LED Conversion for a Mini Mag Light

[Thor]

I just bought an LED conversion for my AA sized mini mag light. $8 at Sportsman's Warehouse. It also comes with a pushbutton switch to turn it on/off. The light is blinding (It's a trio of LEDs) and I like the pushbutton switch better that the factory switch on that maglight.

[ttousi]

Interesting. I bet the batteries are going to last longer also. I will have to try one.

[Thor]

I should experiment. I have a glut of AA batteries. I know under the normal configuration, much over half an hour, it starts to dim. I'm hoping that battery life would be extended. I did look for the regular stock replacement bulb, as I had dropped my maglight and it made the bulb burn out, so I have no means to compare right now.

[DeanC]

I smell a science fair idea.

[ttousi]

I smell a science fair idea.

Good luck to you buddy........hope you get an "A" so you can graduate.

[Ironbear]

Interesting. I bet the batteries are going to last longer also. I will have to try one.

I've been eyeing this one. A 3 watt replacement for the mini-mag.
http://batteryjunction.com/tle-5k2.html

or a 1-watt might make more sense.
http://batteryjunction.com/mikitwi1walu.html

There are other choices as well....

[Thor]

I'm thinking that mine is a 3 watt replacement. (It doesn't say)

Anyways, here it is:
http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.ph ... uct_id=108

$8 +tax at Sportsman's Warehouse.

[onebohemian]

Slight hijack following:

Anybody know of a local place that sells Mini-Maglite parts? Would like to do this LED conversion to an old mini-maglite that hasn't worked for years. Thing burned out a couple bulbs upon insertion so I stuck my fingers into it to try to fix it long ago. Removed the upper insulator receptacle that is marked "do not remove" and of course lost the side contact for the switch component assembly. Flashlight has been sitting in a box of old garage junk since that day. Can't thrown anything away, you know.

Anyway, I don't think the LED conversion will work unless this stock part is in the flashlight. The entire switch component assembly is about a $3.00 part, assuming I don't have to pay shipping. (I've tried to attach a picture of the switch assembly but don't know if she's going to upload or not as I type this.) I have to believe someone in town must stock parts for these things. Anybody seen the internals stocked anywhere?

Thanks,

Mark

[Thor]

For a mini maglite, I wouldn't even waste my time on it. $10 will buy a brand new, functioning unit. Then do the led upgrade. I did repair an LED flashlight that I got from the Goose store. It was $40, on sale. Took me about half an hour because the batteries had leaked & corroded inside. Reassembling it was a Pain in the REAR!! I had to fully disassemble it to get all of the batteries out.

[Pezhead]

I've LED conversions at Target.

[onebohemian]

Continued partial hijack:

I sent an email to Maglite last night asking where I could buy the switch assembly component locally. I admitted in the email I removed the "do not remove" top insulator and lost the side contact. Notwithstanding my stupidity, I got an email back this evening from Maglite saying they're dropping a free replacement switch and the instructions and special tool to replace it into the mail to me. Also provided advice on what may have been causing my instant bulb burnouts. Granted, it's only a $3.00 part for a $10.00 flashlight, but it's so rare these days for companies to do the right thing or have good customer service that I'm very impressed. I think maglite makes its own LED replacement for the mini-mag, and even though it costs more than the Nite-eze that is listed in the starting thread above, I'm going to seriously consider ordering the maglite LED parts just because the company stepped up in this instance.

[Thor]

I've owned maglites since 1981. The first one I bought was a five d cell for when I was a reserve cop. I gave that to my Dad and ultimately bought another one. The five D cell I have currently is at least 20 years old and I have a couple of mini maglites that are several years old, 7-10 I think. I'm considering LED replacements for the ones that have standard bulbs. I just wish that the battery companies would make their batteries "leakproof", then I'd be a happy camper!!!

[SethB]

The light is blinding (It's a trio of LEDs)

If you want to see a bright LED light, remind me before this month's downtown luncheon.

[Thor]

WalMart had the insert, minus the tail cap switch for under $5.(Same brand) They also had some LED replacement bulbs for the C&D Cell maglights for around $8.

[1911fan]

I still have mini and AAA maglights that I bought in College, I was working nights and wanted a light that did not fail, I bought them in the late 70's.

I have found that the Mag brand LED inserts work much better than the Night eyz brand but they do work better than a regular bulb, biggest change is battery life, the mag light set ups get something like 8 hours of battery life, the old krypton bulbs gave about 45 to 55 minutes of continuous battery life.

Now the Cree chip/emitters from Seoul Semi Conductors are doing even better, its amazing the steps up in light capacity that has evolved in just a few years. from the initial LEDs that offered lifetime bulbs to new brighter and more efficient and more robust chips that offer amazing out puts.. I have a LED light from streamlight that uses 4 AA's and while not as bright as a 747 landing light, its bright enough and the batteries are supposed to last upwards of 400 hours!!!! I have had the light as a back up truck light and its never needed a battery change. this is after both kids have taken it to camp for a week