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yeah I have a mini maglite too....but I just cant use it anymore as its soooooooo dim and yellow it appears to light up, well nothing :D perhaps you should get your father to et you some synthetic rope too I had mine brought over from the states makes it very worth while
Thought about the synthetic rope last time he went. Didn't end up getting it. He goes over a few times a year so might get it one day.
Just unspooled my winch in order to remove and clean and regrease it actually. Got the 35 page instructions from the file list on here :BigThumb:
Amazon.com seem to have a decent range of Maglite products.
Got the 2AA LED Maglite.
It is pretty good. Very bright and a total redesign.
Has four settings. 100% bright, 25% bright, flashing and SOS.
It is a little weird that you still turn the head to turn it on but turning the head does nothing for spreading the beam. Just makes the light look dull.
It is nearly 1 inch longer than the old 2AA model too.
Being a "flashaholic" and "geardo" I thought I would way in here.
There are numerous new torches available that relegate most old incandescent mag lites into the redundant category. (hey I own over a dozen mag lites)
I (as an enthusiast not a dealer) upgrade many maglites to LED for my colleagues. There are numerous options available (a separate post is possibly necessary). I recently brought in factory Mag Lite rebuild kits (all rebuild parts for AA, C & D Lights) A full rebuild with 1 watt LED including all new o-rings, glass lens (those plastic ones are horrible) for about $20 - $25 AUD.
Thrown in some of the fancy options like the nite ize tail cap switch and you can still have your old 2 x AA mini mag putting out more light than and old 6D.
This is a lot cheaper than buying new LED maglites and don't we all have a draw full of 2 x AA maglites, well most people I know do!
I have also upgraded numerous D'Cell Mag-lites with various LED upgrades (how bright to you want you D-cell, How much money do you want to spend?)
I do a lot of D cell upgrades for Police/security professionals but they all agree the primary function of a 4-5-6 D'Cell Maglite is NOT for illumination ;) that is just a secondary benefit.
No I am not soliciting any work, I am just an enthusiast about my illumination, I just wanted to point out that there is life for all those old Mag lites hanging around in drawers and cupboards never to shine again.
But for anyone serious (which is not everyone) about illumination many of the new tactical lights from Fenix, O-Light, Nite core, Jetbeam etc etc running 18650 Lithium Ion batts and you will never go back to Maglites. Even some of the single AAA torches from Fenix etc will outshine a 4D maglite!
Thommo
If you are rebuilding old 2AA Maglites with 1w LEDs then isn't that pretty expensive given that you could order a new 2AA 3w LED Maglite for not much more than that from the USA?
I was going to upgrade my existing 2AA Maglites but really it didn't seem economically worthwhile.
I've got a 3w Maglite LED coming from ebay USA for my 4D as I bought a Nite Ize LED for it a while ago and it was very disappointing. I think they are only 1w and they say they are suitable for all D and C Maglites unlike the genuine one.
The genuine one I bought was about $21 delivered about the same as the crappy Nite Ize one.
This thread on Candlepower has some great photos.
[ame="http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1431904"]MagLite 2C/2D 4D 3W LED drop-in Technical Review - CandlePowerForums[/ame]
Shows there are certainly some brighter options out there but all I really use my torch for is to look for stuff in the engine bay, find the toilet etc.
I don't know if it will help, but I have a 2D and 6D Maglite, I have just put in a 5w LED replacement globe in the 6D, it works okay. Then I bought a Fenix TK-10 and a kit of 4 rechargeable lithium ion RCR123a's and the charger.
It is an amazing little torch!
This is the supplier I bought from:
Batteries
Torch
The charger also has a 12v ciggie lead, so you can charge the batts while camping.
I am just blown away by how much light it puts out for such a small torch.
It's easily twice as bright as the 6D with the 5w LED
I guess it comes down to how much you want to spend.
I'm certain I'm going to buy another smaller Fenix torch soon!
Probably this one.
It cost me (for torch and batteries)about $125 delivered to melbourne from the States.
Fraser
This is the link I meant to post from Candlepower.
[ame=http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php't=193986]Kitchen Bounce Test (Deree Mag Fenix Jetbeam Rexlight LiteFlux & more) *Updated 4/29* - CandlePowerForums[/ame]
Thats a really good comparison
So Fraser I am not alone in the flashaholic world.
I have numerous Fenix lights with my favourite being the TK11R2, T1, P2D and the LOD (I have 4 x LOD's they are my favourite AAA). I really like the RCR123 and RC123 batts in the tactical lights but they are not all that cheap here in Aust (hence US or HK purchase) and I do NOT recommend Lithium or Lithium Ion batts to NON Enthusiasts as they can create a whole can of worms for people who do no understand the idiosyncrasy's with recharging etc etc. (can be dangerous for the non educated). I am now moving into 18500 and 18650 batts for my "serious" lighting requirements (I have a M30 O'light on the way :) )
Battery Junction is one of several US companies I purchase from.
Lighthound I have also found the best to deal with for international customers.
BE WARNED Australia Post is cracking down on importation of Lithium Batts
(someones laptop during transit).
Fraser/Utemad If you frequent the CPF forums you must also be hooked like me (it is an addiction).
Utemad good point but it is cheaper for me to rebuild a single 2AA mag for and existing owner with LED upgrade than purchase a new one ex USA. Most rebuilds I use 1 watt LED conversion because this best suits the users need (sufficient light with long run time, a 3 watt LED is not significantly more expensive but reduces run time) Unless you are purchasing significant quantity of gear from the US the cost of a single LED 2 or 3 AA maglite it is cheaper to rebuild, plus with all my rebuilds I include a TerraLux Mini Star2 LED, quality glass lens and include all new switch gear and use correct lubricants on new o-rings and electrical connections & metal threads to reduce water ingress, enhance thread wear/seal and electrical connectivity (new maglites are NOT supplied that way, hence I am always repairing due to corrosion, water ingress, lack of maintenance or leaky batts). If someone does not have a old 2AA to start with then yes it is cheaper to purchase a complete unit. Mind you I have still had a couple of new LED maglites land on my bench to be upgraded/overhauled and made "soldier proof".
Ref your purchase of the LED upgrade for your 4D mag, there are several nite ize upgrades available if you purchased the regular PR 1 watt type upgrade then you would not have seen much of an improvement in performance (but a extended run time of about 40 - 50 hrs which is what some users required) these upgrades are not ideally suited to 4+D units.
Mind you I have fitted one of those upgrades to an old Fulton Army 90 degree angle torch and it is ideal for that (50-60 hours run time of 2D's)
For D'Cell Mag-lites I use and recommend for most users the TerraLux Ministar5 for 2-6D (different models for 2-3 cell and 4-6 cell) and if someone is really serious I fit the TerraLux TLE-300. (There are other brighter custom bits available, one is only limited by $$$$ and a bit of tech savvy!)
I am thinking a separate thread about illumination (and maintenance) may be required but for those of you who think you know something about lighting be warned if you venture onto the CPF forum (how little I did know).
Thommo