TerraLux TLE 5EX upgrade

[KeukaLite]

I came across this and wondered if anyone has had any experience with it?
MiniStar2 Extreme - LED Upgrade for Mini Maglite® 2AA Flashlights

• NEW CREE EX LED TECHNOLOGY
• Brightest LED upgrade kit for the Mini Mag 2AA
• 100,000 hour continuous lamp life
• Extends battery life 2 times longer
• Retains focusing ability of the MiniMag 2AA
• TerraLUX PowerPush Regulation <
• Consistant color and brightness, not dependent on battery life
• Pure white light
• Produces 140 lumens

It sells for about $25.00, and seems like it may be a good upgrade for my MagLite, but I figured I would ask the experts to be sure. Thanks.

 

[swrdply400mrelay]

I have it in my AA minimag. It's fairly bright. Even though you can focus, I don't think the focus is good, but it has a fairly decent balance between spot and flood.

I did a run time test of it on 2700 mAh batteries, and it ran about 4.5 hours. It's a little expensive, but pretty good light IMO.

 

[Butch003]

I have it in my AA minimag. It's fairly bright. Even though you can focus, I don't think the focus is good, but it has a fairly decent balance between spot and flood.

I agree. The mod made the light more useful for me.

 

[BlazerBud]

I have it and use it all the time. It is not 140 Lumens as claimed more like 100 to 110, not verified by myself with a light meter, just what I have read other people claim when they have tested it.

From my own naked eye, I have compaired it to a claimed 140 Lumen Malkoff in a Mag 2C, I would agree just from my visual verification against a wall. Outside, the Mag 2C malkoff and the Minimag TLE 5EX will both light up trees with the same appearant brightness and distance, but the minimag has a smaller hotspot at long distance of course. It is certainly the best/brightest LED drop in for AA mini maglite. Good throw, bright hotspot.

Worth the price if you are like me and want to upgrade maglites because you prefer maglite as a host flashlight.

The other arguement is also true. There are better lights for the money in their factory original set-up.

But, some of us are endeered to our maglites.

The real advantage I see of having this drop in mod is that most regular people, non CPF, will be shocked at how come your minimag kicks their minimag's butt.:devil:

 

[Lightingguy321]

How quickly does the module heat up? (the faster it heats up, the less light you get)

 

[rooster.5]

Pretty good upgrade,but as BlazerBud said it's not 140 lumens. Probably not even 100. Mine has a faint yellow tint in the center of beam ,but its not really a problem.Only problem I've had is the chrome plating is coming off of the reflector. Can actually see thru the reflector in a couple of spots. Lighthound replaced it. Overall though its O.K.. Much better than the stock bulb!

 

[KeukaLite]

I've had the light for many years, but have never been happy with the light output. I thought this might be a decent upgrade rather than abandoning an "old friend"!

Has anyone heard of a better upgrade for the 2 AA MagLite than this one?

BTW, will this TerraLux run on alkaline batteries, or should I figure on rechargable NiMH or Li-ion?:thinking:

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

[NeonLights]

I've got one of the early Cree Terralux AA-Minimag modules, been using it off and on for about a year or so now. Good light output, but it does get hot fairly fast, not great heatsinking. If you plan to use it intermittently, (not more than 15-20 minutes at a time), it is great. If you want continuous use or long runtime, either get a different drop-in module or look at doing some better heat-sinking for it. Worth the money IMHO.

 

[brucec]

It is a decent easy inexpensive upgrade, worth the money. I put the output around 80-100 lumens when compared to an 80 lumen P60L module, and warmer. Most of us probably have more old minimags lying around than we know what to do with. This upgrade is definitely worth it.

 

[waddup]

turned my essentially useless 2xAA mag into a very useful light.:twothumbs

 

[ZMZ67]

I've got one of the early Cree Terralux AA-Minimag modules, been using it off and on for about a year or so now. Good light output, but it does get hot fairly fast, not great heatsinking. If you plan to use it intermittently, (not more than 15-20 minutes at a time), it is great. If you want continuous use or long runtime, either get a different drop-in module or look at doing some better heat-sinking for it. Worth the money IMHO.

+1,I would also add the TerraLUX tailswitch.One thing about the Mini-Mag,it is servicable.Aftermarket parts and accessories are available and you can by a stock complete replacement "kit" for about $8 at Wally World. No reason to despair if the batteries leak or the lens gets damaged and you can loan it out without fear.

 

[Blue72]

add a aspheric lens and the throw is amazing

 

[KeukaLite]

add a aspheric lens and the throw is amazing

Hmm...that's a new one for me:thinking:. Where would I look for an aspheric lens for a MiniMag light? Oh boy, I see another $$ coming!

 

[22hornet]

Hello,

If you want high output, you will love this kit.
You can use either alkaline or NiMH.
http://www.cpfreviews.com/TerraLUX-TLE-5EX.php

Should you want less output, but longer runtime look at the TLE-20 kit.
Terralux also has colored led kits, should you want a red or a green light.
I also have the red kit (luxeon I) and use it frequently at night as it is bright but easy on sleepy eyes.

Kind regards,
Joris

 

[Blue72]

Hmm...that's a new one for me:thinking:. Where would I look for an aspheric lens fo a MiniMag light? Oh boy, I see another $$ coming!

Here is the link, they are cheap!

http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.com/product_info.php?products_id=136

Do not let the wording confuse you it is not a 1/2 inch acrylic ball it is a half of a acrylic ball like an aspheric lens

they work great

Do not get a full acrylic ball it does damage to the led on the tle-5ex

 

[KeukaLite]

Well, I did it!

Tonight I purchased a TerraLux TLE 5EX upgrade for my 2 AA MiniMag, and it came with a FREE TerraLux tail switch upgrade kit for $21.99 plus $3.00 shipping, plus an acrylic aspheric lens (thanks to dd61999!:twothumbs) for $.90!!! Should be a pretty decent upgrade for the money spent!

As waddup said "turned my essentially useless 2xAA mag into a very useful light.:twothumbs"

My thanks to all for the responses and great tips!

 

[Blue72]

dont forget the lens holder for the aspheric lens unless you already have one. You can pick them up at home depot for $4 or better yet get another minimag with the lens holder for $9

 

[Burgess]

I have this TerraLux TLE-5EX upgrade,

and i love it ! (Cree version)

:twothumbs


Hope they eventually ship the K2-TFFC version, again.

_

 

[KeukaLite]

dont forget the lens holder for the aspheric lens unless you already have one. You can pick them up at home depot for $4 or better yet get another minimag with the lens holder for $9

Thanks (again) for the tip! I don't have a lens holder, and I would have been really disappointed if I had gotten the lens and not had the holder! Looks like I'm off to HD tomorrow.

I got a note 10 minutes after I purchased the TerraLux that it had been shipped! I can't wait to try it out!

 

[KeukaLite]

I stopped at our local Home Depots (2 of them), and I couldn't find a lens holder for the minimag. The new 2 AA minimags come with a foam 6 sided anti-roll adapter. Is that what you mean by a lens holder?

Neither Home Depot carried a seperate lens holder. Can you show me a link to one so I can see what it looks like? Thanks!