[Closed] Exposure MaxxD - Real World Burn Times?

Charge it for 12hrs. Then do a runtime test on a non-reflex mode. Then you'll know if it's the battery or the reflex stuff.

Then send it back for repair. Exposure are very quick at warranty repairs so you won't be without a light for long.

The reflex can eat the battery depending on the terrain and how it interprets your ride. I was out for 2 hrs last night and had it on PGM 1, toggling down to Low for maybe half an hour of it. End of ride I had 24 min showing remaining.

Its ambitious marketing. Real life is somewhat shorter.

As above. I have a 6month old mk11 race that does the same. Battery is fine. Not sent back yet, although it's been back already for something else. But the older exposures run much closer to the stated times in reflex modes, eg mk 7 maxx d.

So then, anyone else?

Iain - that sounds like my experience when I tried PGM1 for a ride.

I'll try a run test on a fixed program and see how that stacks up, but sounds like the Reflex programs might be wishful thinking. Maybe you only get the claimed burn time on a 6 hour climb if you don't wiggle the bars too much.

I would accept it as ambitious marketing if it wasn't etched onto the body of the light to taunt me.

Ha, it wont taunt you in the dark though 🙂

I have the same issue with my Diablo. I presume the full 1400 lumens are only available on programme 1. On programme 2 I should be getting 2hrs on full, 6 hours on medium. In reality after only 1hr 20 ride its down to red (25-40%)and that is after using it for only 5 mins on full and the rest on medium or low. However, I have a sneaky feeling after leaving the light on post ride, in reality the fuel gauge is bottom loaded ie after only 20 mins on medium the green is already flashing (85-70%), but it remains red or red flashing for a few hours or so.

Not sure about being bottom loaded. I ran the race to flat on programme 7 (2hrs on full). It conked out at exactly 2hrs and 3mins and matched the time countdown on the screen.

mine runs to the stated time on the non reflex programmes. I had a chat a while back with the folk at exposure, hence my comments earlier re terrain etc.

in my case, on PGM 1, my typical ride has an hour of mostly up, then an hour of mostly down. The light doesn't know this, so after the first 5 mins or so it crudely works out, based on the way you are riding, speed, inclination, how best to spread the power over the next 2.5 hrs or so. When I then get about an hour or so in and am going more down than up, and a bit faster, it gets confused, and burns through the battery, reducing the stated burn time from 3 to 2 and a bit hrs.

I often set it on the fixed 3 hr on max mode and just leave it, but do find the reflex mode useful on shorter rides.

Only used mine for an hour before it broke so waiting on a replacement, was impressed with it up till that point!

Sounds like reflex mode is trying to be too clever for it's own good, perhaps a dumbed down mode would be better. It must be aiming for a set time limit, 3 hours in PGM1 and using your example doesn't make it. Perhaps better if it ignored the intended run time and just did the light based on the speed/conditions so it would just go low for most of your first hour then just do the next bit according to the actual requirements, not over doing some parts so that it tries to meet it's set time limit.

I noticed in my brief use that in PGM1, even pottering up a gravel path at 5mph with no bar movement it was still a fair bit brighter than manually changing it to low. I don't mind having to change the mode myself but then you have the issue that High isn't as bright as max output when Reflex is on, really don't understand why you can't boost to the max output like on a lumicycle, either for a short period or until thermal requirements mean it lowers the brightness. Seems like the sort of thing which should be an option, I wonder if firmware updates can be done by the charge port although I haven't heard of it before so probably not...

Do you [i]really[/i] need all the lumens that reflex mode kicks out though?

I know you have them there to be able to use, but doesn't that mean it's like daytime riding instead of night riding?

PGM7 on my maxx d mk9 has 2 hours on full and 6 on low. im thinking this could be the full power setting without using reflex?
Anybody from exposure on here?

benp1 - Member
Do you really need all the lumens that reflex mode kicks out though?

I know you have them there to be able to use, but doesn't that mean it's like daytime riding instead of night riding?

