Nite-Ize Luxeon Upgrade

Bruce B · Mar 17, 2009

Does anyone have any experience with the new Nite Ize Luxeon upgrade?

http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=28&product_id=145

I am looking to mod an "AA" pink mini mag with it as a gift for my friend.

What are your thoughts on this?

gunga · Mar 17, 2009

Depends on the price. There are better upgrades (for more power, you can try terralux K2 or seoul/cree inserts, for longer runtime you can try SMJ inserts).

In any case, I have a couple of these, they are excellent upgrades for non-flashaholics. You can even seoul mod it for more output (I have not gotten to that yet) but they are still good in stock form.

Bruce B · Mar 17, 2009

gunga said:
Depends on the price. There are better upgrades (for more power, you can try terralux K2 or seoul/cree inserts, for longer runtime you can try SMJ inserts).

In any case, I have a couple of these, they are excellent upgrades for non-flashaholics. You can even seoul mod it for more output (I have not gotten to that yet) but they are still good in stock form.

She would qualify as a non-flashaholic, so I think this would be the perfect route for her being as she wants a reliable light that is pink in color.

gunga · Mar 17, 2009

Yep, she will love it. YOu could even get it with a tailswitch of some kind too. The Nite-Ize IQ is not bad with this insert, tho a simpler 1 mode switch might be better (Kroll, Terralux).

Bruce B · Mar 17, 2009

She's an RN and a volunteer EMT in her hometown, so I figured it might come in handy for her. Besides she really dislikes the shake-light she has. :shakehead

Nyctophiliac · Mar 17, 2009

Yowsa!

She relies on a shakelight, currently! She will be blown away by the MM upgrade - good call on a tailswitch too.

You are a true Gent.

travelinman · Mar 17, 2009

Definitely get her the tailswitch! She should even appreciate the IQ tail switch (5 modes). My wife loves it. I taped the head though, makes it simpler to use.

Black Rose · Mar 18, 2009

I have a couple of those upgrades on some Minimags.

I have no complaints with them.

Cheap and easy upgrade that you can get at many stores.

Bruce B · Mar 18, 2009

Black Rose said:
I have a couple of those upgrades on some Minimags.

I have no complaints with them.

Cheap and easy upgrade that you can get at many stores.

That's what I am going to be getting as her drop-in. Easily replaceable if it fails by visiting her local Wally World.

H.Roark · Mar 19, 2009

I installed one in the Minimag I keep in my car. I was completely amazed at the increase in output and the white tint compared to the sad yellow of the incan (batteries were getting low). I bought it with the IQ tailswitch. I think it is a nice upgrade.

Burgess · Mar 19, 2009

Is this a Brand-New item ?

If so, then why are they using Luxeon I emitters ? ? ?

_

bluepilgrim · Mar 19, 2009

See https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/173830 on this.

I have a 3-led upgrade (Walmart for $6 or $7), which I like better then the minimag bulb (in fact, I bought the minimag so I could buy the 3-led insert). I got a few more; I made a little bedside light that runs on a 3-led and a D cell which I use all the time and love.

The 1 Watt, for $15 from http://store.niteize.com/index.php?cPath=28&osCsid=bbca3c5b0842e3fac0b0ff8689fd6369 ($20 witht eh switch) should be good.
http://www.zbattery.com/Nite-Ize-1W-LED-Upgrade-IQ-Switch-for-AA-Mini-Mag-WHITE?leadsource=37 sells the combo for $17.

Skidmark6 · Mar 20, 2009

Stay away from the IQ tail switch, I played with it for 5 minutes and it broke. It was funky anyway, too much trouble for what it does. The 1 watt drop in and the 3 led dropin are both nice (1 watt is a little brighter, but the 3 led has nice spill), not super bright but way better than the stock bulb. Nitize also sells plain clicky switches, those are handy.

darknessemitter · Mar 22, 2009

Burgess said:
Is this a Brand-New item ?

If so, then why are they using Luxeon I emitters ? ? ?

_

The Nite Ize MiniMag 1 Watt drop in isn't new, it's been out for awhile now. At least a year, I think? Can't remember.

