Mini maglite upgrade

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,251
I have a little toolkit with a leatherman wave, a multibit screwdriver and a minimag in a black nylon belt pouch. I'd like to upgrade the minimag but have a few questions:

What upgrades can you do, including bulb, etc. Can the minimag use lithium bulbs? The light is generally kept in the truck and it gets to below zero routinely during the winter.


Are the upgrades worth it, or can you get a better light than you would spend on all the upgrades?

Thanks.
 
Check out candlepowerforums.com . They have a lot of reading over there. Sorry, I don't know much about flashlights, but I'm sure other guys will give you a better answer.
 
I have the TerraLux upgrade and love it. No bulbs to blow out and superior battery life. The light it throws out is also more powerful and will adjust but works best on a narrow beam. Just my 2 cents!

Epi
 
MadMax Lite with a decent high dome.
SX017a reflector
kroll tail cap switch

Thats my recommended 'do everything' MiniMag.

Mark
 
Minjin said:
MadMax Lite with a decent high dome.
SX017a reflector
kroll tail cap switch

Thats my recommended 'do everything' MiniMag.

Mark
Click to expand...
Or madmax if you want a bright little light, or a madmax plus for a real sleeper.
 
Try the Opalec Newbeam. It costs about 20 bucks, so lets say 30 bucks overall. It gives you a lot of run time, a good beam, and LEDs vs. the bulbs. Nothing to blow. I don't think you can do a more cost effective mod to the MiniMag. Just my .02, but I think its worth it- that a pyrex lens, and a kroll cap if you REALLY want it.

Sincerely,
Anthony C. Paulin
 
I have other mods, but my favourite is the Opalec Newbeam. It has a great flood beam for tasks, great regulation and runtime, and I love the low battery indicator.
Team that up with some lithium batteries, a Kroll tailcap and a mineral glass lens and you have a great little task light.
 
I think the Opalec may be out of production, based on what I had to go through to get one over a year ago; in any event there's no reflector for it so light output is somewhat reduced. RAM instruments sells a 3-LED conversion as well as a tailcap switch conversion, even offering both as a combo.

First places I heard about either:
http://themartialist.com/pecom/ramled.htm
http://themartialist.com/pecom/ramtail.htm .

They also have the TerraLux MiniStar2 ( http://themartialist.com/pecom/terralux.htm ). Have done business with Phil before and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
 
I' ve used the TerraLux kits with great success. While not as bright as the Sandwich Shoppe kits, it does offer much more useful natural light than the original incandescents. And offers a longer run time without fear of bulb burning out. The Martialist is a good source for these kits.

N.
 
Try a Streamlight TwinTask TL2. It's a hybrid incan/LED light that is a poor man's Surefire A2. It takes 2x CR123 lithiums so will work over a wide temp range and store for a long period. It has a single incan bulb that is almost as bright as a Surefire G2/6P/E2e as well as a three 5mm LED array that is almost as bright as an Inova X5. It's a great general purpose light. You get a nice spot light and a useful long running LED based light all in one small package. They can be had for around $30.00 or less.

Besides that, either a Surefire G2 or Inova X5 would both be great lights in that price category. Having one of each would be better still.

John
 
i heard niteize is coming out w/a LED conversion for minimags for like $10, if it works well that would be ok, start talking $20 and up, i'd get a G2 surefire ($35) a lot better lite, or a twin task, they are good too but nowhere near the power of a SF G2 (or Z2, or E2e, or E2D, or.....) but are pretty cheap $ wise.

i wouldnt put a lot of $$ into a minimag myself,
 
The idea isn't to put a lot of $ into a Mini Mag-Lite. The idea is to make the MML more bulletproof. Mag-Lites are excellent impact tools but (especially the Mini) only moderate to sub-par lights. The MML conversion makes it far better than the stock MML and still a formidable and utterly PC carry tool.

Relatively cheap though the G2 might be, the lamp is not shock-insulated as on some of the higher-end SFs (none of the E2 series are, either, especially the E2D, which damn well SHOULD be); I don't know the durability of any Streamlights beyond some reports on the Batonlite and one (possibly fake) report on a police combative use of a Stylus.
 
EdaKoppo certainly has the right idea here concerning an impact tool use potential. But not all of us are in the know. ;)

Concerning the subject of upgrading the AA Mini mag, the Terra Lux MM 2 kit is an excellent upgrade in terms of utility use. As already mentioned I have a few of these and am quite happy with their service thus far. For other uses, there are other lights. You know, the right tool for the right job.

Shann, were you asking about lithium BATTERIES when you mentioned "lithium bulbs" in your original post? There are no lithium bulbs as far as I know. But in severely cold temperatures, lithium batteries are the most reliable. They cost a bit more. But are worth it. Especially if one is stranded on a cold wintery roadside with their car and needs a light to see. :)

Better to have and not need, than to need and not have!

N.
 
I have a TerraLux MiniStar 2 and it's pretty cool. But for the price of upgrading a Mini MagLite, I'd rather just get a Streamlight Jr. Luxeon. It's very similar in size and feel to the Mini Mag. The Streamlight has a better beam than the MiniStar 2 and it already has a clicking tailcap.

If you really like using a flashlight in “candle mode” though, then the MiniStar 2 is pretty awesome. Mine is a side-emitting LED that casts light everywhere when the head is removed. Unfortunately, the Streamlight can’t stand upright on its tailcap end.
 
a lot of the surefires dont have shock isolated bezels, ya dont need them though unless ya use the light as a weapon lite mounted on a rifle. i know all the 'm' series SF lites have the shock iso bezel, Z2/C2/E2e/E2D dont, but again they are primarily designed as a hand held light, not a weapons lite.
 
Nakano 2 said:
EdaKoppo certainly has the right idea here concerning an impact tool use potential. But not all of us are in the know. ;)

Concerning the subject of upgrading the AA Mini mag, the Terra Lux MM 2 kit is an excellent upgrade in terms of utility use. As already mentioned I have a few of these and am quite happy with their service thus far. For other uses, there are other lights. You know, the right tool for the right job.

Shann, were you asking about lithium BATTERIES when you mentioned "lithium bulbs" in your original post? There are no lithium bulbs as far as I know. But in severely cold temperatures, lithium batteries are the most reliable. They cost a bit more. But are worth it. Especially if one is stranded on a cold wintery roadside with their car and needs a light to see. :)

Better to have and not need, than to need and not have!

N.
Click to expand...


Yup, lithium batteries, I must have typelexia.
 
Ditto what's been said about the Opalec drop in. I have a couple of 'em and am very pleased. They offer a decent amount of light, twice the runtime of the original and are practical bombproof.
 
SIFU1A said:
a lot of the surefires dont have shock isolated bezels, ya dont need them though unless ya use the light as a weapon lite mounted on a rifle. i know all the 'm' series SF lites have the shock iso bezel, Z2/C2/E2e/E2D dont, but again they are primarily designed as a hand held light, not a weapons lite.
Click to expand...

Untrue. Bad things happen to good lights, as I once had happen with my old model E2. Clip was garbage and it fell out of my pocket onto concrete from a whopping 3'. Light ceased to function until I got a new lamp for it. LEDs basically eliminate the shock problem from the equation.

Forgot to mention I've also got the TerraLux (I think--it's been a while since I got it). Not bad but I prefer the Opalec.
 
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