Maratac AAA Q5 (Part 2)

[Patriot]

If you were looking for pocket friendly, why didn't you get the Wee instead of the raw?

Just curious...

Well, for that matter, why didn't I just take a Photon or similar button cell light? I have a wee also flatline but the Raw was sitting on the coffee table by the door. I was wearing cargo shorts and just tossed it into a pocket. When I sit down in my vehicle the lights tend to fall to the back of the pocket and sometimes end up between my seat and the back of my leg. Also, as you probably know, the Raw is much brighter than the Wee and the larger reflector provides more throw. From that standpoint it has an advantage over the Wee. 🙂

 

[coyote]

i couldn't take it anymore so ordered two Natural ones. can't wait!

thnx everyone for the info and feedback.

 

[Patriot]

i couldn't take it anymore so ordered two Natural ones. can't wait!

I'm eager to here your thoughts considering some of the other lights you own. Ordering two is a good idea I think since it doesn't seem unusual to get one with an off center LED. I forgot to mention that this is about the only issue I have with my natural, although I don't consider it a deal breaker on a AAA light.

 

[sabre7]

Does anybody know about the 50hr low runtime claim on alkalines? Been using NiMh in mine the low is perfect for navigating around in the dark indoors.

 

[Patriot]

I don't think anyone has tested the low run-time yet, only high, so far.

 

[chaosmagnet]

My Maratac AAA failed to work. Battery tested at 100%. Cleaning the threads carefully got me a bit of flicker and then out again. A sharp rap on the tail got it working again.

While troubleshooting the light I took the clip off to make it easier to clean up the threads. The lanyard/keyring loop came off with the clip and snapped!

I'm disappointed. Of the three Maratac lights I've bought, two of them had problems when brand new. While I have two of the iTP AAAs coming, the way I'm thinking now I'm going to stop buying iTP/Olight/Maratac lights for the foreseeable future. As cool as they are, if they're not reliable I don't want them.

 

[applevision]

My Maratac AAA failed to work. Battery tested at 100%. Cleaning the threads carefully got me a bit of flicker and then out again. A sharp rap on the tail got it working again.

While troubleshooting the light I took the clip off to make it easier to clean up the threads. The lanyard/keyring loop came off with the clip and snapped!

I'm disappointed. Of the three Maratac lights I've bought, two of them had problems when brand new. While I have two of the iTP AAAs coming, the way I'm thinking now I'm going to stop buying iTP/Olight/Maratac lights for the foreseeable future. As cool as they are, if they're not reliable I don't want them.

Well, it's true that at this low price point, something has got to give. But I wonder if you can contact CC and see if they can make things right? I'd had to throw the baby out with the bath water.

 

[Patriot]

While troubleshooting the light I took the clip off to make it easier to clean up the threads. The lanyard/keyring loop came off with the clip and snapped!

Any chance you could show us a picture of this snapped keyring loop? It seems to be a pretty tough piece of spring steel so I'm curious what look like when they break. If you're unable to post a picture please email it to me and I post it for you.

Thanks 🙂

 

[chaosmagnet]

Any chance you could show us a picture of this snapped keyring loop? It seems to be a pretty tough piece of spring steel so I'm curious what look like when they break. If you're unable to post a picture please email it to me and I post it for you.

Thanks 🙂

I pitched it in disgust, but it should be in my home office wastepaper basket. I'll dig it out if I can, and take a picture of it.

 

[WadeF]

Got my natural Maratac today! Nice little light for sure! Running it on 10440's. My only complaint is the noticeable PWM. If they come out with version 2.0 and improve on the PWM I'd by another.

 

[nakahoshi]

I recieved the ITP A3 EOS Model today (standard) and its just as nice as the Maratacs. (duh)

The body feels a little thicker and all together it feels a little bit heavier. The reflector is the same that is in the Natural Maratac (smoother beam) and the Emitter is Perfectly Centered. Nice and warm tint too! I think this is a sweet little light.

I really love the single mode,no trace of PWM:devil:!!! Perfect
-Bobby

 

[davidt1]

Got mine an hour ago. I love it. I am even more excited this time than I was when I got a Akoray 106. The clip does get in the way a bit when you twist the light. The m/l/h sequence is dumb. Other than these 2 minor annoyances, the light is just awesome. You basically get arguably the smallest aaa light with a simple operation that does not require a degree in flashlight programming to use for $22.

Shorter than a Zebralight AA light

I have found a near perfect wallet light

The wide hotspot makes for an excellent reading/headlamp

 

[djshiner]

I recieved the ITP A3 EOS Model today (standard) and its just as nice as the Maratacs. (duh)

The body feels a little thicker and all together it feels a little bit heavier. The reflector is the same that is in the Natural Maratac (smoother beam) and the Emitter is Perfectly Centered. Nice and warm tint too! I think this is a sweet little light.

I really love the single mode,no trace of PWM:devil:!!! Perfect
-Bobby

Can the heads of the Maratac and EOS be interchanged?

Can the clip be reversed easily on the EOS?

 

[f22shift]

received my 2 natural today. one does look brighter, better centered led. or is it more blueish tint. the other with a slightly wider hotspot and green tint. these are not huge differences. noticeable with a side to side comparison.
is it bad i'm cherry picking for the one to keep myself. :twothumbs

 

[Woods Walker]

No I have done it. :thumbsup:

 

[Patriot]

is it bad i'm cherry picking for the one to keep myself. :twothumbs

Not at all. Like many of us you are a very particular enthusiast. Gifting the other one away to a non-flashaholic is a nice gesture and anyone would greatly appreciated it. 🙂

 

[triplemacs]

Just got done changing bearings inside a large air handler (I do HVAC work). Reversed the pocket clip on my Maratac natural loaded with an Eneloop, attached it to the bill of my hat and I was good to go. Ran it on medium off and on for 2+ hours. I love this light! Made my bosses DeWalt 12 volt work light look like crap.

 

[Flying Turtle]

Just took my Maratac and my LF2XT on a long weekend trip to Houston for a wedding. Ended up carrying the Maratac for its smaller size most of the time. Never had a serious need, but it hides in a pocket better, plus does well on low as a reading light. Actually ended up forgetting the LiteFlux at my sister-in-law's house. I think the Maratac will be able to take its place for a few days.

Geoff

 

[juslearnin]

Ok, can some of you more enlightened help me out?

I have one of these, and I got some Ultrafire 10440s today, and they make it just amazing.

Can anyone tell me if it is hard on the light or hard on the battery to run this in medium mode? It seems to me that the excess voltage has to go somewhere. The circuit must be cutting it down somehow, and I would think that would generate more heat in the circuit itself.

Should I avoid using it for prolonged periods in medium or even low mode because it is hard on the system/ circuit?

Should I not use 10440s at all if I want it to last a few years (like the ARC AAA it has replaced on my keyring)?

Obviously, I am not an electrical engineer, I'm just trying to make sure I don't shorten the lifespan of this cool light.

 

[StandardBattery]

I recieved my iTP A3 EOS today (standard version).

1. Impressive size! It's actually shorter than the Maratac! This is due to the shorter head. If you were to shave the keyring nub of the tail it would be wicked small, and would tail stand again.
2. weights 18g with no battery, 30.1g with eneloop, and only 10.2g with no keychain and no battery.
3. The head is compatible with the Maratac body.
4. Uses the identical clip.
5. I definitely prefer the knurling on the Maratac, but you can 1 hand the iTP as well.

I think 2009 is the year of the AAA light.