Maglite Magcharger Halogen

The traditional incandescent Maglite flashlights had the brightest and highest-spec bulb. The early Maglite's sole rechargeable model was called the Magcharger. This flashlight was launched in 1982, a few years after the release of the C and D cell models, but before the AA and AAA models were introduced. It had an exceptionally long production run, lasting until the 2010s before being replaced by the LED Magcharger.

The flashlight used a glass lens, metal reflector, and halogen bulb to achieve a brightness of 240 lumens. It also had the same adjustable focus feature as other Maglites, and a tailcap that could store a spare bulb. The rechargeable battery was a 6V Ni-Cad, initially 2200mAh or 2500mAh, later upgraded to 2600mAh. In the later models, this was replaced by a higher capacity 3500mAh Ni-MH battery.

The Magcharger was quite heavy, almost 1kg with the battery. Its length was nearly identical to the 3D Maglite, as it could actually use 3 D-cell batteries (though it would be less bright).

The unique feature of the Magcharger was its built-in charger - the battery did not need to be removed for charging. The two silver rings on the body were the positive and negative charging contacts. The charging current was only 220mA, so a full charge took over 10 hours. The charger base was designed to be wall-mounted, as the expectation was that the Magcharger would live permanently in the charger, continuously trickle charging even when full.

Whether this had any detrimental effects on the battery is debated, but many users reported using Ni-Cad batteries for years with no issues. Some prefer to charge only when needed.

If you want the classic all-metal, high-performance incandescent Maglite experience but with more brightness than the standard models, the Magcharger is an excellent choice at 240 lumens - more than enough for indoor and outdoor use, even exceeding the 6D Maglite.

They are not common in some regions, often requiring purchase from US eBay sellers. A complete new set can typically be found for around $100 USD.

Users should be cautious of potential battery leakage and corrosion, especially with older Ni-Cad batteries. Ni-MH replacements are recommended and can be purchased separately for around $30 USD.

RX1019 / RE1019

The Macharger model has two main versions of halogen bulb flashlights. Before 2011, it was a standard single-mode model with a brightness of 240 lumens, powered by a 2200mAh or 2500mAh NiCad battery (and later had the option of a 3500mAh NiMH battery around the 200Xs), with a runtime of 1-1.5 hours. The model numbers typically start with "RX", followed by numbers like "RX1019" to indicate different accessories.

In 2011, an electronic dimming circuit was introduced, paired with a 3500mAh NiMH battery. The model numbers now start with "RE", like "RE1019", and the body serial numbers start with "E". This version has 3 brightness levels: the brightest at 240 lumens (2 hours runtime), a lower mode (over 6 hours runtime), and a strobe function. Interestingly, the 3 brightness levels can be freely reordered (see diagram below). It's quite rare for a traditional flashlight to have multiple brightness levels and strobe functions all in one bulb - this may be a unique feature.

The halogen bulb is 6V, with early manuals listing it as 11W and later ones as 8.4W, though the actual brightness difference is unclear. The bulb lifespan is 50 hours. The bulb is American-made, with a rounded shape that produces a better light beam pattern compared to a standard halogen bulb.