Re: LED flashlight test report

In Message-ID:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> posted on Wed, 03 Dec
2003 14:44:39 -0000, Charles Scripter wrote: 

>Howdy Folks,
>
>So I was cruising the aisle in a Walmart on Turkey break, and found a
>single AAA LED flashlight by Dorcy.  Well, clearly 1.5 V isn't enough
>to drive a white LED, so I only bought 1 (initially ;), wanting to
>check it out first.
>
>The unit is a little larger than a Maglite Solitaire (and obviously
>doesn't feel nearly as robust, though it is mostly aluminum), but
>still comfortably pocket sized.  The light is turned on by screwing
>the butt cap down -- and feels a little on the clunky side, but what
>can you expect for 5 or 6 bucks.
>
>The light is indeed a white LED.  The flashlight obviously has a
>(voltage) boost converter -- it appears to draw approximately 150 mA
>when running (some variability in this, due to the circuitry).  They
>claim it last 10 times as long as a regular flashlight.  Based on AAA
>battery specs and the current drain, I'd estimate about 10 hours or so
>at room temp (I really doubt that a Solitaire would give an hour).
>
>The light output is respectable (waddya expect from a single LED?),
>and given the low cost, small size and convenience, I'd give it a
>thumbs up (stash one in every coat).  I think my family are getting
>these for X-mas...  ;)

I bought one of these awhile back because of the extremely low price,
and within minutes of opening and determining that it wasn't red like
the case, but was indeed a white LED, I returned and bought the
remaining one. If any of our area WMs restock this item, I'll probably
get some more. 
The output of these is about equivalent to the CMG ultra infinity, which
uses a single AA. At about a fourth of the cost, I too think they are an
interesting item. The fit 'n finish isn't up to the CMG, notable is the
anode contact spring, which looks to be mounted directly to the voltage
doubler circuit board. I now have one apparently functional unit and
another which became too intermittent for reliability, that I might
reverse engineer with my Dremel (actually a Black & Decker RTX). <g>

-- 

Bart