Drop-In LEDs for Maglites?

wintermute

wintermute

Joined
Oct 18, 2007
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I'm looking for suggestions for drop-in LEDs for D-cell and mini-maglites (incandescent). Not looking to break the bank on this one. Any suggestions? I saw something about "Malkov Devices", but these were too expensive, and way too powerful as advertised. Thanks
 
I have a couple of the Mag brand LED drop-ins in a 3D Mag Light and they are much brighter than the stock bulb. I think that they were about 20 or 25 bucks. Can't tell you about the battery life as they are still on the first set of batteries.

Bruceter
 
I actually have a Malkoff device for the Surefire 6p. It's a great option for those who own Incandescent 6p's. I would probably suggest to someone starting from scratch however to just buy a new LED Suefire as opposed to buying a 6p incan and upgrading it. I have upgraded a mini mag or 2 with aftermarket led drop ins, but dont expect to be wowed by their output. It does help quite a bit however on the runtimes. They are fairly cheap as well.
 
I got a 3D MagLED that functions FANTASTIC. Ended up swapping emitters for a SSC P4 and its even better. A lot of people don't like the thermal regulation, but I disagree. If you are just using the light for a moment to spot something in the distance its nice a bright, but if you are using it for a long period is does dim notably (still bright), thus saving batteries.

The only complaint I have is that lithium D cell primaries are not really feasible so its no longer the car light (replaced with Surefire for the nice CR123 batts)
 
The cost of the drop-ins was higher than just buying a new LED model in full so that's what I wound up doing. I've got the 2 AA model and the 3D model and like them a lot for the money. Home Depot and Lowes all have them.
 
FWIW I picked up a SMJLED drop in back when they were a hot item and its been GREAT. Don't use that light much any more, but it sits next to my mini-BOB on a belt rig with a Camillus-made BK11 (with E91 batts ;) )
 
hoopster said:
Which LED drop in are you comparing to? I'm sure the Mag LED's are better than the Nite Ize, but what about the terralux drop in's, I hear they're much better.
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I have the Nite Ize and Mag drop ins, they seem very similar in output. I have heard good things about about the Terralux, but the price was double the other ones so I never tried it. For some reason the LED that comes in the Mag LED is way brighter than their own drop in. :confused:
 
tknife said:
I have the Nite Ize and Mag drop ins, they seem very similar in output. I have heard good things about about the Terralux, but the price was double the other ones so I never tried it. For some reason the LED that comes in the Mag LED is way brighter than their own drop in. :confused:
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Interesting, thanks for relating your experience. I gave my bro a terralux for a 3D for Christmas and he's pretty impressed so I ordered one for a 2D that should be here by the weekend. I'll let you guys know what I think after I check it out.
 
Perhaps take a look at the TerraLUX TLE-5EX LED Upgrade for the Maglite AA's. I've been extremely impressed with the four (of these) TerraLux upgrades that I've fitted to Maglites.

The TerraLUX TLE-6 series fit the Maglite D Cell range, and its what I'm fitting in my Maglite 2 D's (TLE-6EX).

Other inexpensive improvements are to fit the Ultra Clear Glass Lens, and to use Lithium batteries.

The 'Lens upgrade is really noticeable, even on a brand new (straight out the packaging Maglite, which all my upgrades were).
 
wintermute said:
How durable is the glass lens?
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They are not as durable as the polycarbonate stockers but they aren't fragile either. Consider that MANY lights come standard with glass lenses.

For mountain biking I run a Fenix on my helmet with glass lens and its hit many a branch without issue. In my 3D MagLED I run a UCL lens from flashlightlens.com and its been great- granted that light doesn't get much use, but when it does come out its typically not for play time ;)
 
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