Recommendation on 30 to 50 watt Incandescent that can run on 2 IMR 18650 cells? Maglite mod or ?

bigchelis

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Joined
Oct 30, 2008
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Prunedale, CA
Hi all,
I been wanting a simple light such as a 2C or 2D Maglite that can run on 2 IMR 18650 cells. No soft start and just tailcap spring shorter to fit the longer 18650's. Of course with metal reflector and UCL lens type. Nice to have about 1000 Out The Front Lumen Incan light

Options:
  • Phillips G4 style 5761 but these seems to prefer a soft start which is not available anymore. ( requires G4 mod on Maglite)
  • Pelican 3854 bulb build. Easy since they drop right into the Maglite

I see many G4 style bulbs on Amazon for sale that are 6V and 30 watt. Have never heard or tried any of them. I see plenty of 12v and 50watt versions too but than I would need a 3rd cell and I wanted to keep it to just 2 IMR cells. Ideally if 6V and 50 watt existed that be amazing and more so if it worked without soft start.

Any ideas?

Thank you,
bigC
 
21650/21700 would be better,
why tote air inside the barrel around?

That typed: that were 5-6 Amps,
= 30 min runtime; if the cells can give that
?


... motocycles (small motocycles) once were 6 V.
Maybe get a bulb from there?
 
Hi all,
I been wanting a simple light such as a 2C or 2D Maglite that can run on 2 IMR 18650 cells. No soft start and just tailcap spring shorter to fit the longer 18650's. Of course with metal reflector and UCL lens type. Nice to have about 1000 Out The Front Lumen Incan light

Options:
  • Phillips G4 style 5761 but these seems to prefer a soft start which is not available anymore. ( requires G4 mod on Maglite)
  • Pelican 3854 bulb build. Easy since they drop right into the Maglite

I see many G4 style bulbs on Amazon for sale that are 6V and 30 watt. Have never heard or tried any of them. I see plenty of 12v and 50watt versions too but than I would need a 3rd cell and I wanted to keep it to just 2 IMR cells. Ideally if 6V and 50 watt existed that be amazing and more so if it worked without soft start.

Any ideas?

Thank you,
bigC
These 2S/2P M*gs will power up Phillips G4 style 5761 or Pelican 3854 much better than 2S18650 with more than double the run time and less voltage drops. Also will work with protected cells.
 
Last edited:
Illumn.com sells some 26650 IMRs with 6000 mAH. Currently using them in a custom host with a KT4 and quite like them, could also work in a 3C host. Back in the day before we had some of the softstart options, we used to wire up a NTC thermistor to softstart the bulb. They are very inexpensive and effectively serve the same purpose as an electronic softstart. I still have a Fulton wired up with one with 2x D li-ions and I don't think I have replaced the bulb yet after firing it up hundreds of times.
 
I use 2 X Lifepo4 with the Philips 5761, or 2 X Li-ions for Philips 7388 (overdrive a 20W bulb).

IMG_20240311_203226.jpg

A good CPF member is selling these BIG LEEF bodies, you need a ceramic G4 socket, a KT4 or Lumens Factory turbohead.

I am also selling some 3C or 2D Modified Maglites for G4 Halogen bulbs.
 
Pelican bulb is your easiest option, if you can find one. you can run 2 unprotected 18650 in stock 2C maglite. With 2D light you can use anything from 18650 to 26650.
If you need a soft start, an inrush current limiter is all you need, I used them in several builds, very simple and reliable, basically a thermal resistor that drops resistance when current heats it up.
 
Can anyone share the part numbers and specifics for your NTC setups? I.e. Lamp/NTC specific compatibility?
I'm not aware of a chart that anyone has ever put together here on CPF, but just search Amazon for NTC between 1 and 10 Ohms and check the specs to ensure the amp limit works for your setup.
 
Yep, that how i picked mine on digikey, lowest resistance when hot, and just to be safe I looked at 10A rated thermistors.
 
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