Wal-mart has LED for Mag lights... any good? [Archive]

steelman

08-09-2006, 10:13 PM

there seems to be two ways to go. buy the LED to replace the incondesent bulb (about $4.00 bucks) or get a "cartridge" and the LED bulb????? (about $18 bucks)
i was about to buy the LED bulb for my Mag Pen light but a fello told me the LED's were not vary bright, there is 3 small LED's in the unit for the small mag pen light.

any way has anyone tried the cartridge and LED for the 3 or 4 "D" cell batt. Mags? are they bright enough? i would love to save a few bucks on the Batt replacment. damn things are like buying gas!

steelman

85toykrawler

08-09-2006, 10:18 PM

leds arent even going to compare for briteness

BamaJeeper

08-09-2006, 10:25 PM

I did the 3 LED conversion in my mini-mag (2-AA batts) and I love it. The batteries last soooo much longer and it's plenty bright for me. I think the light quality is much better than the incandescent bulb.

steelman

08-09-2006, 10:37 PM

well, shoot! wish i would have gotten it.
so what is the cartridge thiny for? change the voltage or somethin?

spencurai

08-09-2006, 10:48 PM

The beam probably wont reach out as far or be as focused as the incandescent but the batteries will last longer. The LED is not a full spectrum light generator, it creates a small bandwidth of light as opposed to INC which creates a nearly full spectrum light source.

Coffee Boy

08-09-2006, 11:37 PM

I did both. The mini mag one is great if you are less than 3'-4' away or if you drop your flashlight alot. I do both for work and I bought 2 more kits and lights so I always have one.Batterys last forever also.

Bought the 2d led conversion on friday. Its great. I have used it all weekend and its still just as bright. But just to help I threw in new batterys and shot some pics of my shitter for you. Both taken from same distance, beam concentrated.

LED:

Coffee Boy

08-09-2006, 11:38 PM

Old bulb:

LED one seems to make the distance too. Dont know about battery life so far.

imwiththebann'd

08-09-2006, 11:44 PM

Coffee Boy

08-09-2006, 11:51 PM

i just got one of the upgrades too, I like it. Its brighter and the batts last longer. Also the Clicker replacement for the end makes it nice too. Its alot easier for one hand use with the button than the twist on
Drop it twice and that switch is history. Walmart has just the bulbs without the tailcap. $4 cheaper.

LR Max

08-10-2006, 02:41 AM

LED conversions will allow you to flood the immediate area with light. It won't be a spot beam and it will be A LOT of light. I have a LED headlamp and on 2 AA batteries it can light up everything about 6~8 feet in front of me. Beyond that it is worthless.

Also LEDs are extremely bright. People say they can see my LEDs from a very far distance (across farm fields). This is a very good safety issue.

I say do it. If you need to look beyond 10 feet...well...there are other, superior options to the stock 2-AA mag lite.

bremen242

08-10-2006, 05:47 AM

basketcasejeep

08-10-2006, 06:16 AM

For more information on these bulbs and better alternatives ;) , go to flashlightreviews.com and candlepowerforums.com.

If you want a good headlamp for the price, try a princetontec EOS- it is bright enough to see decently up to around 100' with fresh batteries(3AAA). It's a focused 1W LED. There are companies with focused 1W, 3W and 5W led 'bulbs' that are far superior to the maglites now. (might cost more than the maglite. ;) ) Also a number of companies with better replacement led's for maglite than walmart has I suspect.

Boheefus

08-10-2006, 07:07 AM

For more information on these bulbs and better alternatives ;) , go to flashlightreviews.com and candlepowerforums.com.

If you want a good headlamp for the price, try a princetontec EOS- it is bright enough to see decently up to around 100' with fresh batteries(2AAA). It's a focused 1W LED. There are companies with focused 1W, 3W and 5W led 'bulbs' that are far superior to the maglites now. (might cost more than the maglite. ;) ) Also a number of companies with better replacement led's for maglite than walmart has I suspect.
x2, I have a 1.5W single led light...takes 2 AA batteries and is birghter than all get out...it is the one I keep with me at all times along with la pistola for unfriendly nightime encounters

thewoodscrew

08-10-2006, 11:13 AM

lambda lights sells some conversion kits for the aa mag lights. i bought a smjled mag light and it is really bright, it will light up my garage.

http://home.mchsi.com/~lambda_lights/index.htm

Pooge

08-10-2006, 11:17 AM

I don't use a mini-mag, but I did get the LED bulb for my 3 cell mag.... AWESOME, battery life is great, light is much brighter and more pleasing and true in color. Also comes with a piece that alows you to focus it just like a regular bulb...

