I found an old Mini Mag Lite in my stuff... I think the bulb needs replaced.

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KennyB

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Jan 19, 2010
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I was looking through one of my "junk" boxes and found an old Mini Mag Lite. Still works actually, but it doesn't seem as bright as it should be. I don't have BRAND new batteries for it but they should be pretty fresh and still it doesn't really even match up to my little 6-LED convenient-store flash-light's brightness.

I've never seen one of these bulbs before. Instead of being clear it has kind of a silvery coating around the outside or the inside so I can't really see inside to tell if the filament is still good. I was looking at it and it was attached through a little black plastic thing that said "Do Not Remove", so I'm wondering how I'm supposed to replace it. I know I have before because I remember it coming with a little spare bulb in the end-cap ( gone now )

So, should I just get a new bulb for it or maybe look toward one of the newer, higher-lumen LED lights? Was just thinking the other day that I'd like to add a flash light to my EDC so this would be a cool find if I could get it bright enough. Might just have to wait until dark to really appreciate its brightness too...

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Did you check the cap that screws in to secure the batteries? There's usually a spare bulb in there.

I did the Nite-Ize LED that I picked up from Lowe's on my Mini-Maglite. Nothing special. The factory LED Mini-Maglites are much better. I'd say get a new bulb and leave it be - maybe contact MagLite directly. Get a factory new LED Mag-Lite for almost the same amount of $ you would have spent on the conversion.

:thumbup:
 
I bought a module from an online auction, the module has a Cree led and plugs right in. It made the mm into a really good light. Right now I have 5 or 6 mm's with different led's in them and this one is the best.
 
bdmicarta said:
I bought a module from an online auction, the module has a Cree led and plugs right in. It made the mm into a really good light. Right now I have 5 or 6 mm's with different led's in them and this one is the best.
Click to expand...

What exactly do you mean by module? Is that like, the little black thing too? Or just a bulb?

*has no idea what he's doing*
 
That's the normal mini mag light bulb. The black ring is not connected to the bulb.
 
Sufler said:
Did you check the cap that screws in to secure the batteries? There's usually a spare bulb in there.

I did the Nite-Ize LED that I picked up from Lowe's on my Mini-Maglite. Nothing special. The factory LED Mini-Maglites are much better. I'd say get a new bulb and leave it be - maybe contact MagLite directly. Get a factory new LED Mag-Lite for almost the same amount of $ you would have spent on the conversion.

:thumbup:
Click to expand...
The Nite-Ize ones look pretty nice, and probably cheaper than getting a new flashlight. One thing I wonder though, can you still twist to adjust the focus with the Nite-Ize bulb, and do I have to use the end-cap replacement that it comes with? I don't really like the button.

I was looking online and found another one from Tetra-Lux. About the same cost as a brand new LED Mini-Maglite, though it does seem like it was brighter. If it came down to these I'd probably just get a LED Mini-Mag at a brick and mortar shop so I could save a few bucks on shipping. Though who knows if it would be for the same low price as found online...

Still the Nite-Ize would be my first pick for a conversion. Probably a lot better than what I have currently and a lot cheaper than getting a new light as well. Plus if I can find it at Lowe's that'd be a plus. I hate waiting for things to ship.

Edit:
Oh and I found some fresher batteries and it's a lot more serviceable now. So I may just leave it be all-together... I guess I just got spoiled by my LED flashlight, I miss the brightness.
 
KennyB said:
.... I was looking at it and it was attached through a little black plastic thing that said "Do Not Remove", so I'm wondering how I'm supposed to replace it. I know I have before because I remember it coming with a little spare bulb in the end-cap ( gone now )
Click to expand...

The bulb has two pins that go into that black plastic part... easily removed by pulling the bulb straight out, push back in to install.
 
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Yeah the regular Maglite bulbs seem terribly dim after using a LED Maglite. I just can't get into non-LED flashlights anymore.
 
Well, good news is that the bulb I had in it was on its last leg. Finally burned out last night... Turns out that silvery color is actually soot/carbon on the inside of the bulb. I put it up to a light to check the filament... Boy those are tiny in these bulbs, had to grab a jeweler's loupe. Still couldn't see it so I just busted the bulb (hey, it wasn't working anyway) and stuck some steel wool on the teriminals--sparked, so the rest of the light worked.

I'm hoping when I get a new bulb I'll find that it's significantly brighter than that dying bulb was. Aparrently the replacements are available at Home Depot for about $3, and if I don't like it I suppose I can just pick up a LED Mini Mag. :)

I like the Maglite's form factor... Fits in the pocket nicely. The $10 LED I got at a gas station is like an inch in diameter... Not so comfy.
 
Yep, go ahead and get an upgraded LED bulb. The one to look for is the single LED with a click back switch. These bulbs are the best and brightest so far.
 
It is an incandescent lightbulb; they do not degrade but rather fail catastrophically. So, if it lights at all, the bulb is good. The battery contacts may be somewhat oxidized. Try rubbing them with a pink pencil eraser.
 
And on the line of batteries, make sure you dont have any corrosion on the inside of the body. Battery acid will eat these aluminum bodies up quick.
 
If you're upgrading to LED (I would) I highly recommend the Teralux over the Nite-Ize. It's a much higher quality unit.
It's actually half decent, though I traded mine away (sent to a forumite with a matching knife) since I never use it.
I have much better, more useful lights all over the place now. Unlike many, I don't really have a soft spot for the M*g's,
but if you do they aren't half bad with an upgrade.
But do watch corrosion of the Alkaline batteries. I much prefer eneloops or energizer lithiums.
 
IIRC, someone on Candlepowerforums posted that the Brinkman replacement bulbs would fit the Mini-Mag lite and were brighter. I don't know that from experience though.
I have had two of the Nite-Ize LED conversions go bad on me. Both Mini-Mags that they were installed in had brand new batteries leak (badly) and some sort of gas built up in the light and bulged out the front lens. When I took off the back cap, there was a pretty good "crack" when the gas was vented. The batteries were so bulged out that I had to throw the lights out. That has only happened with the Nite-Ize conversions, never with the standard bulbs. I can't prove that the problem was due to the conversion kits, but I have given up on them.

Bruceter
 
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