| | |  | Broadcaster Tools | Home » » Mag-Lite ST3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight, Black | | | | | | | Description: | | Like many other manufacturers, Mag Instrument has expanded its line of flashlights to include models featuring LED-type bulbs. Why? LEDs are virtually unbreakable, and they are far more efficient than incandescent bulbs. As the product name suggests, this Maglite runs on 3 D-type batteries, which will take a while to run out thanks not only to the LEDs but also to Mag Instrument's "Intelligent Energy Source Management," which balances high brightness against extended battery life. The bright, powerful beam adjusts from spot to flood simply by rotating the head. The case is made from a high-strength aluminum alloy that has been anodized inside and out, which gives you water- and shock-resistance in a lightweight package. High-quality O-rings at both openings keep water away from the batteries. In other words, this energy-efficient flashlight is almost indestructible--a good quality when it comes to the tools. Limited lifetime warranty. Batteries not included.--Josh Dettweiler | | | Features: | |
• 3 D-cell flashlight with 3-watt LED
• Aluminum alloy case
• Water and shock resistant
• Efficient power usage
• Durable and reliable
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 12.34 inches | | Product Width:
| 1.56 inches | | Product Height:
| 2.25 inches | | Package Length:
| 14.76 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.12 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.57 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.06 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 262 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 262 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
272 of 275 found the following review helpful:
 Maglite second-gen LED flashlight deserves a second chanceSep 11, 2010
By NLee the Engineer
[Remark on Nov 27, 2011]
Amazon has combined the 2-D and 3-D cell versions of Maglite LED flashlights into one product page. The following review was original written for the 3-D cell version. See my other review if you are looking for the 2-D Cell version.
==== Original Review follows ====
This Mag-Lite ST3D016 3-D Cell LED Flashlight features the second-generation LED technology by Maglite. You may be alarmed that many of the older Amazon reviews are highly critical about this product. However, please note that the 2nd-gen LED Maglite was not even available before May 2009. That means earlier reviews were all based on the inferior first-gen Maglite LED flashlight.
The 2nd-gen Maglite LED flashlight offers many improvements over the first-generation version:
1. Brighter LED:
The new Maglite uses a Luxeon 'Rebel ES' 3-Watt LED as light source (check my Customer Image to see how it looks like). This LED is significantly brighter, whiter and more energy-efficient than the previous 'Lux III' LED used in 1st-gen Maglite.
2. Improved Heat Sink:
The overheating problem found in 1st-gen LED modules has been solved. That is, the light no longer dims down after just a few minutes of operation.
3. Better Power Management:
The new Maglite maintains constant power consumption of 2W as long as battery voltage is above 3.5V. That means it produces the same brightness whether powered by 3x NiMH cells (3.75V), or 3x alkaline cells (4.5V). When battery voltage drops below 3.5V, the light dims down gradually to conserve power, instead of abruptly drops dead like in 1st-gen. (See my Customer Image for chart of Input Power vs. Battery Voltage)
4. Sharper Focusing:
The 'Spot' mode is now very tight, with hardly any spill over. The 'Wide' mode is more even, without an ugly black hole in the middle. (See my Customer Image for beam shots)
Some other observations:
- Light output of this Maglite 3-D LED flashlight is rated at '104-lumen'. I have no reason to doubt this number, because it is significantly brighter than the Maglite 2-AA mini LED, which is rated at 69-lumen. This claim is also consistent with the spec sheet of Luxeon Rebel ES LED, with the input power at 2W.
- The battery life is rated at '72-hour'. This number seems a bit optimistic to me. Based on energy calculation, a set of three alkaline D-cells should be able to power the light at full power (2W) for about 20 hours. After that, the light will start to dim down gradually over the course of next 30-40 hours.
The only 'shortcoming' of this 3xD-cell Maglite is its size and weight. It is true that you can find other LED flashlights that also advertise '100-lumen', but powered by just 2xAA or even 3xAAA cells. However, the total energy stored in each D-size alkaline cell is about 7x greater than that in one AA cell. So by using three D-cells instead of two AA cells, this Maglite is able to burn at full brightness for 10 times longer. Most other LED flashlights only provide full brightness initially, when batteries are fresh. Physics don't lie. Marketing people do.
