Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Sergeant Bob on December 09, 2013, 04:59:06 PM
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http://www.batteryjunction.com/ledupgrades.html
I recently upgraded my old 2 cell Maglight with an LED conversion and it has been given a new life! It has not seen much use in the past few years, being so dim compared to modern flashlights (it is about 25 years old).
I bought the LED upgrade from Battery Junction and now it's at least 4 or 5 times brighter (in my estimation) and the beam is way more focus-able. It's as easy as simply changing the bulb!
My Mag has found a new life!
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I did two of mine. One is a 4 D cell light. It is much nicer now.
Got them from Amazon.
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I found one for my 5d light at wally world. it is easily twice as bright now. :cool:
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A local hardware store sells something similar to this, but at a lower price. I plan to give it a try sometime.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/tle-1f.html
I converted one of my 2xAA Maglights, but I wasn't too impressed with that one.
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The minimags are crap even upgraded but the big ones have potential.
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Thanks for that tip, Bob! I have a 3 D cell that I've had forever just sitting and doing nothing (but standing by, ready to be a noggin clobber). I'll have to give this a go.
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A local hardware store sells something similar to this, but at a lower price. I plan to give it a try sometime.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/tle-1f.html
I converted one of my 2xAA Maglights, but I wasn't too impressed with that one.
I tried this one in one of my Mag-Lites. Not impressed. They have another that's MUCH better, which I currently have in three Mag-Lites:
http://www.batteryjunction.com/tle-6k2.html
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Bought a spanking new 2xAA LED minimaglight a month back. Lasted all of 15 minutes before death.
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Bought a spanking new 2xAA LED minimaglight a month back. Lasted all of 15 minutes before death.
Not surprised. The issue I always had with them was the head would loosen up and cause the light to go out intermittently.
And then there was the time I was on a camping trip and had four(!) minimags, two of them new, crap out and not due to dead batteries.
I gave up on minimags after that. Damned worthless things.
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I converted all my AA Mini-Mag Lights to Nite Ize 1 watt LEDs with the IQ tail cap switch.
I'm pleased as punch with the converted Mini-Mags = very bright, and very reliable. The tail cap switch means you don't have to mess with bezel focus just to turn the light on or off.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/29-6049
For my 2 and 3 D-Cell Mag Lights, I used the TerraLUX conversions. They've been bright and strong for several years now, and I'm sure Cree has upgraded the output power since then.
http://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-TLE-6EXB-MiniStar5-Conversion-MagLites/dp/B001I9TI4Q/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1386642136&sr=8-5&keywords=Cree+3+watt
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I bought an LED for my circa 1930 Eveready 2 D cell flash light that had been my Grandfather's. I found it when I was cleaning the shed out. Unfortunately, it's longer than the original bulb, so I've been having problems getting the beam to focus. I need to cut a couple of rubber rings to go in the bezel to give the space I need.
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Thanks for that tip, Bob! I have a 3 D cell that I've had forever just sitting and doing nothing (but standing by, ready to be a noggin clobber). I'll have to give this a go.
I owed ya one! ;)
For my 2 and 3 D-Cell Mag Lights, I used the TerraLUX conversions. They've been bright and strong for several years now, and I'm sure Cree has upgraded the output power since then.
http://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-TLE-6EXB-MiniStar5-Conversion-MagLites/dp/B001I9TI4Q/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1386642136&sr=8-5&keywords=Cree+3+watt
Well crap! I didn't even think to try Amazon! I coulda saved 16¢! =D
Amazon sells just about everything!
The TerraLUX-TLE-6EXB is the one I got for my 2 cell.
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i bought a 500 lumin cree at walmart tonight for 20 bucks
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-20047-Ozark-Trail-500-Lumens-CREE-High-Powered-LED-Aluminum-Flashlight/27859983
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Bought a spanking new 2xAA LED minimaglight a month back. Lasted all of 15 minutes before death.
I have one that I used pretty hard back when I spent my days spelunking through a cavernous, abandoned mall. It has always worked as designed. (I didn't like the way it switched between different modes, but that's how it was made to work.)
