Flashlights?

[Trenchfriend]

@TLW '90
Thanks for showing! That's a really nice one, I had no idea about.

 

[TLW '90]

@TLW '90
Thanks for showing! That's a really nice one, I had no idea about.

About a year and a half ago before Christmas they had a sale and I was able to get it for about $60 when they're normally $120.
I think mine just has some extra features, the standard ML150LRS is only $100.
I bought it for myself and the MAGTAC tactical rechargeable light for my uncle.
I really like how they're designed to live on the charging dock 24/7, because it keeps the battery healthy.
Many rechargeable batteries from lights to power tools tend to go bad when you let them drain completely before recharging them, and living on the dock 24/7 ( won't overcharge) prevents that.
My uncle had an original Mag-charger from the 80's, and it's NI-CAD battery cells still worked, obviously not very well anymore but they did still work.

 

[Trenchfriend]

But now, I'm a little irritated!

When it comes to good old "Mag", surely you have quite a choice.
But today, I did a closer look and when you do direct comparison, to me the current 3D Cell seems to be the most attractive.
The ML300 3D is a powerhouse and just a little heavier, just a little longer than my (old) 2D Cell, has enormous runtime AND an overseeable price!

746 lumens, but full focused 40.596 Candela (!), causing official 403 m range.

748 grams with 3 D Cells.
My old 2D Cell weighs 680 grams.

 

[TLW '90]

But now, I'm a little irritated!

When it comes to good old "Mag", surely you have quite a choice.
But today, I did a closer look and when you do direct comparison, to me the current 3D Cell seems to be the most attractive.
The ML300 3D is a powerhouse and just a little heavier, just a little longer than my (old) 2D Cell, has enormous runtime AND an overseeable price!

746 lumens, but full focused 40.596 Candela (!), causing official 403 m range.

748 grams with 3 D Cells.
My old 2D Cell weighs 680 grams.

I have a ML100 3C that I accidentally ordered a few years ago trying to get a 5D light that I was going to upgrade and add a 2D extension too.
The ML100 is kind of underwhelming, but the ML300 is good
The ML150LRSX I have is in my mind far superior to the ML300 because it's a little brighter while being smaller and rechargeable, but you can't really go wrong with the ML300 for the money if you want to use regular disposable batteries.

 

[Fifty150]

I also trust the reliability of Maglite, when I've had plenty of Chinese lights just stop working over time.​

I agree with the reliability factor. Very few things go wrong with Mag-Lite. And when something does go wrong, you can easily get parts, or send it in for warranty service.


I've had 1 Chinese made flashlight go bad. It was from Amazon. I bought a few. They were only about $3. To my naked eyes, they have different levels of brightness. On the odd occasion, I click it, and it doesn't turn on. I nudge and massage the switch, or unscrew the tailcap and screw it back on - I can get it to work. Annoying. But I have it, if I want to look under the bed. Lesson learned not to depend on a $3 flashlight.


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The only good affordable LED upgrades for old incan Maglites are from Litt industries​

Good to know. Interesting information. I have a few TerraLux units from 15 years ago. Still going strong. Even though they sold them as 140 lumens, these are bright. I also have a couple of the Nite Ize units (which are available at big box stores). They are not in the lead with 30 lumens. But they work. They work better than expected. The LED lamp also comes with a push button tailcap switch. I recently bought a few "Led Conversion kit 2D 3D 4d Cell Bulbs 3W 3V 4.5V 6V for 2-4C&D" from Amazon, which are generic. Cheap enough that I took a gamble to see if they work. They work. I don't know how long they'll keep working.


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an original Mag-charger from the 80's,​

Just like your uncle, I still have an 80's flashlight. My workhorse. A Streamlight. Back in those days, Streamlight & MagCharger were the best lights that you could buy. Significantly more effective that battery operated flashlights. Everyone did the math where the flashlight paid for itself, by not buying disposable alkaline batteries. With decades of reliable service, my Streamlight has paid for itself.

About 15 years ago, I installed a TerraLux LED upgrade. This is still my preferred work light. Around this area, public safety and utility providers still use these. You see the charging sleeves mounted into patrol cars, electric company trucks, fire engines, etc. Walk into a fire house, utility substation, or police station; and you'll see the bank chargers mounted to the wall.