Purchased at Dick's Sporting goods for like $9.95

DWT

08-10-2006, 11:19 AM

www.superbrightleds.com is the place to get led bulbs for maglights.. I bought a bunch of them there last year for like $2 each. They arent overly intense but as said they do flood the area nicely with light.

AlSwope

08-10-2006, 11:23 AM

I have a small petzel headlamp, it has 3 LED and 3 AAA batteries. It lasts for ~140 hours and is bright enough for everything within 6-8 feet.

Randomquikfingrs

08-10-2006, 12:46 PM

I've run into some trouble with the minimag LED drop-ins. They get corroded and don't work very well. But I am using this underground, where there is allot of moisture, so nto everyoneis going to ahve that problem.

For those people that still want some distance, look for a Luxeon or equivalent LED. They're FAR more focused, and a helluvallot brighter. I've got a friend who does custom conversions on the bigger maglites, with a custom battery system, regulation circuitry and high watt Luxeons. His lights make the headlights on my truck look like lame.

Search around a little on google and you'll find allot of people doing these conversions.

But for my buck, the Princeton Tec Impact XL is one of the best lights out there. Small, 4 AA batteries, waterproof to some obscene depth, tough as nails and as bright as most regular mags.

DevinB

08-10-2006, 03:58 PM

I got a LED replacement for my 2AA maglite at Wally World, and it only worked for a few hours. And of course, the same night I figure that out, I drop my 2D cell maglight and it breaks.

Skerb

08-10-2006, 04:04 PM

leds arent even going to compare for briteness
bull shit, I have an LED light and its 1000 time brighter than any non led flashlight.

I have this light http://www.brightguy.com/detail_int.php?Sku=EMIT5WB

and it will damn near blind you

What is the wattage of the LED you are buying?

basketcasejeep

08-10-2006, 04:18 PM

bull shit, I have an LED light and its 1000 time brighter than any non led flashlight.

I have this light http://www.brightguy.com/detail_int.php?Sku=EMIT5WB

and it will damn near blind you

What is the wattage of the LED you are buying?

The guy at flashlightreviews.com lists a few sources of 123A batteries that are $1-2 each, far cheaper than walmart. ;) I've thought about upgrading from my streamlight stinger to an LED flashlight, but the cost of batteries gets old. With prices like that, its almost worth it. It's still nice to just throw the thing in the charger when its low though.

basketcasejeep

01-05-2007, 05:26 AM

I recently bought the 3W led replacement for a 3D maglite- this thing is brite. :eek: Also bought my brother a 3W 3AA light- not quite as bright, and the color has a hint of blue, but pretty dang impressive for the size. Both are well worth the money.

EStenzJ4

01-05-2007, 05:43 AM

Will the bulbs for a 3D maglight work in a 4 or 6? I have a 4 and can't find any packages that say they are for a 4.

basketcasejeep

01-05-2007, 06:59 AM

check walmart, target, home depot, or lowes. I've seen them at all of these places to fit 2, 3, and 4 cell. You could buy them online, but Walmart seems to have the lowest price on them anywhere.

Haole

01-05-2007, 07:33 AM

leds arent even going to compare for briteness

You're right. They're significantly brighter.

Boheefus

01-05-2007, 07:57 AM

Will the bulbs for a 3D maglight work in a 4 or 6? I have a 4 and can't find any packages that say they are for a 4.

I bought the 2D version and use it in my 3D, some of the conversions range the entire spectrum, while others are specific, try it, mine is a 3W and it is bright as hell

Paul Gagnon

01-05-2007, 08:03 AM

I bought an LED flashlight and don't really like it's performance so I'm not going to convert either of my Mag lights.

Vermin

01-05-2007, 08:09 AM

Picked one of these up about 4 months ago - makes that Maglight SO much better. It is definitely brighter, whiter and way better on batteries. Not sure how you guys figure they don't focus well or project for any distance, but your dead wrong. Maybe they don't in YOUR little LED light.. but in my 3D-cell Maglight, they focus and project very well. No chance I'd ever go back to the old bulb.

basketcasejeep

01-05-2007, 08:56 AM

I bought an LED flashlight and don't really like it's performance so I'm not going to convert either of my Mag lights.

:laughing: What cheap pos LED did you buy? Give the maglite brand 'bulb' a try- if you don't like it you can take it back out. I'm still on the original batteries on mine with 10-15 hours on them and its still as bright or brighter than a standard bulb.

Del taco

01-05-2007, 09:42 AM

bought the "clicker thing" for the back of my 2AA.

generally beacuse my son had claimed it as his and was going thorugh batteries by taking it to bed and falling asleep.

the "click through" of the five "
power or flasing " settings was a pain, and i have no idea why one would need 25% power , or a fast flashing setting.

