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converting Maglites into LED lites
- Thread starter Garrett19
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2001
- Messages
- 426
I just did it with a Luxeon III and a "Hotlips" heatsink. It was fairly easy to do based on the wonderful design and build quality of the Hotlips.
I used a Luxeon III TWAK-binned LED and it's very bright and white and throws like a big dog.
The mod requires you to disassemble the switch, cut the reflector, and a bit of soldering to the Luxeon.
It would take about an hour, start to finish, if you're taking your time. The Lux+Hotlips costs about $35 delivered.
I used a Luxeon III TWAK-binned LED and it's very bright and white and throws like a big dog.
The mod requires you to disassemble the switch, cut the reflector, and a bit of soldering to the Luxeon.
It would take about an hour, start to finish, if you're taking your time. The Lux+Hotlips costs about $35 delivered.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2003
- Messages
- 2,773
Hi Kinzli,
The LED mod rocks. Where did you score a twak?
A somewhat simpler incandescent mod for a Mag 2c is to replace the stock bulb with a Radio Shack KPR 112 ~$1.50,
three 123 batteries will fit inside a plastic pipe or rubber hose or anything to support the difference in diameter.You insert this in the barrel so the batts are stable.
This is a BRIGHT light rivaling my Tigerlight or Streamlights.
Some guys have problems with bulb life. I sometimes experience this also. But after making 14 of these it doesn't happen often and these are frequently used. Run time is ~ 1 hour.
If you do a search on Candlepowerforums.com you'll find all sorts of mods for mags.
AA with led dropins
c's, d's you name it they're modded.
I hope this will be an illuminating experience for you.
Tom
edit: Crimeys, when will I get with the thread topic. Sorry bout that.
Led mods that I've done have usually involved soldering and epoxying. very rewarding.
Started with a donor body of aa mag, 1 watt lsld,
copper disc, arctic thermal epoxy and I now have that in my prized collection. It's ancient technology now. Low domes are the past. High dome rule. That twak that kinzli posted is prime.
The LED mod rocks. Where did you score a twak?
A somewhat simpler incandescent mod for a Mag 2c is to replace the stock bulb with a Radio Shack KPR 112 ~$1.50,
three 123 batteries will fit inside a plastic pipe or rubber hose or anything to support the difference in diameter.You insert this in the barrel so the batts are stable.
This is a BRIGHT light rivaling my Tigerlight or Streamlights.
Some guys have problems with bulb life. I sometimes experience this also. But after making 14 of these it doesn't happen often and these are frequently used. Run time is ~ 1 hour.
If you do a search on Candlepowerforums.com you'll find all sorts of mods for mags.
AA with led dropins
c's, d's you name it they're modded.
I hope this will be an illuminating experience for you.
Tom
edit: Crimeys, when will I get with the thread topic. Sorry bout that.
Led mods that I've done have usually involved soldering and epoxying. very rewarding.
Started with a donor body of aa mag, 1 watt lsld,
copper disc, arctic thermal epoxy and I now have that in my prized collection. It's ancient technology now. Low domes are the past. High dome rule. That twak that kinzli posted is prime.
The Tourist
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,796
Kinzli,
Lately I have been buying LED flashlights or replacement heads whenever I can. Other than the clean light I enjoy, they seem to provide longer life to batteries, and in an emergency situation (my wife once had to use her LED flashlight to exit a smoky hotel corridor), you never know how long the situation will last.
IF YOU CONVERT A TRADITIONAL FLASHLIGHT, will the new LED replacement draw a more moderate amount of power?
Not that this is a big expense, after all, if you took my non-LED flashlights and just threw them away it would be less than one hundred bucks.
However, I do have rechargeable flashlights with a 110 plug stuck in outlets to grab if the lights suddenly go out. At the very least it would allow us to find our LEDs and Surefires.
That's the trouble with emergencies, you can't schedule them!
