mini-mag meltdown

N

nomad211

Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Messages
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Standarized a couple of years ago on Mag-Lite mini-mag lites, with the Wally Worl Led inserts, for most outdoor uses. Last weekend,,however, something odd happened. I was using one off & on as I was setting up my camp when I felt it began to grow hot in my pocket. It was off at the time & yet I could feel it getting hoter & hotter.
Disected it the next a.m. & found that the wires leading to the LED insert were fused & the whole insert was damaged from heat.
Anyone else ever encounter that & does anyone have any ideas why it happened?
 
Did the two pins of the LED module get twisted around and make contact with each other?
 
in one of Ron Hoods vids he starts a fire by pulling the bulb on a mini mag, sticking two wires in the holes and putting them down on some steel wool:thumbup:
 
I've never trusted any of the Maglite stuff, they've failed me as often as they've worked for me. There are too many quality, inexpensive LED's out there to still carry one.
 
I think the real problem here is the use of aftermarket "Wally World" LED inserts. There is a reason they only warranty their product if you use MagLite LED replacement kits. I had bad luck with the NiteEyes LED kits going out in my MiniMag.

Sorry to hear about Spooky's bad luck with MagLites, but I have had several, one is almost 20 years old, without any hiccups, although I have had enough bulbs blow, which is why I haved moved over to MagLite LED replacements.
 
Just to make sure we're all on the same frequency!!

Was it a Nite-Ize kit sold at walmart?
Or is it a walmart brand?
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I've never trusted any of the Maglite stuff, they've failed me as often as they've worked for me. There are too many quality, inexpensive LED's out there to still carry one.
Click to expand...

Agreed Spooky. I use flashlights a lot here on the farm and I'd go thru about 4 mini mags a year. On the other hand I have a 5 year old Black Diamond head lamp.
 
Never heard of a maglite heating up but I'm not too surprised. I have gone through about five maglites in the last few years. Now I completely stay away from them.

I now use some headlamps and a wally world surefire and couldn't be happier.
 
If it is the Nite-Ize upgrade bulb, you most likely shorted the two pins together when you twisted the head to switch it off, as Shecky noted. This is why modules like TerraLux are so much better.
 
I've used Mini Mags for as long as they've been available. They gave off a great light when they worked. Think I-N-T-E-R-M-I-T-T-E-N-T!!. And this isn't just one light, probably 8 or so.

I too switched to the Nite Ize L.E.D. enhancement and they did improve the light, but not the intermittent problems, so I bought a 2 AA L.E.D. Mini Mag, and the light was really good, when it worked. After I had it for a while, it, too, became intermittent, so on one canoe trip, I got so pissed off with it, I trashed it.

On recommendation from a fellow forum member, I bought a Fenix L2D, and for the most part it is great. It gives off a heck of a light, but a couple of times, it too has been intermittent. It goes out for a split second and shifts up to the next brightest light, but it hasn't been enough times to push me off the deep end, yet.

If it does, it may be back to Birch/Cherry bark torches. :rolleyes:

Doc
 
it was the nite ize insert & i couldn't tell if the wires had gotten twisted or not. they were too fused together, but that sounds like the most likely cause.
i standardized on mini-mags years ago & have never had any problems with them til now.
they're relatively tough & waterproof (especiall in the original form sans LED replacements, don't usually break when dropped, and BEST of all the on/off is a twist motion so i never had to worry about them accidentally getting switched on in my pack & running down the batteries.
I've replaced that one with one dorcey & one other that's a similar design but the brand escapes me now.
the dorcey seems ok, but the other one has a VERY thin metal ring around the entire base which connects the lanyard. how do i know this? Cuz the ring came off last night while i was walkling the dog. lanyard still secure around my wrist, flashlight fell off & took some crawling around to find in the dark. Liked this one at first cause it comes in orange, but i'll have to come up with something else for a lanyard. the factory design is dismal.
the dorcey works fine, but both of these have the push button end cap design which goes back to the problem of keeping them from accidentally geting bumped on while in a pack. also not sure how waterproof either design will turn out to be. they do put out great light from 3 aaa'a, though.
 
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