Mini-Maglite with Terralux LED?

Tactical Gear Tactical Lights, Lasers & Knives
1

Don’t flame me, I’m just asking…

I’ve got 2-3 old “Mini-Maglites,” the ones which take 2 AA alkaline batteries each.

We don’t use them much. They just rattle around in the glove boxes of the cars until we take them camping (my wife and daughter find them handier than the 6D Maglites).

My question is whether it’s worth it to upgrade the bulbs with LEDs. Terralux makes a bunch of options (much more light, same runtime; or more light, more runtime; or same light, much more runtime).

Any of these options cost $10-$20 out the door. That’s cheap compared to a new G2 or even a Polytac, but it’s a lot to invest in upgrading a $10 flashlight.

I like the idea because it’s relatively cheap, I like our Mini-Maglites, and I like the idea of using AA batteries.

Thoughts?

Bimmer

2

The ones I’ve tried in the past, was simply a waste of $$$. They’ll either work or not upon receiving it. I had to have a couple replaced. :mad:

With regards to LED drop-in replacement for Maglites in the C or D cell size, one would be better off using Malkoff Devices. Now those I have no regrets with! :smiley:

Hope you find what you’re looking for and Enjoy!

3

I have a mini Maglite that has been around my shop for almost 15 years. I was looking at it the other day saw that the lens is all discolored and thought about replacing the lens and was wondering about upgrading it to an LED also.

I came across this.

4

I’ve got a terralux conversion. I think it’s the TLE-5, but I’m not sure. Maybe later today I can run out to my truck and check. Anyway, I guess the terralux conversion is ok. It is decently bright, but in order for the conversion to fit, the reflector is far to shallow. This means that it doesn’t shine nearly as far as I wish it would. That and if I remember right, the bezel is now just barely threaded on, so you can’t turn i too much before it’s screwed off all the way. Really I bought it hoping it would be really great and I was a bit let down. I would say that if you have some maglites laying around, they might be worth the cost(which is what these days?).

5

The Terralux drop ins are are cheap enough that I think it’s worth converting old mini-mags just sitting around, especially in a minimal use backup role. There is nothing inherently wrong with the form factor or even construction of mini-mags. LED drop in’s have revitalized my old Maglite and Surefire collections into very usable lights.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/niteite-flash.html

6

Are you guys recommending the Nite-Ize instead of the Terralux?

From what I’ve heard, they’re not as bright (though they do cost less).

SoDak, more important that the model might be how old yours is. My sense is that flashlights are changing and evolving about as quickly as any consumer electronics. Anything more than six months or a year old is “obsolete” and there’s now a new version, even if it’s sold under as same brand and model.

The Terralux I’m looking at is the “Ministar2 Extreme” (TLE 5EX). It claims 140 lumens, FWIW.

They retail for around $20…

Bimmer

7

Here’s an update…

I’ve bought two Terralux tail-cap switches, two Maglite glass lenses, and a Terralux TLE-5EX LED conversion.

The tailcap lenses are fine, but there’s no “momentary” or “flash” function. They just click-on, click-off. Nonetheless, they’re handy, because now I can turn the light on and off with one hand… I got these from Amazon for <$5 shipped. They’re worth it.

The glass lenses are MUCH better than the crappy plastic lenses, especially if your Mini-Mag isn’t brand new. They were $1.20 from zBattery.com (an official Maglite dealer, and one of the few places that stocks all these odds and ends). It’s well worth it.

The TLE-5EX conversion is simply amazing. It may not be 140 lumens, but it SEEMS like it’s 5-10x brighter than the incan Mini-Mag. I haven’t torture tested it, but it seems well put together. I got mine for $20 from zBattery.
I’m ordering another for my other Mini-Maglite.

A couple other things… I got Maglite glass lenses from zBattery for my 6D Maglites, too. They’re nice, but I managed to bust one while installing it. As I screwed the bezel down, there was a pop and then a crack all the way across it. I probably should have put the lens inside the bezel first instead of trying to screw the bezel down on the lens sitting on the reflector. Crap. I guess I’ll be trying out zBattery’s customer service.
I assume this was user error, so I’m going to order another one.

I also got Xenon bulbs for my 6Ds. They’re supposed to be much brighter, but they just seem whiter (I’ve got two 6Ds, and I compared one new Xenon and one old Krypton). The bulbs were only $3.10, but they’re not even worth that, IMHO. I’m tempted to send them back…

Back to the Mini-Mag question… I like the idea of upgrading the ones I already have, but starting from scratch, it would make much more sense to put $35 or $40 into a purpose built AA tactical light, like a Romisen or Olight or Fenix…

Bimmer

8

I’ve had Maglites hanging around the house since the '80’s. A couple of years ago I sat down and ordered LED upgrade kits for all of them. A great way to recycle old lights. They are now stashed throughout the house and the car’s gloveboxes as “you never know when…” lights.

9

I need to replace the lens on mine. I used it when I worked as a mechanic and was exposed to chemicals/solvents which really discolored the plastic. The glass is going to the be the way to go for me.

The thing I am interested in is how durable the new bulbs are.

10

I assume you mean the LED modules, which aren’t really “bulbs” at all. I’ve read a few reports of these suddenly dying, but those seem to have been older models… Ideally the LEDs should last far longer than the incandescent bulbs.

Bimmer

11

Interesting thread. I was look into this just last week. As to this being an improvment…are the Mini-Mags like 14 lumins in incan form? With fresh batteries?

12

OK, another update. I just noticed that the new glass lens in one of my Mini-Mags is busted. I have no idea how this happened…

I’m starting to think that the glass lenses aren’t such a great idea, after all. They may transmit more light, but I’ve now broken two of the four that I installed, without any use (much less abuse) at all.

Back to plastic lenses,

Bimmer

13

When I did use those “windows” from LensLight, they tend to break quite “easily” if you will. Maybe due to over tightening or possibly a drop, even if mildly. Sorry to hear about the breaks.

14

So I take it Maglite glass isn’t as good as what is coming in the new lights out today.

15

I honestly don’t know. Maybe it’s just how it’s mounted. The MagLite heads just clamp the glass between two aluminum rings. It seems like there should be some kind of rubber O-ring on each side, but there’s not.

I guess it’s possible that I overtightened these, but I only hand tightened them (and it’s hard to get much a grip on the non-knurled face), and I’m kind of a girly-man.

In any case, I guess it’s back to plastic lenses. At least they’re cheap (<$1.00).

I’ll report on zBattery’s CS when I get that far…

Bimmer

16

I haven’t taken one apart in years but can you install a couple of orings in there so it “floats” one them?

17

I actually tried this after I broke the first one, but my metric o-ring kit didn’t include one that fit inside the 6D’s head.

MagLite sells all the o-rings separately, and I’ll ask zBattery if there’s one that should go between the face ring and the glass lense. Or maybe I’ll just get the “standard” o-ring kit from Horror Freight and see if one fits…

Bimmer

18

I found this parts diagram online -

#14 is listed as an o-ring
#13 is the lens
#12 is the reflector
#11 is another o-ring

19

Thanks, Kev.

There is a groove in the back of the collar (in front of where the lens sits), as if an o-ring (#14) would/should fit there, but there wasn’t one there in either of my Mini-Mags.

There IS an o-ring behind the reflector, but it sits behind the threads on the head. It doesn’t cushion the reflector or lens, it seals the face/head together.

zBattery lists an “O-ring for face cap.” It’s 50¢. I bet that this is what I need…

Bimmer

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