Lately I have been buying LED flashlights or replacement heads whenever I can. Other than the clean light I enjoy, they seem to provide longer life to batteries, and in an emergency situation (my wife once had to use her LED flashlight to exit a smoky hotel corridor), you never know how long the situation will last.
IF YOU CONVERT A TRADITIONAL FLASHLIGHT, will the new LED replacement draw a more moderate amount of power?
Not that this is a big expense, after all, if you took my non-LED flashlights and just threw them away it would be less than one hundred bucks.
However, I do have rechargeable flashlights with a 110 plug stuck in outlets to grab if the lights suddenly go out. At the very least it would allow us to find our LEDs and Surefires.
That's the trouble with emergencies, you can't schedule them!
Gotta go check out CandlePower Forums.
This place is to knives what CPF is to flashlights.
Discussions at this level of modification, even interms of direct pre-manufactured drop-in/plug-and-play modules, really should merit thorough examination over at CPF.
Allen
aka DumboRAT
This place is to knives what CPF is to flashlights.
Discussions at this level of modification, even interms of direct pre-manufactured drop-in/plug-and-play modules, really should merit thorough examination over at CPF.
Allen
aka DumboRAT
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2001
- Messages
- 426
Tourist, one of the reasons for using the Mag as a host for LED mods is because the Mag reflector is one of the tightest-focusing reflectors out there. It will focus a Luxeon to make it throw big time. The other piece of it is that they're a dime-a-dozen, parts are available, they're reasonably well built, and cheap. They also hold enough batteries to make the LEDs last a reasonable amount of time.
I don't know what the runtime will be with the Luxeon III (I'm running it direct-drive, and it's running around 1.5A of current draw). I'll let ya know when the batteries are drained but that's no where in sight yet
I don't know what the runtime will be with the Luxeon III (I'm running it direct-drive, and it's running around 1.5A of current draw). I'll let ya know when the batteries are drained but that's no where in sight yet
The Tourist
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,796
Kinzli,
Thanks for the prompt reply. I am a rookie at this sport. I once soldered a Radio Shack kit radio with my Dad in 1962.
I did notice that most of my flashlights 'stack' the batteries, I'm assuming in a series circuit. My Dorcy has four AA batteries, but inserted in a 'drum' format, like a four barrel carbeurator. The Dorcy's run-time is 200 hours.
My Surefire with an LED head raises the use time from 30 minutes to a few hours. I'm told that it has a sensor which will lower the beam to 'moonlight' to save the last of the power.
As for the Arc AAA LED on my keychain, well, I'm on my first and only battery!
Thanks for the prompt reply. I am a rookie at this sport. I once soldered a Radio Shack kit radio with my Dad in 1962.
I did notice that most of my flashlights 'stack' the batteries, I'm assuming in a series circuit. My Dorcy has four AA batteries, but inserted in a 'drum' format, like a four barrel carbeurator. The Dorcy's run-time is 200 hours.
My Surefire with an LED head raises the use time from 30 minutes to a few hours. I'm told that it has a sensor which will lower the beam to 'moonlight' to save the last of the power.
As for the Arc AAA LED on my keychain, well, I'm on my first and only battery!
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 187
i've done about 10 or 12 mag mods over the past year and a half.
it's a very simple mod to do, especially using the hotlips heatsinks. they're designed to fit in place without removing any of the origional mag (except to trim the reflector).
i really suggest you try it, you'll love it! (but don't come crying to me when you become a hardcore modder 
)
it's a very simple mod to do, especially using the hotlips heatsinks. they're designed to fit in place without removing any of the origional mag (except to trim the reflector).
i really suggest you try it, you'll love it!
(but don't come crying to me when you become a hardcore modder )
The Tourist
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,796
Rothrandir,
Oh, great, just what I need, another hobby!
I do like the conveniences, however. Like a cell phone to get info wherever I am. On a motorcycle, that can be a good thing. Further, there is no more lonelier feeling than standing over a dead motorcycle in the dark, cool evening. With the crickets and the baying hounds from a nearby farm you feel like you're in a Stephen King novel!
