3 Watt AA LED Maglite Problem/Question

[Andy Wayne]

I have a problem that I'm hoping someone can answer. My Dad and I both have 3 watt LED AA Maglites. He has a 3xAA, and I have both a 2xAA and a 3xAA. He uses his daily at work as an electrician, more than I use mine. He uses alkalines, I use NiMh batts in mine. After several months of using his, he said there was something wrong, like it had a loose connection. He said the light would go out, then he'd shake it and it'd work again. I told him it might be defective, and suggested he return it at the store for another one. He did, and recently (months later) the second one is doing it too.

Recently, I noticed mine have started having this problem too. Does anyone know what causes this or how to fix it? It's a pain to have to shake the light to get it to come on. It seems like it might be a loose connection or something, but I think it's weird for several of them to develop that same problem after a couple months of use. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[kosPap]

search for some old threads on the maglite LED. one issues is with the tabs on teh tailcap. they give me constant trouble. there is some issue in the body tube but that i cannot remember. so you got to search

 

[Marduke]

The MiniMag LED's have notoriously unreliable switches. The best advice would be to cut your losses, return what you can, and get something better.

 

[chmsam]

We are talking about the 2xAA and 3xAA mini mag LED's, right? So, there is no switch per se -- they're twisties like all mini mags.

Assuming the simple stuff first, that your batteries are fresh, here's what I checked on mine when it acted up (by the way, I replaced the batteries and did all of these at once, so I do not know which worked the magic, but it has not flickered since):

-- cleaned the contacts on the light and the batteries (a soft pencil eraser works great or a soft emery board). This included taking the spring out of the tail cap and cleaning all the surfaces.

-- stretched the tail cap spring slightly.

-- used Caig DeOxit Gold on all contacts and the batteries.

-- most likely not really related to the problem, but I also cleaned the threads and o-rings with a clean cloth and cotton swabs, and re-lubed with pure silicone grease.

As I said, the light has worked fine ever since.

There have been reports of these lights flickering after they have been used continuously for a long period of time. Simple solution -- shut them off if you're not using them continuously.

I have also had experience with some lights not liking certain brands of AA cells. A long time ago it used to be that Duracells were not quite as long as other brands and that caused a few problems for me, but since I have not measured them I do not know if that is the case now. On another note, I have found that some batteries made in other countries are not as reliable as others, even for the major brands. Pays to look at the package and see where they are made. Might be as simple a fix as switching brands of batteries.

Hope this helps.

 

[Toohotruk]

I had that problem with my 2AA MiniMagLED and I used Deoxit Gold and haven't had a single flicker since. That was nearly two years ago and I used and abused the light daily at my job. I retired that light to being a back up a few months ago, only because my company issued the ROV 2AA Highbeam for use at work. Otherwise, I'm sure I would still be using the MiniMag LED daily.

Deoxit Gold is great stuff! :twothumbs

 

[Sector7]

Where on the minimag did you use the Deoxit Gold in particular? I want to clean mine. Where did you get that great stuff?

 

[alfreddajero]

As would i.......can you buy that stuff locally.

 

[Toohotruk]

I got mine from RadioShack and used it on the positive contact down inside the body of the light. I bought the spray version and was able to spray a little down the battery tube, then I used a paper towel wrapped around a long screwdriver to wipe the excess off. I also used some on the spring in the tailcap.

Worked great after that! I use it on the contacts in all my lights.

 

[alfreddajero]

Thank you for the quick reply, going to check this weekend.

 

[toolpig1]

I don't have any minimag led's currently, but I've handled them a few times. I seem to remember that they have two little metal tabs in the tailcap (one on each side) that make contact with the inside of the main body (battery tube). Some of my oldest incan. minimags had this same design. I would have to occasionally bend those tabs out ever so slightly to make a better connection. Sorry if I'm wrong, but check the tailcap for those little tabs. I never found it to be a problem with the spring.

 

[Toohotruk]

I don't have any minimag led's currently, but I've handled them a few times. I seem to remember that they have two little metal tabs in the tailcap (one on each side) that make contact with the inside of the main body (battery tube). Some of my oldest incan. minimags had this same design. I would have to occasionally bend those tabs out ever so slightly to make a better connection. Sorry if I'm wrong, but check the tailcap for those little tabs. I never found it to be a problem with the spring.

Oh yeah, I used 'Gold on those and the surfaces they make contact with as well.

 

[Andy Wayne]

Thanks for the tips guys!