The 1 Watt PR drop in for C and D cells hadn't shown up in stores until recently. It's not a Luxeon... It's not really identifiable so far actually. Not as bright as a Cree, and probably not as efficient either, but there doesn't seem to be much information on it.

stefanj · Mar 22, 2009

I've had my single LED upgrade with the IQ switch for over a year now. I love it as it's not to bright and is my grass roots to the long wallet draining adventure of flashaholicism. Mine has never failed (as long as the batteries are charged) and makes a standard incan look like church candle. Got mine from Harbor Freight for under $10.

travelinman · Mar 22, 2009

Skidmark6....You must have gotten a dud then, I'dve sent it back. I've got 2 IQ switches working on AA's, one on the 3 led upgrade, and the other on one of the first single led's. Both have worked for a couple of years on the rigors of multi week trips to 3rd world countries with no problem. I just didn't know if they would handle the newest luxeon "extreme" upgrade.

I wouldn't mind experimenting with the newer upgrade for my minimags.

btw...I've "graduated" to an ITP C9/7 combo which will be my new travelling EDC light :twothumbs

tnforever · Mar 23, 2009

I'd get one. Went to Fry's today and got the module for $12

The best advantage this has over the incan is actually the lack of rings that the incan had. My minimag has been sitting around a cup on my desk for a few years now (I bought it at least 6 or 7 years ago). Now I can put it in my car as an emergency light!

Just to say though, if you were buying a new minimag just to put this in, there are options out there that are better for a little more money.

To me, I don't think it's worth $12, but on the other hand, $12 is about how much you spend on a meal at a cheap-middle priced restaurant anyway, and I had a minimag lying around, so for me, it was a good choice.

I was going to take it back since I bought it mostly for experimenting, but seeing as how it takes me 30 minutes to get to Fry's and costs about 4 bucks in gas... I'll be happy with it.

Will try it out in the dark, if it's acceptable then i'm keeping it

Double_A · Mar 23, 2009

tnforever said:
I'd get one. Went to Fry's today and got the module for $12

The best advantage this has over the incan is actually the lack of rings that the incan had. My minimag has been sitting around a cup on my desk for a few years now (I bought it at least 6 or 7 years ago). Now I can put it in my car as an emergency light!

Just to say though, if you were buying a new minimag just to put this in, there are options out there that are better for a little more money.

To me, I don't think it's worth $12, but on the other hand, $12 is about how much you spend on a meal at a cheap-middle priced restaurant anyway, and I had a minimag lying around, so for me, it was a good choice.

I was going to take it back since I bought it mostly for experimenting, but seeing as how it takes me 30 minutes to get to Fry's and costs about 4 bucks in gas... I'll be happy with it.

Will try it out in the dark, if it's acceptable then i'm keeping it

+1

Bought one to adapt my mom's bedside Minimag. She's blown three lamps in three years. I don't like the IQ tailswitch at all and Mom would be pretty blunt if I got her that, "I don't need all that fancy crap"

(I bought her the LED Minimag last year she didn't like it. The tailcap is different and there was no place to attach her tritium keyring. She loves that constant tritium glow to find her flashlight)

I was impressed and bough a couple more to convert the rest of my mini-mags. I have other conversions. Most are lots more expensive, where you modify the flashlight. They are not worth the extra money or effort for a non-flashaholic's light.

Nite-Ize Luxeon Upgrade

Bruce B

Enlightened

gunga

Flashaholic

Bruce B

Enlightened

gunga

Flashaholic

Bruce B

Enlightened

Nyctophiliac

Flashlight Enthusiast

travelinman

Enlightened

Black Rose

Flashlight Enthusiast

Bruce B

Enlightened

H.Roark

Newly Enlightened

Burgess

Flashaholic

bluepilgrim

Enlightened

Skidmark6

Newly Enlightened

darknessemitter

Enlightened

stefanj

Newly Enlightened

travelinman

Enlightened

tnforever

Newly Enlightened

Double_A

Flashlight Enthusiast

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