Simple maglite mod problem

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Tiredlumens

Tiredlumens

Newly Enlightened
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Sep 2, 2013
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37
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Pennsylvania
I have a 3 d maglite that I have made to work with 4 c cells and I put a radioshack HPR50 halogen bulb in it and it works good other than it's not any brighter than the sock krypton bulb with the original batts. Y would this happen I mean since it is halogen and it has more cells? Is there a defect or somthing? Is there a better Incan mod that is cheap and simple?
 
are you using fresh cells?
i used this bulb, it is brighter with 6v lantern battery, but its main advantage, is not brighness, it is straight filament, that focuses better. you'll see advantage if you use it in 6v lantern with like 6in reflector, not in maglite.

if you want brighter inc mod, you need to get pelican bulb, and build rop mag. however you'd need metal reflector glass lens, and rechargable cells.


you wont get any night and day difference with these bulbs and alkaline cells.
 
alpg88 said:
are you using fresh cells?
i used this bulb, it is brighter with 6v lantern battery, but its main advantage, is not brighness, it is straight filament, that focuses better. you'll see advantage if you use it in 6v lantern with like 6in reflector, not in maglite.

if you want brighter inc mod, you need to get pelican bulb, and build rop mag. however you'd need metal reflector glass lens, and rechargable cells.


you wont get any night and day difference with these bulbs and alkaline cells.
Click to expand...
i can't build a rop mag because I can't get a 6 aa to 2 d adapter anywere that will handle it. My most powerful mag I own is a 2 d mag with a KD op reflector, KD glass lens, 5 cell mag-num star ii bulb, and 2/3 aa to d adaptors with normal alkaline batts and it's 200+ lumens and when focused at a close focal point it will almost burn dark colored paper (almost)!! Haha but I might just leave the hpr50 bulb in there because it does focus good in the mag and I have a few extras becaus they were on sale for 99 cents the other day! Or I might put a 3 cell mag-n star ii bulb in it and overdrive it.
 
Tiredlumens said:
i can't build a rop mag because I can't get a 6 aa to 2 d adapter anywere that will handle it.
Click to expand...

You don't need a 2D Mag or high current 6AA to 2D adaptor. I built my ROP Mag using a 6D Mag with 6 Tenergy Centura D cells. The light itself is big. But the two hour runtime actually makes for a light that is quite usable in the real world (as opposed to using 6AA and having maybe a half hour of runtime).
 
do u use rechargeable cells?


to me it seems that Your bulb is more a 5 cell type, there simply is not enough voltage that it does good ...
better try the KPR113:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...ce=CAT&znt_medium=RSCOM&znt_content=CT2032232



PS, but - unfortunately - to be honest:
from my experience with now ~ 30 years of using such bulbs, I can only give the advice that especially these really suck!
I have searched radioshack site, and a few such stores around here, but was not able to find an example of "good" ones, seems they are no longer "in use" now.
(if it might help, I can do a search in my electronics-parts boxes to do a pic ...)
but
... that makes total sense, that the "good" bulbs are not available anymore, as they were costy and ... I know here in this sub forum here noone wants to read ;) ... in that power class of handheld lights, led lights are far superior since the Cree XR-E ...
 
Well I have done some testing with the hpr50 bulb and It has been handeling around 8-9 volts good with nice white light!!!! They just don't die!!!!!! Haha
 
At 8 volts this bulb will get reasonable bulb life and a lot o light output with extreamly white light!!!!! The only draw back is this bulb gets insane hot and would likely melt a lesser flashlights bulb socket if it is made of plastic
 
Tiredlumens said:
At 8 volts this bulb will get reasonable bulb life and a lot o light output with extreamly white light!!!!! The only draw back is this bulb gets insane hot and would likely melt a lesser flashlights bulb socket if it is made of plastic
Click to expand...

If you don't want to deal with ROP, use 2 protected 18650 in 2D M*g overdriving HPR51.

It's brighter than HPR50 using 4 alkaline cells.
 
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hey,
these exactly are what I meant with "bulbs where one sees they are good"
it is that smaller glass housing ...
 
fivemega said:
If you don't want to deal with ROP, use 2 protected 18650 in 2D M*g overdriving HPR51.

It's brighter than HPR50 using 4 alkaline cells.
Click to expand...
I would love a ROP I have everything to make it exept for the batts and one of your 6aa to 2 d adaptors. I don't want to make a rop with a 6 cell mag unless I have to
 
Hallis said:
But think of the runtime :)
Click to expand...

good point i meam the 6 cell mag is 25 bucks on amazon right now and the bulbs are 10 and i already have a KD OP reflector with a glass lens so it is pretty simple. what brand of batts do you recomend?
 
If it were me i'd get Maha PowerEx because i've had good luck in the past with their AA's. But I think pretty much most of them will be more than sufficient for a ROP.
 
For NiMH D cells, Tenergy is a good way to go. The cells are of good quality and are reasonably priced (right around $20 for two). You have a choice between 10000mAH non-LSD Premiums or 8000mAH LSD Centuras. Either will work well. And if you live near a Fry's Electronics store, you can pick up a pair of the Premiums today. As far as Powerex, I've never tried their D cells. But their AA batteries seem to be decent. If you want Powerex D cells without the online wait, you can pick them up at Batteries Plus if you have one nearby.
 
My R.O.P. mod is a 2D with 2 unprotected 18650's. I use a glass lens and aluminum reflector, and I simply turned the spring around in the tailcap. I can easily move back to a regular incan or led drop in if I want, so this light is a bit of a quick-change mod.

I know that using unprotected 18650's in an incan light can be a bit dangerous, but I run it for short times and keep the batteries changed/charged. I may go a different route in the future, but I had plenty of 18650's on hand (from laptop battery packs).
 
I don't know if this helps, but I am close to buying a 9AA x 3D ish size welded pack from cheapbatterypacks. They will put some plates on the ends to mimick the D cell top and bottom for me. The main down side is that it will likely be a bit short compared to 3D cells, but maybe a spacer is ok. Price is 30 bucks. I need to think of something to use for a spacer, but that should not be too hard.

I would think they could build a pack with 6 AAs by close to 2 D size with the same ends.

It isn't on their web site, so you have to email them about it. For charging, my plan is to just charge it through the ends (no separate connector)
 
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