Review: MiniM@g LED with "Multi-mode Electronic Switch"

[Ken_McE]

"for submission in the Reviews forum".

Picked up this years new LED m@g light.* They were on sale at the local Lowes for $12 US, so I figured I'd give one a try. At a glance they look like a miniM@g. I had a choice of black or steel grey, went with grey so I could tell it from my other mm's. (I have most of the primary colors and each one lights in the color of the tube.) The bodies apear the same, the head is about 1/2 inch longer than the ordinary incan model. It has a single Luxeon Rebel LED with a fairly neutral tint.

The new hotness for this season is that it is a multi mode light. By turning it on and off quickly you can set it for 100% brightness, 25% brightness, steady flash or S.O.S. blink. It's supposed to be able to run for two or three days continuously on the low setting. I tried mine and it worked as advertised. Nothing earth shaking but I like the grey. The M@g web site states that they "pioneered" this multimode technology.

I tried it the next day and it was a little wonky. I'd turn it on and it would hesitate. It seemed to changed modes without being commanded, so I tried handling it more carefully. By the end of the week it stopped working altogther so I brought it back. When I got in the store it came back to life long enough to make me look like one of "those" customers. :shakehead They took it back anyhow, gave me another one.

I've had the new one for three days. Sometimes it lights, sometimes it doesn't. :mecry: If I wave the light while it's on it may take this for a command to switch modes . I 'm either going back and swap it for the old style on/off model, or may tear it down for parts. :thumbsdow I do still like the grey :thumbsup:


(*new to me anyhow, don't know when it came out)

 

[burntoshine]

i don't like maglite. my first EDC was a solitaire, but i found it to be too dim. i wrote them 2 nice emails asking them if they had any plans to make a LED version. at this point they didn't make any LED flashlights at all. i told them i liked their other products and would gladly buy a AAA size LED light if they made it. they didn't respond to either email, ever. this caused me to search online and led me to Fenix, and then to discover the rest of the world of flashlights.

i'm glad they ignored me and refused to innovate for so long. now i carry a titanium Liteflux LF2XT and don't plan on ever giving maglite any of my money ever again.

 

[hiluxxulih]

I have a black version of this light and its pretty sweet , works every time .

 

[Swordforthelord]

Very odd; I have a black multi-mode that I used every day for months and it was always reliable.

 

[Robin24k]

How much do you twist the head to turn it on? Mine does this occasionally, but it would be because the head is right at the edge of the "on position," or if the tailcap is loose.

Also, if you are using batteries that are shorter in length than the Duracells it came with, it could also cause a problem. I've seen some batteries that aren't the normal length.

 

[Apollo Cree]

I've seen LED lights with regulation circuits that will shut down suddenly when the battery voltage drops below a certain level. Lights up fine one time, but no light or flashing on and off next time. New batteries fixed it.

Confusing because it doesn't get dim, it just doesn't light up at all.

 

[terrik_zion]

What I want to know is, why doesn't Maglite make a minimag with an XR-E in it? Or any other modern high output led, for that matter. I bought a single stage 3w minimag led about 4 years ago (could be wrong on that number) that puts out around 45 lumens. Its a workhorse and is solidly built, but good heavens, I bought a (more cheaply built) Ultrafire C3 chinese knockoff light that cost 2/3 the minimag price and puts out 5x the light! Its performance isn't as bulletproof as the mag, but for price to output (and versatility) the c3 is amazing.

Why can't maglite build a solid 200 lumen torch? Why not have it as an option? Obviously not everyone wants 200+ lumens to read a book at night, but why not have it like cars and trim levels? Minimag with available 50, 100 or 200 lumen leds!

I'd rant more but my g1 keyboard is tough to type lots on.

 

[Robin24k]

I think it might be only using US-made parts that is keeping them from using other options. While I fully support their attempt at keeping it 100% domestic, it seems as if the problem isn't with Maglite...

 

[yellow]

because 99,99999 % of the customer normally adressed to, would not understand that such a light stops working after 1 hour ...

 

[B0wz3r]

M@gs were great in their day, but unlike the technology, they have not kept moving. I experienced a lot of variation in the ones I bought, in the minis, the 2C's I have, and the 4D's as well. Some are brighter than others of the exact same type; go figure.

The one thing about them I appreciate is they're pretty bulletproof. I've got two 2C and two 4D models and a Mini with a nite-ize LED upgrade in it (what a disappointment) that I gave to my 9 y.o. son and they've all worked flawlessly. Never mind they're now the lowest output lights I own...

