Maglight LED conversion?

[MarvinBerry]

I have a pair of 15 year old Mag's that have been everywhere with me over the years, a 2D cell and 2C that still work but honestly a new LED that's 1/4 the size blows 'em away.

Searched & only found one thread from 8 years ago... what are the best options these days to bring 'em up to date & make 'em relevant again?

Looked into it some years ago but people said it wasn't worth the expense, buy a new light. Maybe obviously LED tech has improved & prices have come down?! Yes no?

Much thanks in advance!

 

[Stuey]

Nite Ize conversion kits are still available.

But, a quick search shows that new Maglite LED flashlights are brighter, and in some cases a lot brighter. You might just want to put the same money into a new flashlight.

 

[techieman33]

They're are plenty of conversion kits out there. Honestly though it's not worth the expense unless the lights have sentimental value. The alkaline batteries in them just can't provide the power needed for them to even get close to keeping up with lithium ion powered lights. Malkoff makes the nicest stuff if you really want to do it though.

 

[Fuelboat]

I upgraded my Maglite flashlights a few years ago. They were not as bright as I wished. I then purchased Surefire and Streamlight flashlights they have so much better brightness. I still keep the Maglites in my cars along with the other flashlights.

 

[Road Wrench]

Terralux makes several conversion kits for them. It may be worth your time to check candlepower forums for more options.

 

[rlitman]

If there was a good way to do it, Maglight would be selling the kit. Maglite changed their own design when they rolled out LED, because their incandescent light design would not effectively cool a high power LED bulb.

 

[decableguy2000]

I have one of their conversions in a Surefire.
https://malkoff-devices.myshopify.com/collections/maglite-drop-ins-and-accessories

 

[TwoInch]

If there was a good way to do it, Maglight would be selling the kit. Maglite changed their own design when they rolled out LED, because their incandescent light design would not effectively cool a high power LED bulb.

Not necessarily.

They do want to sell you a new whole flashlight too. It would make more sense for both company and consumer to go with new updated flashlight, than to go with a conversion they would need to warranty and replace, all the while still producing new modern LED flashlight units.

As for LED hand lights, if go with another company. I have current Mag light LED units, as well as other brands like Streamlight, surefire, coast, olight, bushnell, etc.. And while the mag lights are decent, for the money spent, lumens, throw, and battery life, i would be looking at some of the other mid level lights.

Specifically something with an orange peel reflector instead of the smooth reflector, and something that does not require c or d cells. Streamlight has some moderately priced units that take lithium or alkaline 123 cells or AA cells interchangeably. That is a nice feature, rarely can I not get a battery in minutes wherever I am.

Just some thoughts

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[pbon]

Having spent the money on several conversions, I agee with those who say it’s not worth it. My newer Maguire LED are better. And Ithink there are better LED lights now than Maglite though a Maglite on sale is still worth considering.

 

[ransil]

I bought one a few years ago it sucked

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[3jakes]

Buy a new flashlight.
Keep a tire iron under the seat.

 

[Citation]

The ML50 and ML300 are really good if you want a traditional mag light. If you want something smaller but still very bright consider the Wowtac A1 or A1s

 

[cdeer001]

They're are plenty of conversion kits out there. Honestly though it's not worth the expense unless the lights have sentimental value.

Having upgraded a few 4D and 2AA lights to LEDs, the above statement is spot on.

I think I did the TerraLUX bubls.
https://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-Ministar-TLE-6EX-CNC-Flashlight-Conversion/dp/B000B868NE/ref=lp_2601963011_1_4?srs=2601963011&ie=UTF8&qid=1545397956&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-TLE-5EX-MiniStar2-Extreme-Flashlight/dp/B000B868MK/ref=lp_2601963011_1_5?srs=2601963011&ie=UTF8&qid=1545397956&sr=8-5

 

[Badger 13]

I have a couple of old Mag lights and along with a quite a few of modern day LED lights. I didn't want to toss them out, so I just replaced the bulbs with Terralux LED's. They certainly made the light more useful, but no comparison to a true LED flashlight. I also upgraded one of my original Surefire lights with an LED upgrade from Malkoff, and that was excellent.

 

[bugnut]

have several conversions to nite-ize, definitely not worthwhile, imo

 

[BroncoAZ]

The 1980’s called, they want their flashlights back...

Throw those mag lights in the recycle bin and step into awesome at a reasonable price. I daily carry a PD25, but they have a whole range of lights to fit any need.

https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/pd25-fenix-flashlight/

 

[Jazz1]

I bought the off brand led upgrade for my 2AA Maglight. Junk

 

[ransil]

The 1980’s called, they want their flashlights back...

Throw those mag lights in the recycle bin and step into awesome at a reasonable price. I daily carry a PD25, but they have a whole range of lights to fit any need.

https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/pd25-fenix-flashlight/

And that is when i purchased mine, the rechargeable one was nice to have.
I have been replacing them LEDs

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[Jazz1]

If there was a good way to do it, Maglight would be selling the kit. Maglite changed their own design when they rolled out LED, because their incandescent light design would not effectively cool a high power LED bulb.

I guess that explains why the Mini Maglite Led is longer than the old Mini Maglite

 

[BroncoAZ]

And that is when i purchased mine, the rechargeable one was nice to have.
I have been replacing them LEDs

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I used to have the rechargeable maglights in each of my vehicles, one in my house, and probably half a dozen 2-6 D cell maglights around. Around 2003 I started using the Inova and Streamlight LED lights, in 2008 I started using Fenix with their tiny P1D, then the PD22, now the PD25. I also have one of the 3200 lumen TK35 lights, puts most car headlights to shame in a small package.

https://www.batteryjunction.com/fenix-tk35ue-multi-functional-led-flashlight.html

The Fenix brand rechargeable batteries work great as well. I’ve been using the same L16 battery for over a year, I use the light daily and only need to charge it every 2-3 weeks.