I like having the trail well lit up, and use the MaxxD along with a Joystick. I don't have the best of eyesight so every bit helps 🙂 It is still nothing like daytime riding IMO. I only tend to toggle it to a lower setting if at the back of the group, so as not to put others into shadow

benp1: yes as my night vision is terrible hence upgrading my old trusty light. I have a couple of "ebay" ones before anyone pipes up, brilliant for the money, never gone wrong in 2+ years, minor annoyance regarding cycling through modes but I use these when road riding in lit up areas, I need a lot more brightness for offroad 🙁

burt: Not 100% sure but the way their site reads it implies it only goes to full power in reflex mode "2350 Boosts to 3200 with Reflex" , if that is the case then a shame it can't be a manual boost as I mentioned above.

I'm about to return my maxx d mk9 for replacement as we speak..
Clearly my reflex is busted!

On fixed setting it does stay true to time.
On reflex it will burn through 6 hours (mode 2) in about 90 minutes!

Watching a video on the USE Facebook page highlighting the reflex function really dimming down when stopped,I can confirm mine is busted! Uber beam when stopped = bad times!

DrP

DrP - that why my race went back. Came back super-quick and the reflex clearly now works....but on reduced runtimes in reflex modes as above.

just sent them a link to this discussion. hopefully they will have a better idea 🙂

Fair enough, I'm not judging!

I have very rarely used lights on max but my riding isn't techy so I can't comment in a fair way

I'm more of a mincer e.g. my diablo is often in the 3/10 setting and is usually in 10 rather than 3!

Mine definately dimmed when I stopped on reflex although took longer than in that video. After ~1hr it dimmed to nothing suddenly though and wouldn't come back 😀 just had some faint green leds on the back, hopefully a one off. Cables were boring me so like the all contained quick to clip in/out setup

benp: in medium it is probably enough for most. Other way of looking at it is that you can run a light in a lower mode which is fine for most riding but then you have some brightness in reserve for really techy bits or something. This would give longer run times as well compared to a lower power light maxed out all the time (generalising)

So I think it's fair to say that folk are less than blown away with the reflex mode in terms of achieving run times. I think I'll do the test on a fixed program and see what that's like before deciding on what to do with it.

I just got a Maxx D and a Diablo and from what I can tell reflex works for people who stop a lot. For me in program 1 A3 I got 2 hours same as the non reflex mode. I didn't stop moving though. It definitely dims if left still though.
The Diablo on the other hand was still going strong 1:35 in on the 1 hour setting so well impressed!
Between these two lights a lap of Swinley is about the same time as in the daytime albeit with the occasional surprise slip and associated swearing 🙂

Just did a quick experiment in the lounge. If the torch is pointing down at all it doesn't dim so adjusting the bar mount may be the solution. I have mine angled slightly down so perhaps it's my fault it never dimmed and not that it's aimed at people who stop 🙂

I got this reply to the link to the forum I sent them earlier

Thanks for your email and link to the forum; I have passed it on to the marketing guys who may be interested.

A few answers/comments for you that may be helpful:

· The Reflex modes have been tested here and should achieve their stated runtimes, the time remaining can fluctuate slightly in these programs as the output increases and decreases accordingly.
· The Maximum output in Reflex mode is a peak output and cannot be achieved in other modes; it will not sit at this maximum output for long on Reflex mode. The maximum output in manual mode is also stated on the light and is achieved on the 2 hour setting (program 4 and 7 – high mode).
· To ensure maximum charge is achieved, we recommend that the units are left on charge for a while after 100% is displayed and the charger shows green. You cannot damage or overcharge the battery by doing so and we leave all units charging overnight here prior to any testing

Right so I did a run time test with the light charged overnight for >12 hours.

On the PGM4 I got just a shade under 2 hours, so pretty close to claimed allowing for the near zero temperature.

I'll try adjusting the bar angle and see if that helps in the reflex mode, otherwise I'll send it back.

I've mk2 reflex, the reflex setting worked perfectly for the 6 hours of torchbearer and has been pretty much spot on for regular 2 hour spins. I like to run it upside down so I can read the LEDs better.

