Thread: Maglite torch Mods

This is some questions for the more electrical minded folk on here.

I have 2 Maglites that are OK, but wouldn't mind a bit more grunt from them and want to use rechargeable batteries instead of Ds.

Americans seem keen to Mod everything and have found a article that turns a 2D lite into a 1000 lumen Cree LED light that runs off Lithium Ion batteries.
Problem is the Maglites I have are a 3D and a 4D.

Am I correct in thinking that if I try to put more than 2 batteries in series, the Voltage will be too high compared to what the initial Mod with online 2 batteries?
If I try make something that'll run the 3 or 4 batteries in parallel, the Voltage shouldn't be too high but there will be more Amps, which is a good thing as Amps are what dictates how long the light will run for?

According to the Cree website the XML T6 chip is meant to be run at 3.1V, so a bit confused as to how folk have run their Maglite of two Li Ion cells that ar of 3.7V each.

Can anyone fill in the blanks, or tell me where I may have gone wrong.
Cheers

Have a big ol' 6D to which I've been thinking of doing the same thing. It has an older LED upgrade but more grunt is always welcome. Have another LED insert to try soon too, but big Li battery tinkering sounds like the biz

Pretty much all LED lights are run with a constant current output circuit board. Depends on what that circuit board can handle as far as input voltage. Some will only accept 4.2V, some 8.4V, a few accept more.

I wouldn't bother, unless you're doing it for fun.

I stopped using my maglite at work because my little $12usd torch from dx.com does a far better job, and some prick at work swiped my maglight. Not so good for smashing windows and other objects though.

Probably cheaper and less hassle to just jump on aliexpress or dx and buy a Maxtoch M24 or SN6X-2. The last one I bought arrived in 8 days and cost me less than $100 landed. They are very good.

Originally Posted by Savage1

I wouldn't bother, unless you're doing it for fun.

I stopped using my maglite at work because my little $12usd torch from dx.com does a far better job, and some prick at work swiped my maglight. Not so good for smashing windows and other objects though.

A colleague nicked your maglite?!

It is a project more than anything. I have a small led torch for work which is heaps brighter than my led Maglite, but it is non focusable and has a huge amount of flood which is hopeless for spotlighting.

I keep the 4D next to my bed, so a 1000 lumens of blindness that doubles as a baton would be great to have.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

It is a project more than anything. I have a small led torch for work which is heaps brighter than my led Maglite, but it is non focusable and has a huge amount of flood which is hopeless for spotlighting.

I keep the 4D next to my bed, so a 1000 lumens of blindness that doubles as a baton would be great to have.

Exactly

Originally Posted by Savage1

I wouldn't bother, unless you're doing it for fun.

I stopped using my maglite at work because my little $12usd torch from dx.com does a far better job, and some prick at work swiped my maglight. Not so good for smashing windows and other objects though.

yeah the Son asked for one for work as well, can't believe how cheap they are. I use one for my work, but miss the heft of my 6 cell Mag

Originally Posted by JoshC

Probably cheaper and less hassle to just jump on aliexpress or dx and buy a Maxtoch M24 or SN6X-2. The last one I bought arrived in 8 days and cost me less than $100 landed. They are very good.

Very good? They're f@cking amazing! Especially or something that can fit in your pocket.

Originally Posted by Mauser308

The emitter chip is only one part of the equation.

The driver board dictates the input voltage and controls the output voltage to what the emitter requires.

As far as number of batteries, you can get some brass rod and a couple of rolls of insulation tape at a pinch and make up some dummy-d's to take up the place of the live cells. If you want to get flash, you can make up a plastic/acetal tube and use the common 18650 protected cells in the appropriate number to power the thing. I have a 6D Maglite there that I have the idea to convert and have at home just for the hell of it...

I could just make spacers like you suggest, but would like to make use of the space with batteries if I can. Thinking of a 4D maglite, if 4 Li Ion batteries in series were to provide to much voltage to the driver board, what effect would putting the 4 batteries in parallel or 2 pairs of two in series/parallel have compared to if you were to have the 4 in series.

In other words, what effect would the different battery layouts have on battery life and brightness?

One thing to be aware of is two 18650's side by side will need a 36mm tube but a D cell is only 32mm diameter and shorter so not that easy to fit. Honestly the best advice is bin it and get a new torch.

Yep the maxtoch are also big enough to use as a weapon. Used mine to finish off a possum one night when I had nothing else available. Did any one mention the 500m beam range from the maxtoch?

Originally Posted by possum_shooter

Yep the maxtoch are also big enough to use as a weapon. Used mine to finish off a possum one night when I had nothing else available. Did any one mention the 500m beam range from the maxtoch?

500m!? Fuck yeah I'm keen on one of them then! M24 or SN6X-2?

Originally Posted by possum_shooter

Yep the maxtoch are also big enough to use as a weapon. Used mine to finish off a possum one night when I had nothing else available. Did any one mention the 500m beam range from the maxtoch?

The only 500m bit can be fixed.