Mag Instrument: Difference between revisions

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This regulation was designed to try to prolong the life of alkaline batteries. (Some say it was also designed to boost [[ANSI-NEMA FL-1#Runtime|ANSI/NEMA FL-1 runtime]] ratings, which measure the time the flashlight runs before falling to 10% brightness.)<ref>{{cite web|title=Talk:Mag Instrument|url=http://flashlightwiki.com/Talk:Mag_Instrument#Thermal-management_article_section|work=Flashlight Wiki|accessdate=29 January 2013|date=28 January 2013|author=[[User:Brted|Brted]]|quote=The effect of this would be to keep the light running cooler, but also to extend battery life (and some say to distort the FL-1 runtime rating which gives you credit down to 10% brightness).}}</ref> If you're using lithium primaries, the regulation steps down earlier than is necessary. When the flashlights reach 10% brightness, the batteries might still be more than half full.

For many customers, Mag flashlights with step-down regulation are fine choices. EDC forums user "watchcollector1968" writes, "If you are outside in the dark walking or working and have the light on chances of your eyes even detecting the drop over an hour or so is pretty slim. If for whatever reason you think you need full power again, simply turn it off and back on and the cycle starts over again."<ref>{{cite web|title=Maglite ML100 2C|url=http://edcforums.com/threads/maglite-ml100-2c.96043/|work=EDC Forums flashlight forum|publisher=|accessdate=27 January 2013|author=watchcollector1968|date=2 June 2012|quote=On high it will start at its full output for something like 12 or 13 minutes, then it begins to step down. Opinions seem to vary as to why, some think it is to prevent excessive heat buildup, others think it is to preserve battery life. Either way, if you are outside in the dark walking or working and have the light on chances of your eyes even detecting the drop over an hour or so is pretty slim. If for whatever reason you think you need full power again, simply turn it off and back on and the cycle starts over again.}}</ref>

The Maglite LED 2-CELL AA,<ref name="2AA">{{cite web|title=Contains outdated 1st-gen Maglite LED flashlights|url=http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LJT6DHWDCB6F|work=Customer Reviews: Maglite 3D / 2AA LED Flashlight 2 Piece|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc|accessdate=23 January 2013|author=NLee the Engineer|date=15 September 2010|quote=The 2nd-gen models solved the thermal problem. Previous models over-heat easily, and their light dim down after just a few minute of operation.}}</ref> and some other Maglite LED flashlights, used two techniques to avoid overheating:

* To cool off the LED, each of these flashlights included imperfect heat-dissipation technology:<ref>{{cite web|title=Maglite ML100 LED Flashlight Review|url=http://www.led-resource.com/2012/01/maglite-ml100-led-flashlight-review/|publisher=LED-Resource|accessdate=24 January 2013|author=Wang, Robin|date=20 January 2012|quote=Previous generations of Maglite’s MAG-LED technology, including the original LED drop-in replacements and even the current LED D-cell lights, had problems with heat dissipation and irregular beam patterns because they were originally designed for incandescent bulbs.}}</ref>  a poorly-designed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_management_of_electronic_devices_and_systems#Heat_sinks heat sink,]<ref name="2C_upgrade">{{cite web|title=MagLite 2C LED drop-in Technical Review|url=http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?119665-MagLite-2C-2D-4D-3W-LED-drop-in-Technical-Review|work=CandlePowerForums LED flashlight forum|publisher=|accessdate=23 January 2013|author="NewBie"|date=16 July 2006|at=Post 1|quote=We are looking at nearly a 60% drop in output, due to the LED getting hot, from a severe lack of good heatsinking}}.</ref> made of thin [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamping_(metalworking) stamped] metal.<ref>{{cite web|title=MagLite 2C LED drop-in Technical Review|url=http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?119665-MagLite-2C-2D-4D-3W-LED-drop-in-Technical-Review|work=CandlePowerForums LED flashlight forum|publisher=|accessdate=23 January 2013|author="NewBie"|date=16 July 2006|at=Post 1|quote=Here we go, one of those for your eyes only, which reveals the secrets and the shortcomings, and explains a great many things [...]}}.</ref>

* Also, as each flashlight's LED heated up, the flashlight provided less power to the LED, which caused it to dim and to produce less heat. If the flashlight was moved into a cooler environment, it instantly brightened again.<ref>{{cite web|title=MagLite 2C LED drop-in Technical Review|url=http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?119665-MagLite-2C-2D-4D-3W-LED-drop-in-Technical-Review|work=CandlePowerForums LED flashlight forum|publisher=|accessdate=23 January 2013|author="NewBie"|date=16 July 2006|at=Post 1|quote=When the module is hot, soaking them with a lot of cold spray causes the light output to jump back to when you first turned it on, and the current goes right back up at the same time.}}</ref>

Some criticized these flashlights for dimming so much so much due to the poor heat sink.<ref name="2C_upgrade" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Maglite Mag-LED: 2, 3, and 4 cell modules|url=http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/maglite_mag-led.htm|publisher=FlashlightReviews Archive|accessdate=23 January 2013|month=July|year=2006|author=|date=July 2006|quote=Some very knowledgeable folks [...] discovered poor heatsinking for the LED, which the circuitry then has to compensate for by quickly lowering output as the module heats up. [...] What I didn't like: Module heats up quickly and output drops quickly.}}</ref> There existed costlier flashlights with better thermal management.

In 2009, Mag Instrument modified the Maglite LED 2-CELL AA and Maglite LED 3-CELL D to each include a better heat sink. Even during extended use, those flashlights now stay at a reasonable temperature without dimming themselves.<ref name="2AA" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Maglite second-gen LED flashlight deserves a second chance|url=http://www.amazon.com/review/R19LDXP4LJKG36|work=Customer Reviews: Maglite SD3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc|accessdate=23 January 2013|author=NLee the Engineer|date=11 September 2010|quote=Improved Heat Sink: The overheating problem found in 1st-gen LED modules has been solved. That is, the light no longer dims down after just a few minutes of operation. [...] Better Power Management: The new Maglite maintains constant power consumption of 2W as long as battery voltage is above 3.5V.}}</ref><!-- I'm not sure whether or not other Mag Instrument's other LED flashlights must dim themselves over time to stay cool. See talk. --[[User:Unforgettableid]], January 2013 -->