A good, solid flashlight, with a tough solder job, an LED and batteries that last a while would be a comforting thing.
You did it this time, now I'm thinking it over!
Oh, great, just what I need, another hobby!
I do like the conveniences, however. Like a cell phone to get info wherever I am. On a motorcycle, that can be a good thing. Further, there is no more lonelier feeling than standing over a dead motorcycle in the dark, cool evening. With the crickets and the baying hounds from a nearby farm you feel like you're in a Stephen King novel!
A good, solid flashlight, with a tough solder job, an LED and batteries that last a while would be a comforting thing.
You did it this time, now I'm thinking it over!
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2000
- Messages
- 6,104
kinzli, what kind of batteries are you using?
I've been debating a 2C Mag to 3x123 (actually considering buying a pair of Pila 150S) and a LIII or 5 watter, and maybe a DB1000 or something, but so far, debate is as far as it's gotten.
LMAO, before learning particulars about knives, steels, and heat treats, plus flashlights, accessories, Luxeon Star specs, different optics, English was the only language I was fluent in.
Seems like now I speak in "code" half the time
I've been debating a 2C Mag to 3x123 (actually considering buying a pair of Pila 150S) and a LIII or 5 watter, and maybe a DB1000 or something, but so far, debate is as far as it's gotten.
LMAO, before learning particulars about knives, steels, and heat treats, plus flashlights, accessories, Luxeon Star specs, different optics, English was the only language I was fluent in.
Seems like now I speak in "code" half the time
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2001
- Messages
- 426
Owen, in my latest mod, it's a Mag3D, running 3 D cells (Energizers), direct-driving the LuxIII. That gives roughly 4.5-4.6V @ ~1.5A for about 7W of dissapation. How much of that is actually converted to light, I'm not sure, but it's one bright mutha
I don't know how much harder (voltage-wise) you'd wanna drive the LuxIII, but with a 5W Luxeon I think you can go 3xCR123's for about 9V and be good to go (using your DB1000 would probably give good output, 1A @ 9V?).
I don't know how much harder (voltage-wise) you'd wanna drive the LuxIII, but with a 5W Luxeon I think you can go 3xCR123's for about 9V and be good to go (using your DB1000 would probably give good output, 1A @ 9V?).
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2000
- Messages
- 6,104
That would be fun to try, and easier on the wallet--I've got a 3D Mag just sitting here.
I'm really getting into this flashlight stuff. Told myself it was going to be cheaper than the power tools, knives, and camping gear I've managed to drop so much cash on.
That's what I told myself:footinmou:footinmou
I'm really getting into this flashlight stuff. Told myself it was going to be cheaper than the power tools, knives, and camping gear I've managed to drop so much cash on.
That's what I told myself:footinmou:footinmou
I recommend the Opalec NewBeam for a Mini Maglite conversion. It is has received five star ratings from flashlight review websites such as FlashlightReviews.com and the LED Museum.
For a 3-cell/4-cell Maglite convserion I recommend the Epieon which is a Luxeon Star LED conversion. Run time is increased to 80 hours and the brightness is equal to a standard Maglite.
For a 3-cell/4-cell Maglite convserion I recommend the Epieon which is a Luxeon Star LED conversion. Run time is increased to 80 hours and the brightness is equal to a standard Maglite.
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 187
making your own mods is tons more fun than purchasing them
also, if you would like to purchase easy mods, the everled works better for the fullsize maglite.
and the dat2zip dropins work better in the minimag.
the everled is regulated (i don't *think* the epion is), and the dat2zip sandwhiches are luxeon stars, and much brighter than the opelec, though they have less runtime.
also, if you would like to purchase easy mods, the everled works better for the fullsize maglite.
and the dat2zip dropins work better in the minimag.
the everled is regulated (i don't *think* the epion is), and the dat2zip sandwhiches are luxeon stars, and much brighter than the opelec, though they have less runtime.