Maglite

[Wanna Ride]

Anyone rune one of those LED converter bulbs in their Maglite?

Worth the hassle and price?

 

[espyking83]

Maglites are only worth it anymore if your uses of it includes beating people over the head with it. Im a Coast guy these days.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I have several maglites I bought in the mid-late 90s. One of them has an LED bulb--my 6D. ONLY one of them. I don't like it. I bought it because I could not find a replacement bulb for a 6D at the time. I think the incandescent bulb was just more focus-able and made it easier to see things. It is less fragile though.

 

[jakemac]

I used to run one of those conversion kits in my mini-Mag (2X AA). It was ok for close up, but LED's are nearly useless for long distance illumination. The best thing I can say about the LED was that I didn't have to replace the bulb every time I dropped my flashlight. I was always misplacing my spare bulbs.

 

[CJM8515]

Not worth it on a maglite. Keep the xenon bulb.

As for other LED lights, they can throw distance and be way brighter at the cost of runtime and special batteries. A surefire will put a maglite to shame, but runtime is 2-3 hours tops in most cases.

 

[BFBOB]

I run LED conversions exclusively in my Mini Maglites (2 AA) There are many different ones available. Probably none focuses to quite as small a spot as the stock incan, but the one I find best, the Terralux TLE-5EX is so much brighter the slightly larger spot isn't a problem. I use it fanned out to wideangle about as much a narrow spot- it adjusts nearly as wide a range as stock. It's at least twice as bright to my eyes, and battery life is still much longer than with the stock bulb - and that was already pretty long. In short, I can see a LOT better and farther with it than the stock bulb. Sorry not to quantify things very well, but the superiority is so obvious I felt no need to measure anything.
I tried a couple of other conversions and found them hardly any brighter. Same for the Mag-Lite that comes with an LED. It probably focuses more like the incan, but if it's no brighter, why bother?
The Terralux kits cost a bit north of $20 when I bought mine; they're down to $16 or $17 now on fleaBay, still pricey after you've paid that much for the MiniMagLite to begin with, but well worth it to me.

All this only applies to the 2 - AA cell Mini Mag-Lite; it's the only size I have.

 

[bonneyman]

I run LED conversions exclusively in my Mini Maglites (2 AA) There are many different ones available. Probably none focuses to quite as small a spot as the stock incan, but the one I find best, the Terralux TLE-5EX is so much brighter the slightly larger spot isn't a problem. I use it fanned out to wideangle about as much a narrow spot- it adjusts nearly as wide a range as stock. It's at least twice as bright to my eyes, and battery life is still much longer than with the stock bulb - and that was already pretty long. In short, I can see a LOT better and farther with it than the stock bulb. Sorry not to quantify things very well, but the superiority is so obvious I felt no need to measure anything.
I tried a couple of other conversions and found them hardly any brighter. Same for the Mag-Lite that comes with an LED. It probably focuses more like the incan, but if it's no brighter, why bother?
The Terralux kits cost a bit north of $20 when I bought mine; they're down to $16 or $17 now on fleaBay, still pricey after you've paid that much for the MiniMagLite to begin with, but well worth it to me.

All this only applies to the 2 - AA cell Mini Mag-Lite; it's the only size I have.

Agreed. Converted my AA Maglights to LED - haven't looked back.

 

[osu69]

I had a long run with Maglights and converted some to LED. Unfortunately, Maglight hasn't stayed on top the market and now I buy cheap, amazingly bright Chinese flashlights from Amazon. The were absolutely the finest flashlight in their time.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Still got a few. They were the **** back in the day...but that day has come and gone.
Idk what brand worked, but the NiteIze brand sure didn't, at least not in the mini maglite.

Once I got a Streamlight, I never looked back.

 

[scissorman]

I converted a 2D maglite to HID and the novelty wore off quickly but I can say it is WAAAY brighter than a surefire. I have a friend who collects flashlights and he swore my light in no way would be brighter than his surefire so I had him bring it to my shop one day and had him aim it to the back of my shop then I told him to see if he could even see his light anymore once I turned mine on and he was pissed that his light could no longer be seen.

 

[taumac]

I did change one over years ago. I believe when it first came out. Good for close but no distance. A HF free led flashlight worked better. I use the regular bulb I all mine now. Problem I see is flashlight is about $9 and led upgrade kit is just about price of entire flashlight. Only reason I keep my Mini mags is that at anytime I can send them back to maglight and there replace everything but metal case for free. Maglight has lifetime warranty.