If I put mine in the high/medium/low/flash mode I get about 15 hours on medium and 4 on retina burning high and round about the life of a bb30 bottom bracket on low.

I fully charged it for Mountain Mayhem last year, ran it from about 9pm to 6am on medium switching to high for tricky bits and it still had over 3hours left on the indicator in medium mode

Ive got a problem with new mk9 maxx d

Basically charge it to 100% came back to it 2 days later, and the charge is down to 75%

Thought first time maybe id forgot and not charged it properly, so did the chargr again after a ride and exactly the same although last time it stayed 100% for 2 days then suddenly on the 3rd day of being sat there stationary it suddenly stated 80%

Now other than pressing the button to check the power percent left its not been turned on

Anyone else had this? Obviously not holding its charge when not in use

I had a mk 8 that was a bit like that but worse, could be flat after sitting a week since full charge. Exposure replaced it immediately. My MK 9 went back to them on Saturday due PGM 1 rapid burn times highlighted in this thread, so will report back tomorrow once i have heard back

My mk7 six pack is just back after being replaced by evans, it was losing charge in storage but according to evans, exposure said they couldn't find a fault but they replaced it anyway. I've been careful to follow the charging regime too so not entirely sure what to make of it

Ive got a problem with new mk9 maxx d

mine did that from new. Before sending it back, I discharged it to below 50% and then recharged it. Since then it's been fine.

I tend to use PGM-1 but switch manually to low power when stopped or climbing. Get three hours then. Reflex only tends to be at least half an hour less.

Interesting my problem sounds quite common then

Alex what exactly did you do to fix it? By discharge it to 50% do you mean just let the light get to 50% or lower by using it?

Would prefer get it fixed without sending it off if possbile so ill give anything a go

Cheers

Sorry for late reply been away. I just took it on a night ride and ran it down to 15% or something then charged it back up and it's been fine since. Worth giving exposure a call - they are very helpful as there might have been a sequence more complex that that but I can't remember what it was....

Mine arrived back this morning, needed the reflex mode reprogrammed and I think maybe some bits. All working perfectly and turned around in jig time as usual. Given I mailed it on Saturday I can't complain.

Had my replacement from Evans, two rides, still working so that's good 🙂 I do really like the reflex mode, made me giggle with satisfaction when it brightned back up as I started moving again after a comfort break.

Anyway...need to play around with the settings a bit, find out what works for me. I did two identical 1h40 rides (give or take a minute), tried two methods

PGM1, first 20 mins manual on low as road with ~2 mins of it on Auto , next hour Auto offroad gravel/farm tracks, last 20 mins manual on low

PGM4, first 20 mins manual on low, ~2mins on high, turned off and back on with it on PGM1 then auto for next hour and last 20 mins manual to low as first test

Ended up with 1:02 and 1:04 left on High, showed 41% when checking battery level although 33-34% when plugged into charger where it started going up from so probably the right figure

Based on what you said before ianc I thought my second method would "trick" it into lasting longer as the reflex was only used initially on the bumpy offroad stuff but it ended up being no different so not really sure.

Regardless, should be enough battery life for me, rarely do over 2hrs at night and I could get longer in one of the manual modes. Would like 10hrs on high but batteries (in general) are naff. I didn't go for the 6 pack as the beam spread looked narrower on their website in the beam comparison

showed 41% when checking battery level although 33-34% when plugged into charger where it started going up from so probably the right figure

Must go and have a play with mine too on manual and see how the times compare. The 'fixed' reflex mode is nice to see, tried it in my dark garage last night, dimmed right down after about 30 seconds, gave it a shake and back up proper bright 🙂 It seems more effective that it was from new, so suspect a factory fault

Makes sense thinking about it. Mine seems fine as mentioned, if it really was on ~41% left and 1:04 then I expect it would actually last longer. Need to go on a longer proper offroad ride 🙂

My reflex seems to work as intended, dims down on smooth climbs etc, the slight flicker as it does a big mode adjustment is a minor niggle.

Really do like the clip in and go setup with no battery to velcro on, cables to wrap round banging away etc. I can live with having to put it on charge overnight every ride or two.

