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Reviewer's
Impressions:
The InReTech Trilight replaces the 3-D Maglight lightbulb
and reflector with a cluster of 3 Luxeon Star elements and
their lenses. As a result the basic functionality of the 3-D
Mag changes. You should consider it a completely different
light. The only similarity that carries over is the case.
The output and purpose of the light changes. The light is
no longer focusable, so it cannot throw the light long distances
as it can with the incandescent/reflector combo. The bulb
will never fail, so it becomes exceptionally durable. The
light beam is a soft, smooth wide spot which is excellent
for close and mid-range illumination tasks.
Fit and finish are good. The construction techniques have
changed drastically since the original Super 6 was reviewed.
The base of the module is a one-piece aluminum block with
a threaded insert for attachment to the original bulb holder.
A brass nut and bolt serve as the positive contact. The board
with the Luxeon Star elements is screwed into the aluminum
base. There was a slight problem screwing the module into
the Maglight as it seems that the threads did not want to
grab. After several tries each time I attempted to reinstall
the module I was able to get it to attach. The good news is
that in actual practice you should only need to do this once.
Output was good, weighing in at 600 Lux at one meter with
the beam periphery spread over a wide area. This is about
what you would expect from a Maglight set at a loose spot
setting with the incandescent bulb.
Beam quality was very nice. The 3 separate beams produced
by the 3 Luxeon Stars overlapped very nicely with no discernible
hotspots, rings, holes or other beam artifacts.
Water resistance is the same as the original Maglight.
Assembly is a little weird. It requires a balancing act be
performed by the user, and although it is not difficult, a
little caution is necessary. First the lens cap, lens, reflector
and bulb are all removed through the front of the head of
the light. The head is then rotated as far down the body as
possible. The lighting module is screwed in place and the
Maglight must be balanced on end on a very flat surface. The
head of the light is next screwed upward until it contacts
the bottom of the aluminum plate. The collimator lenses are
then balanced over the 3 LED modules. The lens and cap are
then carefully screwed in place to hold the collimator lenses
down. If you can do this without knocking the whole thing
over, you have your new light ready to go. I would prefer
that the retrofit have the collimator lenses already attached
to the module so you just drop it in and you're ready to go,
but due to the nature of the Luxeon Star optics, that does
not appear to be possible.
Overall a very nice upgrade to the original Maglight. Using
LEDs allows the light to still cast a rather bright light
and at the same time, as the batteries are depleted the device
will continue to produce usable light for a long period of
time for those emergencies where batteries are not available
and any light is better than no light at all.
+ + + Pluses: Tough/impact resistant,
Long battery life, Bright, Close and medium range tasks become
much easier to perform in the dark with this modification
to the Maglight, Usable light is put out even while the batteries
are mostly depleted.
- - - Minuses: No regulation, A little
temperamental to screw in place, Installation is a little
unorthodox but not difficult, Light "throw" is greatly
reduced compared to the original Maglight configuration.
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