Reviews > Lighting > Flashlights - LED > Nite Ize Maglite LED Upgrade Kit > Owner Review by Andrew Mytys

Tester's Biographical Information:

Reviewer: Andrew Mytys Email: amytys@gmail.com Homepage: Andy's Lightweight Backpacking Site Location: Michigan Age: 33 Height: 6'1" (183 cm) Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)

     Backpacking Background:

I live in Michigan and have been hiking seriously for 15 years, although I've camped since I was 6 years old. I consider myself a lightweight hiker. I carry the lightest gear I can get my hands on which will provide a comfortable wilderness experience and adequately support the goals of my trip. Unless my goals are time/distance oriented, my pace is always slow. I rarely exceed 1.5 miles (2.4 km)/hour. I rest frequently, hike long days, and enjoy whatever nature throws my way.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Nite Ize (http://www.niteize.com) Item: AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit Year of Manufacture: 2005 MSRP: $7.95 US Added Weight of Upgrade: 0.1 oz (3 gm), Nite Ize 3 LED light array and reflector Bulb Life: Rated for 10 years/100,000 hours of continuous use Available Bulb Colors: White, Green, Blue, and Red, each purchased as a separate kit Manufactured In: China

Field Experience:

I have owned the Nite Ize AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit for three months. I have used it in the capacity of a camp light over the course of six nights out in the backcountry. This review reflects using the product in a way that allows me to take batteries that I and others would otherwise discard and instead realize extended amounts of additional use out of the cells. As a result, I purchase fewer batteries and feel a bit more "eco-friendly." This test does not reflect product use with new, fully charged, batteries - given the product's performance with "weak" batteries, I cannot justify using batteries that have enough energy in them to run more "power hungry" appliances.

Description:

The Nite Ize AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit is an array of three white LED bulbs affixed to a base that's compatible with Mag Instrument's AA Mini Maglite flashlight - the LED unit is installed in the Maglite, replacing the flashlight's stock incandescent bulb. Replacing the original bulb with the Nite Ize LED unit voids the warranty on the AA Mini Maglite flashlight. Converted lights continue to support the freestanding candle mode of the Mini MagLite and the flashlight remains water and shock resistant.

Installation:

To install, the head of the Maglite flashlight is screwed off, revealing the bulb. The stock bulb is pulled out, and replaced with the Nite Ize 3 LED light array. If the LEDs do not turn on immediately, the wire connectors need to be reversed - remove the LED array, turn it halfway so the wire connectors are reversed from their previous position, and install. Once the LED array is correctly oriented and working, the top cap of the head needs to be screwed off, giving access to the protective lens cover and reflector dish. The old reflector dish is replaced with the new reflector, supplied in the upgrade kit, and the lens cover and top cap are put back into place. With the new LED array and reflector in place, the head is screwed back onto the Maglite until the point where the light turns off. The head is now an on/off switch - rotate to the right to turn the light on, left to turn off. The image to the left, above, represents the parts that will be removed from the Maglite. The image on the right shows the replacement parts that are supplied in the kit.

What's Gained?:

• The ability to use batteries that would otherwise be at the end of their usefulness.
• A brilliant white light of near constant intensity.

What's Lost?:

• The ability to adjust the Maglite beam's shape from spot to flood.

General Use:

I bought the Nite Ize AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit in an effort to squeeze as much value out of my AA batteries as I could. Because of the very limited lifespan that my digital camera's internal battery has when fully charged, I bought an external battery pack powered by six AA batteries. Once these batteries lack sufficient power to drive my digital camera, they are transferred to my GPS unit, which takes two AA batteries. After about six hours of use, the GPS delivers its low-battery warning. At this point, the AA batteries are transferred into my AA Mini Maglite flashlight. Running the Mini Mag's stock incandescent bulb with such weakened batteries installed results in a light characterized by a pulsating hue that's dull yellow in color. With the Nite Ize LED upgrade kit installed, these same batteries produce a light that is a brilliant, and blinding white - in other words, USEFUL!

I power my upgraded Mini Mag using the "dead" AA batteries that I accumulate, in addition to AA batteries I find in the battery recycling bin in my office. I have more free batteries then I know what to do with. I can generally expect to get about four hours of bright light cast in a wide spectrum from a given pair of "recycled" batteries, meaning that the effective range of light cast is equivelent to that realized when using fresh batteries. This degree of light can be expected from both alkaline and lithium batteries, in both warm and subfreezing conditions, which I found to be surprising as alkaline batteries traditionally perform poorly in cold weather.

When used in camp, my converted Mini Mag is suspended from a pullout found along the sloping wall of my Black Diamond Megamid tarp. I leave the light on from about 6 pm until I go to sleep at around 12 am. Hanging at four feet (120 cm) off of the ground, the LEDs provide enough downward illumination for two adults to read under, organize items inside the shelter, dig into stuff sacks, assemble stoves, etc.

As the batteries weaken, there's a noticeable decrease in the area being illuminated. However, the actual light is still bright, and looking straight into the LED array can be blinding. Once the intensity of the LEDs becomes such that the bulbs can be looked at directly without causing a stinging in the eyes, the light remains bright enough to where the Mini Mag can be straped to the side of my head for use in reading. While the light isn't powerful enough for on-trail navigation, it will continue to suffice as a comfortable reading light for hours - the light cast is always bright, and it's strong enough that there are no issues with shadows dancing across the page while I read. This is incredible, considering that the old incandescent bulb would be but a small pin prick of light cutting through the darkness, not really good for anything.

