LED conversion for Mag-Lite

Sufler

Sufler

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Oct 15, 2005
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Spotted a Nite Ize LED conversaion for AA Mag-Lites at Bass Pro. There seem to be a couple of different ones: one with 1 Watt LED and the other with 3 LED bulbs, both with the tailcap switches.

Just looking for opinions and wondering if a $15 upgrade is worth on an $8 flashlight. Already have a couple of AA minis laying around.

This would be a car emergency use flashlight as well as one for the BOB.

Thanks.

nite-izeledupgrade.jpg


1watt_combo_package_pop.jpg
 
That one is ok but not much output, I had this one in mine http://www.batteryjunction.com/tle-5k2.html its quite brite and still gets good runtimes. The one thing I don't like about the mini mag is the bi-pin lamp connection it always seems to loosen up and make the light flicker.
 
I changed all my mini's to the nite ize. I didn't buy the tail switch just the head. I bought mine at Walmart for less than $5.00 a piece. I think it was a major improvement over the standard bulb for 5 bucks. My .02 cents.
 
I just payed around $7.50 for the changeover and think it's a major improvement if you like led, I also bought a surefire g2 led, but that's like the Cadillac's of flashlights......
 
I've got a mini AA in both cars and two more at home with the LED upgrade above. The single version works better than the older three bulb model. They can be spotty sometimes because of the two-wire setup going into the body but I like the difference in light they now bring.
 
CREE upgrade from battery junction in my AA and 3D... Impressive.
 
The conversions are worth it. There is a cheaper version out there by that manufacturer without what appears to be a strobe mode.
 
I have the version with the three old school LEDs. It gave the ole Mini-Mag a new lease on life. It won't light up the whole yard but it will light up under the bed or desk and last a long time in that capacity. If you have one that's just sitting idle you might as well get some use out of it.

Frank
 
I have five of the AA 3 LED converted maglites for my course and I've been very happy with them. They give a good amount of light and they are real easy on the batteries. The replacement end switch is a good idea too. Mac
 
Look this may seem harsh but its not meant too...you are better off saving your pennies and then buying a decent LED light. I too tried a LED conversion kit from nite ize and it sucked big time.
I umm and ared and eventually spent some big bucks ($100 roughly) and bought a Novatac 120P, well I was blown away - so much more than my minimag ever was at half the height, yes more expensive but so much better, no comparison at all.
 
I have use the three LED conversion kit, and hated it. I have not used the 1 watt kit...looks to be better than the three LED kit. But Maglite makes a three Watt LED MiniMag that is an outstanding light, I own 4 of them and use them all time. Save your money and for a little bit more cash get a three watt lite made to be a three watt lite and don't bother with the conversions. Over xmas when stores were having great sales I was able to pic up a couple for $11 each. I think they retail around $20 or $25 at Home Depot and Lowes.

http://www.maglite.com/AA_Cell_LED.asp
 
I would just go for somthin glike a fenix E01, they are cheap but i would assume have a much better output, and they are waterproof.
 
You guys and your light fetishes....sheesh.....the converted mini-mag works great!!! Save those pennies for a custom knife :D :D :D
 
Most of my small lights are already LED, but I did convert one of my Big (4 D cell) lights I use at work.

The light out put is very good, but the additional run time is what’s really impressive.

I'm sure the upgrade will pay for itself in the long run, plus it’s no fun being deep in the bowels of an abandoned building with your light getting dim (yes of course I always carry a spare light, or three).



PS – I have smaller lights that do the job of lighting as well, but that big Mag-Lite is a nice thing to have in hand when trouble may be around the next corner.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

Forest & Stream
 
iBlade said:
you are better off saving your pennies and then buying a decent LED light. I too tried a LED conversion kit from nite ize and it sucked big time.
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+1 on that. I bought the triple LED version you showed and it pretty much sucks. It works OK; it has a very broad beam, but it's unreliable (poor connection). The tail cap switch was unusable... the threads didn't match the Mag-Lite pitch precisely or were buggered.

I have a bunch of good flashlights (NiteCore PD D10 and D20, Fenix L01 and E01, SureFire 6P and G2; both with Cree LED conversions, etc.) and I believe you're better off buying a newer LED light that will perform beyond your expectations.

You won't believe what you've been missing when you try a modern, premium LED light.... Would you imagine you could get a stronger beam than a 4 D-cell Mag-Lite with a modern LED light that runs on one AA battery? Or that on a low setting, that same single AA light will run for two and a half days?


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
kgd said:
You guys and your light fetishes....sheesh.....the converted mini-mag works great!!! Save those pennies for a custom knife :D :D :D
Click to expand...

I agree. Though I have a few Surefires and Inovas, the LED minimag is enough light for most things. In fact, I don't even like the brighter 120 lumin suerfire I own as it tends to blind me with reflection when ever I try to use it to open a tent, or most of the other close work which comprises the majority of my flashlight use.
 
Ih ave upgraded the minimags in the cars, my 3 cell and a solitarie. Both great for waht they are as the maglite casing is fundamentally good - and it is nice to be able to focus. I have surefires and others but they stil have a place. The only one that is not so good is the solitaire conversion which is too big to get the end cap on easily again - and too bright to use in my childrens room without waking them. I have it in one of the pen holders of my briefcase and just pulled it out to look - and am seeing spots as I type from one AAA battery. For met the solitaire has largely benn relaced by Photon Fredom II but the other mags till have their roles

I would avoid the Nite Ize though and go for the other TLE 5XE or such - do a search on minimag on ebay and it comes up. They reason being that they have better LEDs. The tail switch is also more robust and drains less voltage than the intelligent Nite IZe multi mode switch. However the nite Ize with its slow flash from the tailcap is good if you want something to be able to find in the dark
 
i have had a couple of those iq switiches brake on me so i would go with the on/off clickie switich
 
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