P60 LED Pill into a Mag?

[gallonoffuel]

I think this belongs here, or maybe in the materials/machining section. Anyway..

I've been thinking for a while how cool it would be to have an aluminum disc, similar to the KD CREE dropin for D-Mags, that would accept the pill from P60 LED dropins. The benefits would be ease of upgrades to the folks with modded mags, and superb heatsinking do to the size of the adapter. I'm fairly sure every P60 LED pill i've ever bought has the same threads, every reflector has been interchangeable.

I envision an aluminum block which the pill threads into after you remove the outer anode spring. The entire aluminum disc becomes negative when screwed onto the stock mag bulb holder. The pill cathode spring (the little guy on the bottom) would contact the cathode contact on the bulb holder via a small aluminum rod with a nylon sleeve to isolate it electrically.

I drew a picture in MS Paint to better illustrate...

I was thinking about trying to make this, but threading these items would be the challenging part for me anyway. Anyone happen to have the thread dimensions handy?

 

[LukeA]

I'm fairly sure every P60 LED pill i've ever bought has the same threads, every reflector has been interchangeable.

Some are M20x1, some are something finer, seems to be M20x.75. The popular 6090 and the Q5 version of it are M20x1. The sku.1343 is M20x.75.


What's handy about M20 threads is that the tap drill size is 19mm, and 3/4 in is 19.05mm. That's handy because inch drill bits are much cheaper here in the United States. Turned on the lathe, however, the size is inconsequential.

 

[gallonoffuel]

Bumping this up to see if anyone knows the thread size on the Maglite bulb retainers. I figure that would be a standard thread size but if I have to order a tap I might as well do that while I'm waiting on materials.

 

[LukeA]

The threads look nonstandard (major dia of .542in). What if you press-fit the bulb-retainer into the unit? The retainer has an OD of .588in.

 

[jabe1]

I've been thinking along the same lines recently. Why not a reflector that accepts the pills, and an adapter for the switch (with the tower cut off?). I figure starting with one of the kd reflectors and making an alu. adapter to thread on. Doing it this way wouldn't limit which pills... just change adapters!
Anyone know what the thread specs are on them?

 

[gallonoffuel]

I have some materials coming in to play around with options. I suppose if its difficult to thread the bulb retainer part, i could try the press fit option, or just model the KD CREE dropin and have the thing slide in, with nothing really holding it in there. The reflector would sit on top and put the whole thing into the bezel. It wouldn't be focusable, but neither is a P60 anyway. As long as the pill is held in securely, everything else can be somewhat fluid. I'll need all the parts in front of me at the same time to really work this out. I'll be posting my progress.

Thanks Luke for your input with the threads.

 

[jabe1]