MAG Light 3 watt LED

[rweis]

I was in Wal Mart and saw that MAG light has come out with 3 watt LED replacement bulbs. I got one for a 2D cell and a 4D cell. They are a little pricey ~ $18 for JUST the bulb.



BUT HOLY COW WHAT A DIFFERENCE!



The amount of light is the same as before in distance abilty, the focus is way better (you don't have that little filament post in the reflected beam) and you can focus to an exact round spot, and the color of the light is that bright white LED color vs the yellow color of the filament bulb.



It makes the MAG light as near perfect a flashlight as I think possible.



The hype on the package says the batteries will last about 2X, that remains to be seen.



MAG light has the LED flashlight (ie body as before but with the LED bulb) in stores (I saw it in Home Depot ($36 I think)). However I did not want to replace my 4 MAG flashlights (2@2D, 2@4D) and found the bulb retrofit in WalMart.



Thought TDR might want to know what I found.



BobWeis

 

[Silver600]

Wal mart also has an led retro for the 2 AA Maglights that replaces the reflector and bulb with 3 leds. It works great too and puts out a lot of light. Since I carry the mini mag at work I love the run time and the real white color of the light.

 

[rbattelle]

They don't list the specifications for candlepower from the LED flashlights. I wonder if they make more light than the Mag-num Star bulbs?



Alas, they don't make a 6-cell LED.



Ryan

 

[rweis]

Strap a 4 cell and a 2 cell together to get 6 cells? :-laf



Bob Weis

 

[nickleinonen]

i'm still trying to find a 5w led light that runs on 4 aa batteries. . battery life i am not concerned about at all. . [for work use] this would be ok, but just 3 watts short



i do have a 4d mag in my truck... maybe i will look at getting the 3w for it. .



i'm also tempted to pop 8aa batteries in series/parallel along with a 4d 3watt led into a 2d mag. . same output in a smaller package

 

[DieselPuter]

Try these guys

http://www.flash-lights.com/



The bulb for the 3 or 4 D cell is called the K2, if memory serves me it is 6 3/4 watts and 130 lumens. I have 3 in my three mag lights, they were about 25 bucks. I am not sure how much longer the batteries last and I havent had to replace any yet, and all 3 get used every night for a hour or 2. These things are crazy bright and a very nice white. On the cheaper LEDs the frequency of the light will make your eyes hurt or give you head achs after a minue of use, not with the high quality ones.



The K2 and the single LED for the mini-mag are so much better then any of the cheapo conversion kits you can find at wally world or on e-bay. Belive me I have tried them all and these guys have the good stuff.



Jon

 

[Dieselnut59]

It is about time! Although I will not be buying anything from Walmart (HATE that place!), I will be looking into getting LED retrofits for my Maglites!! I have hoped for this for a long time. The only LED flashlights I have found so far are foreign made so I have chosen to stick with my Maglites till something comes along from Mag. Looks like it finally happened1 Bout time!

LED's draw way less power so I am sure thry will last considerably longer. Bulbs last a lifetime too.

 

[zstroken]

The LED will last longer. I have seen a flashlight that was almost dead with a normal bulb, get the bulb replaced with an LED and was very bright and still lasted another few months before the batteries got replaced.

 

[rweis]

I think the bulb life is 100,000 hours. I use mine as my bicycle headlight when I ride exercising the dog 2x per day 7 days a week about 20 minutes each we go out. I think about 150,000 days is a few more days than I will need.



I really like the bright white light color and still have all the focusing capability.



About AMERICAN MADE, I needed a new reflector for one of my lights (old D serial number) as the old coating had detoriated over a couple of years. $3. 95 plus shipping. You can order any component for any Maglight and easily install it yourself. Now that really says something about the quality of the manufacturing, that the unit that is user maintainable, even if you need a new barrel section.



Bob Weis

 

[DieselPuter]

If someone would pm me on how to post a pic, I have one in the dark, comparing a regular 3 d-cell mag to the new K2 bulb... ... . its amazing... ..... both were brand new with brand new batteries, and brand new bulbs (Well the LEDF was about 2 or 3 months old)..... Thanks... ... .



Jon

 

[daveshoe]

They don't list the specifications for candlepower from the LED flashlights. I wonder if they make more light than the Mag-num Star bulbs?



Alas, they don't make a 6-cell LED.



Ryan

Well,yes they do. Along side the name brand LED Maglite brand,there was a Chinese made knock-off that was said to be self-adjusting for any 2-6 cell maglite. I cannot vouch for it,because I bought the Mag-Lite brand. Location was wal-Mart in Greenville. Price was 8 bucks. BTW,I just may take you up on your offer on the ''branding of the dowels''. Thanks!

 

[rbattelle]

BTW,I just may take you up on your offer on the ''branding of the dowels''. Thanks!

Anytime, dude. It takes me maybe 20 minutes, including heating up the iron.



Ryan

 

[slowneasy]

Back to the LED's

Those of you that have made the conversion, what is better- the original Maglite replacement L. E. D bulb only or the aftermarket that includes a new reflector assembly?

Thanks!

 

[rweis]

I needed a new reflector as well for one of my 4D and the reflector was something like $3. 95 + shipping. I also got 4 glass lenses (4 lights) so I get better light through the "lens". I know glass breaks, and I have the plastic if I need it, but just wanted to try glass lens.



Point here is ALL parts are orderable (I got mine from "FlashliteKing.com") from Mag or a supplier. Mine are so old that they are the "D" series of body, but all parts are available.



I personally would stick with Mag, but that's my . 02



Bob Weis