-- MJLED AA MagMod mini review --

CroMAGnet · Jan 23, 2005

After a simple install and carefull 0.25" drilling of the AA and AAA reflectors I was able to adjust the components to a satisfying upgrade. The MJLED AA MagMod has similar throw output to stock bulb Maglite but that is where it ends.

The MJLED has a white tight beam with a dull but usable wide spill and little or no artifacts. (Careful observation when looking at Lambda's beam photos, show the minor difference within the spill diameter when compared with outside the spill diameter area) It is adjustable but does produce a dark donut hole on flood settings. My MJ is slightly yellow/green in color but only noticed when compared to my cool white Q3. The much brighter Q3 has much more flood around its hotspot as oppose to the MJLED AA MagMod but these lights are not in the same catagory. The MJ is a lot brighter than an Arc AAA.

An incredible upgrade when compared to the absolutely terrible beam quality and amber color of a stock M*g AA. Well worth the $5 LED or $10 price with reflector from Lamda.

I'm not sure of the stock-bulb runtime, however the MJLED using Lithium batteries has 35-hours to 50% brightness.

MJLED AA-Alkaline 180 LUX @ 1m (13.4m or 44.0ft throw)
MJLED AA-Titanium 220 LUX @ 1m (14.8m or 48.6ft throw) 10% more than alkaline
MJLED AA-Lithium 250 LUX @ 1m (15.8m or 51.8ft throw) 18% more than alkaline
*MJLED AAA-Alkaline 121 LUX @ 1m (11m or 36ft throw)

UPDATE EDIT ---
I just got my AAA Lithiums and with anticipation grabbed my minimag and a bunch of batteries and went a testing. Bummer news. The lithiums were lower LUX readings. With the AAs I got 250+ LUX on Liths but with the AAAs I got 110 LUX on Alks and 90 LUX with Liths /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif Go figure.

It seems the reflector and the focus sweet spot are tough to find above 100 LUX on the AAA with either batteries, even though I got over 120 LUX last week.

So the only benefit with AAA Liths is long life storage, but I would not store this light. The AA Lithium MJLED Mag is the clear winner.

junior · Jan 23, 2005

what is a MJLED AA Mod....

Sorry for my newbieness....

shiftd · Jan 23, 2005

basically an MJLED is a led whose cone has been deformed (or formed, whichever you like) so the beam produced is a lot whiter than before and when focused, it forms a nice beam.
Lambda sells MJLED and the cut down reflector also.

paulr · Jan 23, 2005

I'm amazed that there's so little difference between alkaline and lithium.

I did a simple mod involving replacing the Minimag bulb with a 3mm led from lsdiodes.com (had to enlarge the reflector hole slightly with a 5/32" drill). Cost of the led was around 60 cents (plus $2 shipping spread over a bunch of other leds that I bought at the same time). Beam pattern isn't as nice as MJ's machined led, and brightness is certainly lower, so it's not a directly comparable mod. But it's an example of something else you can do along the same general lines. Measured current to the led was around 15 mA with new lithiums (1.72 volts/cell).

junior · Jan 23, 2005

How much is a MJLED? Where do i find one? How bright are they?

Former_Mag_User · Jan 23, 2005

The MJLED is $10 for the complete kit. I beleive they are avilable in the Custom/Mod/BST forum. I was lucky enough to order one when Lambada first offered them. I still haven't received mine yet.

EDIT: Here is the link.

MJLED

junior · Jan 23, 2005

Hey Danny when you recieve the MJLED, please let me know for i would like to try one.

Thank's Danny! By the way hows the Brinkman Maxfire working?

junior · Jan 23, 2005

Dammmmmm, i want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif or 2......

CroMAGnet · Jan 23, 2005

I should note something peculiar. My LUX readings using Energizer Lithium AA batteries are higher than Lambda's runtime chart. I noticed he was using Lithium for that runtime chart. My Alkaline LUX readings are similar to his Lithium. Strange.

I have Lithium AAAs on order.

Former_Mag_User · Jan 23, 2005

Sure thing junior. I'll post what I think of it here on this thread /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Keep an eye on the MJLED thread so you can order one when they are available from Lambada.

(Maxfire is doing great.) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

junior · Jan 24, 2005

Hey Cromagnet, what can you compare the MJLED to as far brightness, throw, flood etc? CMG Ultra? Stock Mini-mag?

What say you?

CroMAGnet · Jan 25, 2005

Hey junior. It puts out really realy white light. Very nice. It has a sweeeeet tight hotspot that measures 230-250 LUX for a long time. Have a look at the lights here on Quickbeam's Throw Chart in the 14 range but remember that it's a really tight MJLED beam.

It has a really wide 'spill' that I went and measured for you tonight. (9 LUX) not much light, but it's usable. Kinda like the lights around the 3 range on Quickbeam's Throw Chart but remember it very wide. I'd say it's usable light up to around 9 feet using the wide spill. Also did I mention, it's very white light.

The beam is sooo nice, white and free from artifacts. Unlike the <font color="orange"> ugly yellow/orange artifact riddled beam in the stock mag </font>

Hope that helps. Oh! and it's FIVE bucks!!! Get at least one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

junior · Jan 25, 2005

Thank's cromagnet! For 5bucks one cannot go wrong with the stats you gave me. Those leds would be great to make my mini-mags great back up lights with greeeeaaaat runtime. And heck it will only cost me 5 bucks for i have a few mini-mags lying around.

Thank's again

rdshores · Jan 25, 2005

CromagNet said:

[ QUOTE ]
Hey junior. It puts out really realy white light. Very nice. It has a sweeeeet tight hotspot that measures 230-250 LUX for a long time. Have a look at the light here on Quickbeam's Throw Chart in the 14 range but remember that it's a really tight MJLED beam.

It has a really wide 'spill' that I went and measured for you tonight. (9 LUX) not much light, but it's usable. Kinda like the lights around the 3 range on Quickbeam's Throw Chart but remember it very wide. I'd say it's usable light up to around 9 feet using the wide spill. Also did I mention, it's very white light.

The beam is sooo nice, white and free from artifacts. Unlike the ugly yellow/orange artifact riddled beam in the stock mag

Hope that helps. Oh! and it's FIVE bucks!!! Get at least one.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't see the MJLED listed anywhere on the mentioned QUICKBEAM THROW CHART What am I missing?

carnal · Jan 25, 2005

Not that I want an everled, how does the MJLED compare?

Thanks

CroMAGnet · Jan 25, 2005

I missed one letter in my last post. It was the 's' at the end of the word light. So "check out the lights on Quickbeam's Throw Chart"

Just look at the lights that are around 14 to get and idea of the narrow spot comparison and look at the lights in the 3 range to get an idea of the wide spill, which will more accurately describe the usability of the light.

Hope that helps. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

junior · Jan 25, 2005

Hey cromagnet, what light could you compare the MJLED to?

Just looking for your opinion.

CroMAGnet · Jan 25, 2005

If I personally knew that I would have definately posted it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Hence the complicated numerical comparison. I would say it probably compares to a wide version of the 3-range lights in the Throw Chart. with a bright narrow hotspot.

Very white, and nice under 10ft or so.

junior · Jan 25, 2005

No problem, just got overly excited!

ill wait till i can purchase mine and make a comparison on what i have.

Thank's

Ny0ng1 · Mar 1, 2005

how about NiMH?

-- MJLED AA MagMod mini review --

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