Best mag light 3D bulb replacement <$20?

I'm looking to upgrade 15 maglights, and I want the best replacement bulb for under $20.

If you think some other 3D flashlight <$20 would work better, I'd also be open to that.

Bill

The Terralux TLE-6EXB (for 2D & 3D version) might be a good way to go... rated for 140 lumens I think. I got the TLE-6EX for my 4D mag and am happy with it... paid about $20 for it a year or so ago.

Have you checked the stickies?
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/193434

The best bang for the buck is the $20 dollar Q5 drop-in from Kaidomain.com.

It is good for 2 or 3 NiMH cells or up to 4.5V and is completely regulated. Mine is really bright and super nice beam with smooth reflector.:twothumbs

bigchelis said:

The best bang for the buck is the $20 dollar Q5 drop-in from Kaidomain.com.

It is good for 2 or 3 NiMH cells or up to 4.5V and is completely regulated. Mine is really bright and super nice beam with smooth reflector.:twothumbs

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Are you referring to this one?
http://kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1763

Make a ROP!

Outdoors Fanatic said:

Make a ROP!

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Can this be done for less than $20 ?

Outdoors Fanatic said:

Make a ROP!

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For <$20??

He did say bulb.

BillRoberts said:

I'm looking to upgrade 15 maglights, and I want the best replacement bulb for under $20.

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What exactly would constitute "best" for your application? Looking for output at all costs, best runtime with comparable brightness to stock, or what?


As for the ROP suggestion, it seems a little out of place in the LED forum (as does the term "bulb"...), but I guess a WOP (Whimper Of the Pelican) can be made in that price range, $10 for bulb, $10 for high-resistance battery carrier -- and I bet it won't melt the plastic reflector!

But that does raise the question of batteries -- are you planning on rechargeables, alkalines, or what? You'd spend at least $20 on 3 NiMH D cells, a little less for NiCd. (I guess you might get less in either case, since you'll be buying in large quantities.) If a ROP is actually interesting, and you're planning on rechargeables anyway, you could get 6x 4/5SC for a little less than 3x D, and spend $10 on bulbs, and $10 for a KD reflector. (Plus I guess a piece of pipe, so just over $20 -- take that out of the battery saviings.) Most other battery options wind up costing more, though.

+1 on the $20 KD Q5 dropin.

Another idea, though I don't think this would work for much longer than 5 seconds...

Go to DX, buy a SSC P7 for $19. Then stick a whole bunch of aluminum foil ($1) into the head so that it touches the body and then tape the SSC P7 to it in the middle. That would be your heatsink. (Could this work? Anyone want to comment?) Then wire it up and direct drive it from 3 alkaline D.

Will it be or will it be ?

lolzertank said:

Will it be or will it be ?

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I think it will be ROFLOL either way, if somebody tries it.

I think you're gonna short it out with the aluminum foil -- aside from that, I think even an aluminum foil wrap would be adequate heatsinking for DD from 3 alkalines -- they won't be running full power.

bigchelis said:

The best bang for the buck is the $20 dollar Q5 drop-in from Kaidomain.com.

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+2 for the Q5 option.Hard to beat at that price.

Outdoors Fanatic said:

Make a ROP!

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A ROP would be alot brighter(at least 3x the volume) but would cost 4-5 times as much.Also with the Q5 you get much longer battery life.

These mag lights will be used by a volunteer police group, and need to serve two purposes.

Primarily, they will have a red cone on the end, and will be used for traffic direction.

They may also be used for searching, etc, as a standard flashlight.


I'm more concerned with run time, but anything LED wise will be better that a std maglight.

I'm not opposed to a whole new light, but it has to have some kind of cone for traffic direction, and most of our members already have a maglight.

It looks like KD is out of the $20 dropin, any other suggestions?





I found this on DX

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3475

What else do I need to make this work with a 3D maglight. I figure I can crush the old bulb, and solder in the connectors.

Do I need a heat sink?

Do I need a regulator? it looks like it works with http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4735 (but only for a 2D flashlight?)

If you can't get the KD one, there's still Terralux as an easy upgrade within your budget.

MiniStar5 - LED Upgrade Kit EXTREME for 15 Hours or more Runtime
140 Lumens Light Output
Works in Your 2 or 3 Cell C or D Maglite Flashlights
Electronically Regulated for Constant Light Output
LED does not fade when it gets hot, so its light output holds up

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