Mag Instrument: Difference between revisions
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Like other lighting technologies, LED lighting does not produce only light, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_management_of_high-power_LEDs but also heat.] LED technology today is such that only about 30% of the energy going into an average LED is turned into light. The rest is turned into heat. | Like other lighting technologies, LED lighting does not produce only light, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_management_of_high-power_LEDs but also heat.] LED technology today is such that only about 30% of the energy going into an average LED is turned into light. The rest is turned into heat. | ||
The Maglite LED 2-CELL AA,<ref name="2AA">NLee the Engineer (15 September 2010) [http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LJT6DHWDCB6F Contains outdated 1st-gen Maglite LED flashlights] ''Customer Reviews: Maglite 3D / 2AA LED Flashlight 2 Piece''. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | The Maglite LED 2-CELL AA,<ref name="2AA">NLee the Engineer (15 September 2010) [http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LJT6DHWDCB6F "Contains outdated 1st-gen Maglite LED flashlights"]. ''Customer Reviews: Maglite 3D / 2AA LED Flashlight 2 Piece''. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | ||
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</ref> and some other Maglite LED flashlights, used two techniques to avoid overheating: | </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>Wang, Robin (20 January 2012). [http://www.led-resource.com/2012/01/maglite-ml100-led-flashlight-review/ Maglite ML100 LED Flashlight Review]. LED-Resource. Retrieved 24 January 2013. "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." | * To cool off the LED, each of these flashlights included imperfect heat-dissipation technology:<ref>Wang, Robin (20 January 2012). [http://www.led-resource.com/2012/01/maglite-ml100-led-flashlight-review/ "Maglite ML100 LED Flashlight Review"]. LED-Resource. Retrieved 24 January 2013. "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." | ||
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|date=20 January 2012 | |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.}}--> | |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"> NewBie (16 July 2006). [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?119665-MagLite-2C-2D-4D-3W-LED-drop-in-Technical-Review MagLite 2C LED drop-in Technical Review]. ''CandlePowerForums LED flashlight forum''. Post 1. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "We are looking at nearly a 60% drop in output, due to the LED getting hot, from a severe lack of good heatsinking." | </ref> a poorly-designed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_management_of_electronic_devices_and_systems#Heat_sinks heat sink,]<ref name="2C_upgrade">NewBie (16 July 2006). [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?119665-MagLite-2C-2D-4D-3W-LED-drop-in-Technical-Review "MagLite 2C LED drop-in Technical Review"]. ''CandlePowerForums LED flashlight forum''. Post 1. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "We are looking at nearly a 60% drop in output, due to the LED getting hot, from a severe lack of good heatsinking." | ||
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|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> | |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> NewBie (16 July 2006). [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?119665-MagLite-2C-2D-4D-3W-LED-drop-in-Technical-Review MagLite 2C LED drop-in Technical Review]. ''CandlePowerForums LED flashlight forum''. Post 1. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | * 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>NewBie (16 July 2006). [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?119665-MagLite-2C-2D-4D-3W-LED-drop-in-Technical-Review "MagLite 2C LED drop-in Technical Review"]. ''CandlePowerForums LED flashlight forum''. Post 1. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | ||
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</ref> | </ref> | ||
Some criticized these flashlights for dimming so much so much due to the poor heat sink.<ref name="2C_upgrade" /><ref>[http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/maglite_mag-led.htm Maglite Mag-LED: 2, 3, and 4 cell modules] FlashlightReviews Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | Some criticized these flashlights for dimming so much so much due to the poor heat sink.<ref name="2C_upgrade" /><ref>[http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/maglite_mag-led.htm "Maglite Mag-LED: 2, 3, and 4 cell modules"]. FlashlightReviews Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | ||
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</ref> There existed costlier flashlights with better thermal management. | </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>NLee the Engineer (11 September 2010) [http://www.amazon.com/review/R19LDXP4LJKG36 Maglite second-gen LED flashlight deserves a second chance] ''Customer Reviews: Maglite SD3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight''. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | 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>NLee the Engineer (11 September 2010) [http://www.amazon.com/review/R19LDXP4LJKG36 "Maglite second-gen LED flashlight deserves a second chance"]. ''Customer Reviews: Maglite SD3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight''. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 23 January 2013. "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." | ||
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