In this video I'll show you how to give an old Mini Mag flashlight some new life by upgrading to L.E.D. It's pretty easy and not that expensive. Enjoy!
I also bought me such an upgrade kit for my mini mag lite on ebay. Today it was in the mailbox. There was a little note in the package that recommended to watch an video on YT for propper installation of the upgrade kit. So I landed here. Thanx for this. It's really a difference like night and day. I'm very happy with the kit. It's like you have a brand new flashlight. :)
ganimed1976 That's awesome! I didn't know they were recommending my video. Super cool! Thank you for the kind words and support! Have a beautiful day!!
Sir, thank you very much for this tutorial.....I have two maglites and I was planning to retire them .....now thanks to you they will have new life of service.....thanks a lot and great presentation....God bless
Cool vibes from this guy. Thanks for making this video. This conversion is $5 cheaper then one I wanted to buy from AMZN. I appreciate you saving me a few bucks
I just upgraded my mini today! I had to remove that little “do not remove” piece. Otherwise it wouldn’t work and I was trying EVERYTHING!!! Finally while watching this I tried it without and it works!! Thanks!!
Thanks for the time you took to share this video. Thanks for your service! My dad was a WWII Navy Vet. I did not know (probably forgot) that there was a spare lamp in the base of the MM flashlight. I think I am going to order the LED kit anyway. Liked and Subbed!
Very nice video. I might sound like a nuisance, but I have read a lot of negative Amazon reviews on these LED conversion kits for the traditional Maglite. I decided to keep my 1999 blue Maglite totally original and purchase one of the new Pro+ models and cross my fingers, but at least I will keep my 20th century Maglite (which has never failed and never got any water into it) totally original. Cheers.
Nice to know I've got a lot of those in a lot my hunting and survival back packs now I got something esle to do to keep me more busy,oh buy the way I'm now reloading my 44 and 7 mm rounds and having a lot of fun doing it, thanks to you and your expertise and suggested ideas I've learned a lot from watching you thanks,also looking forward to February 14 .
Just wanted to say thank you for the video! It was a pleasure to watch you and to get this nice tip for upgrading my dearest old Mags! You did a great and easy explanations for this cheap upgrade! Thank you! And have a great day, you too! :D
Good comparison thanks. The new on/off rear button seems pointless if you still have to turn it on via the original method first. The LED does give much brighter light than the old fashioned bulb.
Wow, glad I didn't throw mine away. I have 3 diferent sizes, going to look up the part numbers. Now I am curious if they have the conversion kits for the others. Thanks for the video, although it is 10 years old I'm hoping they still have the parts. Also, thanks for your service.
Takes me back to early 2001 when I ordered some special super bright white led diodes from Japan that were used in printed circuit boards. Had to trim the leads cause they were too long and remember which side the flattened lead went to. Had a 50/50 chance when installing them and I was wrong most of the time . They weren't any brighter than stock Mini Mag bulbs, just a neat lil hack. xD
This is cool. I just realized that the mimi maglite comes with a spare bulb but had I not realized that I would have considered this upgrade. I ended up gettin a pelican mini flashlight on sale. It is a LED light and it is cool but sometimes it is just too bright. I like my old mini mag even with the not as bright light.
Wish they had a master kit. New lens, including a red one, 'O' rings, adapter to use NiMH Battery (18650 or similar). As well as use AA batteries on the spot if desired. On tail end a recharging port would be nice as well as an included lanyard. A short one and a long one you can hang off your neck. Tail end could have a strong magnet in it. Many new LED flashlights contain nuisance settings (flashing and SOS and such). Just need a simple on and off - NO FLASHING.
I found that I had to disgard the old bulb mounting plate. Having the old plate and the new Nite Ize plate on top of it only left a half a thread when focusing to the sharpest spot. If you twist just a little past the sharpest spot, the head falls off. It works great.
Good video, I know that you are in flashlights and headlamps and stuff. I suggest that you look at the thrunite lights. Top quality lights. Just a tip from my personal experience. Have a nice day.