 

[Roundhouse]

I carry a nitecore P10

I use it a dozen times a day
At 900 lumens It’s brighter than any maglight and fits easily in your pocket

I like the three light levels and the instant strobe button

Get the rechargeable battery

When my dad was a park ranger in the 70s & 80s he had a modified maglight with a pepper spray dispenser
Had the pepper spray nozzle thru the lens

Was a 2 cell light in a 3 cell body
And the pepper spray cartridge went in place of the third battery right at the front


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XYRWKDL/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[IndyGarage]

Yeah,
I tried modifying my old maglites - none of them worked worth a ****. They were a good product back in the day, but time has passed them by.

As others have said, throw them away and buy new ones, anything from streamlight, surefire, fenix - I even have some really nice plastic ones that I bought at West Marine that blow the maglites with LED conversion away.

 

[orangeblood]

Buy a new flashlight.
Keep a tire iron under the seat.

jake knows the reason 4 D cell mags were required equipment

 

[cdeer001]

jake knows the reason 4 D cell mags were required equipment

I'd love to get one of the 7-D cell "bats" they used to have. LOL

 

[TwoInch]

The ML50 and ML300 are really good if you want a traditional mag light. If you want something smaller but still very bright consider the Wowtac A1 or A1s

I have both those current maglite lights. Got them clearanced at wally mart.

They are okay. Decent battery life, but there are better lights out there for the money.

The beam profile is what I really don't like about current mag lights. Or the side button for most uses. And that you can get more light out of a single or double 123 pocket sized light.. Don't need the heavy d cells for less lethal usage, need something more efficient comparing output/size.

Most officers are using pocket sized lights now too, opening up the belt space and saving belt weight.

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[TwoInch]

This is what I'm currently carrying daily in my pocket. Streamlight ProTac HL... Perfect balance of light to size. 750 lumens on high. New version is 1000. Ten tap programmable to set up the button for hi-lo-strobe, lo-high-strobe, low-high, and just on-off hi only, IIRC

Very nice feature imo. I set mine for low-high only as a daily carry. Works at 1ft on low for looking in an engine bay, and will throw the center beam a few hundred yards on high. Perfect.

I carried the little guy streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA, for a couple years too. 350 lumens I think. Same ten tap programming. Too small, to easily lost imo. Great light tho.

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[MarvinBerry]

The 1980’s called, they want their flashlights back...

Throw those mag lights in the recycle bin and step into awesome at a reasonable price. I daily carry a PD25, but they have a whole range of lights to fit any need.

https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/pd25-fenix-flashlight/

Looks cool and I know there are smaller & more powerful options these days but I'd be terrified to spend $60 on a palm sized flashlight... at least for me they tend to disappear. Flashlights are sometimes borrowed never returned & I never realize it until much later.

That's one of the things I love about the big old mags. Easy to lose something small but its sorta hard to misplace a giant purple Mag. Probably one of the reasons they've never disappeared on me!

And yeah, they do make a solid improvised weapon!

The terralux conversion is probably great but I'd rather put the dough into a new light... also don't really need a tactical device that can light up a reflector a quarter mile away.

I do a lot of music production aka audio things like festivals... camping etc so that amount of horsepower would be overkill and probably obnoxious when someone dropped their keys or bag o' weed... maybe just taking a leak in the woods without twisting an ankle.

Looked into a few things suggested this morning. Wasn't planning on leaving the house but had to go out & ended up getting a Nite Ize bulb from the depot since I was right there.

Ok sure only 55 lumens but for $9 it was worth a shot and its certainly hipper then the old/new bulb that was in there. Feel like I got my moneys worth, I'll get another one for the other Mag next time I'm out.

https://www.niteize.com/product/LED-Upgrade-Kit-C-D-CELL.asp

I'll look into some of the other suggestions on modern lights here too, at least for me bigger is better! Hard to misplace.

On the subject any suggestions for "bomb proof" headlamps? I always seem to destroy 'em.

 

[MarvinBerry]

FWIW if moving the old Mags to LED still wasn't worth it I was gonna build microphones out of the bodies...

 

[NUTTSGT]

I changed a couple of the Maglites I have over to Xenon bulbs several years ago. The kits were a few bucks at the time and I doubt if they are still available from Home Depot. I think th kits were an upgrade but still not as good as LED.

I still keep the maglites around because they are better than what type of flashlight they replaced and they're paid for.

 

[Rickster]

OK I hate to "that guy" but I bought one of these Harbor Freight 550 Lumen lights and it's great. Use the he'll out of it: estate sales, on the car, wiring around the house... it works great. Three AAA batteries. I've since gone back and bought extra's for myself, the wife and the kids. Really bright, adjustable beam. Kinda thick but can't beat the cheap price.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I'd love to get one of the 7-D cell "bats" they used to have. LOL

I have a red 6-D bat around here somewhere.

 

[M6erfan]

Upgrade not worth it.

I love my ML300LX. Lights up my whole backyard at night and makes one hell of a club.

I do wish Maglite would forget the adjustable beam thing and just concentrate on a great single beam. But I can live with it.

I have smaller lights for EDC, but those big 3D battery size Maglites are whats in the house