I’ve got these D-Cell Mags continually floating around the house, and I like keeping them because A) they could knock somebody out and B) they were made in America.
That being said, I want to keep them going as cheaply as possible.
I noticed that Fusion Lite site lists a “”Eco” Version of the 36 light head. It only costs $13 with free shipping. “:FUSION LED POWER MODULE
Anyone try these cheaper versions of the old and popular Fusion 36 upgrade?
I’m still wishing someone made a multi-cell 18650 baton light. Something with a build in carrier for cells and the tubing diameter of a D-Cell light.
I’m not a huge fan of PR lamp LED upgrades. Adding more LEDs, and making a showerhead conversion doesn’t make it better…. you just have more of a bad thing. I have several old mag incans… outside of the ones that are ROP incan modded I really don’t think they are worth the efforts. Thats just me though. Good Luck!!!
The mag parabolic shape is pattented, or at least it was. Whether or not Tony Maglica continues to own and renew it is the question. So there is a very good reason you can only get a light that looks like that from ONE manufacturer. Others (Brinkmann I believe was one) had cloned it only to be threatened with legal troubles… google it for the details my facts could be slightly off. Not only will MAG go after the manufacturers, but they have been known to chase down retailers selling such product.
Modded MAGs really aren’t that great. I have used some on CPF night hikes (owned by others) easily topping out over ~$500-600 (US). For pure function as a light emitting tool the dollar / lumen scale tips WAY out of balance. A big part of that too though is the $$$ engine that drives the custom CPF marketplace and their sponsors. The owners were happy… and I guess that’s all that matters.
That’s just my opinion. IMHO you’re better off modding a Convoy L2 or L6. All those “ugly” shapes and contours on many designs serve two very useful functions… 1) heatsinking surface area 2) anti-roll features. Ever have a 4D MAG roll off a table?… or have your 2D roll across the garage floor under your car as you change oil?
MAG incans are really designed to be incan. Incan lamps differ from LED in that they are less efficient when they are cold. So in designing an incan light, you want it to warm up fast and retain some degree of heat. Modding something designed to retain heat into one that tries to dissipate and conduct heat it is really not very practical… IMHO.
If you dont like the shape of the L2,
go to a CNC company and let the head, tube and tail be machined flat with a little knurling like your maglite
and you got a modern light close to the look of a D cell Maglite
for the L6 heatsinking is really needed
but doing a paintjob on the light like a Maglite is a really bad idea, because that kills the heatsinking of the light totally
Keep in mind that Flashlights like the Nitecore EC4S with 2 18650 contain the same energy as a 3D Maglite
There are modders who put real efford in modding Maglites with proper heastsinking,
but thats more expensive than a new Convoy L6, nice Nitecore EC4S, Olight R50 ect.
x2… Smoothing out an L2 to look more like a MAG would be better than modding a MAG to perform like an L2. Either way is going to compromise something though. I agree the L6 gets hot and is best left in stock form.
Another option would be to turn down a thorfire S70, although like the L6 it generates a lot of heat too.
The thing is all flood can be a pocket light with a single 18650 or smaller battery, often you need no super bright mule, a small light is a lot more easy to handle
And working somewhere close up a mule or flood headlight is way better than a big maglite rolling away or knocking over when you hit it while working
Thanks for feedback, folks. I like hearing different opinions.
I really love the energy density of the 18650, and so far I’ve maintained the same 8 cells for going on 3 years now.
I also like that they are kinda multi-purpose. I have a little portable 18650 charger that can output a charge via USB. Really handy for emergencies when the phone is dead and I don’t need a torch (or I’ve got fully charged cells as backup). My only complaint about that little charger is that it doesn’t output 2.4v.
I wish more stuff used 18650 as a drop-in cell. I know they reside in battery packs like Harbor Freight Li-Ion tools and my Craftsman C3 stuff, but it’d be great if more small tools (electric screw driver, beard trimmer, portable radio, walkie-talkies) used drop-in 18650’s as well.
That my issue, the Mag-Lite is a great light, but unfortunately built around an expensive and weak battery. I thought about just getting rechargeable D-Cells, but if the bulbs (incan or cheap LED conversion) aren’t worth it, then I might as well not.
I got in contact with the folks from Fusion Light and they did say that the “Eco” model is “Warm Shifted X=.35, y=.36” (which is actually more like neutral white) and about 1,000 lumens (uh huh right…) so I decided for $13 a piece I’ll give them a try. I don’t need focusing on these lights
I’ll probably run one at 7.4v from two protected 18650 (since I’ve got oodles of spare cells) and one at 6v with four rechargeable D-Cells.
Still trying to find cheap rechargeable D-Cells. They are priced higher than 26650 these days!
1000lm is overestimate , mine looks like in the ballpark of 500lm. it is not as bright on 2 cells, 3 and up cells drive it harder. (i have it in 2d mag, but i use 3c cells there).
yes nimh D are expencive, not only that very few make them, i had good experience with tenergy D nimh cells. imedion are a lot more expensive, i have also used 18650, 26650 in maglites as well, pvc pipes work great as spacers. but iirc f36 only rated 6 cells max, that means only 2 li ions. that would shave a lot of weight. also unless you use button cells, you may have to modify the back of the switch, the spring, the way it is now, flat tops wont touch the contact on the back of the switch.
Got two of the $13 “Eco” version of the Fusion 36 showerhead.
They work with both lights just fine, one with two protected Samsung 18650 cells at 7.4v and the other with 4xD cells.
Both of these are no-where near claimed output, but that’s ok. I just wanted some way of keeping them around while still being able to use 18650 cells or the case of the 4-D tube, I way to be able to get usable light when the batteries were low on voltage.
They output a nice white light with a slight tint of green. I’d say about 4000k.
The Fusion Eco model is considerably cheaper than a ROP mod, and as cheap as most LED bulb replacements.
All in all, a worthwhile upgrade to keep some Mags in use.
Just wanted to say thanks for the info in this thread. Google lead me here and I was convinced to grab one of the “Eco” Fusion 36 models for a 3D maglite and am pretty pleased with the outcome. Also led to futher browsing of BLF and I’m now waiting for a BLF Q8 and Armytek Elf C2 to arrive along with some 18650s.
I’ve been running the Fusion 36 showerheads in my two old Mags for about 2 years now and for their price, in order to keep an old Mag in service, they are perfectly fine.
I run my 2D Mag with a 2x18650 (protected) and my 4D Mag with 4x AA holders. AA’s are used around the house more often, and I think because of that I might actually pick up a AA torch or three to keep in the vehicles and around the house.