Bottom line:
Don't be discouraged by outdated negative reviews! This 2nd-gen Maglite LED flashlight is a very capable, rugged workhorse. Of course, if you need a more compact unit, then consider the MAGLITE 2-AA Cell Mini-Maglite LED Flashlight instead. It offers the 2nd-gen LED technology, too.
[Update on Feb 23, 2011]
I did a comparison between this 3-D Maglite and its 2-D cousin (ST2D096), and found them to be identical in terms of brightness and beam shape. The only difference is in runtime (about 20 hours for 3-D, 12 hours for 2-D). So just pick one depending on your preference in size.
[Update on Oct 26, 2011]
A reader informed me that the latest 3-D Maglite is using 3rd-generation LED, possibly Cree XP-E. I just confirmed this at my local Costco. The new package says '131 lumens' (previous one says '104 lumens'), and the LED inside has a square green base (previous one has a rectangular white base).
109 of 116 found the following review helpful:
Buy this flashlightMay 28, 2007
By DCode
"Prog"
LED bulbs are convenient for 4 reasons I can think of offhand: 1. they're "solid state" devices so they're waaay more rugged than incandescent bulbs, 2. they usually have an operational life in the tens-of-thousands of hours, 3. the white LEDs are so "white" in color that they make regular bulbs look yellow, 4. they usually drain batteries more slowly than incandescent bulbs.
LED bulbs have only 3 problems that I know of: 1. they're more expensive than incandescent bulbs, 2. their beams don't seem to travel as far as incandescent beams (could be subjective or flashlight construction), 3. most flashlights that use LED bulbs REALLLLLLY SUCK--CAVEAT EMPTOR!!! I can't stress #3 enough.
If you've never purchased an LED flashlight before, you might be tempted to assume that their beams are just as bright as regular flashlights. You'd be WRONG! I've tried at least a dozen "inexpensive" LED flashlights ($<60) over the years. All of them have left much to be desired even though I was only looking for one that was as bright as a regular flashlight. Boy! Did I waste a lot of money pursuing that modest goal! Learn from my mistakes. If there's one thing I can't stress enough, it's that more LEDs DO NOT necessarily equate to a brighter overall beam. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. If you start with a good LED bulb, you don't NEED a bunch of little ones.
Anyway, a Maglite 2D LED flashlight is every bit as bright (subjective) as Maglite's regular 2D flashlight. It even appears a bit brighter because of the whiteness of its beam. It also appears to be able to throw the beam a commensurate distance. With a fresh set of batteries, I believe mine burned with enough light to read by for over 22 hours. It actually went a while longer, but I can't find my notes on the experiment.
Yes, I am a flashlight geek. I own SureFire flashlights that can stun a man in the dark and cost more than an iPod. Though the 2D LED MagLite doesn't have the power to stop a man in his tracks, it should easily replace a regular 2D flashlight. It throws a nice white beam, and should should last longer on a pair of batteries. At its price point, I've yet to see it bested by any other LED flashlight. Mag Instruments took their time bringing an LED flashlight to the market, but they DID IT RIGHT!
10/31/08 Update. LED flashlights, in general, have come a long way in the past year and a half. Mags are still my favorite (relatively) cheap and long-life flashlights, though.
7/1/10 Update. LED flashlights are pretty amazing these days. You can buy small (3-AAA) LED flashlights that are only a bit larger than a roll of quarters for $30 at Walmart that are almost as bright as this Maglite. They won't have the ability to focus on far away objects, but they are conveniently sized. Unfortunately, they seem to grow dim relatively quickly as their teeny-tiny AAA batteries can't compete with this Maglite's big fat "D" cells. It comes down to a choice between a conveniently small flashlight that drains batteries relatively quickly (hours) or a comparatively large flashlight with very good battery life.
FYI, my 2-D LED Maglite (bought ~3 years ago) employs a standard bulb mount. It's very unlikely that I'll ever need to replace the LED (they're tough and have lifespans rated in thousands of hours), but if I do, it's nice to know that the flashlight will function with a regular incandescent bulb. Mine even came with a spare incandescent bulb stored in the tailcap. It's a nice bonus, considering that you cannot generally replace the bulb assembly in most other LED flashlights. Oh, and after ~3 years, I've dropped my Maglite more times than I can count (while turned OFF and ON) and it still works.
