Magic Shine Info

[Erik A]

Info on Magic Shine Lights from the Light & Motion point of view.

We appreciate you giving us an opportunity to discuss this issue. Here are our bullet points on Magic Shine:

1. Non-regulated charging system. Lion batteries must be regulated during their charge cycle and Certification and Approval is important. If the charger is not regulating the current, bad things can happen (i.e. fire).

2. Lumen output is not correct. Recent testing has proven that the 900 lumens advertised is actually 518.

3. Beam pattern is spotty and jagged. This is due to the off the shelf "orange peel" reflector.

We believe that the Magic Shine fad will burn out quickly, as well as any customer support they may be providing right now.

Of all these points, the biggest concern is the non-regulated charging and lack of safety associated with that. We don't recommend charging this system in your home.

Thanks for the opportunity to address this. Feel free to contact us with any additional questions.

Thanks!

Light & Motion
300 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
www.bikelights.com

[Borneo]

Funny, though I don't have either, everyone I know with a Magicshine has been raving about them...

Sour grapes? Only time will tell....

[jimba]

ok so here is info from a guy (me) that owns two Light & Motion lights (one is a Li ion arc, the other is a ni-cad logic MV) and also ride with two guys with L&M LED lights.

first off the Li ion arc is the brightest of the two that i own, and still use that one on my bars, the magic shine is on my helmet and blows the L&M away! hand down no comparison. When riding with the more modern L&M LED lights, they are compatible with the M.S. as far as brightness and pattern. But for $90 shipped to your door, you cant beat it, I can replace the M.S. at my expense 5 times before i pay for one L&M LED (like a seca 700) Now I will admit the L&M are made better, and have better housing, and mounting hardware. but the bashing L&M is making on the M.S. is just paranoid scare tactics. I mean look at it this way, if you were in L&M shoes and a light came out that cost 1/5 of your and did just about the same job, you would be nervous too.

I would buy another M.S. tomorrow!

[Brian Crowley]

Just don't let that Magicshine battery get wet when you are in the woods on a dark night. It's not waterproof.

I own a Dinotte 600L and a Magicshine. I've done side-by-side comparisons and the Dinotte 600L is slightly brighter than the Magicshine (600L stands for 600 lumens, for those of you who have not already figured it out). My Dinotte light also also considerably better built than the Magicshine. I've had the 600L knocked off my helmet several times when night riding, and it just keeps working. If I ever whack the Magicshine on a log I think it might blow apart.

Also, I agree with L&M on the charging system for the Magicshine. The charging system that come with the light is for sh!*. I don't leave mine charging unattended for that reason.

For $90, the Magicshine is a great value, but it's important to know that while it's a bright light, for overall quality it's not in the same league as the more expensive lights.

IMHO of course.

[KevinA]

Also, I agree with L&M on the charging system for the Magicshine. The charging system that come with the light is for sh!*. I don't leave mine charging unattended for that reason.

Does that mean, for those of us who are electronic dummies, that if the battery gets too hot during the charging cycle that it can catch fire? I've been sort of paranoid about this and always remove my MS battery as soon as I see the light change from red to green. Neither the charger or the battery seem to be getting very warm so far.

[Erik A]

Some examples of overheating \ overcharging a Li-Ion Battery

[Brian Crowley]

Does that mean, for those of us who are electronic dummies, that if the battery gets too hot during the charging cycle that it can catch fire? I've been sort of paranoid about this and always remove my MS battery as soon as I see the light change from red to green. Neither the charger or the battery seem to be getting very warm so far.

That would be correct. A well designed charging system regulates not only the amount of energy that goes into the battery, but also the battery temperature.

I cannot find any kind of UL or CE mark on my Magichine Battery or charger. I also notice that if I unplug the charger with the battery still plugged into it, the LED on the charger stays lit. This is not a definitive sign, but is typically a sign that the charging system is not well designed. I don't know for sure that the Magicshine battery/charger will cause any problems, but given the origin, overall low cost, and the two points above, I choose to be careful when charging this battery.

My Dinotte system on the other hand, I have no problem leaving it charging overnight or when I am away.