A local Home Depot has 2-cell and 4-cell MagLEDs (drop-ins) in stock. Just by chance (OK, I'm a flashaholic) I happen to have a 2C Maggie and a 4D Maggie that are not really doing anything. A smallish 2C MagLED would be sweet, but having to deal with, yet, another battery type would not. The 4D, bought for $10 on sale at HD, is, well, a 4D - big, heavy and out shone by my smaller MAG118 8xAA 2D.
While a 4D MagLED would, likely, be an excellent emergency type flashlight with plenty of Lumens, throw and runtime, because of its size, aside from emergencies and blackouts, I just don't think that it would be used much. On the other hand, while a 2C MagLED would be used for tasks and fun, C batteries kind of tick me off because they, typically, cost the same as D batts but with less than half the capacity as well as not being quite as available as Ds and AAs. Which MagLED would you get (first)?
Trying to avoid C batteries but, still, liking the 2C Maggie form, I wonder what alternative power (batteries) MagLEDs can use effectively. Would 2xAA NiMH batts drive a 2-cell MagLED? Would they drive it to full power/output? How about a 3.7/4.2 Volt Li-Ion batt? Would it overdrive and burn out a 2-cell MagLED? How would a 3-cell MagLED fair with one Li-Ion cell? Could the 3-cell MagLED be driven by one Li-Ion or would it be under-driven?
According to FlashlightReviews, MagLEDs lose about 50% of their output in the first 15 minutes because of heat. Once cooled, will the MagLED return to full output? Also, if a MagLED is kept on for 15 minutes for, say, taskwork or anything, really, is the drop in output noticeable? Is it annoying and/or distracting? While the reviewed runtime for a 3D MagLED is 22:50 to 50%, this is if a 3D MagLED is left on continuously for the duration - basically, near 50% output for 22:35 of that run. If for non-continuous use, used for a just few minutes at a time with its output closer to 75% to 100%, what would the effect on total runtime be and by how much? What is the runtime of a stock 2C MagLED?
Any other thoughts that you might have on MagLEDs, (alternative) batteries, output and runtime would be appreciated.
73
dim
While a 4D MagLED would, likely, be an excellent emergency type flashlight with plenty of Lumens, throw and runtime, because of its size, aside from emergencies and blackouts, I just don't think that it would be used much. On the other hand, while a 2C MagLED would be used for tasks and fun, C batteries kind of tick me off because they, typically, cost the same as D batts but with less than half the capacity as well as not being quite as available as Ds and AAs. Which MagLED would you get (first)?
Trying to avoid C batteries but, still, liking the 2C Maggie form, I wonder what alternative power (batteries) MagLEDs can use effectively. Would 2xAA NiMH batts drive a 2-cell MagLED? Would they drive it to full power/output? How about a 3.7/4.2 Volt Li-Ion batt? Would it overdrive and burn out a 2-cell MagLED? How would a 3-cell MagLED fair with one Li-Ion cell? Could the 3-cell MagLED be driven by one Li-Ion or would it be under-driven?
According to FlashlightReviews, MagLEDs lose about 50% of their output in the first 15 minutes because of heat. Once cooled, will the MagLED return to full output? Also, if a MagLED is kept on for 15 minutes for, say, taskwork or anything, really, is the drop in output noticeable? Is it annoying and/or distracting? While the reviewed runtime for a 3D MagLED is 22:50 to 50%, this is if a 3D MagLED is left on continuously for the duration - basically, near 50% output for 22:35 of that run. If for non-continuous use, used for a just few minutes at a time with its output closer to 75% to 100%, what would the effect on total runtime be and by how much? What is the runtime of a stock 2C MagLED?
Any other thoughts that you might have on MagLEDs, (alternative) batteries, output and runtime would be appreciated.
73
dim
