Mag 3 cell bulb in a 4 cell - how long?

I jost got a free Garrity steel beam 4AA light in the mail...although the bulb from my 3D Mag fits nicely...and is much brighter. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Will it last very long being overdriven like that?

PlayboyJoeShmoe, you've got the answer on this I think.

If you'll run 4 NiMH or NiCD cells, and a 3 cell krypton bulb you'll have an extremely bright light, with a reasonable life. Four alkaline cells will make pretty short work of your three cell lamps.

Empath got that pretty much right.

Although I did get fair life out of a KPR103 on 4AA Alkys before it flashed.

I also got fair life from one driven by 4C Alkys, but it did flash in fairly short order.

Carry some spares, and have fun!

I would recomend using a good 4 cell bulb until you start to notice it getting a little dim, the switch to the 3 cell lamp.

I do plan on using NiMh...about how long can I expect from the bulb? Isn't it normally rated at only like 20 hours? So maybe...10 or 15 hours with 4 cells?

you are looking at more probably 5 hrs or so i think. Cause usually 4 nicads gives off close to 5 volts or more when it's full. for a 4.8v bulb it'll take it nicely but 3.6 it's quite a jump. I'm doing that right now to my 4c mag with a 3c bulb with alkys' don't think it'll last long but dang it's bright! i also have a cheapie but nice garrity 6volt lantern with a big hunk of a lantern battery but i'm running a 4.8 .5ah halogen on there and it's very white too. don't try a 3 cell bulb in there cause the voltmeter reads a 6.23 volts on those honkin batteries!

I'm doing pretty well so far with 4 AA NiMH's and a Radio Shack 3-cell krypton KPR103 bulb, but I found the Rayovac KPR103's died after only about 20 minutes at most. Your Mag bulb should hold up reasonably well. Let us know how long it lasts.

I've been using a 3D cell Xenon Carley in my 4D Mag for quite awhile. I've had no problems so far but I've only used the Mag intermittently, (maybe 5 minutes at a time). So far, so good.

Yesterday I used my old Maglite 4D while watching fireworks (Canada Day) to shine people on the other side of a small pond. This light usually sits in the car but I didn't have another one with me at the time so I used it. Damn, I was impressed. All you can see is this amazingly bright pencil beam reaching the other side, I woner what the people there were wondering?

Anyways, I now realize there's new potential in this light. I'm going to go out and get some 3Cell Mag bulbs later, but are there any other choices? What are these Carley's I keep hearing about and where do I get them?

Thanks,
Daniel

I have been running a Mag 3 cell krypton bulb in my PT Tec 40 for quite a while. It runs much brighter on rechargeables than it does on alkalines. I estimate that I have run it for at least 4 or 5 hours, and it is still going strong. I have also been running my Mag 3D with 3 cell krypton bulb on 4 alkaline C cells with no ill effect. It has not been run that long, probably about an hour.

So far I've had it on for about two hours...so far it's great! I really have to say I LOVE this Garrity steel beam light! (with the 3 cell bulb) It's pretty short, light weight, and has a great beam with a faceted reflector. I even like it better than my Luxeon Mags! Ok...the run time won't come close...but it will be great to keep in my truck.