176 of 198 found the following review helpful:
 Classic Light Leaves Much to Wish ForJan 03, 2009
By Menace915
"Menace915"
****REFER TO THE CUSTOMER IMAGE I UPLOADED****
The 3-D LED Maglite is indeed an improvement from the traditional krypton Maglites that were used by police in the past. Nowadays police prefer xenon or LED models, especially the Streamlight Stinger or Pelican 7060, especially after allegations that these lights were being used with excessive force.
However, the LED Maglite left much to wish for, especially when compared to other LED lights.
PROs:
*Much brighter than the krypton Maglites
*Has spare krypton bulb in the tailcap should you ever manage to break the LED module, something that rarely happens.
*The focus ability of this light allow you to decide whether you want to use a lot of "sidespill" to light up the room, or to focus all the light into a tight beam to get a lot of "throw." Unfortunately the "throw" only allows you to see things up to 2-3 blocks away.
*Solid construction, the flashlight looks nice in any color, and it is a good self-defense tool. You can either blind an aggressor and if that is not enough it is a nice impact weapon. You do not need the 4 cell, or 6 cell Maglite to defend yourself, a 6 inch light will do if you know how to use it.
*Runs on 3 D cells, which are relatively cheap, and easy to find as opposed to CR123A's. The big batteries do add to the weight and strength of the light if you ever need to use it as an impact weapon.
*You can purchase a separate "Bust A Cap" device to attach to the tailcap of the flashlight. This little device will allow you to break car windows in case you need to get yourself or anyone else out of a vehicle during an emergency. Without the device, you will struggle to break the window, and you might damage your flashlight.
*The LED drains batteries slower than incandescent models.
*The 3-D Cell Maglite IS the BEST of all the other Maglites (2-D cell, 4-D cell, 6-D cells, etc) because it is the brightest and lasts the longest time on a fresh set of batteries.
*Momentary on, or constant on click-switch on the neck of the light. Some folks might prefer a "tactical switch" on the tailcap of their light, so if this is an issue, this light is not for you.
Now that I reviewed the PROs you might be wondering why I only gave it 3 stars. Here is the why: I expected more out of this light now than it has been promoted to LED status, especially since it is a Maglite. However, it failed in the following areas:
*POOR REFLECTOR. Maglite allows us to focus our light by rotating the head, but in doing so, it sacrifices the smooth beam that characterizes other LED flashlights. As a result you are left with "dark spots" and a "black hole" in the middle of the beam. These areas of darkness prevent you from seeing thins you need to see in the dark.
*The LED itself is not as bright as you would expect. I've seen many more LED lights, and my cheap Dorcy 3AAA 80 lumen light valued at $17 is WAY brighter. I am being fair in using a Dorcy within the same price range, you can't say I'm comparing the Maglite to a Surefire or Pelican.
*The LED has a "purplish" tint to it. Other LEDs offer a very white light. Others emit a somewhat bluish tint. This one emits a purple tint, and although it is bright, the weird tint is somewhat disturbing.
*The flashlight DOES get a bit dimmer as the batteries die down. Then it suddenly dies on you. This means if you intend on using this light for emergency preparedness, you better have fresh batteries so you won't be left with a dead light.
It's good that Maglite finally realized that LED is the future of flashlights, but they still have a lot to improve so that their products are high quality. The problem is not with the body of the light, all they need to fix is the reflector and the LED module. Police departments throughout the nation have seen these weaknesses in Maglite flashlights, so they have switched to Streamlight, Pelican, Inova, and Surefire. In order for Maglite to keep up, they need to work on their small blemishes.
The only exception is the AA LED Maglite, which is perhaps the best light they've made. The LED is smooth, with no dark rings around it.
42 of 44 found the following review helpful:
Best LED Flashlight for the PriceJan 05, 2008
By K. Romeo
After doing exhaustive research on the web for LED flashlights, I decided to give this one a try. I have owned other LED flashlights and have NOT always been happy with these products. Some reasons why I like this one more than the others include: 1) price, 2) quality, 3) adjustability of the beam (small bright dense center or wider softer light), 4) includes an extra bulb in the base just in case the first one breaks, 5) you can purchase other types of bulbs, like Xenon, separately if you need them, 5) has good battery life (some lose brightness intensity very fast after a few minute of continuous use. Other LED flashlights have smaller multiple light bulbs and you can't adjust the beam intensity as you sometimes need to do on search and rescue missions. Of the 4 LED flashlights I own, this one is my favorite. It works great in a power outage, for hiking/backpacking (only when using out of the car, a little too heavy for a few night loop), and for search a rescue missions. For the price and quality you can't beat this powerhouse flashlight.
