4D Mag-lite LED conversion

dewingrm

dewingrm

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Joined
Oct 23, 2001
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I have a 4D Mag-lite that I never use. The light output is pretty pathetic. I've been debating about selling it but I've also considered converting it to LED. I've used a cheap LED bulb in it, I purchased the bulb from Walmart. It was equally pathetic for light output and the runtime wasn't even that great. I'm really looking for a LED upgrade that will make the mag-lite worth using. I currently use a Streamlight Ultra Stinger at work. I would like to turn the Mag-lite into a very powerful flashlight/spotlight.

Any recommandations for an LED upgrade that will give me a lot more light output? I would prefer a drop-in upgrade but I'm open to options.
 
Seems like no free lunch with LED conversions..check SureFire's conversion unit pricing.. higher than a cat's back,IMHO though I love their lights.

I opted for a Streamlight Scorpion LED -120 lumens of bright white light..about $60 on-line..can't focus the beam but I don't care..wouldn't make much of an impact weapon,LOL.
 
How about a MagLight brand 3W LED conversion bulb???? Under 20 bucks.

ML-08699.jpg


http://newgraham.com/store/product/4332/ML-LED-Upgrade-Module-4-C-D-ML-08715/
 
mp510 said:
I put one of the OEM conversions in a 2D (for a friend) and I was not very impressed with it. Aside from the much longer battery life, I found it to be not effective enough. That said, my buddy love it a lot. I would have kept the krypton bulb.
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I was afraid of that. I have a 3W LED bulb and it did not impress me at all. The bulb I have is just a bulb replacement though. It does not look like the one from New Graham. I really want a nice bright conversion bulb I just don't want to pay a lot for one. Maybe I'm asking too much.

Thanks for the replies.
 
I have 2 4d Maglites myself. I put the Mag-branded dropins in them. I found the output to be greater than the old bulb and the runtime is *hugely* improved (as in the runtime is now best measured in days). The dropins were pretty cheap, IIRC they were $15 each or so at Home Depot. Note that the 4d dropin was tested to give slightly greater output than the 2d- link here.

If you want greater output without spending Malkoff-type money (I also have one of his dropins, and it's so nice and so expensive I'm reluctant to use it) look at the TerraLux dropins. Something like this unit, for 4-6d cell Maglites. Compared to the Mag-branded dropins it uses a newer, more efficient emitter (SSC P4 vs. Lux 3 IIRC) and should give you about twice the output. There is some discussion about the unit here. I bought one of those for my wife's 5d light (my 4d's weren't bright enough for her) and she likes it. Haven't really tested runtimes.
 
greg is correct,,try the terralux dropins,,,pretty nice leds for the maglight series,,
 
One more vote for the TerraLux. They're bright and cheap. No more broken bulbs, either. A female friend of mine almost threw out a nearly new 2-C Maglite because she dropped it and broke the bulb. Yes, I got her a TerraLux for it.
 
Got a factory Maglite LED upgrade for my 2D Cell and really like it. It's brighter and batteries last a lot longer the the factory bulb. Though I did find that some batteries work better then others in it.

Heber
 
DutchV said:
One more vote for the TerraLux. They're bright and cheap. No more broken bulbs, either. A female friend of mine almost threw out a nearly new 2-C Maglite because she dropped it and broke the bulb. Yes, I got her a TerraLux for it.
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The terralux upgrades are great. Just make sure to get the correct one (they are available for 2D-4D, and 4D-6D... and the latter is better).

Get yours at batteryjunction.com
 
Another vote for Terralux upgrade. Good throw and runtime for the money.
My 4-D is now my check out things in the yard light (with a Sig P220), and it has the length and weight to make an effective skull knocker.
I have other lights for other purposes, like fixing motorcycles in the dark, etc.
but the ole 4D just has that sturdy reassuring feel of a good cudgel.

--Mike L.
 
dewingrm said:
I was afraid of that. I have a 3W LED bulb and it did not impress me at all. The bulb I have is just a bulb replacement though. It does not look like the one from New Graham. I really want a nice bright conversion bulb I just don't want to pay a lot for one. Maybe I'm asking too much.

Thanks for the replies.
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Bright and cheap don't go together in the flashlight world. The best and brightest upgrade you could do....SSC P7 or Cree MC-E, both easy mods but the LED alone is $30 and the total build is around $100. The resulting light though is beyond belief with around 750+ lumens out the front, like a mini sun :D

Picture303.jpg
 
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Mike L. said:
My 4-D is now my check out things in the yard light (with a Sig P220), and it has the length and weight to make an effective skull knocker.
I have other lights for other purposes, like fixing motorcycles in the dark, etc.
but the ole 4D just has that sturdy reassuring feel of a good cudgel.

--Mike L.
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That is the truth! It's why I still have one in my living room :thumbup:
 
I've been contemplating upgrading my 4D cel mag to LED for a while now but the thing that discourages me is having to replace four freaking D cels for it everytime it runs dead.

To think that when I got this thing a decade ago I thought it was the brightest and most robust flashlight I'd ever own...
 
BOK said:
I've been contemplating upgrading my 4D cel mag to LED for a while now but the thing that discourages me is having to replace four freaking D cels for it everytime it runs dead.
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Well then in that case you *definitely* should upgrade to LED- it's *much* more efficient than the old bulbs and your runtimes will go WAY up (I was serious about the 'runtime in days' thing). In my experience, the batteries are as likely to die of old age as they are of being drained.
 
I'm going to buy one of the TerraLux drop-ins. Thanks for all of the replies and the great info.
 
I'm convinced:D

Going to order a TerraLux upgrade LED. Is lighthound a reliable place to get it from?
 
Lighthound is good. Have done some biz with them as well as Battery Junction.

--Mike L.
 
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