My $2.24 triple emitter Mag Mod

WOW. That’s quite some budget mod we have here! Cool!

WOW. That’s quite some budget mod we have here! Cool!

I noticed these when searching for the 3W x 3 LED 12v bulb.

Could this be plopped into a maglite as well? Same dimensions as the other bulb. I can’t seem to find an example of what it would look like, but I’m assuming it’s just pure flood. They seem to go for the same $1.50 - 2.00 price as the 3W x 3. I figured it might be worth a shot at that price unless someone knows it wont work without a ridiculous amount of modification.

The real issue though is can you either run the bulb with 12v as is or splitting the LEDs to run on less as I did. The fact that there is a total of 18 LEDs is encouraging as 18 is a multiple of 3. If you can pick one up for $2 go for it. If it doesn’t work out, what have you lost? Remember you don’t have to mod the Mag in a non-reversible way. In other words, you can restore your Mag to it’s original condition.
Yes it would be pure flood. I use mine around the house, great for looking for stuff.

If you modify the traces in the 18LED light with cutter and drill the PCB might look ugly and this has no lens which hides it…

If you want a flooder and it doesn’t work with this light you could also remove the PCB and use a normal cree leD without optics maybe a driver, this will also make flood. But it will make the mod some hundred percent more expensive… :bigsmile:

The 3led modules are quite nice and make useable beam and colour.

New style available. Metal plate is gone.
Looks quite a bit nicer imho. More finished and clean.
US $2.31 MR16 12v warm white led bulb SCA-1156

Pictures show the combined triple TIR snaps into the heatsink with 3 tabs. Should come apart without an issue.

Appears to be the same size and all. Seller: “48 x 48 x 50mm”. Each TIR looks larger tho. There isn’t dead space around each TIR like in the metal plate bulbs.

Listing title says 3W, but detail says 3 x 3W LED.

I think it looks nicer too.

Nice quick mod :slight_smile: i might do a simmilar mod to a 3D mag Incan i have kicking around im not using.

If you do decide to, pick one or a few off ebay. The chinese sellers have buddies/alt account who auto bid up to about $1.40 ish, meaning if you bid last minute for around 1.50 then it’s yours. :slight_smile:

I grabbed two 9W MR16 12v 3x3W Led Bulbs about a week ago for about 1.50 each (1 cool 1 warm). If all else fails I get some uber cheap components to fry for experience. :smiley:

I just bid on a coupel of them to see if i win them. Its definitely a cool easy mod :slight_smile:

It does look better! I wonder if I can just swap my stars over to the new host. I had upgraded the 2 lights that I have done to 3x3W by ordering 3W emitters from FT. The second light I did was a 2C Mag and I run it off a single 18650. That’s the light I use around the house.
EDIT:
I ordered one, let’s see how long it takes to get here

I just ordered two of those new ones to try out. Thanks for posting!

-Garry

Good find Helios! Can’t wait to see how this one turns out for Ya’ll!

I just finished this mod on my 3d mag I’ve had around the house for years. Love the outcome!
IT was pretty straight forward. Now I gotta find a brighter white than the 3000k I ended up with.
(and make it brighter! of course!)

What about batteries? What are the best combinations, suggestions? (I just put the D primaries in for now, but want rechargeable fun!)…Have alot of 18650’s on hand and ton o AA duraloops…

If we use a 9w like OL found, how does that change the battery scheme? THanks

Nice find Helios. Looks like one could make the flashlight waterproof using that one. Or, at least, more water resistant.

Got mine today! Ordered Nov 4th, delivered today Nov 18th (no tracking China Post). The two I ordered look slightly different - like the TIR's are different angles. No thermal paste under the star, but otherwise decent. TIR snaps out very easy (but not too easy). Did not test for output yet.

Few pics:

Two side by side to see their differences:

-Garry

Thanks for the update Garry. Is the one on the right in the last picture further back? It appears to have a smaller diameter

How come you got yours first? Oh yeah, PA is a little closer to China than CT. :frowning:

Ordered mine a week before Garry and mine aren’t here. :frowning:

I wish their dang shipping estimates were reasonably accurate.

Thanks for posting pictures. :beer:
Left one looks almost like an overall larger diameter. :~ Same size in reality, right?

Just checked again, they are perfectly identical in size.

He he he!!! With unregistered Post you never know what's going to happen! Actually, I placed an order for some 110v E27 base ones the same day (which came with tracking) and they also came today.

-Garry