I bought 2 and use one for a polyanna gift exchange we do a Christmas with my husband's family this one was stolen the maximum number of times per our rules (3 times) early on in the game.
15 of 15 found the following review helpful:
A comparison between 2-D and 3-D cell versions of MagLite LED flashlightsFeb 07, 2011
By NLee the Engineer
The 2-D cell version of MAGLITE LED Flashlight (ST2D016) is rated for 114 lumens light output, and 9 hours 15 minutes runtime. The 3-D cell version (ST3D016) is rated for 104 lumens, but suppose to have an incredibly long runtime of 72 hours. I find this claim very hard to believe based on simple physics, which is why I have to verify it for myself.
Before we start, please bear in mind that most of the older Amazon reviews are based on first-generation MagLite LED flashlights. The two MagLite LED flashlights I tested are both second-generation models, which contain the following improvements:
- Brighter Luxeon Rebel ES 3W LED
- Better optical reflector design
- Better battery utilization
(See my upload in the Customer Images section, if you need to find out whether your Maglite has the 2nd-gen LED technology)
EXTERIOR:
From the outside, both 2-D and 3-D Maglite LED flashlights have exactly the same shape and finish. Of course the 3-D version is longer, but the difference is not as dramatic as one would imagine. That's because the 2-D version actually has the length of four D cells stack together. So the 3-D version is only 25% longer.
INTERIOR:
There is a subtle difference in the positive contact inside the two Maglite flashlights. The ST2D has a slightly recessed contact point, which means if the first battery's positive terminal is just slightly wider than that of a standard alkaline cell, it will not make electrical contact. So initially I was not able to use any rechargeable D cells (such as the Energizer D Rechargeable NiMH) in it. I have to add a tiny solder bump to the positive terminal for it to work.
BRIGHTNESS:
On paper, the ST2D should produce more light output than ST3D (114 lumens vs. 104). But in real life, I cannot tell which flashlight is brighter even in a side-by-side comparison. They both have the same LED and the same optical reflector design, which means they should generate the same brightness as long as they are driven at the same power.
POWER CONSUMPTION:
According to my own measurements, both versions consume roughly the same input power (hence light output) with fresh alkaline cells. The main difference is in how the input power changes over battery voltage range.
- For the ST3D, input power is tightly regulated at 1.9-2W as long as the battery voltage is over 3.5V. Below 3.5V, however, the power drops rapidly. The light becomes nearly useless when battery voltage drops below 3V.
- For the ST2D, input power is not as well-regulated. It consumes about 1.7W at 3.0V (two fresh alkaline cells). As the battery falls all the way down to 1.5V, the input power actually increases to almost 2.2W. Below 1.5V, the input power drops off quickly, but the light is still useable even at 1.0V!
(See the "Input Power vs. Battery Voltage" chart in Customer Images section)
RUNTIME:
A typical alkaline D-cell is rated for about 9,000mAh when delivering a constant current of 500mA. So its total energy (assuming an average voltage of 1.3V) is about 12Wh. Based on my energy calculations:
- Two alkaline D cells should be able to power the ST2D for about 12 hours at full brightness.
- Three alkaline D cells should be able to power the ST3D for about 20 hours at full brightness.
There is absolutely no way three alkaline D cells can sustain 2W for 72 hours, because that will require each cell to pack 48Wh of energy. Why did MagLite rate the runtime for ST3D as '72 hours'? I can only imagine that's the time it takes for the light to drop to 10% of its full brightness.
CONCLUSION:
The 2-D and 3-D versions of MagLite LED flashlights are identical in terms of built-quality, light output, and beam shapes. The main difference is their runtimes. But this difference is more like 12 hours (for 2-D) verses 20 hours (for 3-D), instead of 9 verses 72 as Maglite claimed.
Presently, the two versions are priced similarly. So unless you expect to use your Maglite as an impact weapon, the shorter 2-D version may be a better choice.
See all 262 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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