ATA ALUMINUM 4-LED FLASHLIGHT

ATA Aluminum 4-LED Flashlight, retail AU$15 (www.ata.org.au)
Manufactured by G-Nor for ATA (www.g-nor.com)
Last updated 04-06-04




The ATA Aluminum 4-LED flashlight is...well...an aluminum 4-LED flashlight. :-)

This sample does not function correctly, so the review will be a bit incomplete.

It features 4 white LEDs, feeds from 3 AA cells, and has a rubber covered pushbutton on the tailcap to turn the LEDs on and off.


SIZE



To use the ATA Aluminum 4-LED flashlight, first remove it and its included batteries from the package. This is easy to do: remove the staple from near the top of the package, turn the package upside-down (so the flashlight and batteries are facing the floor), and slide the paper and plastic sections apart. Feed the flashlight (see below), and then you'll be ready to go to town.

Press the rubber button on the tailcap until it clicks and then release it to turn the flashlight on, and press it the same way again to turn the flashlight off.

Press the button more lightly (before it clicks) and hold it that way to turn the flashlight on in momentary (signalling mode), release the pressure on the button to turn the flashlight back off.

The flashlight comes equipped with a wrist lanyard. It should fit around most wrists, and around nails or other projections on which you might hang the flashlight, but it is too short to be looped all the way around the flashlight. So you can't easily hang it from pipes or longer branches unless you already have a hook in place.



To change the batteries, unscrew and remove the tailcap, and set it aside. If necessary, remove the three expired AA cells from the barrel, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.
Insert three new AA cells, button (+) positive end first, into the barrel. Screw the tailcap back on, and you're finished.

Measures 176mA (44mA per LED) on the DMMs 2A scale.
So the LEDs are overdriven, but not terribly so.




Photograph of the LEDs and reflector assembly.

This particular unit does not function properly, so I will not be able to finish this evaluation the way I'd like.

The unit seems to be reasonably durable, but it is NOT submersible. When the flashlight was relieved of its batteries and then suctioned, there is leakage through both the bezel and through the tailcap. I believe it is reasonably weather-resistant, but you should try not to drop it into creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, puddles of porcupine pee, snowbanks, mud puddles, etc.
If it fell into water or if you suspect it got douched, take the tailcap and head off, remove the batteries, and dry the parts in some place warm and dry for a day or two, and the flashlight ought to be good as new again. If it fell into seawater or if something peed on it, rinse the parts in fresh water before setting them out to dry.

There is some knurling (texturising) on the barrel and coarse longitudinal ridges on the tailcap to help aid in retention (the ability to hold onto the flashlight when your hands are cold, wet, or oily).

The finish on the flashlight appears to be powder coated, not anodized. I was easily able to expose bare aluminum by scratching the barrel with the blade of a Swiss army knife. (Would I really try to cut up a brand spanken new flashlight? You bet your sweet patootie I would, if it's in the name of science!) I have since heard that some of these flashlights are powder coated, and some are indeed anodized. What you end up with will probably be luck of the draw, but you might get lucky. :-)

Let's try beating the flashlight against a steel rod and see if that makes it work properly...BRB...nope, that didn't work; but it doesn't look like I damaged it any more either.

I've been informed that if the head is tightened - I mean, really tightened, the flashlight might begin to work. That did not fix this sample though, so I still don't have a complete page for you. :-(



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 29,600mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.
While this isn't an awfully low value, it could be higher.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by L.T. from ATA, and was received on the afternoon of 04-05-04.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: G-Nor
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 4
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood with dimmer corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off/momentary on tailcap
    BEZEL: Clear plastic window protects LEDs and reflector
    BATTERY: 3x AA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION:
    WATER RESISTANT: Splash-resistant at minimum
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: Three AA cells
    WARRANTY: Unknown

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





G-Nor 4-LED Aluminum Flashlight * www.ata.org.au






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