Slightly larger than a 3 D battery light. Slightly smaller than the 4 D battery light. The 2 D battery light is also shown, to give perspective on size. If size were a consideration, in today's world, there are other options.

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The specs are not impressive by today's standards. And those flashlight beam on a wall photos don't tell the complete tale. What matters is what my eyes see. And it lights up the night. Shine it into a car at night, or down a dark alley, and you immediately understand why a lot of old guys are still using them. Even the LED upgrade specs are not impressive by today's standards. It's like an electric car. You charge it for 8 - 12 hours, to get 2 hours of runtime.​

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The ML150LRSX I have is in my mind far superior to the ML300 because it's a little brighter while being smaller and rechargeable

I look at all of those specifications, and sometimes I wonder how it all translates in real life. Will my eyes see the difference between 500 lumens to 1,000 lumens? Sometimes it's also the design of the lamp unit, and how the light beam is actually "thrown". Nobody ever talks about that anymore. What is the "throw" of the light? What is the beam pattern? What do you actually see?


I have 2 ML300L. A 3 D battery rated at 746 lumens, and the 4 D battery rated for 1,002 lumens. Honestly, I can't tell the difference. Maybe my eyes aren't so good in my old age. They can only see the $15 dollar price difference in my wallet.​

to me the current 3D Cell seems to be the most attractive

I keep the ML300L as a backup to my Streamlight. What am I suppose to do if both of my Streamlights' batteries run out? It could happen. If all else fails, I can find D batteries. Something to think about for power outages. If there's an outage, how do you charge your rechargeable flashlight?


Not an apples to apples comparison. And we know that those light beam on a wall photos don't mean much in the real world. Here is what the camera lens on my phone sees :






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[Trenchfriend]

Also, my keychain Fenix E01 v2.0 has somewhat brighter light as it seems to be on the youtube videos. Quite a powerful keychain light! Use it very often for daily things. Looks battered, but nice patina.

 

[Fifty150]

This is the generic LED drop in which is sold all over eBay and Amazon. They are cheap. I paid around $12 for 4. In real life, it's still brighter and whiter than the old incandescent light. Most of the listings claim 200 lumens. I don't know about that. Maybe it's 200 lumens right in the middle of the focus point, measured from a few inches in front of the light. This is a forward pointing LED, in a reflector housing designed for an incandescent bulb. In real life, it does work well enough to light up a path. You will be able to see where you're going. You won't step on unseen dog ****. Good enough for walking your dog. For $3, - $5, it's good enough to replace the old bulb in an old flashlight. If you have an old light sitting around, this is a cheap way to put it back to work.


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[Trenchfriend]

THANK GOD, my Mum didn't dump our old black "erdgas company" promotion MiniMaglite Krypton bulb from 1993!

Right now bumped two new AA batteries and all is fine!

 

[TLW '90]

If the power goes out, ill run my Magcharger I'll just use my Magcharger on low and be conservative with it.
The runtime on low is quite long, and very likely last more than long enough.
But it also has a car plug so I could charge it that way too.
I do have flashlights everywhere though including one that takes my power tool batteries which I have a bunch of and keep charged.

 

[TLW '90]

Here's the majority of my Mag's

 

[Trenchfriend]

Yep, old Mini-Maglite Krypton 110 grams.

 

[Fifty150]

two new AA batteries and all is fine!

Not the brightest. But one of the better built. Utterly reliable. Still one of my favorites. I always have a Mini Mag-Lite handy.




This is my "backup" Streamlight. Antiquated by today's standards. But it was the one I kept in the trunk of the car, in case the regular flashlight ran out of battery charge.

 

[Fifty150]

Here's the majority of my Mag's
View attachment 720053

I will always have a soft spot for Mag-Lite. Maybe a sense of nostalgia. But mainly because I am cheap. Mag-Lite (in The USA) are still priced very low. You can get a completely acceptable & functional flashlight, at a very low price. The lights are incredibly well built and they have a lifetime warranty.​

 

[Trenchfriend]

Let's face the truth!

1993 is still not that bad! Go on a totally dark attic and the 12 Lumens with serious Candela gives you good range on focusing. Let's say 35 meters OK.
The replacement krypton bulb is also still there.