BUT the 15 minute auto power off was the killer app in this case.

the button end cap NEVER fit well though, it never seemed completeley threaded on. and that was what set me off to take it to teh garage and put the pliers to it to get it a "little tighter" than finger tight.

bad idea.
fawker froze on instantly. wich pissed me off, so i grabbed a second set of pliers and i went to work slihtly tightening then backign the thing off...

fawkign thing ended up galling and blowing off threads as i backed it off. it cooked the threads on teh mag light and the pressed on retaining ring for the electronic guts fell off.

.

this was the reason for me purchasing teh 3AA mag light preloaded with a LED from Home Depot

NICE.

the kiddo adoped it so i had to buy another..

on the side:

my 6D mag light needs upgraded to LED.

TLCObsession

01-05-2007, 10:08 AM

BTW - the Nite eyze (or whatever) conversion for the 2AA Mag is great. The one for the D cells sucks and I returned it. I should have read the packaging were they say that it is a great unbreakable spare to keep in the base in case of emergency.

The 3W conversions are the within 3$ of the new Mags that come with their 3W, so I am just going to add another to the collection. I also noticed that Costco had some (maybe Dorcy) compact LED flashlights (Luxeon based, 2 with holsters, batteries etc) for $27 before Xmas Not sure if they still have them.

basketcasejeep

01-05-2007, 10:32 AM

and i have no idea why one would need 25% power , or a fast flashing setting.

I was helping my wife fix a flat tire a few years back and though my truck was visible from about 3/4 mile away, folks would still speed by real close the side of the road. I put one of my headlamps on the tailgate on fast flash mode, and it looks somewhat like a police strobe with the slight blue tint. People slowed way down and moved to the other side of the road(rural highway so there was plenty of room to do so). :laughing: That's the only time its been helpful...

My nephew(3.5 years old) tried to adopt my headlamp when were visiting for Christmas- he'd cut it on and run around saying 'flashlight head!' while shining everyone in the eyes. :laughing: He liked the maglite even more but the thing is so bright and heavy he was gonna either blind us or whack us in the shins. :laughing:

bremen242

01-05-2007, 11:12 AM

I had one (LED conversion) for a 2AA mag light. Worked well, you just couldn't focus it any more due to the type of conversion. the ones for the other mags plug in like a regular bulb.

My dad bought me a regular 2AA LED flashlight, and it bright as hell.. I never want to go back to a regular light.

Tippy

01-05-2007, 01:56 PM

Where in Wal-mart are the LED coversions located? Sporting goods or Automotive?

ChevyGal

01-05-2007, 02:22 PM

Where in Wal-mart are the LED coversions located? Sporting goods or Automotive?

In the flashlight aisle, usually near/in sporting goods. I can't find then for $4, though all I can seem to find them for is $8 at Walmart and about $10 at Target/Home Depot/Lowe's etc.

PJR

01-05-2007, 03:21 PM

I just got them for my AA and my 4D.The AA is the NightEyes brand and the 4D is maglight brand.I'm very happy with both.For the 4D one,Home Depot in my area just dropped the price to $15.They are $19 everywhere else around here.

basketcasejeep

01-05-2007, 06:28 PM

In the flashlight aisle, usually near/in sporting goods. I can't find then for $4, though all I can seem to find them for is $8 at Walmart and about $10 at Target/Home Depot/Lowe's etc.

They're usually near the auto 'service' department on a camping isle. Should be a huge shelf of flashlights. The C/D cell 3W maglite modules are 18 and change. They should have 3W AA/AAA modules and both large and small flashlights already outfitted.

Hef

01-12-2007, 04:42 PM

I put a mini-maglight with the LED conversion on my shotgun. I put a pressure switch on the foreend, and it works great in the house. It makes enough light to adequately illuminate the hallway from the bedroom to the front door, and the quality of the light is perfect.

It's not a blinding tactical light, but Im not going to be kicking in any front doors at 4AM in the foreseeable future, and I didn't have to pay $300+ to put a light on my weapon.

edit: I also carry an identical mini-maglight with my pistol (and extra mags) on a daily basis. It's very handy.

jpryorx2

01-18-2007, 01:33 AM

i bought the 3 led kit for my 2aa maglite and hated it. that light always stays in my hunting coat. once i took it out with me the first time i put the normal bulb back in. yes it is bright but when i'm walking thru the woods in the pitch black i want to see as far as i can not just what is within 4or5 feet of me.

jason

basketcasejeep

01-18-2007, 11:25 AM