Great video thanks. I have 3 of these on my old sail boat here in the UK... don't want to scrap them! Don't want to use the push button ed cap as I need the lanyard hole on the original. Does the upgrade effect the original twist on off and the beam focus? You seem very happy with upgrade. some people on Amazon UK have left very negative feedback on the Nit Ize upgrade. Thanks
Two questions: 1) do you have to use the new switch style end cap? For me, that's just something else that can go wrong. 2) do you still have any beam focus capability with the conversion? You showed tat on the original model but did not cover it on the conversion or the LED specific model. Thanks!
Nice idea...the old stile one once you drop them the bulb would pop. And low battery life. After I lost my last one on a job site I bought the new mini mag LED...far more light and more battery life.
Hello... sorry for my English... I have one question: I have a Mini MagLite Led. The plastic case have one label "Warning: Cancer". Is possible??? The Californian Led Lenser is Dangerous?? I dont understand. The Led is Dangerous? I'm confused. Help me. Thank you...
do you heappen to know what's the difference between this upgrade that you bought and the one that just comes with the led, without the tail cap? Thanks!
Hey smarty pant, by shooting your laser directly into your camera sensor, how many have you damaged so far? Or you just realized that you have some unidentified dark spots on every image and you never knew why?! :) But seriously, nice topic however I like to do things from scratch and not just buying a kit. As LED bulbs are so chip now a days, only if I find the right drive and power supply. Anyways, Thanks man.
Thank you for the great video. I just got a free aa. Want to convert it to led. My lens is all scratched up. Do you know where I can get a replacement? Also, if I wanted to retain the old end cap will the nite ize bulb still work with a twist of the head. Thanks again for the cool video. Frank
Matt. Thank you. I have decided to fix up the light for my father in law. Old school looks with a great run time. The lens looked much better after polishing with tooth paste.
Why did you save the old incandescent bulb in the endcap? Can the converted LED flashlight also use the old incandescent bulb? Otherwise, why not keep the old bulb together with the other old parts in a plastic bag if you ever decide to use the old bulb again?
LED bulbs sometimes quit. Should that happen, you still have the old lamp. May be dimmer, but beats no light at all. Also, the push bu/on cap has been problematic for me, so I put the old end cap back on when switch fails.
The problem with Maglight is that they haven't kept up with technology. I have several that I converted to led but still don't and won't out perform Streamlight.
Basically anything nowadays beats maglights. Heck, I have a 1,000 lumens energizer love that that is also metal. Maglite is going purely on brand name recognition IMO. They just refuse to get with the times and technology.
Good afternoon. I am from BRAZIL AND WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A KIT FOR THE MINI MAGLITE AA TWO BATTERIES WITH INCANDESCENT LAMP FOR THE UPGRAD IN LED LAMP. CAN YOU HELP ME FIND THIS KIT IN BRAZIL?
Cool, I've been able to get some led bulbs for my old torches, but hard to find. I find it odd too that most led torches these days take 3 AAA OR 3 AA, My old led torch I bought like four years ago uses two AA batteries, I find it odd that most I see now take three, not to call conspiracy but I don't think battery companies like use buying batteries less so they force you to use three batteries and also it seems to last a lot less than my old led torch that takes two, very weird. Its worth paying the extra to get the led torch that only takes two batteries I find or upgrade old torches.
DIANNE FROMAN thank you. if I remember correctly, you can use a wooden dowel to punch the batteries out. before you can do this though you have to remove the plastic piece out of the end. I believe this is correct it's been a long time since I worked on one.
I like that upgrade kit ,once I get those old leaked batteries out of my mini mag lite that the upgrade kit for me, because the bottom of my light is going to be destroyed in the process of getting it off because of the leaked batteries.
Thanks for your information and I guess I grew attached to mine for over ten years and tried a tellux but I did something wrong and the curcuit board broke! Thanks.
