Maglite 4D cell upgrade bulb?

[seez52]

Anybody know if theres an upgraded bulb that would put out more light for a 4D cell Maglite? It's got the standard Krypton bulb now. Thought there might be a Xenon or some other high output bulb I could re-lamp it with.

[Guest m&pc9]

I just bought one of these a few weeks ago. It is very bright. The only thing is you lose the ability to focus the light. But it is so big and bright it dont need focused.

It was about $60 through amazon. It was easy to install.

TerraLUX > Products > Portable > Flashlight Upgrades > MiniStar30-EX

[seez52]

wow that is bright. Although I was trying to stay away from LEDs if possible.

[Guest strelcevina]

wow that is bright. Although I was trying to stay away from LEDs if possible.

I changed all my flashlight to LED's .

To be honest my Fenix LD01 single aaa 90 lumens is all I need most of a time .

[Schadenfreude]

"I was trying to stay away from LEDs"

Why?

[56FordGuy]

If you want to continue using D batteries, you may have to go LED. I'm not aware of any drop in incandescent upgrades.

If you really want to go wild with it (new switch, different type of batteries, limited run times, etc) you can get a very, very bright flashlight. It may only run for 15-20 minutes or so though, and require high output rechargeable batteries in a special battery holder to fit that light, but you could get 600 or so lumens out of it.

[kb4ns]

If you want to continue using D batteries, you may have to go LED. I'm not aware of any drop in incandescent upgrades.

If you really want to go wild with it (new switch, different type of batteries, limited run times, etc) you can get a very, very bright flashlight. It may only run for 15-20 minutes or so though, and require high output rechargeable batteries in a special battery holder to fit that light, but you could get 600 or so lumens out of it.

[seez52]

wow, I think I'd end up with a whole new light if I did all that!

Normal LEDs don't emit much light in the infrared spectrum so they don't work well for night vision. I'm wanting something I can use an infrared filter on.

I saw some Xenon replacement bulbs, they may be the best I can do without going crazy.

[kb4ns]

You could always do something with IR LEDs.

[56FordGuy]

wow, I think I'd end up with a whole new light if I did all that!

Normal LEDs don't emit much light in the infrared spectrum so they don't work well for night vision. I'm wanting something I can use an infrared filter on.

I saw some Xenon replacement bulbs, they may be the best I can do without going crazy.

Essentially yes, you would only be using the Mag body as a host if you went the modification route. I'm not aware of any IR led upgrades that will fit your light, but I imagine you could have one made fairly easily.

If you want a light that you can run an IR filter on, I'd take a look in the classifieds. A member has a Surefire weaponlight for sale, with an IR filter. You can put a regular Surefire tailcap on the body of the light and use it as a regular flashlight. It will produce about the same amount of light as your Mag light, maybe a bit more, and do it in a much smaller light.

[seez52]

I didn't know if the Surefires would focus down and provide a distance light or not. I know they are really bright in general. Certainly would be easier to handle than this huge 4D cell.

[56FordGuy]

It would not have an adjustable focus, but it will throw pretty well without it. What type of distance are you looking to light up?

[seez52]

Hopefully out past 100 yds.

[56FordGuy]

How bright do you need it to be at that distance? Read the newspaper bright, or identify a large shape bright? Does your MagLite currently do the job?

There are incandescent lights that can illuminate that distance very well, but they're usually either large, clunky 'spotlights' or fairly expensive, short battery life lights. The Surefire M6 would work for your application, but it's not cheap and 6 batteries last 20 minutes with the high output bulb. I can think of a few different LED lights that could work, but unless you modify one with an IR LED it may not work for your application. I'm not very familiar with IR technology, but there may not be an exact same- type IR LED for every non IR led, which means a direct modification of an existing light may take some engineering.

I have to ask, what do you need the IR stuff for, anyway?

[seez52]

The maglite is close to what I need, it's just clunky and heavy. I knew the surefires were pretty hard on batts.

The IR stuff is mainly for using night vision. While you can use regular white light and it does provide good long distance viewing, it also tends to spook things at night that you're trying to view. They make a special IR focusable LED weapon light that's pretty small and will illuminate out to 200+ yds or better, but it's kinda pricey and of course can't be used for anything else.

I've got one of those cheap Harbor Freight 10 million candle power lights and it will light up the hillside that's nearly 800 yds away when using NV, but it's not practical.

[56FordGuy]

The Surefire LED lights can run a pretty long time on a set of batteries, but their incandescent lights do go through them pretty quick. Most of the incandescent lights have an hour to 90 minute runtime on batteries.

The Harbor Freight type spotlights are what I was talking about when I mentioned large, clunky spotlights. Plug them into a cigarette lighter type light.

You might try a Surefire MR1. I don't claim to know anything about it, other than what they have on their website. It's an IR specific light, and I've seen used ones for around $75.00. If the IR light carries further than incandescent light, it might be enough to do what you want to do.

Edited November 8, 2010 by 56FordGuy

[seez52]

I'll check into them, $75 is not bad if it will work, thanks.

[56FordGuy]

$75.00 is not the every day price, but I've seen them on Ebay for that every once in a while. They're such a specific item, the market is pretty small.

[peejman]

Check out this guy's lights. Maglite bodies with upgraded innards. Their output is staggering. Welcome to Black Bear Flashlights

[Spiffy]

I got a drop in LED nite eye's at Lowe's........... I don't recommend them. If you can find the Mag Light led drop in they work better. There is some high dollar drop in Cree's that everyone seems to like.