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The TerraLUX MiniStar 2 Extreme is a Luxeon K2 upgrade
for the Maglite Minimag flashlight. The package includes
the LED module and a new reflector. Installation of
this module does not void the warranty of your MiniMag.
Body: The light module consists of a 5 Watt
K2 LED perched on an electronics board which contains
regulation circuitry. On the back of the module are
two pins. Just remove the head and bulb from your old
MiniMag and put this module in (with batteries installed).
If the light does not light, remove the module, turn
it around 180 deg. and re-insert. You won't hurt the
module by installing it backwards, but it won't work
either. Remove the old MiniMag reflector and replace
it with the included reflector. The entire upgrade is
reversable, not that you would ever want to.
Bezel/Head: Here it is with the new module and
reflector installed.
Output: The white light produced by the LED
is a high color temperature and produces good color
rendition. Since LEDs produce much more light in the
blue end of the spectrum, and significantly less light
in the red/yellow end, things illuminated with an LED
can appear "flat" and lacking depth or texture
to our eyes. This is because of the way our eyes work
and the limited spectrum output of LEDs. Distant target
identification is, to my eyes, always better with an
incandescent bulb.
The best spot is achieved when the light first turns
on. You still twist the head for on-off. If you continue
to twist the head to get a wider focus, the light beam
spreads out a bit, but you get those familar rings and
hole appearing in the beam.
Beam at one meter at target center. Narrow and wide
focus.
Runtime Plot: So how does it perform? 2 hr 01
min to 50% output.
Runtime
completed with Rayovac brand batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
Let's compare it to the new MiniMagLED
(2 cell) and the original Minimag. Not surprisingly,
the 5 Watt TerraLUX module (red) does much better in
terms of light output than the normal MiniMag (green),
but has shorter runtime. The big surprise was that the
3 Watt MiniMagLED (blue) vastly outperforms the TerraLUX
module in terms of both overall output and runtime..
Switch: Same as a normal MiniMag. Twist the
head for on-off.
Seals / Water Resistance: Same as a normal Minimag.
If it gets wet inside, just disassemble as much a possible
without tools and let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: Same as a normal MiniMag.
Batteries: Same as a normal MiniMag. To change
out the batteries: unscrew the tailcap, drop out the
old cells, place in new cells observing proper polarity.
Reattach the tailcap and you're ready to go.
Accessories: None
What I Liked: Easy upgrade for
the Minimag
What I Didn't Like: The new MiniMagLED
(2 cell) outperforms the module by a long ways. Instead
of buying the TerraLux module to upgrade your beat up
Minimag, you could just buy one of the new MiniMagLEDs
and get much better performance.
Picky Little Things: Installation
of the module doesn't void the warranty, but does anyone
really care about this? At only about $6 each for a
MiniMag at WalMart, the shipping to send the light back
to Mag for a warranty repair would cost more than a
new one, so I doubt any ever are returned for a warranty
repair anyway.
Conclusions: An OK upgrade. Honestly,
I have to say that I think the module is just not worth
it. Get the MiniMagLED 2-cell light instead.
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