MiniMagLed - Mark II

[ringzero]

Since this is a tool-oriented site, the new MiniMagLed 2AA merits serious consideration as your next toolbox light.

Pros:

-American made, lifetime warranty.

-Low price ($21 and change at Lowes, WalMart, Target, etc.)

-50 lumen high plenty good enough for most tool-type tasks.

-10 lumen low good for close up tasks without being blindingly bright (e.g. inside a computer case.)

-Useful flood to spot capability - the flood setting is very decent for close up work.

-Impressive throw - out throws many common 2AA lights costing several times its price.

-Rebel LED offers better efficency for longer runtimes compared to the old Lux model - should run for over a full day on the Low setting.

Cons:

-Beam has some rings and artifacts visible on a white wall, but not really that noticeable in real world use.

-Strobe and SOS - I can see the utility of these features for automotive, marine, and outdoor applications, but wish Mag would offer a version of this light without them.

-Having to wait 1 second to switch from Low back to High to avoid the Strobe and SOS settings.

All in all, I'm really liking mine so far and would recommend it to anyone looking for a decent, reasonably priced toolbox light.

HUGE bang for your buck.

.

[american lockpicker]

I want one of those.

[ringzero]

I want one of those.

Yes, you should want one.  Seem to recall you prefer American made stuff.

I'm very impressed that Mag makes and sells these at a price competitve with budget Chinese made lights from RayOVac, Eveready, Coleman, etc.

And, as a utility light it's actually better than those Chinese made lights.

.

[jzmtl]

And, as a utility light it's actually better than those Chinese made lights.

.

And your reasoning for that is?

The electronics probably are made in China anyway.

[ringzero]

And, as a utility light it's actually better than those Chinese made lights.

.

And your reasoning for that is?

The electronics probably are made in China anyway.

The Chinese made RayOVac, Energizer, and Coleman lights available in the big box stores around here are generally decent lights for the money.  However, all of them I'm aware of that sell for 30 bucks or less offer only one full-on output that is too blindingly bright for close up tasks.

IMHO, the new Mag beats them all as a task light because of its very useful 10 to 12 lumen Low setting.

To top it off, the new Mag is actually priced lower than Chinese made RayOVac, Energizer, Coleman!

At least it's cheaper in the stores around this neck of the woods.

.

[jzmtl]

I'm willing to bet those ROV, coleman lights cost the store 5 bucks tops, just the insane markup at b&m store. 

[ringzero]

I'm willing to bet those ROV, coleman lights cost the store 5 bucks tops, just the insane markup at b&m store. 

Well, that may be somewhat of an exageration...  However, the markup may actually be 100 percent - just a guess from previous retail experience.

It just amazes me that Mag can undercut the Chinese made lights in price and still offer more functionality.

.

[american lockpicker]

And, as a utility light it's actually better than those Chinese made lights.

.

And your reasoning for that is?

The electronics probably are made in China anyway.

I think the LED is USA made the chips are chinese and its assembled in the USA.

[jzmtl]

The LED is u.s. made but driver component probably isn't. I know Mag choose cheapest possible parts on their previous LED offerings, doubt it has changed.

[american lockpicker]

The LED is u.s. made but driver component probably isn't. I know Mag choose cheapest possible parts on their previous LED offerings, doubt it has changed.

Does that include the c/d LED upgrades?

[jzmtl]

As far as the older luxeon LED mag are concerned, mini, C, D all use the same innards. Not sure about new one, no one has dissected any yet.

[Black Rose]

Doesn't the 3xAA MagLED use a different driver than the 2xAA MagLED?

I haven't taken mine apart after destroying my first 2xAA MagLED 

[Leatherman123]

Wow, that's hilarious, I just got back from Wal Mart and I saw this flashlight! I was wondering about it! 

[jzmtl]

Doesn't the 3xAA MagLED use a different driver than the 2xAA MagLED?

I haven't taken mine apart after destroying my first 2xAA MagLED 

Yes, from what I can tell it's the same thing as 2/3D module, so don't use more batteries than it's designed for. Not sure why they did this thou, pretty stupid if you ask me.

[ringzero]

Doesn't the 3xAA MagLED use a different driver than the 2xAA MagLED?

Yes IIRC.

The 2AA has a BOOST converter to boost the 3V battery voltage up high enough to drive the LED.

The 3AA has a BUCK converter to drop the 4.5V battery voltage down low enough to drive the LED without frying it.

Both converter types can be combined into a BUCK/BOOST converter - a single converter that'd work for both 2AA and 3AA lights.  But, it'd be a more complicated circuit, more expensive to build, and could be less efficient overall.

.

[SoDak]

I wonder if they got the flickering issue under control. I got one when they first came out and while it was a good light(cheap, mostly american, and impressive throw for the led it was using), they thing would flicker all the time. I eventually got sick of it and got a princeton tec blast. If maglite has corrected this error, I would definately consider one of these new mini-mag leds.