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http://www.batteryjunction.com/?utm_source=2013_12_10_winterWonderSale_shortGrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=body
Mash the above link for 15% off your purchase at Battery Junction! Wish I'd waited to buy my LED upgrade! Would have beaten Amazon by about a buck and a half.
Expires 12/12.
I did a quick check, and Amazon can't beat their price on cr123a batteries, even without the discount!
Bummer, I just went to purchase 25 batteries and they do hit you with shipping charges, so better to buy Amazon Prime for free shipping. =(
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Maybe somebody here knows, but I've got an older railroad brakeman's lantern with an incandescent bulb that I'd like to switch to LED.
The problem is that the polarity is wrong for all the 2/3/4 cell Mag Light conversion LED bulbs I've tried so far.
This railroad lantern has a 6 volt lantern battery inside, two bulbs, and a switch for running either or both at the same time. The top bulb is an incandescent flasher, under a red fresnel dome.
The bulb I want to replace is the main illumination/signal bulb, inside a huge reflector and clear lens. Same thing here:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthumbs4.ebaystatic.com%2Fd%2Fl225%2Fm%2Fm0lVfUGFfsHve52I5ypwQ6A.jpg&hash=60edecab9c6be79065d57ba87e82316b42ab84dc)
Perhaps I disassemble the LED conversion bulb and try to wire it in reverse if there's room?
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Perhaps I disassemble the LED conversion bulb and try to wire it in reverse if there's room?
I can't help but think that it might be easier to switch the polarity of the lantern itself. Are there two wires where the 6V lantern battery makes it's contacts? Is it designed for the wires to be clipped/screwed on?
LED assemblies tend towards the tiny.
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Try superbrightleds.com. They have a couple of automotive-style 6v LED assemblies.
Brad
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i bought a 500 lumin cree at walmart tonight for 20 bucks
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-20047-Ozark-Trail-500-Lumens-CREE-High-Powered-LED-Aluminum-Flashlight/27859983
I have one of those for the truck. Bought it because it was in the price range I wanted at the time but with a CREE-style emitter (I'm sure it's a knock-off). It is bright but unfortunately it shows it was cheap by having a yellow patch right in the middle of the beam and I have to keep reminding myself that what I'm looking at isn't really stained or discolored. That's the gamble with cheap emitters, they may have a discoloration or they may be just fine.
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I have had a TerraLux (http://www.terraluxportable.com/product/tle-110s-mm/) conversion unit in my Streamlight for a year now and like it. The only issue I have had with it it is that the three step brightness control sometimes ceases to function as battery voltage drops, serving as an unreliable charge indicator. This has not caused any problems.
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http://www.costco.com/Duracell%C2%AE-Durabeam-Ultra%E2%84%A2-500-Lumen-Flashlight-4-pack.product.100084625.html
These are now my car and 'bump in the night' flashlights. I can find them on the shelf at my local Costco for $ 30 for a two pack.
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i bought a 500 lumin cree at walmart tonight for 20 bucks
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-20047-Ozark-Trail-500-Lumens-CREE-High-Powered-LED-Aluminum-Flashlight/27859983
Saw that one today. Looked nice -- except that it runs on six AA batteries, not even C-cells. What's the battery life?
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Maybe somebody here knows, but I've got an older railroad brakeman's lantern with an incandescent bulb that I'd like to switch to LED.
The problem is that the polarity is wrong for all the 2/3/4 cell Mag Light conversion LED bulbs I've tried so far.
This railroad lantern has a 6 volt lantern battery inside, two bulbs, and a switch for running either or both at the same time. The top bulb is an incandescent flasher, under a red fresnel dome.
The bulb I want to replace is the main illumination/signal bulb, inside a huge reflector and clear lens. Same thing here:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthumbs4.ebaystatic.com%2Fd%2Fl225%2Fm%2Fm0lVfUGFfsHve52I5ypwQ6A.jpg&hash=60edecab9c6be79065d57ba87e82316b42ab84dc)
Perhaps I disassemble the LED conversion bulb and try to wire it in reverse if there's room?
