So this was a lot of fun and now I’m using this light all the time. I went to a gun show a few weeks ago and found this old 3C maglite for $2, it was in good shape and I like incans so I figured why not. Based on the serial number maglite told me it was built 10-29-81.
What I’ve done was simple but makes it really a nice light to use compared to its stock form. First an orange peel aluminum reflector with glass lens for a clean beam that will also handle the heat of brighter bulbs. I made a sleeve out of 3/4 pvc and sanded down the OD so it would fit and I could use a pair of 18650’s. I went that route since I already have many 18650’s, but it can fit larger batteries with more capacity if desired which I may do in the future. Then we have the bulbs. The best I bought is the potted and frosted 1499 that puts out around 350 lumens (shown in beamshot). Very clean beam, very nice tint and brightness. Runtime around 90 minutes with 3500mah cells. These are expensive bulbs at $14 a pop so I only bought four but the quality of light they put out is just wonderful. I also bought bulbs for a 6C/D cell light which have the correct voltage for 2x li-ions. It’s around 120-150ish lumens and so far use indicates it should run for 2-3 hours or more but I don’t know exactly how long. Not quite as perfect of a beam as the 1499’s but still very nice. I also have some 3C/D bulbs and aa to c adapters so I can use eneloops. 40 something lumens with that setup but nice for around the house and such. Because incans have lots of throw they can do more with less, if that makes sense.
2 Comments
Nice work!
Is that the stock reflector?
So this was a lot of fun and now I’m using this light all the time. I went to a gun show a few weeks ago and found this old 3C maglite for $2, it was in good shape and I like incans so I figured why not. Based on the serial number maglite told me it was built 10-29-81.
What I’ve done was simple but makes it really a nice light to use compared to its stock form. First an orange peel aluminum reflector with glass lens for a clean beam that will also handle the heat of brighter bulbs. I made a sleeve out of 3/4 pvc and sanded down the OD so it would fit and I could use a pair of 18650’s. I went that route since I already have many 18650’s, but it can fit larger batteries with more capacity if desired which I may do in the future. Then we have the bulbs. The best I bought is the potted and frosted 1499 that puts out around 350 lumens (shown in beamshot). Very clean beam, very nice tint and brightness. Runtime around 90 minutes with 3500mah cells. These are expensive bulbs at $14 a pop so I only bought four but the quality of light they put out is just wonderful. I also bought bulbs for a 6C/D cell light which have the correct voltage for 2x li-ions. It’s around 120-150ish lumens and so far use indicates it should run for 2-3 hours or more but I don’t know exactly how long. Not quite as perfect of a beam as the 1499’s but still very nice. I also have some 3C/D bulbs and aa to c adapters so I can use eneloops. 40 something lumens with that setup but nice for around the house and such. Because incans have lots of throw they can do more with less, if that makes sense.