Recommendation to replace my Blaster III

Greetings all, I'm new here.

I have an electro-lumens blaster III which I absolutely loved. Alas, the end cap has cross-threaded and will no longer go on beyond the first revolution or so.
Electro-lumens apparently no longer makes it, and I notice that they don't appear in the warrantee sticky here.
I feel compelled to point out that it was my wife that was attempting to change the batteries (when all it really needed was a shake), but it was on its first set of batteries (after three years, I think) so it's not like that end cap went through a lot of threading/unthreading.

I'm surprised there isn't a "what should I get?" sticky. Perhaps I just didn't look for it hard enough.

Anyway, I was hoping someone could make a recommendation. My wants and desires:

3 D-cells. No Cr123s, no "exotic" cells, and especially no AAs or AAAs. I want a bright flashlight that doesn't drive the bejesus out of the alkaline cells I put in it. I might accept 2 or 4 D-cells. I will certainly accept any advice to the effect that I am being stupid with this requirement.

Bright. How bright? I don't know. About Blaster III bright, that's all I can say. I don't think that's very difficult these days. The Blaster III was a 1-W luxeon, and I don't think that's considered "bright" by the standards around here. Let's just say 1-3 watts and leave it at that.

An adjustable beam. I think the only reason I *really* want this is because the blaster III had it. I suppose I could be talked out of it; maybe it isn't that important.

I am pretty sure I want a single LED and not an array, but I am open to suggestions otherwise.

Nothing weird, and no mods. No incandescents. No plastic.

My budget is about $50, maybe $60.

Oh, and if anyone has any pointers as to how to get my blaster fixed cheaply, do tell.

Thanks in advance for any advice you folks can provide.

Nert

Well, watts don't tell the whole story. A current gen LED driven at 1 watt will have at least double the output of a last gen LED driven at 1 watt.

Current gen LEDs:
Cree XR-E P4-R2 bin
Seoul P4 U-bin
Seoul P7 C bin
Luxeon Rebel 80 and 100 bin
Luxeon TFFC K2 160+ bin.

Last gen LEDs:
Luxeon I(probably what the Blaster has)
Luxeon III
Luxeon V
Luxeon K2

Would simple "mods" work? As in drop-in modules.

If yes, a Maglite with a LED drop-in could work well.

I don't remember any AA or AAA lights that doesn't drive the batteries hard(well, really hard for alkaline but fine for most good rechargeable), but some have lower modes that work fine with alkaline batteries.

I don't recall many D battery powered current gen LED light. I'm sure there's at least a few.

:welcome:

Talk to Wayne at Elektro Lumens Home Page he is very good as far as repairs go. Last time I spoke to Wayne he had some Blaster spare parts. I understand why you like your blaster mine is my car torch.
You may find that someone is willing to sell you a Blaster, put an add on Buy - CPFMarketPlace.
A standard 2 or 3 D Magled would also be a suitable replacement. Don't be mislead by some of the people here that will try to talk you into buying some exotic Flashlight, it sounds like your satisfied with what you have and all you need is a workable replacement.

:welcome: Great to have you here.
Norm

Well, watts don't tell the whole story. A current gen LED driven at 1 watt will have at least double the output of a last gen LED driven at 1 watt.

Click to expand...

Good point, thanks. I think the blaster had a luxeon "star", whatever that is.

Would simple "mods" work? As in drop-in modules.
If yes, a Maglite with a LED drop-in could work well.

Click to expand...

Indeed, electro-lumens sell such a light for a hilarious (to me) $140. I paid $40 for the blaster. Such a mod would be acceptable to me, provided the price is reasonable. I know that on this forum, $140 is not considered expensive, but for me, if I'm paying $140 for a flashlight, it had better be lighting up naked women lurking in the woods on a daily basis.

I don't remember any AA or AAA lights that doesn't drive the batteries hard

Click to expand...

Hence my requirement that the replacement not take those batteries. Having done a bit more research, I think it would be easier if I were to withdraw my objection to cr123s. Does that make a recommendation any easier? I want to be able to use the light for 10-30 minutes at a time, then throw it in the drawer for two months. None of this "run time 1.5 hours". If I wanted that, I would buy an incandescent light for $4.

Thanks for your help.