Now to find all of my mag lites i have quite a bunch of them being a firefighter. I have a good one for you what if i can convert my uk 1200 dive lites to led would it last longer and be as bright as the halogen bulb thats in it its a 8 d cell and they do eat the batteries over time i used mine a lot at night for dives and being a ice rescue tech specialist doing recovery work no wonder they called polar bear and there only ice diver they had or diver for that matter i retired my self from the fire service in 03 had to because I was at 911 too much haunting demons from that might get back into it i miss it
The LED are just so much more efficient, & they are starting to make Lithium Ion batteries in flashlight size now, Eveready has a "AA" that has a posted shelf life of 20years & are about $1.85 each, but if you just turn it on until it dies they say it lasts 9 times as long so yes you could replace the bulb in your dive light, need to know what voltage hit the stock bulb to determine how to rewire it..
Eric Bourgeois dang. do you have a light bulb to test the flashlight? does it work? if so you could have a defective LED. if it doesn't work, could be a problem with your flashlight.
Just no longer worth it though, an entire new light costs less and is brighter these days. Neither niteize or maglight kept up with technology. The original maglights while classic were just a bad design. Plenty of flashlight forums now on how to get good deals on lights and batteries.
If you have some old lights at home than this can put them to good use. It is much better than throwing them out. Buying an old light and doing this mod is a waste of money. Just buy a new led version.
I also bought me such an upgrade kit for my mini mag lite on ebay. Today it was in the mailbox. There was a little note in the package that recommended to watch an video on YT for propper installation of the upgrade kit. So I landed here. Thanx for this. It's really a difference like night and day. I'm very happy with the kit. It's like you have a brand new flashlight. :)
ganimed1976 That's awesome! I didn't know they were recommending my video. Super cool! Thank you for the kind words and support! Have a beautiful day!!
Sir, thank you very much for this tutorial.....I have two maglites and I was planning to retire them .....now thanks to you they will have new life of service.....thanks a lot and great presentation....God bless
Cool vibes from this guy. Thanks for making this video. This conversion is $5 cheaper then one I wanted to buy from AMZN. I appreciate you saving me a few bucks
I just upgraded my mini today! I had to remove that little “do not remove” piece. Otherwise it wouldn’t work and I was trying EVERYTHING!!! Finally while watching this I tried it without and it works!! Thanks!!
Heidi McNulty thank you! I'm happy this helped
Thanks for the time you took to share this video. Thanks for your service! My dad was a WWII Navy Vet. I did not know (probably forgot) that there was a spare lamp in the base of the MM flashlight. I think I am going to order the LED kit anyway. Liked and Subbed!
No, thank you! I really enjoyed your presentation. You have a wonderful personality for this type of thing. Take care, my friend.
I upgraded a 2 D cell Maglite and it work nicely. Got my kit from Home Depot. The upgrades can't be beat on those older models.
I remember the 90's. For boys:
Maglights
Swiss army knives
Security jackets
Docmartens!!
Very nice video. I might sound like a nuisance, but I have read a lot of negative Amazon reviews on these LED conversion kits for the traditional Maglite. I decided to keep my 1999 blue Maglite totally original and purchase one of the new Pro+ models and cross my fingers, but at least I will keep my 20th century Maglite (which has never failed and never got any water into it) totally original. Cheers.
Nice to know I've got a lot of those in a lot my hunting and survival back packs now I got something esle to do to keep me more busy,oh buy the way I'm now reloading my 44 and 7 mm rounds and having a lot of fun doing it, thanks to you and your expertise and suggested ideas I've learned a lot from watching you thanks,also looking forward to February 14 .
Thank you! Good to hear you're reloading now. I'm finishing up a 7mm Rem mag video... I can't wait until February 14th too... Good day! :-)
Good video man I'm gonna upgrade my old trusty mini mag light like you did! Thanks for sharing this.
Just wanted to say thank you for the video!
It was a pleasure to watch you and to get this nice tip for upgrading my dearest old Mags!
You did a great and easy explanations for this cheap upgrade!
Thank you!
And have a great day, you too! :D
First time viewer of your channel.. Very well done my friend. Very clear and on point. Thanks!
I couldn't get it to work on my very old mini mags. Very good video and thanks for the instructions.
thanks for the instruction, didnt realize the polarity issue. fixed the issue right away
Good comparison thanks.
