Today I got a 4D Mag for my birthday. I have never done a mag mod before but I did get some help and direction from my friend Johnny Mac on a few different approaches to modding a Mag. My question here is what should I do with this giant thing? Should I keep it or trade it in on another size. Any ideas?
Happy Birthday, brother!!! 
Personally, I'd trade for a 3D, then you can go direct drive w/ nimh or get more efficiency from a nanjg driver
but many others have much more mag modding experience than I...
But, Happy Birthday. I hope you celebrate with some tasty barbecue.
Thanks, We went to the zoo with the kids and then to the super huge burrito place that I never get to go to. The kids also got me a huge jar of kimchi from the Korean so I am very happy today.
Dang it, I was hoping I could come over for left overs. :party: Should have used this smiley the last time!
Well, there's a lot of things you can do with it. I suppose the best thing is to decide if You want that big of a light and then go from there. Like you said, you got some suggestions from JM, so you just need to decide if you want that monster, or sell or tradt it off to someone, for something else. It's personal preference.
Really I just want the easiest mod to start with. I think probably 3D like dthrckt suggested would be easiest. All I would need for that is an emitter and heat sink if I did it direct drive. I could run nimh or alkalines in that right?
About Alkaline use: I don't think that's a good idea. See oldbobk's response in this thread on his experience. Could probably do it with a boost driver (one that runs say 0.9 to 4.2v or so. Match had a recommended driver for his 1D build which worked for 1D or 3AA and put out 1.7A max I think.
-Garry
I killed an xm-l w/ DD from 3 D Energizers - instantly. The really cheap alkaline Ds I'd been using right before that worked fine.
I had modified the tailcap and switch for less resistance, so you might hear from someone that's succeeded...but it is at best risky.
Triple SST-90 with a FET to bypass the switch. It'll need a large chunk of C110 copper to draw out the heat, but, if done right will put out in excess of 5000 lumens. You know you want it!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! :party: Have fun with the Mag mod.
The 4D is now a 2D. I was thinking of using this dropin http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-xml-t6-5-mode-6700k-900-lumen-smooth-aluminum-drop-in-module-with-textured-reflector-58481 that JohnnyMac turned me on to. I would use that with two 18650s. Alternatively I could find a nice(read cheap) heatsink and probably run the new KD driver with one 18650. XML of course.
Happy birthday!
so we have the same birthday :)
Happy Birthday to you too!
Happy B-Day, Lang!
Happy birthday!!!
Happy birthday, Langcjl and ChibiM. Hundred more to come. 
Too late to send you a present.... guess I'll have to jump out of a present and dance...
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