[american lockpicker]

Is the flickering normal? I though it was a defect in mine and took it in to be exchanged at Lowes.

[ringzero]

Is the flickering normal? I though it was a defect in mine and took it in to be exchanged at Lowes.

I've never any experienced any flickering issues with 2AA or 3AA Lux MiniMagLEDs after having owned several of each type.

All of mine have been quite reliable, including those given away as gifts.

There were a few reported instances of flickering in the 2AA version that were posted over on CPF.  Most were resolved by cleaning the + battery contact with alcohol or ProGold IIRC.

Considering how many MiniMagLEDs are out there in circulation, there are bound to be a few reported issues.

.

[SoDak]

I never had any issues with the terra lux modules in mini mags other than poor throw, the problem seemed to be with factory minimag leds. Cleaning the contacts help some, but it never completely solved the problem(although I used a pencil eraser, which might be why). I'd give the light another chance, but for my use, I want a flashlight that will work when I need it to, the maglite failed at that. I really hope though that this new model will work great.

[jzmtl]

My 3D mag doesn't flicker, but in the process of upgrading I did soldered points that're only friction fitted originally.

[Styerman]

Sound interesting , wish they would do a 2xAAA version .

Chris

[american lockpicker]

Terralux has an LED upgrade for 2AAA.

[ringzero]

I never had any issues with the terra lux modules in mini mags other than poor throw, the problem seemed to be with factory minimag leds. Cleaning the contacts help some, but it never completely solved the problem(although I used a pencil eraser, which might be why). I'd give the light another chance, but for my use, I want a flashlight that will work when I need it to, the maglite failed at that. I really hope though that this new model will work great.

Sorry to hear you had bad luck with your MM2AALED.

Maybe it was defective from the factory?

I'd have returned it immediately back to where you bought it.

IMHO a great thing about buying a Mag is that if you get a defective one, you can just go back to the store and swap it out for another.  Or you can get your money back, if you just plain don't like it for some reason.

So, you can resolve most issues just by dropping by the local store where you picked it up.

If something goes wrong with a Mag, even years down the road from when you bought it, Mag will fix it or replace it for free.  Mag stands behind their products in my experience.

You'll have to deal with mailing it back to Mag and waiting a few weeks, but that's true of warranty service anywhere.

.

[american lockpicker]

Sometimes Mag will send you the part so you can replace it your self. They even throw in free tools.

[Rodion]

Multis? 

[american lockpicker]

Multis? 

More like an allen wrench but its free none the less.

[jzmtl]

Well, they finally came to Quebec, and I picked one up from walmart. Quality wise, it's okay for the price, but otherwise pretty disappointing.

-color tint is pretty blue
-there is no useful focus ability, as soon as you turn it on it's in focus, but any further turn of head will make the reflector too high and block most of the light from LED.
-output kinda sucks, high is about the same as my fenix L0D's medium.
-about an inch longer than incan minimag
-no lanyard attachment point

But then again, for $25 I'm not complaining.

[Black Rose]

I'll trade ya.  Mine has a reddish/pinkish tint.

[ringzero]

Well, they finally came to Quebec, and I picked one up from walmart. Quality wise, it's okay for the price, but otherwise pretty disappointing.

-color tint is pretty blue
-there is no useful focus ability, as soon as you turn it on it's in focus, but any further turn of head will make the reflector too high and block most of the light from LED.
-output kinda sucks, high is about the same as my fenix L0D's medium.
-about an inch longer than incan minimag
-no lanyard attachment point

But then again, for $25 I'm not complaining.

Sorry to hear you're not happy with it, jzmtl.  I'd take it back and exchange it for another, because you may have gotten a bad one.

Mine has a neutral white output - typical Rebel LED tint - not warm, but not bluish.  Of course there is probably something of a tint lottery, but neutral white seems to be what most people have been getting.

Output on high should be around 60 lumens - mine lights up half of my backyard on flood setting.

Sounds like your light may have a misaligned LED/reflector assembly.

When it first switches on it should output a bright flood with a tiny hotspot (and a few artifacts in the beam.)

Continue turning the head another 45 degrees or so.  That should direct most of the output into the hotspot, making it wider and a lot brighter.  At this point the beam is kind of ringy with a darker area around the hotspot.  No good for close up work, but the throw is impressive for a 2AA light.

If your light won't focus to a fairly bright spot, something is messed up and you should exchange it.

.

[jzmtl]

It came in a clam pack so I don't think walmart will be too inclined to take it back as it's not resaleable anymore. I suppose I'm just used to other high powered LED lights, so this seems not as good in comparison. It's definately not 60 lumen in high, as in ceiling bounce it's not as bright as my other light that's known to be 60, probably 40 or so on high. As for focus, mine can be focused into spot, but cannot be defocused for close up work like incan version.

I might go fishing later today if the wind dies down, I'll try it out.

I'll trade ya.  Mine has a reddish/pinkish tint.

Hehe, with canadapost we might as well buy a new one for cost of postage.