Basically I don't buy much from Maplin that isn't marked Half Price. However, they have a shop about a mile from here which is handy when I want it right now. When I can wait a day, these guys http://www.tait-components.com in Glasgow are brilliant and cheap. They do real next day delivery for £4 and are happy to send the goods to the customer site and the paperwork to me. I'm often in Glasgow where they are based so I pick up stock items there and use them a lot for network kit and cables/connectors etc. They have a good range of tools, general electrical stuff and networking kit. If you want wire they are a good place to go looking. I've had an account there for 15 years. Recommended for bits and bobs if you are in Scotland and probably the UK.
If you can wait longer - the Screwfix catalogue is worth a look. Just watch for shipping charges.
Corrie's just nervous. He belongs to my folks and is the grandchild neither I nor my brother have obliged them with. He's spoiled. The folks are away at a family funeral that i couldn't get enough time off work to go to, so I got the dog to look after.Fizz scares the £@$^$%& out of him. He's not used to being away from home. Fizz is wonderful - she has won prizes at Crufts. In her breeding days, a puppy from her would have cost you more than I spent on my current car. She's not mine either - she belongs to a psychologist I work with who's off on a course so I get to borrow Fizz. Not a lot bothers her - except next door's dog. They hate each other and if loose will draw blood from each other. Means i have to let her out the back to empty herself on the lead. I've never seen her water a carpet, even when I've been out for 12 hours.
To drag this back on topic. I've never really needed a light to spot her as she always comes when called. Except when fighting with the Airedale next door.
Not so sure about next day, but well worth a look. Most of their market is contractors who care about stuff getting to the job on time so it is pretty likely that you will get stuff next day. Not worth it for a single ethernet cable, but when you are buying Cat-5 in kilometres, well worth it. Last wiring job i did in a not very large office, ended up using 1.2km of ethernet cable. I used over 400m of the stuff networking my house. And it isn't a big house. Just make sure you are paying less than you would from a local supplier. There is almost certainly an equivalent near to you - ask a local electrician where they get their stuff from. Best to ask a public sector one who won't think you are trying to steal business from him/her.
If I could have got away from work, I'd be on my way towards Bristol just now, heading for Wells. But only way i could have done it would have been to drive overnight tonight and then back overnight tomorrow. Might have done that at 25, but not at 50 when I'd still have to work on Friday.
I used to be really big on mags but it seems that the smaller lights with a cree led seem to outshine a stock mag. What i would like them to do is upgrade there led stock. I do know that some of there lights are using Rebels which i have not been fortunate enough to find around here yet.
Basically, Mags are quite nice for modding. They aren't that great the way they come out of the nasty clamshell packaging they use. The Rebel based LED ones are quite nice but hardly ground-breaking. THe Chinese stuff is not as well made usually, but a whole lot brighter. And multi-D cell lights are rather large for the light they give by today's standards.
I know there are lots of stuff online. Not too crazy about paying sometimes more for shipping than the stuff you order. Also agree that the fancy stuff are expensive.
So I prefer to scout around locally for stuff that I need. My mags are not priority projects, so they can wait.
In the meantime the other LED flashlights provide all the fun!
Hi i am trying to find a budget LED drop-in for a 2D mag
well for 5-2D mags i gave my nephews these light as part of there Xmas an was hopping to upgrade them to LED for them
the KD 200 lumen ones i had in mind are sold out and the terralux 140 lumen are a little more than i can afford just now at £17 each bearing in mind i am looking to buy 5
Get two of these from Kaidomain at $16.99 - unprotected D lithium cells assuming you have something that'll charge them - it is easy enough to make up an adapter to charge them in any 18650 charger. Just be aware it will take quite a long time (up to 10hr depending on your charger) to charge them.
One of these shortened tail springs - or cut your existing one down - these cells are a bit longer than normal D cells. $3.99
A metal reflector as high powered bulbs will melt the stock plastic reflector. You can spend a fortune on these or you can get one of KD's ones for $12.99 for a smooth one (more throw, less pretty beam) $15 for an orange peel one (less throw - but still a lot and a prettier beam)
The opening in the reflector will allow fatter G4 bulbs to be used with an adapter (Sadly KD is sold out of their cheap one) though the Philips 5761 bulb which is the favourite for this needs some sort of regulator to stop it from dying on switch on. It is a lot cheaper to use a Pelican 3854 bulb set. $9.99 from Lighthound who are great to deal with and get stuff to the UK in a few days.
For your $70.95 (£43.67 at current exchange rate) you will get around 1300 lumens with the high bulb for an hour, or 2 and a bit hours of lots of light using the low bulb - you get both.
Not cheap - but hugely powerful for about the same as many shops will sell you a 2D LED.
Not something to hand out to kids though, the batteries are too expensive for them to toss when they are flat then put in alkies and discover it won't work.