Substitutes for my old magnetic-mount, D-cell flashlights?

[Exit32]

I'm hooked on LED flashlights. I've got 'em in every glove box, tool cabinet, kitchen drawer, nightstand, desk drawer, and (of course) one in my pocket at all times. However, I admit to still having two old magnetic-mount incandescent D-cell flashlights in service. One of them is stuck to an air handler in my dimly lit utility room; the other is stuck to my furnace's external sheet metal enclosure in the basement. Both are in places where it's really convenient to have a flashlight handy and immediately available.

My question is this: Does anyone make a magnetic-mount LED flashlight? I'd like to replace my old D-cell incandescents, but I really want to maintain the convenience of a magnetic mount.

 

[gswitter]

How about one of these magnetic mounts and any light you want?

 

[ama230]

Walmart is selling bayco lights that take aaa's, i use rechargeables in mine.

The one i got is not rechargeable but they do sell units that are rechargeable . Plus I like using my own batteries and the magnet option was a definite deal.

Anyways they have a good selection with worklights as the one I have costed a little under 20 bucks and it comes with a magnet mount and flashlight/worklight that are really bright. The flashlight part uses an osram led and the worklight uses like 60 5mm leds for a great flood of light.

They have a nice finish to them and are really durable and last quite a while.

heres the rechargeable one:

You should check out bayco's website as they have a great selection and great prices on all their products.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Take a look at Black & Deckers 3AA clamp light at Walmart. I got one that had a $5 peel off coupon and it has a very good magnent on it. Here is my short review
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=231408
It is about as heavy as a 2D flashlight (with batteries) and if run the focus about half way out it makes a very useful square wide beam. I have 3AA rayovac hybrids in mine and it is stuck on a metal cabinet ready to use. I may buy a second one for my car.

 

[deadrx7conv]

Why not just replace the bulb with an LED?

 

[parnass]

You can replace the incan bulb in your magnetic 2D flashlight with an LED drop-in. That's what I did with my magnetic 2D because I really liked the flashlight. It lives in my truck's glove compartment and provides a floody beam with a long runtime.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Why not just replace the bulb with an LED?

because the cost/output factor isn't worth it in most cases. I spent several hours modding a rayovac 2D roughneck incan for a mag 2 cell LED dropin I got for $6 on clearance (normally costs $15) and they have had 2D Mag LED lights on sale during the Holidays for $19 that put out just as much light or more with no hassle at all. Most 2D lights cannot use mag LED dropins that are not focusable and you still have to mod them to fit it. Other PR base dropins have outputs in the 5-40 lumen range while 2D LED lights put out 80-120 lumens with reflectors better suited for them. That is why I bought the B&D LED light... because if it magnetic and has a clamp and swivels and pivots so you can point the light almost anywhere with it. The output of it is amazing compared to any magnetic light I have ever had.. 130 lumens it says.. has to be at least 100 IMO.

 

[kaptain_zero]

I think the suggestion was to pick up and drop in one of the cheap'ish Dorcy 2 cell LED bulbs that are now available. I got one for a nifty ol' 4 AA cell torch/lantern combo I keep in the camper ( the LED cost less than $5 at Sears in Canada, slightly more on the Dorcy website in the US). This older light has a great reflector for plenty of throw (for what it is) and just pulling the reflector housing outward turns it into a small lantern. The Dorcy LED bulb isn't all that powerful, but it does improve on the original incan bulb and uses less power so I'm happy..... I'm hoping the LED is a bit more robust regarding bouncing around in the camper than the filament in the old flashlight bulb it used to have.

Regards

Christian

 

[Exit32]

I appreciate all the suggestions. I haven't toured the flashlight aisle at my local Walmart in a while, so that's where I'll start my search for LED lights to replace my feeble 2D antiques.

I thought about upgrading the incandescent bulbs to LEDs but wanted to go with lithium batteries (either AA or 123) for long their long shelf life -- perfect for this application.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

You are typically better off to look for well designed LED lights than to throw dropins in incans and hope to get anywhere near optimal results without just tearing them apart and custom manufacturing things to fit in them.