Slowley entering the modern era

jwh · **on:** June 13, 2012, 08:34:55 PM

I have an old camo mini mag that just keeps on and on. My wife has a 2-D cell Maglite that's been used every morning for 15 plus years. I also have an OLD 4-D cell Maglite that has seen regular use. A while back I purchased the Maglite XL100 and liked it. I still use and like it. I also purchased a Surefire 6P which is a great small light.

My old 4 cell Maglite still has the original bulb. This morning I ordered the (updated) xenon bulb which they say will improve the old light. I also ordered the accessory kit which includes wall brackets, anti roll lens cover and 3 different colored lens. For $12.00 something I hope it gives me some noticable improvements. The anti roll lens cover will at least give me a better surface to hit sombody upside the head with. LOL

jwh

jwh · **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2012, 08:37:21 PM

BTW, I did consider the LED updates but I was not convinced any of them for the large Maglites were 100% reliable.

jwh

jwh · **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2012, 10:40:42 PM

I used a very scientific way to determine the increase in brightness with the new Xenon bulb vs original bulb. My wife and I turned the light on in the mechanical room to check output, changed bulbs and repeated the process. We determined that it is brighter by X amount. Is X worth the cost of the bulb? I think it probably is. BTW, I am not a scientist and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I think the new and unmarred lens hleped as much as anything.

jwh

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2012, 02:57:55 AM

Mags are hard to beat for durability, that's for sure. Only a few others come even close, namely Surefire. I still have some old mags that work great, but my 2xAAA Preon 2 blows them all out of the water, even with Xenon bulbs in them.

That said, Mags are great hosts for various kinds of mods. You can get custom modded ones that will do 1000+ lumens, for an appropriate price (around $200 US).

I would avoid trying any Terralux "upgrades" for any Maglite... I've tried half a dozen of different ones over the past few years, and not a single one was even close to the advertised performance, either in output, or battery life. I ended up returning every single Terralux "upgrade" I've bought. IMHO they're trash.

sawman · **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2012, 05:02:10 AM

I recently bought a Mag XL200 and its a vast improvement over the 100. For around $30, it's IMO one of the very best lights money can buy. It fits perfectly for EDC in my Maxpedition 4" flashlight sheath. I gifted one to my dad for Father's Day and he loves it and uses it often. So do yourself a favor and upgrade to the XL200

jwh · **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:47:23 PM

Quote from: Heinz Doofenshmirtz on June 27, 2012, 02:57:55 AM

I would avoid trying any Terralux "upgrades" for any Maglite... I've tried half a dozen of different ones over the past few years, and not a single one was even close to the advertised performance, either in output, or battery life. I ended up returning every single Terralux "upgrade" I've bought. IMHO they're trash.

That's the one's I was looking at but wasn't quite sold on them. Thanks for the info.

jwh

jwh · **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:48:34 PM

Quote from: sawman on June 27, 2012, 05:02:10 AM

So do yourself a favor and upgrade to the XL200

I may just have to do that.

jwh

Bill.H · **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2012, 06:03:11 AM

Quote from: jwh on June 27, 2012, 10:47:23 PM

Quote from: Heinz Doofenshmirtz on June 27, 2012, 02:57:55 AM
I would avoid trying any Terralux "upgrades" for any Maglite... I've tried half a dozen of different ones over the past few years, and not a single one was even close to the advertised performance, either in output, or battery life. I ended up returning every single Terralux "upgrade" I've bought. IMHO they're trash.

That's the one's I was looking at but wasn't quite sold on them. Thanks for the info.

jwh

I had the exact opposite experience. I grabbed a TerraLUX MiniStar5 3 Watt LED Upgrade for an old 3D Mag last year, and it outperforms my ElektroLumens Blaster 2.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2012, 10:54:46 AM

Quote from: Bill.H on July 25, 2012, 06:03:11 AM

Quote from: jwh on June 27, 2012, 10:47:23 PM
Quote from: Heinz Doofenshmirtz on June 27, 2012, 02:57:55 AM
I would avoid trying any Terralux "upgrades" for any Maglite... I've tried half a dozen of different ones over the past few years, and not a single one was even close to the advertised performance, either in output, or battery life. I ended up returning every single Terralux "upgrade" I've bought. IMHO they're trash.

That's the one's I was looking at but wasn't quite sold on them. Thanks for the info.

jwh
I had the exact opposite experience. I grabbed a TerraLUX MiniStar5 3 Watt LED Upgrade for an old 3D Mag last year, and it outperforms my ElektroLumens Blaster 2.

That's interesting... not a single one of the ones I've tried was anything close to what it was claimed to be. In fact, a couple of them didn't have even as much output as the stock xenon bulbs. None of them came even close to any of my better LED lights that have settings that do 100, 125, or 150 lumens. I suppose I could have just gotten a string of bum units, but six different units, all totally worthless, over a two year period of time makes me think they're not all they're cracked up to be.

NutSAK · **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2012, 03:26:08 PM

Quote from: jwh on June 13, 2012, 08:37:21 PM

BTW, I did consider the LED updates but I was not convinced any of them for the large Maglites were 100% reliable.

jwh

If you use the Maglite brand LED upgrade in your 4D, it will be very reliable--more reliable than any incandescent bulb. You can still keep a regular or xenon bulb in the tailcap as a spare if you don't trust it.