Maglite bulb upgrade-----------------------

[Maddog 521]

I have a NIP MAGLITE 3-D cell flashlight. It's brand new in the package and I've had it since 2005. I want to upgrade it with a LED bulb. MAGLITE says there is no LED bulb available for it. I've found after market LED bulbs on the WWW for it and I'm wondering if they are worth buying.
Has anyone here upgraded a flashlight with one of those bulbs? If you have, is it worth it? The bulbs list for $6.99 to $39.00 and I don't know which one fits my light. Let me know. Thanks

 

[hoc9sw]

As I remember from once doing that exercise, it was a lot more than the bulb, and was less than a good solution. I gave up and bought a new one. I have a couple of the old shells on a shelf somewhere.

I think a new one at Home Depot would be cheaper than the trouble.

 

[FifthWheel]

I took my bulb to Home Depot and matched bulbs base shape and voltage and it was drop in. Batteries last a LONG time now. My daughter was looking for the cat in the garage one day and left it on, I didn't discover it till the next day and it was still bright as new batteries.
Did two Maglights, 3 cell.

 

[jeffsmith]

I have 2 old Mini-Malights and looked into the LED Upgrade

I didn't bother as the solution appeared "Sub-Optimal"

YMMV

 

[hoc9sw]

I took my bulb to Home Depot and matched bulbs shape and voltage and it was drop in. Batteries last a LONG time now. My daughter was looking for the cat in the garage one day and left it on, I didn't discover it till the next day and it was still bright as new batteries.

So this was an LED bulb in the old style socket? Interesting. I'd try that. When I attempted it, it involved changing out a component in the tube of the light that cost as much as a new one.

EDIT:

With Dr. Google, I found some supposedly reputable bulb replacements, but all I found were about as much as I paid for the original lights, so back to the "just get a new one" suggestion.

 

[memtb]

It’s ironic that this topic has come up. I was, just days ago, questioning this very thing. I have an old, 5- D cell Maglite ( left over from LEO day’s), that I would love to convert to led. A timely topic! memtb

 

[wundudnee]

I have a three cell Maglite that I just bought the LED replacement bulb for. Excellent light and haven't changed batteries in over a year. I got the bulb from a Batteries Plus store here and it was about $5.00.


Store Locator - Batteries Plus Bulbs

 

[kwselke]

A new 3 D cell LED MagLite goes for $39 at Walmart.com, so a $40 retrofit does not make sense. I've had a 2 D and a 3 D LED MagLite for over 10 years, and would recommend the 2 D over the 3 D LED. There is little difference in the brightness, the extra D cell gets you a bigger club and longer burn time. The newer plastic model D cell MagLites cost a few bucks more than the classic aluminum LED models and higher intensity lights.

https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=maglite led flashlight&cat_id=0&typeahead=maglite

 

[Ματθιας]

I have a few Maglites. I upgraded the bulbs from Home Depot and haven't had a problem. They drop right in.

They work in the old GI angle head flashlights, too!

The LEDs give of a bluish light.

 

[M29since14]

...There is little difference in the brightness, the extra D cell gets you a bigger club and longer burn time.

“A bigger club” is about all a three D-cell Maglite has ever been good for.

Probably why they sold a ton of them.

 

[dswancutt]

I am pretty sure this is what I used to convert mine.

https://www.maglite.com/shop/parts-and-accessories/replacement-lamp-898.html

Replacement Lamp for Maglite 2-Cell C & D Flashlight

Replacement Lamp for Maglite 4-Cell C & D Flashlight

Replacement Lamp for Maglite 5-Cell C & D Flashlight

 

[Tex1001]

I have an old, 5- D cell Maglite ( left over from LEO day’s), that I would love to convert to led.memtb

I have 2 of the 4D Maglites from my LEO days. About 11 years ago I tried an aftermarket LED conversion.
I wasn't impressed.
Then I converted them to LED with the Maglight brand LEDs that were then carried by Home Depot.
Mucho impressed.
Apparently Maglite no longer makes LED upgrades, I would check EBay. I know they used to make factory upgrades for the 4Dcell.

 

[-db-]

The Malkoff Device is probably the best upgrade for older 3-6 D cell Maglites but it doesn't turn it into a modern light. The original head/reflector/lens design limits the light quality on an old Maglite no matter which LED you drop in it.

3-6D Cell Maglite Drop-In LED Upgrade Conversion (No Reflector) - Malkoff Devices

 

[Maddog 521]

Thanks for your replies.
I think I'll look a some new models.

 

[Rastoff]

Yeah, this upgrade is a marginal idea. Considering a new and smaller light, that's far brighter and has a better field of illumination, can be had for $40, it's just not worth it.

I would consider upgrading the 5 cell, but only because it makes such a good defensive tool.

 

[max]

I have bought several of these and have been very impressed.

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/ABN-Maglite-Flashlight-Replacement-Conversion/dp/B01FL13BOO/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549069192&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=%22abn+maglite+bulb%22[/ame]

 

[Faulkner]

I bought the LED bulbs for my standard GI Angle Head Flashlight MX-991/U that guaranteed to be 5 times brighter . . . and it was.

 

[armadillo]

I got LED upgrades for some of my Maglites and Streamlights from battery junction on-line. The battery life is great, but the beam does not adjust like the original.

 

[BC38]

Ace hardware sells Dorcy brand LED bulbs for 2-3 cell flashlights and also for 4-6 cell flashlights. They are $5 or $6 each and they work great in Maglights. I upgraded 3 of mine that were 2, 3, and 4 cell. The beam isn't quite as bright as the original incandescent bulb, but they are plenty bright enough to blind you, they are still focus adjustable, and the batteries last 4 or 5 times longer than they ever did with the original bulbs. That works for me - beats spending $40 or $50 for a new Maglight or one of their upgrade kits. Especially since I got my Maglights for $3-$5 each at garage sales!

 

[OMCHamlin]

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Terralux-TLE-310M-EX-MiniStar31M-EX-Conversion-MagLite/dp/B007843698/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1549104641&sr=8-22&keywords=Maglite+Led+Replacement+Bulb[/ame]

This one, which has three LEDs, is the only one I have found that is worth fooling with, but it's for 3-6 cell Maglites only.
I put Terralux LEDs in our 3 C cell Maglites, because they DO work, and are handy to have stashed here and there for emergencies. LED flashlights are too cheap and plentiful for me to do that again.
I HAVE noticed a plethora of kits and plans to use Maglite bodies as suppressors, but that is a stray cat to this conversation, and one I would not follow...