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Mini maglite LED conversion without kit

Nhoj · 10 · 4578
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us Offline Nhoj

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Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
on: August 27, 2013, 11:34:31 PM
I have a few maglites lying around. Most are newer LED versions. I still had an older xenon lamp one though and when the bulb broke (again) I decided to convert it to LED. I know there are a number of online kits available to do this, but I don't want to pay for one of those. So I decided to convert it to LED myself. So I took the LED from this broken coleman lantern.

And I hot glued it to the maglite after putting the wires in correctly.

Aaaand...


It works! And unlike the online kits in which you put in a new parabolic mirror and replace the end cap with a cheap push button switch, I didn't have to make any modifications to the flashlight.

So if you have an LED of adequate lumens for your needs, this is a very simple mod to do. And unlike the online kits the flashlight retains the simple twist on/ off function that people love or hate.

scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #1 on: August 28, 2013, 12:17:14 AM
Nice one mate.  I do love a bit of creative recycling. :tu:
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gb Offline Essexman

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #2 on: August 28, 2013, 12:30:37 AM
Nice hack. What driver did you use ?

us Offline Nhoj

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #3 on: August 28, 2013, 12:35:07 AM

Quote from: Essexman on August 28, 2013, 12:30:37 AM
Nice hack. What driver did you use ?
Driver for what? The only driver I used was a #1 philips to take apart the lantern.

us Offline MadPlumbarian

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #4 on: August 28, 2013, 12:36:36 AM
Kool, :tu: nice job, JR
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us Offline Aloha

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #5 on: August 28, 2013, 03:45:19 AM
very cool mod  :tu:
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us Offline Nhoj

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #6 on: August 28, 2013, 03:50:24 AM
I just checked and that lantern is rated at 105 lumens. This is more than the standard mini maglite LED which has 77 lumens.

gb Offline Essexman

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #7 on: August 28, 2013, 03:34:14 PM
Quote from: Nhoj on August 28, 2013, 12:35:07 AM

Quote from: Essexman on August 28, 2013, 12:30:37 AM
Nice hack. What driver did you use ?
Driver for what? The only driver I used was a #1 philips to take apart the lantern.

Most LED torches have an electronic driver between the batteries and the LED. The electronics control the current and voltage to the LED. This is done so that as the batteries run down you still get the same light output.

With no driver you are running what is termed "direct drive". So as the batteries run down the light output will also dim. Normally with direct drive the light will be very bright with new batteries and then dim down.

There's another very popular mini Maglite mod here on BLF - http://budgetlightforum.com/node/1642


us Offline tattoosteve99

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #8 on: September 02, 2013, 04:34:15 PM

Quote from: Essexman on August 28, 2013, 03:34:14 PM
Quote from: Nhoj on August 28, 2013, 12:35:07 AM

Quote from: Essexman on August 28, 2013, 12:30:37 AM
Nice hack. What driver did you use ?
Driver for what? The only driver I used was a #1 philips to take apart the lantern.

Most LED torches have an electronic driver between the batteries and the LED. The electronics control the current and voltage to the LED. This is done so that as the batteries run down you still get the same light output.

With no driver you are running what is termed "direct drive". So as the batteries run down the light output will also dim. Normally with direct drive the light will be very bright with new batteries and then dim down.

There's another very popular mini Maglite mod here on BLF - http://budgetlightforum.com/node/1642

I have done that mod and its not as easy as it looks :(. However it would be easier if you had a friend in a machine shop.
If I remember correctly, wait, what was I saying?
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us Offline tattoosteve99

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Re: Mini maglite LED conversion without kit
Reply #9 on: September 02, 2013, 04:35:03 PM
@Nhoj. That is a very cool way to get more bang from a old light :cheers:
If I remember correctly, wait, what was I saying?
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