Sound to me that you could make use with a simple Mag led 3 or 4 d. More than enough light with long runtime. Not state of the art but inexpensive. Hell, with a $50 to $60 budget get two.

I have two Blasters, 1W and 3W ones...

Then I got a powerful AA lite by Fenix and haven't used the Blasters in a while (years)

Then I rediscovered the 3xD format by getting a Malkoff module for the MagLite. It is stunning to say the least in that it produces an order of magnitude more lite than the Olde Blaster. Highly recommend and perfect for your requirement of D cells, will run on any type of D cell.

I am the same way, using only AA and D cells, none of that weird (and expensive) 123 or CR2 stuff.

Only problem with the MagLite with Malkoff is that it has too much throw, I am replacing the reflector to get more flood.

Also there are very expensive D lites made by Elektrolumens. They get almost 1000 lumens, beyond your price point (and mine actually) but some day I hope to own one. They do need NiMH cells, so if you are an Alkaline person, get Malkoff instead.

But a budget lite might be a perfect MagLED, stock sold in Home Depot, Chimart and everywhere else. They are kind of expensive for what you get IMO but $30-40 should get you a nice one. Run time is insane, 20-30 hours.

Thanks for the replies, folks. I have taken Norms recommendation and emailed the electo-lumens site, and I am also looking into the Malkoff stuff, thanks to etc.

I should also take the time to mention that I was not aware that the MagLed stuff had come down in price so dramatically since the last time I checked, probably in 2005. Thanks to metlarules and etc for that.

I think a 3D magled would be a good replacement for a blaster III.
Review
http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/maglite_mag-led.htm

Reviews of the Malkoff drop in and review of an Elektrolumens M@glite with P7. Scroll down for the backyard beamshots.
http://www.illuminationforums.com/IlluminationForums/showthread.php?t=236
http://www.illuminationforums.com/IlluminationForums/showthread.php?t=274

Elektrolumens has modified Maglites and drop ins:

Name of light: M@glite with P7
Link: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...d.php?t=177152
Battery type and number: 3D & 3C & 2D converted to use 3C.
Modes/Levels: 1
Type of switch: stock maglite forward clicky
Price: $129.99 for 3D & 3C. $139.99 for 2D/3C.
Review 1: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=194716
Review 2: http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/sh...hp?tid/820878/

Name of light: Wall of Light P7 Drop-In (for 3D Maglite)
Link: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...d.php?t=177861
Battery type and number: -
Modes/Levels: 1
Type of switch: -
Price: $109.99
At time of posting Elektrolumens only has 6 reflectors. He is trying to get more but can only guarantee 6 at this time. (probably replaced by the Wall-of-Light 27mm reflector drop-in below).
Review: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=195848

Name of light: Wall-of-Light 27mm reflector drop-in
Link: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...d.php?t=178829
Battery type and number: 3D
Modes/Levels: 1
Type of switch: -
Price: $109.99

Name of light: The 'Wall-of-Fire' 4xSSC-P7
Link: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...d.php?t=178585
Beamshots: http://elektrolumens.com/Wall-Of-Fire/Wall-Of-Fire.html
Battery type and number: 6D NiMH or 2D Li-on
Modes/Levels: 1
Type of switch: stock maglite forward clicky
Price: 6D $299.99 plus shipping, Preliminary 2D Li-on with batteries included and charger, for $400.

Name of light: Wall-of-Fire 2xP7 drop in
Link: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...d.php?t=178828
Battery type and number: 6D or 3D or 2D Li-on or 1D Li-on
Modes/Levels: 1
Type of switch: -
Price: -

Name of light: Pulse-Phazer
Link: hhttp://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=179111
Battery type and number: 3C
Modes/Levels: 5 - 100%, 50%, 25%, fast strobe, slow strobe
Type of switch: PWM button on body
Price: $229

If you dont get the blaster fixed and you want to get rid of it,PM me Im in RI ,and would like to try and repair it.I will gladly pay your shipping costs.

Wayne is quite helpful! A good upgrade would be a seoul P4 led to replace the old one,,much brighter.

Good luck.

If you have Maglites, I'd suggest checking out this thread.

If you can get your Blaster fixed, you can probably mod it to a Seoul P4 for double the output.

Did you ever get it fixed? Im looking for a blaster host to fiddle with.PM me if you want to get rid of it.