Noob help, mod my Fulton MX-991/U

[kramer5150]

Noob here so please ... please help me scope this out:twothumbs

I have had this light for almost 2 decades so its a bit sentimental and would like to mod it.


It has a mag 2D krypton in it now (thats all they had in the mid-80s:sigh. I am not very happy with the result, although I DO like the beam pattern with the OEM metal reflector. It throws out a pretty tightly focused beam with just enough spilling out to the sides, I use the clear diffuser lens whenever I want more flood.

I would also like to brighten/whiten it up a lot, increase throw, all while retaining that tightly focused beam projection.

Run time is not significant, although the more the better of course. 45-60 minutes is all I care for.

Here are some of the options I am considering:

1) Simply drop in a 2D/C terralux and be done with it.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/tle-6exb.html

2) DIY a 6xAA, 7xAA or 8xAA NiMH pack and drop in a 6D/C terralux:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/tle-6k2.html

3) DIY a 8xAA NiMH pack and drop in this bulb/adapter combo:
http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=3990
http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=3076

I will also replace the OEM plastic lens... no biggie.

Questions:

-Will I loose the OEM beam pattern with either terralux option 1 or 2?
-Will option 2 or 3 melt the light from heat excess? (I already intend to replace the OEM lens.)

What other combinations should I consider?
How about Xenon or halogen? are there any drop in Xenons I should consider.

Am I just wasting my time with this plastic relic? Does the design/material even lend itself to a multi-cell higher voltage mod?
Thanks a bunch!! All comments welcome:twothumbs

 

[kramer5150]

BUMP for the noob?

Has anyone tried overdriving this LED?... on that note CAN you overdrive an LED... with good results?

How would it respond to 7-8AAs? (8.4V-9.6V)

thanks!!

 

[mbirds]

Kramer,

Sorry, just caught your month-old post. I have the same Fulton and have enjoyed a 2 cell Magled drop-in. A tiny bit of filing the opening on the stock metal reflector (yours may not need it) and a blob of solder on the bottom of the Magled to make contact and it works great. I added some additional heatsinking to make it stay bright longer before the Magled throttle kicks in. The stock aluminum reflector sucks up some of the heat too.

I love this light. When my SSC's srrive from DX soon I'll mod the Magled and it should be very bright, maybe 100 lumens dipping to 60 when it warms up after half an hour. Anticipate close to 20 hours runtime.

I keep an SMJLED in the spare bulb slot for the option of low brightness/long runtime.

After I do my SSC mod I plan to post with photos here.

Hope this helps.

These Fultons are very well-made-- great threads for a plastic light. If anyone is looking for a GI anglehead I recommend genuine Fulton-- I also have a chinese copy and it has a plastic reflector and the threads are not great. Price is under $10, plus $22 for Magled and Seoul upgrade. A very useful light for 32 bucks!

Marcus

PS Kramer, you mentioned you were going to replace the lens-- please let me know if you find a glass lens that fits the fulton, I've been looking for a source. It's something like 40mm.