LED replacement bulbs for Maglights?

[Cliffh]

I have a couple of old Maglights* that I'd like to install LED bulbs in.  Started looking at Amazon & Lowe's last night and was over-whelmed with info/choices/reviews (well, Lowe's not so much, they only have 2 offerings).  I'd like to find an approx. 1000 lumen (more is better) bulb, and not have to replace the reflector.


*One each of 2D and 3D

[dogmush]

You should replace the reflector.

LED bulb and incandescent bulbs produce light in different places and need different reflectors to really work well.

[HankB]

Nearly 2 years ago I got some TRLIFE LED bulbs from Amazon for my D-cell Maglights. I measured light output and found (in a 2 D cell maglight) that xenon bulbs were 3x brighter than the regular bulbs, and the LEDs were 4x brighter than the xenon. They worked fine for a "focused" (collimated) beam, but twist the head for a wider beam and you get a dark hole in the middle of the light pattern. The LEDs also have a slight greenish cast. I don't know about getting an honest 1000 lumens, but they were still a cheap, worthwhile upgrade, even if their performance wasn't quite up to a new "purpose designed" LED flashlight. Swapping the bulbs was simplicity itself - just keep fingerprints off.

Be very careful to get bulbs that are the proper voltage for your flashlights!

[K Frame]

I picked up LED bulbs for an old 2 cell Eveready flashlight that was my Grandfathers (probably from the 1930s) and my 3 cell Mag light.

The replacement in the 2 cell was not much of a success. Unfocused with a bigh dark hole in the center of the pattern. As general light it's OK, but not much else.

The Maglight bulb is excellent, however.

I THINK I got them from Superbright LEDs . com, but it's been a few years.

[Kingcreek]

I have considered a Gene Malkoff conversion but I’m following this for cheaper drop ins.
There used to be a guy on candlepower forum that custom built super handheld light assemblies that fit in maglight bodies but could ignite paper they were so powerful.

[Brad Johnson]

At one time TerraLux was the go to for quality MagLite LED conversions. No idea if they're still in business.

Hit CandlePowerForums but be prepared for info overload.

Brad

[BobR]

I have considered a Gene Malkoff conversion but I’m following this for cheaper drop ins.
There used to be a guy on candlepower forum that custom built super handheld light assemblies that fit in maglight bodies but could ignite paper they were so powerful.

Wasn't the guy that built the maglights, which were 995 lumen, from candlepower forum a guy who went by Black Bear? I did buy one of his conversions back in the day. For the time they were very impressive. Now days you can get 1000 lumen lights dirt cheap.

bob

[Kingcreek]

From what I remember you are correct. There was another guy also. One of them made the drop in that would ignite paper up close.
I have a Malkoff surefire drop in that’s been great for many years but I don’t think it is as bright as it once was.

[Hawkmoon]

I have two 3-D cell Maglites and one 2-C cell Maglite with LED lamps replacing the original Maglite lamps. I didn't replace the reflectors,  I just popped in the new lamps. I have been perfectly happy with them. I believe I got the LEDs from Amazon. Some of the "name" LED replacements cost more than I paid for the flashlights, and nearly as much as a new LED Maglite. That just didn't make sense to me.

[Cliffh]

I have two 3-D cell Maglites and one 2-C cell Maglite with LED lamps replacing the original Maglite lamps. I didn't replace the reflectors,  I just popped in the new lamps. I have been perfectly happy with them. I believe I got the LEDs from Amazon. Some of the "name" LED replacements cost more than I paid for the flashlights, and nearly as much as a new LED Maglite. That just didn't make sense to me.

A couple of kits I saw on Amazon with the bulb and reflector were in the $60+/- range, more than I wanted to spend on these old lights.  Replacing the bulb for $20ish wouldn't be too bad.  Might even stretch that to $30 or so.

[Hawkmoon]

I found this while trying to research where I bought my LED conversion lamps. Seeing this makes me think that maybe I didn't get mine from Amazon after all.

https://ezine.m1911.org/showthread.php?126-Maglite-LED-Upgrade

I do remember that I decided to upgrade after an unseasonable heavy snow created problems for us. That was a few years before my wife passed away, and she's been gone for ten years, so I would expect that the technology has improved in the decade-plus since I upgraded my Maglites.

