Older MAGLite 3xAA LED....Can this be UPGRADED with a DROP-IN Unit?

Hey all,

I have a Maglite 3xAA light that is one of the early LED lights. It is NOT a CREE or one of the HIGH powered models. I have had it for probably 5 years or so. I see all kinds of ads and talk about drop-in upgrades for the MAGlites and when I go to check on them I see plenty of products for the "D" and "C" and the "AA" models, but I never see a unit for the 3AA LED lights. I don' think it was that popular.

I don't see why it wouldn't upgrade just like the incandescent models would.

I'd like to upgrade it to a HIGH power CREE bulb if it's out there somewhere, within reason of course.

If you know or have any suggestions, how about posting them?

Thanks for the help.

Nalajr

That's a rare light. It uses pretty much the same "pill" concept as current LED MagLites. These include the 2AA Mini-MagLED, the Pro version, 2D and 3D MagLED models. Even the XL50, XL100, and XL200 use a variation on this pill. Unfortunately, no one makes an aftermarket pill for any of these lights. The best that you can do is to buy a newer 3D MagLED to scavenge its pill (or find someone with a spare pill) and get the Mini-MagLED retaining ring. That combination should give you about 110 lumens. The latest version with the Cree XP-E LED should give reasonable run times since it's driven slightly less hard due to the more efficient emitter giving about the same output.

Here's a forum thread showing the differences between the various 2AA Mini-MagLED models. Yours is comparable to the Luxeon version.

Thanks PCC for the info.

You might know that I'd be lucky enough to buy a RARE light from MAG where no other upgrades are made for it. No way I could do the work you talk about.

I guess I'll just keep fresh batteries in it and sit it in a drawer in case of power outage or in my glovebox. I could always wait until I run across someone who is CRAZY about MAG and wants every single version they ever made and trade him for it....

Nalajr

Swapping pills is a lot easier than you might think. Getting one might prove to be difficult.

An alternative could be to just swap emitters. A Cree XP-G2 or XM-L2 on an 8mm MCPCB could be swapped on your module and you'd just about double the output.