zespectre
Flashlight Enthusiast
This probably isn't new information but in case anyone is interested here is my long term ownership report for my (essentially) stock MagCharger.
Purchased new in 1994 (wow, I can hardly believe it's been 12 years). The only "mod" to it is a fairly recent install of the LOP reflector by fivemega (November of '05).
From 1994 to late 1996 this was my duty light and saw some heavy/rough use. After that it sat in a drawer for over a year when our department issued "Non metalic" streamlights due to lawyer pressure. It came back into fairly regular use in 2000/2001 as I was part of a very active neighborhood watch program, then intermittent use for evening walks until being essentially replaced by my Inova T4.
This light has seen some heavy use including smashing in house windows, car windows, beating off an attacking dog, kicked around, dropped, all kinds of weather and basically any other abuse you might imagine from a cop on duty.
Last week I tried to use it and got a dim initial beam that lasted for about 20 min before going out. Pulled the battery pack and it was labeled (by me) 3/5/2002.
Ordered a replacement pack (which arrived last night) and a spare bulb for the empty tailcap and set it to charge overnight. This evening I tried it and it was as bright as I ever remember it being.
In 12 years of service I have had to ....
-Replace the battery pack 3 times (this new pack is #3). Pretty much every 4 years like clockwork. Note, other than a total discharge about once a month this light stays on the charger full time and gets no special battery care.
-Replace 3 bulbs. Two blow-outs (One after severe hammering and the other after rolling down a flight of concrete stairs) and one with an oddly bent filament that always gave a really bizzare/distracting beamshape so I finally just threw it out.
-Replace the rubber switch cover (one day it was just missing. Maglite sent a free one)
-Replace one tailcap spring as the old one had lost it's spring somehow and wasn't maintaining good tension.
The switch is still smooth as honey and the light still performs flawlessly. Even with the current state of technology I still believe that Stock MagChargers are a sound household investment, let alone what you can do to mod them if you so desire.
Purchased new in 1994 (wow, I can hardly believe it's been 12 years). The only "mod" to it is a fairly recent install of the LOP reflector by fivemega (November of '05).
From 1994 to late 1996 this was my duty light and saw some heavy/rough use. After that it sat in a drawer for over a year when our department issued "Non metalic" streamlights due to lawyer pressure. It came back into fairly regular use in 2000/2001 as I was part of a very active neighborhood watch program, then intermittent use for evening walks until being essentially replaced by my Inova T4.
This light has seen some heavy use including smashing in house windows, car windows, beating off an attacking dog, kicked around, dropped, all kinds of weather and basically any other abuse you might imagine from a cop on duty.
Last week I tried to use it and got a dim initial beam that lasted for about 20 min before going out. Pulled the battery pack and it was labeled (by me) 3/5/2002.
Ordered a replacement pack (which arrived last night) and a spare bulb for the empty tailcap and set it to charge overnight. This evening I tried it and it was as bright as I ever remember it being.
In 12 years of service I have had to ....
-Replace the battery pack 3 times (this new pack is #3). Pretty much every 4 years like clockwork. Note, other than a total discharge about once a month this light stays on the charger full time and gets no special battery care.
-Replace 3 bulbs. Two blow-outs (One after severe hammering and the other after rolling down a flight of concrete stairs) and one with an oddly bent filament that always gave a really bizzare/distracting beamshape so I finally just threw it out.
-Replace the rubber switch cover (one day it was just missing. Maglite sent a free one)
-Replace one tailcap spring as the old one had lost it's spring somehow and wasn't maintaining good tension.
The switch is still smooth as honey and the light still performs flawlessly. Even with the current state of technology I still believe that Stock MagChargers are a sound household investment, let alone what you can do to mod them if you so desire.
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