 

[1950mercury]

Not worth the$$$

 

[tweedlestan]

I converted a 2D maglite to HID and the novelty wore off quickly but I can say it is WAAAY brighter than a surefire. I have a friend who collects flashlights and he swore my light in no way would be brighter than his surefire so I had him bring it to my shop one day and had him aim it to the back of my shop then I told him to see if he could even see his light anymore once I turned mine on and he was pissed that his light could no longer be seen.

How long ago and what model Surefire?

 

[crucible]

I have a Magcharger with a triple LED Cree drop-in @ about 700-800 lumens, and the battery packs last a long time at that rate.

Larger Maglites in general (rechargeable or not) make great platforms for modification and drop in's.

https://malkoff-devices.myshopify.com/collections/all (I have no affiliation.)

 

[artbuc]

Still got a few. They were the **** back in the day...but that day has come and gone.
Idk what brand worked, but the NiteIze brand sure didn't, at least not in the mini maglite.

I tried 3 NiteIze conversion kits on my mini mag. All 3 failed in short order. NiteIze replaced the first two and admitted they were having quality issues. They were also willing to replace the third kit but I said no thanks.

 

[GCS]

I use the Terra-Lux conversion in my 3C MagLite for years. Use it every night at work. Have not had any problems. Converted my 2C's as well.I am very happy it with them. Very good product. I would highly recommend it.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

I added one of these a few years back, works great and I see they have upped the lumens on the newer version. Is it the BEST led flashlight on the market today, NO. Does it work a lot better than a stock maglite, YES, This was like in the $20 range, YMMV

http://www.thefusionlite.com/1luledupgrfo10.html

 

[bobcatdan]

I never converted any, but I tried the new LED mini mags. Little bastards where bright, really impressive bright. Only lasted a week before it **** out. Giving it the benefit of doubt, tried another, one week. Switched to Streamlight and have over a year on the same light.

 

[dogdog]

The maglite, I have that comes build in LED is pretty good, bulb lasted very long time with 3D batteries, but it's just not as good as others these days......smaller, lighter, brighter, last longer cheaper and rechargeable with Li-Ion cells. Even my $5 Ikea flashlight is bright than it now. Costco have them Duracell branded that uses 2C batteries that is claimed 1000 Lumen.

 

[paul_m]

I converted a 5D to one of the malkoff drop ins. it is awesome and no more globe changes

 

[Dave455]

I have an old 3 led conversion in a Mini Maglite. Think it was made by a firm called Opalec, and it works great.

The problem with the newer generation LED Maglites, certainly the AA ones, seems to be that you can't get inside to clean the switch terminals! As they tarnish, the light flickers then dies! I've tried several of these, the design is otherwise great, as is the light output, but they are all dead or flickery and useless now.

The conversions allow you to use the original, cleanable, switch contacts, and you can always remove them and return the light to original status!

I have one of the C cell LED models, and so far that seems to be better as it has a separate switch, but it's a big light by modern standards, and it's still got electronics, which will fail eventually!

So, if you're thinking of converting an AA - go for it, but for the bigger lights I'd buy a new one if wanted the LED!

Quick general note for all you flashlight enthusiasts - I fly for a living and rely on a decent light, which sees a lot of use! Although I appreciate the incredible boost in light output that you can get with LED's, if you carry the light a lot, use it a lot, and perhaps drop it once in a while, the electronics always seem to fail!

While I generally have some sort of LED light with me, I still have a conventional British made safety light, with 2 D cells, a conventional bulb and no electronics! (Substitute a conventional maglite here if in U.S.) This will pretty much always work when the electronics fail!

 

[gungatim]

I tried a couple when I couldn't find replacement bulbs. one worked other only partially worked. they have to fit in perfectly and get good contact. I switched back to regular bulbs when I finally found some...not worth it IMO...BTW, I love maglites, have 8 of them, from in 2-c, 2-d, 3-d, and 4-d configurations...theres a steel supplier that has an 8 foot long Maglite on their wall I visit, don't know if it actually works but looks pretty cool!