I picked up a $5 6v LED flashlight at WalMart - it uses a 6v battery, not a series of 1.5v. The light/reflector assembly has either 5 or 6 LED's in it (CRS* strikes again) - not sure if it could be modified to fit your use.
*Can't remember S**t
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Pfft.
Three 5W LEDs will easily fit in a 6D. Technically it's four diodes per package and three packages. Convergence is a bit of a problem with three separate beams, but at about 900 lumens, nobody cares. There's technically room for four, but I have enough trouble dissipating the heat from three. That, and there's hardly room for a fourth resistor in there. I call him Blinder III. He has two older brothers, one of whom is actually kinda dangerous.
I picked up a $5 6v LED flashlight at WalMart - it uses a 6v battery, not a series of 1.5v
Lantern batteries are just a stack of F cells.
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Lantern batteries are just a stack of F cells.
That's the one new thing learned for today.
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That's the one new thing learned for today.
I read that cheaper 6V batteries use D cells, with the rest being filler space. Same deal with larger rechargable batteries - C and D cell rechargables might not be using all the space available and only have a 'sub-c' cell inside, or even just a AA.
Remember the gun related definition of 'battery'? Same deal, the single electrical device known as a 'battery' can consist of one or more cells hooked up in series, so you add the voltages together.
Zinc(heavy duty), Alkaline: 1.5V per cell
Lithium: 3V
NiCd, NiMH: 1.2V
Lead-acid: 2.1 (Car battery is 6 cells)
LiIon: 3.6, but unstable, requires power management.
For example, your standard 9v uses a stack of 6 battery cells. They're so tiny that the packaging takes up more space than the internals that generate electricity, so a 9V(22.5cm^3,5wh) doesn't actually hold as much power as a similarly sized C cell(27cm^3,12wh). A rechargable 9V will use 7. A lithium one only needs 3 cells, which is part of the reason why it has so much more capacity(11wh).
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzgDffMcsUU
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The contacts in the railroad lantern are fixed in place, with the center contact in the middle, the outer contact a brass/copper ring.
So it's looking like I just get one of these and either rewire it, or put the D-Cells in backwards:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FRayovac-6V-Lantern-Battery-Adapter%2F22086120&hash=dfc782e665edf67376359ea543850cdde92d588c)
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If the polarity is backwards, does the bulb go off when you turn it on, and on when you turn it off ???
=D
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For my 2 and 3 D-Cell Mag Lights, I used the TerraLUX conversions. They've been bright and strong for several years now, and I'm sure Cree has upgraded the output power since then.
http://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-TLE-6EXB-MiniStar5-Conversion-MagLites/dp/B001I9TI4Q/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1386642136&sr=8-5&keywords=Cree+3+watt
Dang. I have a few 2D & 3D mag lights that I converted to LED quite a few years ago. They aren't anywhere this powerful. I may have to order one and see how much of a difference it makes.
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If the polarity is backwards, does the bulb go off when you turn it on, and on when you turn it off ???
=D
It works, but it sucks in light rather than emitting it.
Brad
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It works, but it sucks in light rather than emitting it.
Brad
Professor Dumbledore did that first, with the Deluminator.
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Meh....
My vote goes for Malkoff.
I have two Malkoff Maglight conversion units, one a 2-cell and one a 4-cell.
http://www.malkoffdevices.com/ (http://www.malkoffdevices.com/)
Both will light up just about anything at 300 yards.
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Meh....
My vote goes for Malkoff.
I have two Malkoff Maglight conversion units, one a 2-cell and one a 4-cell.
http://www.malkoffdevices.com/ (http://www.malkoffdevices.com/)
Both will light up just about anything at 300 yards.
The gold standard by far.
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Meh....
My vote goes for Malkoff.
I have two Malkoff Maglight conversion units, one a 2-cell and one a 4-cell.
http://www.malkoffdevices.com/ (http://www.malkoffdevices.com/)
Both will light up just about anything at 300 yards.
Nice but, at $39 for a 2D, it's a bit salty. How much is a Maglight worth?
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Most Malkoff combinations will perform like a light that costs $100 maybe more. And a Maglight body, other than being Type II anodizing, rather than HA-Type III, is still going to be one of the most bombproof indestructable hosts.
