BTU Magic Scorpion 50/250 Watt Hotwire Halogen Review (The Fire Starter)

Other Types of Lights Non-LED Lanterns, Incandescent, and HID Lights
21

I wanted to order but it doesn’t say I get the 2 battery carriers plus the extension for 6x18650’s

22

You wouldn’t, you need to order the 250w version to get the 6x18650 carrier. They sent me the 6x to use with the extension

23

Sweet light with your mod. Thank you for the great info and tips.

24

Its not modded at all. You choose the slightly more expensive option called 250watt hotwire

I just placed my order for the 250WATT variant. Time to order the 300 WATT Bulb too.

BigC

25

Yea no mod here, but I would love to get a pill for this and add an xhp70. But thanks for reading.

26

I analyzing the G6 bi-pin bulb selection on Bulb America (which arguably has the best prices).

  • The 250 WATT bulbs are a good compromise of 300 hours runtime with 6500~9000 Lumens depending on SKU/Brand/Price.
  • The 275 WATT bulbs are I think the best choice. You get the low prices of sub $5 ranges slightly more lumens at 10,000 while still offering decent bulb life at 75 Hours.
  • The 300 WATT bulbs are a no no, unless you want a 1000 hour bulb with 5000 to 6000 lumens but lets face it for starting fires and putting a big smile on our faces 10K lumens just does it better.

*250 WATT
$3.05 OSRAM SKU: EVC 64657
9000 Lumens
300 hours life

275 WATT
$3.05 Osram SKU: 54253
10,000 Lumens
75 Hours

275 WATTT
$8.50 USHIO SKU: 1000588
10,000 Lumens
75 Hours

300 WATT
$14.50 Phillips SKU: 204925
10,450 Lumens
50 Hours life

300 WATT
$15.50 USHIO SKU: 1000545
10,450 Lumens
50 Hours life

300 WATT
$19.38 SKU: 1000846
6600 Lumens
1000 Hours
*

27

This light can be modded to the 36V with a 2nd Extension and putting 3 longer post on the battery carrier. This would allow for the $6 bi-pin which @ 400WATT does 16,000 lumens.

Another cool idea for me is to get the 12V @ 100 WATT: which cost are $3~$5 and still generate 3300~3600 Lumens at about 8A. Small but very powerful or for long runtime the 24V @100 WATT cost the same with same 3600 lumens and only 4A or so.

biGC

28

Bigchelis wrote:

ImA4Wheelr wrote:

Sweet light with your mod. Thank you for the great info and tips.

Its not modded at all. You choose the slightly more expensive option called 250watt hotwire
http://www.banggood.com/Magic-Scorpion-Transformers-250W-Hotwire-Burning…

I just placed my order for the 250WATT variant. Time to order the 300 WATT Bulb too.

BigC

Thanks BigC. I misread. I'm fighting a cold and on some meds that are making me even more air headed than normal. I thought downlinx replaced the bulb with this. Now I understand it's a replacement bulb link he provided. Impressive light stock and cheap to maintain too. Very nice.

29

I just found a bulb that I really want to try. A nice IR 800 lumen bulb by osram

30

Uploaded night shot.

31

Is this better than FF4?

32

I don’t own a ff4, but it is hard to beat a nice HID.

33

FF4 is around 6000LM @ 60W.

It would be interesting to see a comparison between the two.

- edit - rdrfronty measured 7010LM in his first look at the light, & he had the 4300K bulb.

The 5500k bulb is said to measure a little higher.

34

If anyone in the states has an FF4 I would gladly sen them the magic scorpion to do a comparison

35

That is crazy, I know HID can run at lower watts as the gas us under alot les pressure, but needs a ton of volts.

36

I have a 4300K FF4 and a 64633 mag host/throw master reflector hotwire regulated at 17.6 volts and they are so different it's like apples to oranges. The hotwire is right on the edge of instaflashing the bulb and while slightly brighter to the eye, it is impractical in that it gets too hot too fast.Consumes 213 watts, outputs less than 39.5 lumens per watt and very expensive to build.

It had it's moment in the sun years ago but now it's just a shelf queen that gets used about once per season. It uses 2/3 A sized NiMH cells so the pack requires periodic attention to keep it in good condition. The mag host is tri-bored in order for the pack to fit.

The FF4 is really something unique when in turbo mode for 3 minutes. Always puts a grin on my face and it is very practical when using it in 40 watt mode and even more so in 24 watt mode. I like it a lot and use it several times per month, every month. Batteries are not difficult to find for it. I use 4 Panny PF's and have 4 Panny BD's as backup and it is easy to balance charge each set.

The hotwire is more flood than the FF4 even though it has a larger and deeper 65 mm reflector.

37

Thanks for the review.

38

I been reading over serveral threads on FF4 60 WATT HID. Hecked I almost purchased it at $208 w/BLF coupon code at bangagood. That will be my next light for sure.

I purchased this 250Watt hotwire to be able to start fires and expect 9000 WARM lumens. Mine was about $100 delivered. So, a lot less expensive than the FF4 and incredibly less expensive than those custom Maglite Hotwires or HID builds.

the FF4 I want to get for its amazing 400K lux .

There are serveral LED’s that generate 400K lux but none will do it with a useful beam or incredible OTF lumens like the FF4.

If anybody has an FF4 for sale PM me please. Also, aren’t these HID FF4 bulbs pretty expensive?

bigC

39

I just placed my order for the 275 WATT bulb

275 WATT
$3.05 Osram SKU: 54253
10,000 Lumens
75 Hours

$8 bucks for 2 of them delivered…very good deal.

Not much brighter than the 250WATT, but I hope the extra 25watts help generate heat for backyard fire starting.

bigC

40

should be good for another 500-700lm
you may need to just the halogen ballast to move it down in the pill slot.