Hi everyone, I know this has probably been asked tonnes of times, but when searching and googling, a lot of the info is not very specific as to which models it applies to.
I’ve got a 2D LED, serial no starting with DL, and the 090 bulb. As far as I can tell, it’s the Luxeon 114 lumen/298 meter bulb.
What would be the best option for upgrading it? I am hoping that the 3rd gen 3D will hit Europe soon, so I don’t want to spend a ton of money or time on it.
I’ve got some 18650s lying around, and I’m guessing that it’s direct drive, so that would be an option?
I cannot find a32600 to 18650 converter for it though. Guess I can use an 26650 converter, and then thicken it.
Search around, you’ll find plenty of information on springs. The tail spring needs to be modified for 2x18650.
DD with 2x18650 will mean that you must use an LED setup which you probably consider “expensive.” Either an MT-G2 or a quad setup with XM-L2. Either option requires a heatsink to be built or purchased.
IMO you will not find a dropin upgrade which is cheap, nice, and easy.
The question is really how much money you are willing to spend. I think that the Mag LED is already an expensive light in Europe, will you double or triple that to get a better light?
Ah, thank you for the link. With all the mods needed to be done, I could just as well buy a modded one off Ebay - or wait for the 3rd gen.
Based on current Ebay.com prices, I’d pay around 80 US including shipment and customs for a 3rd gen 3D. Compared to my current 114 lumen 2D, It does of course throw 100m longer, but with approx the same intensity, so I am expecting a lot more flood from its 625 lumens. Is this a wrong assumption?
Meh. I can’t tell you much about the 3rd gen - I don’t really follow stock Maglite stuff very much. IIRC the 3rd gen is still using the big plastic pillar and everything… so maybe I recall that it has a very rapid rampdown to deal with thermals? I haven’t used one.
An LED sitting on a plastic bar cannot produce 625 lumens for any length of time IMO. Like I said, no stock Maglite is going to compare at all with a modded one. Paying $80 for a 3rd gen is not going to get you something impressive compared to a modded mag.
For about $85 you can mod yours and have it produce 4,000+ lumens from 2x26650. This includes heat sink, ar lens, 4x XM-L, driver, optics. This requires soldering skills and takes time.
I wouldn’t spend any money on LED mags, for the size they can’t even perform better than a $20 budget light. So after all it depends on how much are you willing to spend, and how far do you want to go with the mod.