And despite all the newer tiny AA and CR123 wonder lights, the extra mAh in big D batteries will run the efficient LED's that much longer. And of course there's still the versatility as an impact weapon.
Keep in mind that people upgrade Surefires with Malkoff inserts.
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Most Malkoff combinations will perform like a light that costs $100 maybe more. And a Maglight body, other than being Type II anodizing, rather than HA-Type III, is still going to be one of the most bombproof indestructable hosts.
And despite all the newer tiny AA and CR123 wonder lights, the extra mAh in big D batteries will run the efficient LED's that much longer. And of course there's still the versatility as an impact weapon.
Keep in mind that people upgrade Surefires with Malkoff inserts.
Nice but, I'm not interested in buying over $100 flashlights myself. It looks like, with module, reflectors, adapters etc, the costs for conversion would still be out of my range.
Thanks for the information.
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http://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-TLE-6EXB-MiniStar5-Conversion-MagLites/dp/B001I9TI4Q/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1386642136&sr=8-5&keywords=Cree+3+watt
I was sort of negative on the idea of upgrading any of the piece of crap mag lites I used to have, but 140 lumens for a $20 upgrade sounds good. I actually have a couple of $100+ flashlights, but they are powerful pocket size lights, not clubs in disguise. It is illegal to carry a club in your vehicle in Texas, but it is not illegal to carry a big, heavy flashlight.
However, it has been a while since I even looked at my big D cell mag light. I don't even know if I still have it. If I do, I am afraid the batteries probably leaked and corroded the hell out of it.
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Nice but, I'm not interested in buying over $100 flashlights myself. It looks like, with module, reflectors, adapters etc, the costs for conversion would still be out of my range.
Thanks for the information.
There's still tons of super cheapy Chinese lights that will blow you away if you haven't played with one that's over 100 lumens. My one piece of advice, don't be afraid of CR123 batteries. They're vastly superior to Alkalines, and only $1 each or a little less online at places like Batteryjunction and Batterystation.
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Just installed the Malkoff drop-in module for my 2-D Maglite.
In a word: wow.
Easy conversion and great results. Since it's an older model Maglite, I had to get the adapter sleeve as well. Still worth it.
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I just popped the Terralux conversion into my 3D cell. Very nice! It's not just a Shillelagh anymore! =D
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Nice but, at $39 for a 2D, it's a bit salty. How much is a Maglight worth?
Plus $12 for a new reflector to match the new light source. Plus another adapter if your MagLite doesn't have a 'D' in the serial number.
It's cheaper to just buy a new LED MagLite.
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Plus $12 for a new reflector to match the new light source. Plus another adapter if your MagLite doesn't have a 'D' in the serial number.
It's cheaper to just buy a new LED MagLite.
That's what I was thinking.
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Plus $12 for a new reflector to match the new light source.
The existing reflector can be easily modified. Takes about a minute with a Dremel.
It's cheaper to just buy a new LED MagLite.
How does the output of an LED Maglite compare with the Malkoff conversion?
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The existing reflector can be easily modified. Takes about a minute with a Dremel.
So now I have to buy a Dremel too? :P
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How does the output of an LED Maglite compare with the Malkoff conversion?
I guess going expensive (and admittedly better) depends on your use of the light. I went to the Terralux conversion because it was a cheap way to more than double the lumens of a light I mostly use for utility stuff, like poking around the attic, under sinks, etc. Personally, for "tactical" stuff, I have come to prefer the very light, small, and powerful Surefires and Streamlights.
On the other hand, I just bought my niece a 3D Maglite for Christmas because she wanted one to keep in her car, mostly for the club-like quality Maglites are known for. After looking at the Malkoff conversion, I am now seriously considering spending the ducats to get that for her, so that she has both a club and a 300 lumen light to potentially deter trouble before it gets into club range, which, without her having training in club use, is a very last resort defensively. That's worth more than what a stock Maglite costs.
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FWIW, I picked up a pair of 2D LED Maglites at teh Lowes today for $15 each.