Terralux TLE-6EX with 4D Maglite

WhiteBen

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Nov 13, 2007
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Hi, i just bought a TLE-6EX aka Ministar 5 led bulb for around 25$ to go with my 4 D cell mag. It is said to be one of the best LED bulb on the marek, featuring electronically regulated light output and a built-in heatsink. Heres a the link to the product page with manual.

http://www.terraluxcorp.com/products/MaxStar5.php?PHPSESSID=34d9a2234abde6e1ac8cff35b7fe8d3d

It it said to have a 140 lumens output, imagine that with the precision of a maglite. Has anyone tried, tested or seen this bulb in action, i cant wait to receive it!:naughty:
 
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I've got the Terralux module except it's the one for the 2-3cell Maglite. So while it's not the same as what you are doing, they are certainly in the same family.

First to simply say what I've read, and that is that the 4-6cell Maglites with the Terralux aren't any brighter than the 2-3cell Maglites using the equivilant Terralux, but the extra cells in the 4-6cell lights give lot's longer run times. Both types are advertised as 140 lumens.
The thing is, simply changing to the Terralux is "supposed" to give you six times longer run times anyway (I haven't personally verified that) so I prefer the lesser length and weight of my 3cells since both modules put out 140 lumens, and the run times on 3-D cells is likely to be way more than I'll ever need.

Now to my actual experience; changing out to the Terralux is NOT going to turn it into some kind of barn burner. BUT, the Terralux is loads better than the original Krypton I replaced it with and it does turn a whimpy, lethargic flashlight into a lighting tool that actually has some use.

Another observation is that it's said in the advertising that a great benefit of the Terralux conversion is that you get to keep the Maglite focusing ability. Well.... yes and no.
I found that if you open up the focus, all you do is create a huge hole in the center of the beam, and it's very distracting to use it that way.

However, there is a little benefit in that what looks best to me is to open up the focus to the exact point where the center hotspot is even from edge to edge, and as large as it can get, just before it goes a little dark in the center.
At that point, you will have good looking spread with a decent hotspot that's best for most situations. I almost never move it from there.
Then the only other time I may play a little might be to tighten up the hotspot as small as it can be which is where you'll get the best distance throw. I do not, however, find that very useful very often.

In short, everyone who has an original Krypton bulbed Maglite truly needs to update it at least with the Terralux module. It's cheap, it's pretty good for what you have into it, and you won't be afraid to toss in the back of your truck where it'll get a little scarred up once in a while.

On the other hand, the Terralux, as decent and significant a conversion as it is for the Maglites, does NOT compare to other newer lights such as the MRV-SE, Tiablo A9s, the Deree DBS, or any of the other lights in that class that are much smaller, lighter, and can out throw and out spill the Terralux conversion (and probably most other conversions as well).

Having said all this, I have to confess that after using my Tiablo A9s and Fenix L2D/Q5 for a bit, I don't pick up the Terralux/Maglites much anymore.
I know you will be very impressed with your Terralux once you slip it into your Maglite, as I was comparing it to the original, but if you take the next step and get any of the other lights I mentioned above, you will be blown away by the difference.
 
yea it's a great upgrade for cheap.
runtime can't be beat for the lumens.
i like the 4d size myself and 4 d cells runs much longer than 2 or 3.
did you know that 4d runs strong MORE than twice as long as 2d.
when taxed with twice the runtime, where all battery voltage would be equal (2d for 20 hrs, 4d for 40 hours) the 4d will still run strong because four weak batteries can still manage some voltage where two cannot.
that's why i love the 4 d setup so much.
(i also have 2 6dmags but don't use them much anymore)
 
I enjoy my light emitting club. The 4d is not the best solution to every problem, but it is nice to have sometimes. I am currently planning on getting the module you mentioned. I know there are brighter - but the cost/benefit is not there for me.
 
But for the price, the terralux is a great drop-in.

While my post above may have appeared critical of the Terralux, I really did mean to say exactly what you just did. It is a GREAT way to go for your currently pathetic Maglite no matter how many cells you like to carry.

I think especially for police who really like their "Big-D" Maglites but want to make them much better flashlights that outshine and outrun their originals with the Krypton bulb, it's a no-brainer to pop in a Terralux so you can spend more time lighting up dark alleys and less time changing batteries. And oh yea, you can still break heads with it if you have to. :devil:

It's probably appropriate to mention here as well that I bought two of the Terralux 100 lumen modules for my two Maglite 2AA lights, and the same goes for them.
While I wouldn't intentionally go out and buy new MiniMags just so I could spend another $25 on them to install the Terralux, I did have a couple MiniMags laying around just begging to be made into useful lighting tools.
 
yep, I got the terralux for my 4D which started out as a 4D LED maglite. But the Terralux drop-in is much better than the maglite LED.

Like Zenster I too have a Fenix L2D which is much more convenient to use than the Mag and probably puts out more light up close, but the mag with terralux has much better throw.
 
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