LED Maglite conversion

[Hardware]

Just wanted to drop a quick heads up. I keep a 4D cell maglite in my truck at all times. My Surefire is brighter, but I don't just keep that light there for light. Anyhow, while picking up a box of WWB at Wally world I stopped to look at their light display and Maglite is now offering 3 watt LED coversion bulbs for the 2 and 4 cell Maglites. I picked one up for just under $20 and it burns with a bright white light, probably a bit brighter than the original bulb. A bit pricey, but factoring in the massively extended battery runtime, well worth it. The batteries will still go dead just as fast if you don't use it, but if you have to use it, they'll run much longer.

 

[mp510]

Yup, I performed one of those conversions as well on a 2D, and noticed a great improvement. I also did the NIte Ize Conversion on my 2AA. Wal-Mart is selling dedicated LED Mag's now as well in 2AA, 3AAA (Me Likey, My Wallet not so @ $25), and 2D(IIRC). Nite Ize has also come out with their own C/D coverter unit that is half the price of the OEM.

 

[Rupestris]

I also did the NIte Ize Conversion on my 2AA

I picked up one of those at Home Depot on sale for $9. I got it home, did the conversion and the switch/butt cap quit working in about a week.

I figured it was still not a bad deal so I put the original cap back on and use it like a traditional Mag light. Turn the buisness end to turn it on.

Target has the "D" cell conversion. I'll be picking one up soon for the 3-D Cell that stays next to the bed for power outages/WTH was that/Bump in the night times.

 

[swampgator]

I picked one up for just under $20 and it burns with a bright white light, probably a bit brighter than the original bulb.

I had one in a 3D mag a couple months back. Didn't like it. The bulb was much brighter than stock, but it had that 'blue' hue from the LED. For me a better idea is 4C batteries in 3D light with 5D bulb. Very white light.

 

[Green Lantern]

I got the 2AA nite-ize conversion with just the 3-LED lamp, not the push-button tailcap. I like. Been meaning to get one of the conversions for a 4D since before Maglite came out with a "factory" LED bulb...

 

[JShirley]

I use a Nite-Ize conversion w/ red led often. Bright and extended battery life. I don't use the silly tailcap.

J

 

[plexreticle]

I have a 4d and bought the maglight 3w bulb thing.

I like it. No more dead spots and much brighter.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I have the Nite Ize LED conversion on a couple of Mini Maglites. Combined with a pair of lithium AA cells and you'll get greatly increased run time plus less sensitivity to cold. The MM in my truck is setup like that.

I don't use the tailcap switch since I've read nothing but bad about them.

 

[p35]

The Nite Ize conversion for the full size Mag-Lites is pretty unimpressive- not much light output. The 2AA unit is a good deal, though.

 

[griz]

and the switch/butt cap quit working in about a week.

Mine quit after only about four clicks. I like the light, but their switch is too flimsy.

 

[p35]

For whatever reason, Wal-Mart sells the 2AA without the switch for a little under five bucks.

 

[VWTim]

As mentioned above the Night Ize unit for the C/D mags is pretty unimpressive. It's just a 10mm LED, so the output is low, BUT it will run forever on a set of batteries.

The MagLED conversions are a good thing, bringing 3 Watt LED's to the masses. My favorite utility light I keep in the car is a T-bin single Luxeon 3 watt LED modded 3D Maglite. Now you can have a similar light with just a drop in from Walmart. Although they do need better thermal management, after a few minutes on they automatically decrease their output to keep from overheating.

 

[erich w]

got one to for my mini mag

 

[Davo]

I got one a few weeks back for my minimag(2AA), under 5 bucks at walmart for the aftermarket conversion. I like it, but the beam cannot be focused. It is better than the standard bulb in the lamp mode. I dont mind the blueish hue. I am happy with the minimag, but I may want replace it with the 1xAAA led light, as my headlamp LED is getting more and more handy, and I will be taking it out for extended backpacking trips (several days to several weeks).

 

[Zero_DgZ]

I have one for my four-cell and it works like a charm.

It uses a three watt Luxeon LED that has a 180 degree throw, like the stock bulb, so the focusing mechanism still works. It creates a much brighter, and much more visibly useful ("whiter") beam that's cleaner because it isn't being made by an oddly shaped filament.

As a side note, the solid state LED's are nearly mechanically indestructible and don't run the same risk of failing if your habits happen to run towards using your Maglite as a club in a pinch. The also functionally never burn out.

 

[Hobie]

I had bought the Nite-ize conversion for both the Mini-Mag and the 4D Maglite. Neither really float my boat. Bought the 3-cell LED Mini-Mag and that is very nice. Doesn't have the focus control but nice bright light. Much etter than either conversion.

 

[BryanP]

I bought the 2D conversion from Lowes recently. It works nicely. I'll be converting my other 2D model soon. A tad pricey at $20, but it's not like I'll be buying a lot of them.

 

[Griff]

A Mini Mag AA with Nite Ize kit (bulb and tail switch) lives on my HD 870 now. Works great. Yes, I spent a gazillion dollars on an REAL light and batteries, too, (Surefire E2e) but that's for pocket carry.

I also like the LED for the D-powered clubs, as they're brighter and don't have the dark spots in the beam like the incand. bulbs did, and are less fragile, too. Def. worth the price.

 

[eab]

I picked up a Nite Ize conversion for my MiniMag light and it failed on me in the field. Had it only for three days or so and used it just a little bit. Don't trust them any more and will not get another.

 

[Davo]

eab what happened? At what point did it fail? how many hours of use did you get out of it?

 

[JShirley]

Sorry to hear that, eab. Any unusual happen to it? Anything knocks or other hard usage?

I've had mine for about 6 months now- since before I reported in to Fort Benning (May), and it works great. Still on the first set of batteries, too!

John

 

[swampgator]

It creates a much brighter, and much more visibly useful ("whiter") beam that's cleaner because it isn't being made by an oddly shaped filament.

How white did is the beam in yours? I put one in a 3D and it had a blue tint to it. My brother (who is knowledgeable in those areas) said that a "white" LED will throw a blue tint. He said a "clear" LED will throw pure white. He thinks Mag is using white LEDs.

 

[stdlrf11]

I've had the AA conversion in one for some time. It has operated flawlessly. I sell them to coworkers all the time and they haven't had any problems either. I use mine almost every night and my son gets it out of my bag and plays with it daily. If the tailcap ever goes out, I'll replace it with a multi-function switch I saw at Frys.

 

[VWTim]

How white did is the beam in yours? I put one in a 3D and it had a blue tint to it. My brother (who is knowledgeable in those areas) said that a "white" LED will throw a blue tint. He said a "clear" LED will throw pure white. He thinks Mag is using white LEDs.

Actually all the Luxeon's commonly used for flashlights are white LED's. But they vary by Bin. When the LED's are made they go thru a Bin/sort process to group similar output and color range LED's together. So unless the light you use has a full star mounted inside, or it was bought from a trustfull supplier the color bin is a guess.

They do vary from medium bluish to green, to almost yellowish. All while being different binned white LED's.
hth

 

[swampgator]

They do vary from medium bluish to green, to almost yellowish. All while being different binned white LED's.

Okay, makes sense. All the more reason for me to stick with incandescent, at least running 9 volts thru a 4 cell bulb I know I'm getting pure white light.