The new on/off rear button seems pointless if you still have to turn it on via the original method first.
The LED does give much brighter light than the old fashioned bulb.
Wow, glad I didn't throw mine away. I have 3 diferent sizes, going to look up the part numbers. Now I am curious if they have the conversion kits for the others. Thanks for the video, although it is 10 years old I'm hoping they still have the parts. Also, thanks for your service.
Takes me back to early 2001 when I ordered some special super bright white led diodes from Japan that were used in printed circuit boards. Had to trim the leads cause they were too long and remember which side the flattened lead went to. Had a 50/50 chance when installing them and I was wrong most of the time . They weren't any brighter than stock Mini Mag bulbs, just a neat lil hack. xD
This is cool. I just realized that the mimi maglite comes with a spare bulb but had I not realized that I would have considered this upgrade. I ended up gettin a pelican mini flashlight on sale. It is a LED light and it is cool but sometimes it is just too bright. I like my old mini mag even with the not as bright light.
Thanks for the insight. I can change my old incandescent bulb mini maglite into led light.
Thanks again. I've searched the net already found it.
Thank You, very instructive and useful video.
Thanks for the video. Good step by step instruction and final comparison.
That looks like a worthy conversion, I did something similar a few years back with the same flashlight and it was rather disappointing.
It is a great one for this light. Thank you! Sorry to hear that yours didn't work out for you.
Wish they had a master kit.
New lens, including a red one, 'O' rings, adapter to use NiMH Battery (18650 or similar). As well as use AA batteries on the spot if desired.
On tail end a recharging port would be nice as well as an included lanyard. A short one and a long one you can hang off your neck.
Tail end could have a strong magnet in it.
Many new LED flashlights contain nuisance settings (flashing and SOS and such).
Just need a simple on and off - NO FLASHING.
Thank you so much!
So helpful video dude!
Thanks to you will upgrade my maglite.
Great work man!!
Thank you very much
Thanks for the video. Very good, well explained. Now it will be possible to tell where to buy the led to replace? Thank you.
I found that I had to disgard the old bulb mounting plate. Having the old plate and the new Nite Ize plate on top of it only left a half a thread when focusing to the sharpest spot. If you twist just a little past the sharpest spot, the head falls off. It works great.
Good video, I know that you are in flashlights and headlamps and stuff. I suggest that you look at the thrunite lights. Top quality lights. Just a tip from my personal experience. Have a nice day.
You're exactly right about that one. My brotha Tactical did a couple video of them and they're badass! I want one. Ha ha
Hey shipmate thanks for the info. I have four minimags from when i was in the Navy. I will convert all of them thanks to you. Later Bro.
thank you shipmate!!
As long as its today and not tomorrow
Great video thanks.
I have 3 of these on my old sail boat here in the UK... don't want to scrap them!
Don't want to use the push button ed cap as I need the lanyard hole on the original. Does the upgrade effect the original twist on off and the beam focus? You seem very happy with upgrade. some people on Amazon UK have left very negative feedback on the Nit Ize upgrade. Thanks
Thanks for video!
Two questions:
1) do you have to use the new switch style end cap? For me, that's just something else that can go wrong.
2) do you still have any beam focus capability with the conversion? You showed tat on the original model but did not cover it on the conversion or the LED specific model.
Thanks!
+ramosel no and yes. Thank you!
Very cool! You know of this upgrade kit is available for an old Maglite 3xD cell? Thanks
Hi ! Many thanks for sharing this ! Hi ! Is there a WARM light LED version of Mini Mag AA bulb ?
THX!!! for sharing, your knowledge. =)
Once again awesome video man. Love your work.
Thank you my friend!
Thanku very Much dude... For Help me
Nice idea...the old stile one once you drop them the bulb would pop. And low battery life. After I lost my last one on a job site I bought the new mini mag LED...far more light and more battery life.
They are sweet! I love LED lights"
Thats a big difference,thanks man
Thank you brotha! I need to get me a ThruNite like you showed. That's badass!