Tempted by a diablo now. I always ride with a camelbak so no real issue running a helmet light with a seperate battery but a right faff when you forget and take your helmet off etc! Just not sure the run time and the weight work for me though.

Tempted by a diablo now. I always ride with a camelbak so no real issue running a helmet light with a separate battery but a right faff when you forget and take your helmet off etc! Just not sure the run time and the weight work for me though.

I tried a Diablo vs Joystick about 5 yrs ago and found the weight noticeable on the Diablo, for not much longer overall burn time at similar outputs. I bought a Joystick and have updated it most years, on current version now and it's ideal for me. I toggle it between high and medium and it always has juice left at the end of a 2 and a bit hour ride.

I need to test a couple really. The Maxx-D is so bright with a good throw that I could probably get away with a weaker helmet light.

Oscillate Wildy, mine did the same, dropping charge when not in use, when new but having used it a few times it (touch wood) seems to have cured itself. So letting it drop below 50% and the recharging may be the way to go

I had a response from exposure too about mine dropping charge when left alone for a few days

they said the same as the chap a few posts back about letting it get down to below sort of 15% from empty, then doing a full charge for about 15 hours

said it allows the battery to recalibrate itself, it may even come up with an error code with it being on charge for 15 hours but its perfectly fine if it does

it worked perfectly out last night, I ran it down to 1% and have done a full charge for about 12 hours so far, so ill leave it till dinner time ish, then not touch it for days, and see what it says then

Ok, I've done a "proper" off road ride now, my earlier two were road then rough cycle path/farm track. Exciting waffle follows....

Bedgebury red route in Sussex if you know it, PGM1 whole time, first 10 minutes with it set on low along fireroads then auto the rest of the time.

1hr39 total time, 1hr22 moving (fitted new saddle so lots of faffing, camelback bladder broken so repeated near strangulations by helmet light lead as I got a bottle out of my camelback etc....)

At the end it showed 1:17 left in High (reflex), 5:17 in low, battery test with it off showed 46%, it went Amber to say 50% or less left at 1hr28

So pretty much as described really 🙂 The route doesn't have much elevation but is rough in places, short up/down, small sections of fireroad etc. A few times I think the reflex could have been a bit quicker or more sensitive ie on this one uphill it wasn't quite as bright as I ideally wanted but I should stress that I have bad night vision and I had turned off my helmet light to see what the Maxx was upto, never actually an issue.

One downhill twisty rough bermy bit near the end I went for it (ie actually bothered to pedal instead of just flowing it....), 95 secs, did the same bit in 90 secs on Saturday in the daytime

So to summarise, in this incredibly indepth single ride test (more than some mags?) it lasted as described. If you did a large group ride which based on my experience means a riding to stationary faff ratio of 50/50 you would get more than 3hrs (or more brightness throughout the ride?). It dips below Low when stationary as I did a quick test when stopped for a drink after disturbing a couple of deer..

ive done the regcharge thing on mine from empty to a full on 100% and for some extra hours

I did it on Friday, and its still at 100% charge now as of today, so 3 full days on

before it was dropping 20% overnight, so If anyone else does have this, seems the battery needs resetting by :- run the charge down to under 10% then charge for around 15hours, you should now notice it will stop dropping percentage of charge overnight when not In use (this is advice given from exposure, so sounds like its a fairly common problem)

just chipping in on this as ive got a new toro in the post today.

I see you can get the support cells. Whats stopping you getting one of the usb power supplies and using the usb lead to give you extra juice for the ride home?

Would this work? can you use the light while its charging?

dunno, sorry.
just a point about Li-ion cells and charging/leaving them charged - don't. Li-ion should be stored partly charged and in a cool place ideally. so for instance i do a night ride that gets me down to ~ 45% on my 6 pack, and that stays in the garage until the night before the next ride, then i charge it.

oh why so?

afraid i haven't looked in to the physics of it but I have read of this in a couple of places - lumicycle's site for one that is particularly relevant. make sure theres enough charge that it doesn't drop too low over time, but not fully charged. if storing for a long period, get it out, charge it, use it a bit, then put it away again.