Which European has flashlight from CALIFORNIA, these days??

 

[Fifty150]

According to Mag-Lite, the incandescent Mini Mag has 14 lumens & 2305 candela.

It works. Works pretty good inside of a tent. Good enough to aid walking down dimly lit paths. Helps when you're in a dark doorway; fumbling for the right key and getting that key into the lock. I've used it for map reading. For 1979 technology, it beat the rest and left them far behind.



My original Streamlights are from The 90's. I took my Streamlight battery out to check it. I marked it 08/09. August 2009. That was the last time that I changed the battery. 16 years later, it is still working. I installed the original lamp. It still works perfectly. It is described as 38,000 candlepower & 180 lumen. Interesting to see it in today's world. Here's what it looks like, compared to the 600 lumen LED upgrade.​

 

[Peacoat]

I just remembered this: Any of you LEO types old enough to remember the Kel Lites from the 70s and 80s? That is what most of our local officers and State agents used back then. Haven't thought of them in years.

They were used as much for compliance as they were for illumination.

Evidently they are now collectors' items. On eBay for over $100. Saw one listed for $199.

 

[TLW '90]

I just remembered this: Any of you LEO types old enough to remember the Kel Lites from the 70s and 80s? That is what most of our local officers and State agents used back then. Haven't thought of them in years.

They were used as much for compliance as they were for illumination.

Evidently they are now collectors' items. On eBay for over $100. Saw one listed for $199.

I'm much too young, but I am fully aware of the Kel Lights.
Kel lights eventually became Brinkmann and were sold as the Brinkmann Legend.
I have a little single AAA legend I bought NOS awhile back, I thought it was cool because it's one of the few old incan lights I'm aware of that came from the factory with a tail cap switch, plus it's cool that you can turn the switch to lock it.

Like the incan maglite solitaire it's far far too dimm to he useful for really anything , but even worse it has a terrible beam pattern and doesn't really turn on reliably.
I had always heard that the Brinkmann legend was not as good as the original Kel Lights, and I guess it's true.

 

[Fifty150]

Any of you LEO types old enough to remember the Kel Lites from the 70s and 80s?

Before my time.

Mag-Lite came out in 1979.

As a kid in The 80's. It was what everyone was using for work and play. As I recall , they had a proprietary "Krypton" bulb. Probably sent to earth by Superman's father. Hard to imagine what flashlights were like before that.

By the time I started working in The 90's, Mag-Lite was the recreational and homeowners flashlight. There was one in every house, car, and campsite.

Professionals were using Streamlight. Even the Snap-On tool trucks sold Streamlight to mechanics. It was the one brand that every cop and fire fighter had. Electric, gas, phone companies used them. Easily double the candlepower. To the naked eye, it was like having 10X the lighting.

 

[TLW '90]

Before my time.

Mag-Lite came out in 1979.

As a kid in The 80's. It was what everyone was using for work and play. As I recall , they had a proprietary "Krypton" bulb. Probably sent to earth by Superman's father. Hard to imagine what flashlights were like before that.

By the time I started working in The 90's, Mag-Lite was the recreational and homeowners flashlight. There was one in every house, car, and campsite.

Professionals were using Streamlight. Even the Snap-On tool trucks sold Streamlight to mechanics. It was the one brand that every cop and fire fighter had. Electric, gas, phone companies used them. Easily double the candlepower. To the naked eye, it was like having 10X the lighting.

Most people don't realize that Streamlight actually came out before Maglite, but of course they were originally just standard incans.
They didn't explode in popularity with law enforcement till their halogen bulbs took over.

 

[Fifty150]

Here is a weird one. As I am going through my flashlights, checking them out, recharging batteries, replacing parts as needed........ I found an LED lamp in a Mag-Lite, from Mag-Lite. I have no memory of this unit, or how I came to be in possession of it. I just have no clue. I've never seen this, or anything like it, before.

During the era where "LED upgrades" were coming on the market, I don't recall Mag-Lite selling their own. It's clearly marked with Mag-Lite's branding and logo. No other markings to indicate voltage, what type of battery, or how many batteries. It's obviously an LED. It does not appear to be home made. It looks like it was produced at a factory.






It was mounted in a 3D size Mag-Lite. I installed some fresh batteries. It worked.​