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Mini Maglight led conversion

johninct

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 21, 2010
Messages
2,598
What is the brightest/ best led upgrade for a 2 AA cell mini Mag light? I got one that I keep in my truck and would like to upgrade it.
 
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IndyGarage

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Joined
Apr 29, 2010
Messages
9,734
Location
Indy
I tried upgrading a couple of mine. They just didn't compare to the newer lights I've gotten from Streamlight, or Pelican. I finally gave up on them.

Mag lights were the best in the business back in the day but in my opinion the technology passed them by.
 

Farmall 1066

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Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
1,805
Location
Suburban Rockford, NE
I bought a Nite Ize conversion when they first came out. It was ok, at the time it was great.
Bought 2 more a few years later that were junk.
Given the cost, I'd probably just get a dedicated LED light, like a Streamlight Microstream, or Stylus Pro.
 

fordnut85

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2012
Messages
231
Bought a few of them for the mini mags and my 3d cell and they just don't compare to the new stuff. I now have a streamlight stylus pro I keep in my pocket and a small pelican about the same size as the mini mag I keep in my box. My converted 3d cell sits on my nightstand for emergencies and its usefulness as a club

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 

Infinia

Banned
Joined
Oct 2, 2016
Messages
845
Location
SoCal
What is the brightest/ best led upgrade for a 2 AA cell mini Mag light? I got one that I keep in my truck and would like to upgrade it.
The brightest flashlight is overrated and number 4 or 5 down on list of things to consider, also asking for "BEST" is highly subjective.
The new AA LED Maglites are 270 lumens which is extremely bright. Infact I keep my old ican AA in the tool box incase I need to look at something close up.. I still think the newish Maglites are great because a simple on/off switch is bullet proof and doesn't have a parasitic current drain unlike the ubiquitous and sometimes finicky E-switch. Since then I have moved on to prefer single A headlamps from 'Fenix' :thumbup:handsfree, super high quality /built like a tank It features 3 usable modes in a neutral tint. E.g. no silly SOS or strobes. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fenix+hl50+
Nowadays bulb conversions are a waste of time and money!!
 
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928'er

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2012
Messages
756
Location
Wine Country, CA
I was kinda wondering along the same lines.

I've got 3 or 4 mini MagLights that I'd like to convert but find it hard to justify the expense when you can pick up something like a Coast G20 for around 10 bucks....
 

jwx

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
138
Location
Flowery Branch, Georgia
honestly, I’ve converted several minimags, but they just don't hold a candle to even a led minimag and don't even come close to even a 1aaa streamlight. I used to love minimags but now everytime I pick one up I'm reminded by how much better lights are now.
 

ecotec

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
5,463
The 272 lumen 2AA mini mags have been selling under $25 at Home Depot.

How much is a conversion kit... and is it even worth the time?
 

rlitman

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Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,642
Location
Long Island
honestly, I’ve converted several minimags, but they just don't hold a candle to even a led minimag and don't even come close to even a 1aaa streamlight. I used to love minimags but now everytime I pick one up I'm reminded by how much better lights are now.

Even Mag will admit that they have considered LED conversions, but a good LED conversion for an incandescent MagLite is doomed. MagLites have great reflector designs, but they're not designed to conduct heat away from the bulb. That's not a consideration for incandescent bulb flashlights, but is a big issue with LED bulbs that cannot radiate away their excess heat. To get a good LED light, you need to start with a fundamentally different design than a traditional MagLite.
 
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SantaAna12

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Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
1,091
Another vote to move on.

Fenixlighting.com. 20percent off if u join on ur first order. No tax, free shipping.

Best value IMO.
 

WhiskeyRanger

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2015
Messages
398
I've tossed all mine and switched to streamlight Polytacs for anything I would have used a mini mag light for.
 

Milton Shaw

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Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
4,845
Buy the Mag Lites with the LED's already in them. The reflector is different and they are really bright and long lasting. The Mag Lite Pro shows a lot of lumens and only 1 hour run time on to AA's the non pro has about 1/4 the lumens but lasts 10 hours. The difference in brightness is big. That little MAG Lite Pro looks like the same out put as the 3 D cell mag lite i bought. On Amazon they are less than $20 which is about what they want for the conversion kit. I used AAA mag lites for years and went through bulbs often, I like the LED for the life of the light itself.
 

zjrog

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
555
Location
Tooele, Ut
I went through most of my minimags and converted them. I much prefer the original bulb with my little fiber optic head though. For the cost, there are better LEDs out there significantly brighter. But again. Brand name will not overheat in your hand while lighting your way. I had a cheap one that zoomed. No intensity choices. That lasts for 2 hours a charge, but is too hot to hold after 20 minutes...
 

SARG

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2011
Messages
1,004
Location
Northeast
Do a search on SK68 LED.
They can be had for under $5.
They have a focus feature.
Some of them have multiple modes.
They operate on one AA battery.
They are remarkably bright.
You won't find a better carry around or vehicle light.
( And I've bought literally hundreds of different LEDs )
 

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VoodooCLD

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
415
Do a search on SK68 LED.
They can be had for under $5.
They have a focus feature.
Some of them have multiple modes.
They operate on one AA battery.
They are remarkably bright.
You won't find a better carry around or vehicle light.
( And I've bought literally hundreds of different LEDs )

I 100% second this. They are amazing. I have a few in black.
 

Bobf

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
308
Location
Poway, CA
Guess I am a cheap *******, because although I have several mini mags and a couple 2 and 3 cell mag lites I find myself using one of the free HF mini lights :)
 
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