I'll be keeping the ones I have because eventually I'll get some LED upgrades for them that pack some real punch, and they'll last me forever.

It seems unusual to me that any M@g should have those kinds of problems, let alone two in a row, but perhaps their quality is slipping and they're content to just rest on their laurels, rely on past reputation, and sell to the general (non flashaholic) public.

 

[Benson]

What I want to know is, why doesn't Maglite make a minimag with an XR-E in it? Or any other modern high output led, for that matter.

Don't you consider the Rebel, as used in the light reviewed here, a modern high output LED? It's certainly on par with the XR-E.

 

[Genes]

I had a very similar problem earlier this summer. Bought one at Lowes, and when I got it out in my car to test it, it wouldn't come on at all. I walked back in Lowes and exchanged it for another one. Tested 2nd one and it worked fine for about a week, then it started doing odd things whenever I tried switching modes. I took it back and exchanged it for a 3rd one. It works better, but the mode changing still isn't exact. Sometimes it changes, sometimes it jumps more than one mode. It is either very poor design or poor QC.

Gene

 

[Robin24k]

Hmm, maybe I'm just lucky? Both of mine have been working flawlessly for the past week and a half...the only problems that I've had were explainable by user error (putting almost dead NiMHs in them, loose tailcap, etc.)...

 

[mcnair55]

I've seen LED lights with regulation circuits that will shut down suddenly when the battery voltage drops below a certain level. Lights up fine one time, but no light or flashing on and off next time. New batteries fixed it.

Confusing because it doesn't get dim, it just doesn't light up at all.

My Microstream does that,pop in new battery and it is up and working again.

 

[PCC]

When I looked at the design of the new Rebel Mini-MagLED I had to scratch my head when it came to the tail cap. I wonder if the tail cap is the real culprit here? I read that Mag changed the design of the tail cap to the older design. I wonder if they did this to resolve the issues that most people are complaining about here? I just had my son's Rebel Mini-MagLED modified to use the old style tail cap and it is currently using a Nite-Ize clicky and it is working just fine.

 

[Robin24k]

You may have a point there...both of mine are with the lanyard hole. There must've been a reason for them to introduce a new cap and then switch back to the old one, right?

EDIT: A possible thought...I noticed that the new tailcap has a longer spring than the old style lanyard. Could the longer spring have been pushed too much and got shorter?

 

[lightinsky]

I've had my rebel mini mag for a few months now and no problems at all. Could be a bad batch out there but used mine with no error.

 

[yellow]

I read that Mag changed the design of the tail cap to the older design. I wonder if they did this to resolve the issues that most people are complaining about here?

pls note: my explanation is just a guess!!!!

imho they changed the design, to fight ppl using other makers end caps / end cap switches.
There simply is no other explanation that makes sense
(both end cap and front part are built uselessly long, the space of 1 cell is "wasted". The mag-led are just a design nightmare)

 

[Robin24k]

Isn't it the other way around? The lanyard cap is compatible with my Nite-Ize switch, for example.

As for the length, what about the deep reflector? They elongated the head from the incandescent MiniMag, so there should be a reason...

 

[yellow]

most all of the aftermarket tail switches for Minimag dont work (or did not work when I still watched for the MM-led models). Wondering that Yours does work.
Thats bad for the user, because they make the MM much better than original

elongated head: not really needed, dunno if positive or not. For optical appearance its bad.

length: the square shaped driver is placed along body, not round and placed 90 degree tilted
(as is common with led lights and is how it should be made).
... so driver placement and end cap add lenght for nothing.

PS, but that - again - maybe is just my personal opinion: the whole design is outdated for years.
In fact the MM Led is designed EXACTLY as a light would have been desigend ... at the time the 1st rumors of a MM led were heared.
Unfortunately it then needed an additional 2 years till they came out. Within those 2 years, all the light world has changed (f.e. Fenix appeared!!!), but the MM was made as was 1stly drawn, obviously.
Maybe thats the reason why I hate the whole thing that much, and keep on typing that.
2 years waiting for something way below what had to be expected.

Even if it were on par with better lights: that are pocket lights!
The fact both the 2*AA and the 3*AA feature the lenght of a similar light, but each with an additional cell, make them questionable.
Again: if it were somehow technically "needed" that this lenght is used, that might be ok, but its just wasted space inside the body and tailcap.
Design flaw!