Good upgrade,,,Mag lite is my favorite
Hello... sorry for my English... I have one question: I have a Mini MagLite Led. The plastic case have one label "Warning: Cancer". Is possible??? The Californian Led Lenser is Dangerous?? I dont understand. The Led is Dangerous? I'm confused. Help me. Thank you...
do you heappen to know what's the difference between this upgrade that you bought and the one that just comes with the led, without the tail cap? Thanks!
Thank you
Hey smarty pant, by shooting your laser directly into your camera sensor, how many have you damaged so far? Or you just realized that you have some unidentified dark spots on every image and you never knew why?! :)
But seriously, nice topic however I like to do things from scratch and not just buying a kit. As LED bulbs are so chip now a days, only if I find the right drive and power supply. Anyways, Thanks man.
" LASER " ??
LMAO !
Always a bean bag know alotta nothing to point out anything they can to throw shade on someone doing things.
Nice video ... Thanks
cool upgrade. thanks for the info.
Thank you!
The switch is colored black, do they have red or blue ones? Or do you use black on all colors?
Thank you for the great video. I just got a free aa. Want to convert it to led. My lens is all scratched up. Do you know where I can get a replacement? Also, if I wanted to retain the old end cap will the nite ize bulb still work with a twist of the head. Thanks again for the cool video. Frank
It will still work as normal, even if you choose not to fit the tail-cap. Just twist to switch on as normal....
Matt. Thank you. I have decided to fix up the light for my father in law. Old school looks with a great run time. The lens looked much better after polishing with tooth paste.
Thanks.. I have 2 of these that i can convert. I never knew the kit existed.
Those kits are fairly inexpensive the battery life is a lot better and they're considerably brighter
Do you have to use the push button end with this or can you use the old one?
Why did you save the old incandescent bulb in the endcap? Can the converted LED flashlight also use the old incandescent bulb? Otherwise, why not keep the old bulb together with the other old parts in a plastic bag if you ever decide to use the old bulb again?
LED bulbs sometimes quit. Should that happen, you still have the old lamp. May be dimmer, but beats no light at all. Also, the push bu/on cap has been problematic for me, so I put the old end cap back on when switch fails.
@@markschneider8815I've never had an LED quit on me. They last forever.
Isn't it possible to just change the bulb for an LED?
Excelente, muchas gracias por compartir
The problem with Maglight is that they haven't kept up with technology. I have several that I converted to led but still don't and won't out perform Streamlight.
Basically anything nowadays beats maglights. Heck, I have a 1,000 lumens energizer love that that is also metal.
Maglite is going purely on brand name recognition IMO. They just refuse to get with the times and technology.
Good afternoon. I am from BRAZIL AND WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A KIT FOR THE MINI MAGLITE AA TWO BATTERIES WITH INCANDESCENT LAMP FOR THE UPGRAD IN LED LAMP. CAN YOU HELP ME FIND THIS KIT IN BRAZIL?
Cool, I've been able to get some led bulbs for my old torches, but hard to find.
I find it odd too that most led torches these days take 3 AAA OR 3 AA, My old led torch I bought like four years ago uses two AA batteries, I find it odd that most I see now take three, not to call conspiracy but I don't think battery companies like use buying batteries less so they force you to use three batteries and also it seems to last a lot less than my old led torch that takes two, very weird.
Its worth paying the extra to get the led torch that only takes two batteries I find or upgrade old torches.
Awesome thank you for sharing the information! Have a great day!
Thank you! This was really helpful!
Thanks!!
...real nice upgrade...thanks
Hi:Enjoyed this video very much! I have a problem though, I can't remove my batteries. I believe they are corroded. Any ideas on how to get them out?
DIANNE FROMAN I use a block of wood and a vise. sometimes it works and sometimes it don't.
Not sure what you mean.
DIANNE FROMAN thank you. if I remember correctly, you can use a wooden dowel to punch the batteries out. before you can do this though you have to remove the plastic piece out of the end. I believe this is correct it's been a long time since I worked on one.
Thank you, they came out! You're the best! I'm going to also get the upgrade kit. Thanks again!
DIANNE FROMAN thank you, glad it worked out!
