Making my Maglite mini more powerful?

Yo!

Was thinking of giving my maglite mini a tune-up. How can i do this?

Ideas please

PM jayrob.

If you're discussing just the flashlight and not a laser, there are kits available to convert the AA Maglite into an LED Maglite. These can be found on eBay for only about 10 bucks or so. If it's a laser...then see above. :crackup:

Ah... Its not a laser. Its a Maglite mini. As i sayd

Then Jayrob probably cant help me. Ill check out the LED's on Ebay. Thanks!

EDIT: Wouldn't it work if i just switch the original bulb with a LED that i can buy in a local hardware shop? Its just a regular 2-pins slot

A 5mm LED from the hardware shop will not work without a different, modified reflector. Yes, it will shove into the 2 pin slot, and power on, but it will be a lot less bright than a xenon bulb.

Option 1: keep it as it is (or buy a xenon bulb pack from a department store if it doesn't already have a xenon bulb.)
Option 2: buy an led upgrade on ebay.
Option 3: buy an led maglite at a department store or ebay.

Why don't you just buy a better flashlight? They're sooo cheap from places like Deal Extreme, and they have the reflectors/LEDs/etc. in them that we'd end up suggesting you using anyway.

Now if you were retrofittig a Maglite itself, I've done that and it's quite nice.

Bionic-Badger said:

Why don't you just buy a better flashlight?

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Lmfao. Seconded. The only reason I keep my maglite mini around is to loan around the house when needed. I keep my better flashlights to myself.

This is my xenon Maglite Mini, though. I retrofitted a diffuser into it, and it's actually very usable.



Control shot:


Maglite on:

Bionic-Badger said:

Why don't you just buy a better flashlight? They're sooo cheap from places like Deal Extreme, and they have the reflectors/LEDs/etc. in them that we'd end up suggesting you using anyway.

Now if you were retrofittig a Maglite itself, I've done that and it's quite nice.

Click to expand...

Lotus_Darkrose said:

Lmfao. Seconded. The only reason I keep my maglite mini around is to loan around the house when needed. I keep my better flashlights to myself.

This is my xenon Maglite Mini, though. I retrofitted a diffuser into it, and it's actually very usable.

Click to expand...

Yeah i already got the UltraFire T60. Its great but since the maglite stock is more or less useless, why not?

Useless? I can see around in the dark perfectly fine with it. I also have a dedicated R2 thrower, and a nice XM-L thrower, along with a Stanley HID spotlight, and other flashlights. If I had the money I'd buy tons more just because.

Lotus_Darkrose said:

Useless? I can see around in the dark perfectly fine with it. I also have a dedicated R2 thrower, and a nice XM-L thrower, along with a Stanley HID spotlight, and other flashlights. If I had the money I'd buy tons more just because.

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Yeah thats true.. As i already have a good light i might turn the mag into a laser some day

I asked myself the same question a while ago. But what I ended up doing was using the Cree LED from the Aurora C6, with some pins attached to it, and fitting it in a 5mm reflector hole. It works really well even though its directly driven. Post back with pictures of what you end up as a mod! I'm sure im not the only one who wants to see!

First off, all the LED Kits I've seen I have tried. They SUCK! I have given or thrown them all away except for one in my 4D Mag (which I plan to convert).

The 1000 lumen XML-T6 lights in a 501-b or 502-b host that run on 18650's are very nice. I have three 1000lm and a "3800 lumen" tripple lamp XLM-T6. It's easily twice as bright as the 1000 but I think it's really putting out somewhere between 2000 to 2500 lumen not 3800.
Even if you do swap out the electronics, you may want to buy a whole light since it's the same price as buying a lamp and driver. Plus you'd probably want a Terralux TCS-1 Tail Cap Switch.

I just got this cheap lumen tester. I'm not sure of accuracy yet but you can at least tell from these pictures how how they compare. I think the pulsing reduces the reading on the LED's. The MiniMag incandescent is not as bright as the low setting on the 1000lm but the reading shows a lot lower.

The Mini Mag (full focus to a tight little spot)


The 1000LM No focus needed.


The MiniMag next to the 3800LM three XML-T6


This isn't a review... maybe that will come after I have some experience and confidence with the Lux Meter. I'm no luxologist...

I still want to cut down my 4D Mag and turn it into a Shorty 3x XMLT6! I think I'm going to hack up my 3800lm for that project. The host will make a nice laser

I fail to see the reason to compare a mini maglite to a 3x XML flashlight...It's like comparing C4 to a sparkler...

I am comparing the MiniMag to the 1000lm. They are similar in price and size.
The Shot of the with the 3800lm was a freebie just for fun

Pakki said:

Yeah i already got the UltraFire T60. Its great but since the maglite stock is more or less useless, why not?

Click to expand...

I've got an empty Coke can here that is more or less useless. I don't think about turning that into a flashlight just because I can. Why work with a flawed, and in your own words, useless flashlight case when you can invest your time and efforts into something more worthy?

Heh, it does make a nice point though. I keep my mini mag that I have just for fun, I don't really ever use it personally. Just shove that mini mag in a drawer, Pakki, and look at flashlight reviews on here, CPF, DX. Plenty of better flashlights to add to your collection.