 

[Tenex]

This is the first time I've heard of a conversion kit. Regardless, I own one of the newer, LED models and it's great. My father and I use them for raccoon hunting. I'm not a flashlight afficionado, but I've been satisfied with how far the beam projects and it only costs $30.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Some others stated exactly what I've been experiencing. Back in the 90's, I swore by Maglite. In my shop, I have about a half-dozen of the old-style metal clips mounted near all the benches, so there was always a 3-C cell Maglite within arm's reach. Got about 8-10 between the shop and the vehicles. But I use them so rarely, I'm always throwing batteries away before they ruin one of them.

In recent years, I've bought these small Coast (single AA) LED flashlights. And those damn things will spoil you, fast. But I can only find them at the Home Depoots in Canada. They're super bright, easily stored, and batteries last FOREVER in them, and I've never had a single issue with any of them working properly. Those damn little things are so bright, you don't even reach for the big Maglites anymore.

Well... guess I'll hock 'em all, and buy a few more of the Coasts. They're only like $12 at Home Depot.

 

[davethorik]

I have a circa 1998 4d Maglite in red that says LL Bean, I bought it on a vacation at the Freeport store. It was on sale for cheap then I'm thinking $10 or $15. There were a lot of them there I'm sure someone else here has one.

Anyway, used an off the shelf conversion kit at wally world with a single led and I use it as a trunk flashlight. Batteries last way longer than incandescent. Kinda sad how dim it is compared to some of today's super bright flashlights but I will.always have a place for the big awkward thing.

 

[Chevy350]

Drop in a Malkoff Devices unit, my 3D unit is my go to light for around the house after that swap.

 

[bonneyman]

Just remembered that I saw a 3 or 4 "D" cell Maglight with rechargeable Ni-Cads stock at the local electronics store. They weren't going to carry them anymore, once inventory was gone that's it kind of thing. $104 for the light and charger, IIRC.

My brother gave me an LED LENSER minilight a few years back. it was bright, but not focusable or durable.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great thread, as I have been looking an LED for my 4D.

 

[maintguy]

Like others have saody maglite use to bee the top dog. I purchased a 2 d led maglite last year on clearance. I'm very very disappointed.

 

[Badger 13]

I have a couple of the old Mag flashlights, plus some Kel-Lites, the "original" flashlight of this type. I changed out the Mag's bulbs with LED's from a company called Terra-Lux, mini star 5. This breathed a whole new life into the lights. They are not as bright as some of the newer and smaller LED flashlights, but I am very happy with the performance and the longevity on the batteries.

 

[scissorman]

How long ago and what model Surefire?

Have no idea what model but it was at least 7 years ago.

 

[87slosohc]

Have a few of the newer led maglights that were given to me as gifts that I keep in glove boxes for emergencies.

At work and in the garage I usually have a streamlight on me though. Usually wear out the switch after a year and just order a new one.

 

[Milton Shaw]

The new LED Maglites are much brighter than any of the conversion kits I have used. The one thing I have notices is that the bottom screw end must be very tight or the flashlight will blink and not work. I never had a problem with the bottom coming loose on 30 years worth of Maglites until the new LED models. I do like the fact that it has the SOS function built in if you turn on and off three times, great for emergencies.

 

[M6erfan]

Drop in a Malkoff Devices unit, my 3D unit is my go to light for around the house after that swap.

+1

My best hand held flashlight is one built myself off a Surefire G3 body converted to AA batteries with a Malkoff drop in.

I tried a Nighteyz led conversion on my AA Maglight several years ago, didn't work very well, hated it...

 

[d.mcfarland]

Streamlight Stylus Pro. $18 on Amazon.

 

[pendragon1998]

As fond as I am of vintage USA equipment, I cannot continue with maglites when there are so many superior lights out there..

 

[Paco Pena]

While there are many better flashlights in the house I always reach for the old 4D cell maglite when something goes bump in the night.

Paco

 

[gungatim]

well they may not be the brightest out there but how bright do you need? the LED's are bright but they don't throw the beam as far. Maglights are great and last forever. waterproof, focusable, and you can beat a guy over the head with one if you need to...try that with a little AA led light

 

[buba]

I have a Terralux LED in a Mag 2D body. I also did the simple mod to convert it to a 3C lite (search the web for details). Works well. I would do both mods again if I came by a Mag 2D donor lite on the cheap.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Interesting thread, I made a thread on swapping over to a Xenon bulb a few years back when I found the bulbs for $3 at HD. Although they don't get much use, they still work. When I bought those kits (for the idea of being relatively cheap) I wondered how well and when the LED tech would start coming down in price.