Performance Examples:

The following pictures are taken with the reflector off of the MagLite. Notice that, as the batteries weaken, I have to hold the shutter on my camera open for a longer period of time in order to capture any trace of light from the incandescent bulb - first 1 second, then 7 seconds, and finally 12 seconds. Because the LED lights continue at a similar intensity of output, even in degraded conditions, keeping the shutter open on the camera for a longer period of time results in a brighter light appearing. What does this mean to the hiker? It means that as the batteries being used get weaker and weaker, output from the LED array will continue to be useful, if not for navigation then for in-tent tasks such as organizing gear and reading. At a time when the incandescent bulb proves useless, the LED lights continue to function. How much longer? Hours! My other electronic devices go through batteries much faster than the upgraded Mini Mag can use them, so I tend to swap batteries in the flashlight before the current batteries are completely expended.

The Nite Ize LED light was used for a given period of time, and then photos were taken of both the original incandescent bulb and the Nite Ize LED array using the same batteries as a power source. The photos are simply meant to illustrate a comparison of light level output between the original incandescent bulb and the LED array on a given set of batteries. As the incandescent bulb uses more power than the LED array, the batteries would not have been able to power the original bulb for an additional eight, or even four hours. That longevity is realized by using the LED upgrade kit.

The point of my experiment is merely to show that batteries that would otherwise have been thrown away can continue to be of practical use when used with the Nite Ize LED Upgrade Kit.

Mini Mag performance before and after upgrade, using batteries too weak to power my digital camera or GPS unit. exposure - 1 sec, ƒ4 Used before the upgrade, the light level is sufficient for in-tent use, but I would prefer a fresher set of batteries. Light output is not acceptable for on-trail navigation. The same batteries, used with the Nite Ize LED Upgrade Kit, provide enough light to see the surface conditions along the trail itself - more than enough power for a solid four hours of navigation.
Mini Mag performance before and after upgrade, using batteries too weak to power my digital camera or GPS unit, after four hours of additional use with the Nite Ize LED Upgrade Kit. exposure - 7 sec, ƒ4 Used before the upgrade, the batteries are well beyond the point where they would be thrown away. After the upgrade, the light is powerful enough to illuminate the trail directly underfoot, but the details to the side of the trail and in front of me remain lost in darkness. Overall, conditions are too dim for confident navigation. The LEDs provide more than enough light for hours of in-tent reading and chores, though.
Mini Mag performance before and after upgrade, using batteries too weak to power my digital camera or GPS unit, after eight hours of additional use with the Nite Ize LED Upgrade Kit. exposure - 12 sec, ƒ4 Used before the upgrade, these batteries would have been thrown away long ago. After the upgrade, the light is powerful enough to illuminate the trail directly underfoot, but the details to the side of the trail and in front of me remain lost in darkness. Overall, conditions are too dim for confident navigation. The LEDs provide more than enough light for hours of in-tent reading and chores, though.

Environmental Challenges:

While the Nite Ize AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit doesn't have any environmental issues, the same cannot be said for the Mini Mag itself - I have had batteries become stuck inside the flashlight. I suspect that this was due to an almost impreceptable amount of condensation on the inside of the battery chamber freezing a seal between the battery and the inner wall of the flashlight. In any event, I've spent a good half hour extracting a "stuck" battery from the inside of the Mini Mag flashlight. It should be noted that such freezing occurs infrequently, but when it does happen it can be quite frustrating.

Usage Issues:

At times, the LEDs won't turn on when the Maglite head is rotated to the right. When this occurs, I find that, in addition to turning the Maglite head to the right, I have to loosen the end cap that covers the battery chamber. The light turns on as soon as I hit some unknown "sweet spot," and afterwards I can tighten the end cap back down while the LED is lit and continue to use the light as normal. Nite Ize makes a "combo" version of the LED Upgrade Kit that sells for $9. In addition to the 3 LED array and reflector I have, the "combo kit" comes with a replacement end cap that includes an integrated on/off push-button switch. I wonder if this design gets around the intermittent issue I'm experiencing.

Durability:

The Nite Ize AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit is listed as being shock resistant. I've dropped my Mini Mag with the LEDs installed a few times and have noticed no adverse affect.

My Opinion, Overall:

I bought the Nite Ize AA Mini Maglite LED Upgrade Kit in order to squeeze that last bit of power out of my AA batteries before sending them off to the recycling center. I've been pleased with the results to say the least. Overall, I've found that LED lights need very little power to be effective. As a result, even if I don't have any old batteries lying around the house, I can always dip into my company's battery recycling bin and use some AA batteries that someone else has discarded. I've yet to find batteries that were deemed as "too weak" by someone else that haven't been able to light the converted Mini Mag for at least a few hours. Yeah, I've got to fidget with the light for a few extra seconds from time to time to get it to work, but the tradeoff is worth it in my book - getting extensive use out of batteries that would otherwise have been thrown away is priceless.

Reviews > Lighting > Flashlights - LED > Nite Ize Maglite LED Upgrade Kit > Owner Review by Andrew Mytys