7) Special mods: You can mod the switch and tailcap to reduce resistance and increase brightness. Try searching on this forum for detailed instructions and photos.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Ok Martha Stewart, please send me the recipe too.

 

[021411]

The ROP although maybe a less lumens seems much easier to do than the Mag85.

 

[Alin10123]

Seems like perception is based in relationship to experience. The snail riding on the back of the tortus said, "slow down, we going so fast I'm getting dizzy."

I have a M@g85 with HS camless FM reflector in a 3d 9x1450, and a 9/AA holder with Sanyo's 2700'a in it and both paks give me all the throw I'd want. I like the wall of light and it throws almost a 100 yards I bet.

It's the one of the ones I'd take along in the car in case I break down, or I get called out at night to go to unkown paces.

For throw I have a M@g85 with 3in head aka Elephant 9sx2p AA's (18) and I think it's a thow monster with long run time. I'd take it if looking for lost dogs, kids, stuff like that.

Figuring out how and where your going to use a light will probable help in choosing which light you nees. It has for me anyway.

Jim

I guess you have a point about what he needs. Some people dont realize that it will kill the throw if you stick in a heavy stipple. That's why most sf lights aren't really known for throw. I've seen an ROP with a HS reflector. It's a huge huge huge flood. Just this giant flood light. I loved it!!! But as far as throw goes... the light dissipated pretty quickly. This was with a camless reflector btw... so... your results may vary. Compared with my smooth ROP.... well.. you know...

 

[LuxLuthor]

If you want to clean up the bulb filament artifacts in the beam, look for one of FiveMega's "Deep Reflectors" which he has made in 2" stock diameter, with some new surprises coming. Dramatically improves the throw too.

 

[Effulgence]

I'm new to the Mag85 as well. I have in mind all the necessary components but am conflicted with the battery components.

Can anyone suggest what setup would run best with AW C Li-Ion or 18650s?

I'm currently planning on using:
3D MagLite from Lowe's
KIU Hi-Temp Socket & Mag Switch Resistant Fix Mod
WA1185 Bi-Pin from Light-Edge.com
Medium Stipple Reflector from Light-Edge.com
Borofloat 52.1mm x 1.90mm from FlashLightLens.com

I want to use Li-Ion since they don't discharge as fast as NiMH and AW has C sized cells. Battery magazines add more cost and more weight which I don't really prefer. I think the C Li-Ions have more capacity as well. I just don't know what C Li-Ion or any other Li-Ion configurations would power the Mag85 to topshelf status. I have 2D Mags, 3D Mags, 18650s, 18500s, and a lot of Li-Ion chargers that are arriving soon. If all else fails, I'll have to get Sanyo Enerloops and FM Battery Magazines.

 

[waynejitsu]

Could someone send me the recipe too
Pics would be great too!!

A while back I think there was a post with pics and builds, I searched all day and never found it.

This is something I really want to build myself.

 

[evh]

Can anyone send me the recipe please?

I was pretty much set on the R.O.P. mod till I saw the Mag85.

 

[Patriot]

Can anyone send me the recipe please?

I was pretty much set on the R.O.P. mod till I saw the Mag85.

I think that Josey shared it in post #12 guys.