[Cliffh]

Seems as if Terralux isn't making Maglite bulbs any more:  http://terralux.com/

Lowe's has something similar:  https://www.lowes.com/pd/Nite-Ize-3-Volt-LED-Flashlight-Bulb/50120065    At $20 it's not as expensive as a new flashlight. 

But I think I'll try one of these:  https://www.superbrightleds.com/3-watt-flashlight-bulb    Should work in both the 2 and 3 D cell lights.

[Cliffh]

Just placed an order for the one at Super Bright.  Expected delivery date of 12/4, so I should be able to try it out by the 5th.  I'll give an AAR ASAP after then.

[JTHunter]

Cliffh - FWIW, I have a 3-C cell Maglite and a 5-D cell Maglite with both still using incandescent bulbs.  While they may not have the lumen output of an LED, they also don't blind me with excessive light levels.  And both can still focus the beams to a narrow spotlight or flare them out to flood the area.  When they flood out, they are dim enough at distance (that I have NOT measured) they are more effective at seeing movement or "eye reflections".

And the bulbs are a LOT cheaper !

[Cliffh]

I've been getting spoiled with the newer lights I've bought.  Got a EverStart spotlight with a (claimed) 2200 lumens and a 2AA light that I don't recall the claimed lumens on, but it's brighter than either of the two Maglites.  And the yellow tinge to the old Maglite bulbs, well, it doesn't seem to show details in the dark yard as well as the whiter light from the LEDs.  If an LED bulb will extend the usable range from ~10' to anything further I'll be happy.

If this LED doesn't work well, I may look into the other options like the Krypton.  But I'm going to try to not get as deep into flashlights as some folks I've read today.   

[Hawkmoon]

Just placed an order for the one at Super Bright.  Expected delivery date of 12/4, so I should be able to try it out by the 5th.  I'll give an AAR ASAP after then.

Which one did you get? The one rated for 1-3 volts is for the 2-cell, the one rated 3.5-9 volts is for 3-, 4-, and 5-cell Maglites.

The power outage that spurred my conversion showed the difference. I had a 3-cell Maglite with their Krypton bulb. The power crew arrived around midnight. The wires were broken on a pole in my yard. When I took the foreman to the pole to show him, my light kinda sorta reached to top of the pole, but it didn't do much illuminating. Then he turned on his flashlight, and it was like daylight at the top of the pole. His was a new LED Maglite.

my 3-D cell Maglites now send very usable light all the way to the end of my driveway -- which is 100 yards.

[dogmush]

Right around 1000 lumens seems to me to be the sweet spot for that "daylight at night" light, heat, and battery life.  After that it's more about reflector design and candela out the front for your needed uses. I have some weapons lights in the 700-900 lumen range that will clearly light up targets at 200-300yds for PID.  Not really the application here though.

Even 1000 lumins in a close range flashlight I find myself using medium mode a lot just because the excess light can make you squint, or wash out words.

Alkaline batteries will be the limiting factor on those maglights, not the bulb.

[Cliffh]

I ordered the 3v bulb for use in the 2 cell light. 

I don't expect to get anywhere near what the new spotlight will put out, but if it'll reach the end of my ~100 yard driveway I'll be happy.

Would changing from alkaline to any kind of rechargeable battery make a noticeable (cost effective) difference?

[K Frame]

I just ordered 10 filament bulbs for my antique flashlight to replace the LED that I put in there.

$5 from Amazon.

[Cliffh]

Finally got the new bulb installed and what a difference!  No way to measure the output, but just eyeballing it I'd say it's 3x brighter than the old bulb and the light is white instead of yellow. 

There is a dark spot when widening the focus, but, for some reason, the same thing happened with the old bulb too, so no big deal there.  The old bulb also through threw a dark line from the center to the outside, maybe a defect in the reflector, the new LED doesn't.

All in all I'm happy.  Now to order the bulb for the 3 D cell light.

Edited to correct spelling

[MechAg94]

On another note:  I saw Bereli has Surefire G2x Tactical and Pro lights for $59 shipped.  Ad says 600 lumens. 

https://www.bereli.com/g2x-c-bk/?avad=190366_d3df50229