Thank you too.
Good job 👍
jiujitsu2000 New subscriber here.. I was on the fence about buying one of these kits.. now i will. Thanks man.
- Tim
Thank you for the kind words and support you give my channel! Have a beautiful day!!
Very helpful thanks
Thanks, nice job
I like that upgrade kit ,once I get those old leaked batteries out of my mini mag lite that the upgrade kit for me, because the bottom of my light is going to be destroyed in the process of getting it off because of the leaked batteries.
Keep up your great work u kick ass Patriot u !
Thanks bro
So can you use the standard/original end cap and just do the regular twisting to turn on an off?? Instead of that button cap.
Yes it will work.The new end cap just gives you a Tactical Switch like most people prefer nowadays._
where can i purchase that?
Good Idea ! I'll do that.
Can i find this on aliexpress?
I have the older one and want to upgrade or should I buy a new LED or buy a kit? Which one would be more less cost?
+Russell Gram I think the new LED light would be brighter, but it would be cheaper to upgrade an old light
Thanks for your information and I guess I grew attached to mine for over ten years and tried a tellux but I did something wrong and the curcuit board broke! Thanks.
great video well explained >.
+gregall7 thank you!
how much are the kits
very cool thanks
Thank you!
Great video brother
Thank you!
Thanks u help me so much
I'v been wanting to upgrade for awhile now.
Its not that hard and well worth it the batteries last longer in the lights brighter...
Maglite is👌
THANKS
Tengo una de esa linterna pero está remil pegado de dónde se cambia las pilas como puedo hacer
Good video...
Thank you
but but ... i think you convert it with available Ultra bright LED..... but no... can u do it
PERFECT
+LOOK Thank you!
Can I flip the batteries if it does not work?
+Ricopolico I'm not sure to be honest
Thank you for sharing the information. :O)
Your welcome and thank you as well!
but you lose candle mode
Now to find all of my mag lites i have quite a bunch of them being a firefighter. I have a good one for you what if i can convert my uk 1200 dive lites to led would it last longer and be as bright as the halogen bulb thats in it its a 8 d cell and they do eat the batteries over time i used mine a lot at night for dives and being a ice rescue tech specialist doing recovery work no wonder they called polar bear and there only ice diver they had or diver for that matter i retired my self from the fire service in 03 had to because I was at 911 too much haunting demons from that might get back into it i miss it
That would be cool! Thanks for sharing.
The LED are just so much more efficient, & they are starting to make Lithium Ion batteries in flashlight size now, Eveready has a "AA" that has a posted shelf life of 20years & are about $1.85 each, but if you just turn it on until it dies they say it lasts 9 times as long so yes you could replace the bulb in your dive light, need to know what voltage hit the stock bulb to determine how to rewire it..
Bob White wow!
my mag mini has 70 lumens and it seems kind a dim these days. Ulyanovsk, Russia.
I have had many people say the old lights are better for close up work as new lights are too bright. electricians come to mind
I made a mistake, I removed the tap where is wrote: DO NOT REMOVE. Now I dont know how to replace it.
i cannot get this to work, i have tried reversing the polarities, still no luck
Eric Bourgeois fresh batteries?
tried 3 sets, still no luck
Eric Bourgeois dang. do you have a light bulb to test the flashlight? does it work? if so you could have a defective LED. if it doesn't work, could be a problem with your flashlight.
the regular light worked just fine, I think I have a defective LED
Try bending the wires mildly outward and put it in. Might make better contact. If this doesn't help, then it might be defective.
Just no longer worth it though, an entire new light costs less and is brighter these days. Neither niteize or maglight kept up with technology. The original maglights while classic were just a bad design. Plenty of flashlight forums now on how to get good deals on lights and batteries.
wooo weee you're right!
If you have some old lights at home than this can put them to good use. It is much better than throwing them out. Buying an old light and doing this mod is a waste of money. Just buy a new led version.
I've converted several of them after been given to me. I especially like the heft to them. That heft could possibly save your life 😉.
can u do a jiujitsu backflip
No, but I can do a back roll... Ha ha
primero
;-)