3AA MiniMag LED on 2AA batteries, what's the output like?

Has anybody run a 3AA MiniMag LED on 2AA batteries and one dummy cell? I'm wondering what the output is like and how it compares to the 2AA?

Also has anybody tried the Kroll clicky (or any clicky tailcap) on the MiniMag LED and does it work?

Grabbing a couple of fresh AA alkalines and a dummy cell, I can tell you that the 3AA model is still surprisingly bright - not as bright as my Nuwai Q-III on a fresh LiIon cell, but not too far behind.

However, on two fresh NiMH cells and a dummy, it immediately starts up in 'moonlight' mode - VERY dim. (This also raises doubts about how long it would run on 2 alkalines before also reverting to 'moonlight' mode.)

IIRC, the Kroll clicky only works after minor modification (bending the spring to a longer length).

I appreciate you checking that.

Does the MiniMag LED actually have two distinct modes of operation? High and then a Moon mode or is it just a gradual dropoff?

Looks pretty much like two distinct modes: "Bright", and "Hey, is this thing on?"


(2 AA-cell graph courtesy of the always-excellent flashlightreviews.com)