Maglite Labor Day Sale

[Schokokeks]

SO. The spectrum AA is both a pleasant surprise for the warm white and a major disappointment in terms of UI. The warm white choice of LED was great (looks like some kind of luxeon), but on both high AND low modes, it is exhibiting some form of pulse modulation on NiMH. Possibly PDM on high and HORRIBLE PWM on low (think cheapo chinese lights, maybe 60-120HZ TOPS). I could see it with my bare eyes when firing it up, even before waving the light around to verify.

The illuminated surface is fine, but don't even peek at the head while in usage or you will notice it. I'm debating tearing it down to swap out the nasty Pulse Modulation driver...

It has 4 modes, no memory, in this order: PDM High, PWM low, beacon, SOS. It DOES have a nice soft-start, mimicking the incan boot up quite well. The PWM kills it for me though...on fresh alkalines or freshly charged NiMH, no issue with high.

I'm laughing so hard at myself right now. I've had an AA Spectrum for YEARS....it's MULTI-MODE!?
I've only ever used it as a single mode light. That's hilarious.

FWIW, I don't notice PWM on low for the one I was just looking at, and I'm generally fairly sensitive to PWN or any kind of refresh rates.

 

[dc38]

I'm laughing so hard at myself right now. I've had an AA Spectrum for YEARS....it's MULTI-MODE!?
I've only ever used it as a single mode light. That's hilarious.

FWIW, I don't notice PWM on low for the one I was just looking at, and I'm generally fairly sensitive to PWN or any kind of refresh rates.

Maybe they got cheaper and started cutting corners? Or maybe it only shows up when below a voltage threshold...

I found myself wishing it only had one mode, a solid 50 lumen mode. The way it is now, it starts at what looks to be about 130ish lumens with a long taper down.

 

[Schokokeks]

Maybe they got cheaper and started cutting corners? Or maybe it only shows up when below a voltage threshold...

I found myself wishing it only had one mode, a solid 50 lumen mode. The way it is now, it starts at what looks to be about 130ish lumens with a long taper down.

I prefer the 2xAA model. As far as I can tell, it's single mode, and the form factor is kind of perfect. It's my favorite Maglite.

On the upside, you've got a GREAT gift for someone who isn't a flashlight nerd 🙂
They'll LOVE it, and won't even know what PWM is, haha.

 

[dc38]

I prefer the 2xAA model. As far as I can tell, it's single mode, and the form factor is kind of perfect. It's my favorite Maglite.

On the upside, you've got a GREAT gift for someone who isn't a flashlight nerd 🙂
They'll LOVE it, and won't even know what PWM is, haha.

It IS the 2AA model, lol...high, low, beacon, sos. It's the black one with the silver tail. The blue silver is the one I stuck a Yuji into.

I'm going to try and figure out how to single mode the spectrum.

Just in case you didn't see my other pics...theres clear breakage in the beams

 

[Schokokeks]

View attachment 84419
It IS the 2AA model, lol...high, low, beacon, sos. It's the black one with the silver tail. The blue silver is the one I stuck a Yuji into.

I'm going to try and figure out how to single mode the spectrum.


Just in case you didn't see my other pics...theres clear breakage in the beams

Oh, sorry, I meant the 2xAAA.
It's really slim, and I have XL glove sized hands, but it's very well balanced. IIRC, it actually has higher output than the 2xAA, too?

With the 2xAA, you can just be like me, only ever turn it on, and spend YEARS never even knowing it's multi-mode, hahaha.

 

[vicv]

So maybe not from the sale, but look at this beauty that I've picked up today off of someone for three dollars on Facebook marketplace. Looks new. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it as is, or if I am going to bang the switch out of it and install that into my camo host. Threads are quite nice so it must be an older one

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

Received my Labor Day order today as scheduled, and Mr. UPS driver was kind enough to ring my doorbell! Took a few minutes and registered them with Maglite. I'm happy. 🙂