LITEPRO KEE-BINER

Litepro Kee-Biner, retail $8.95 (www.pocketlights.com/litepro_kee-biner.asp)
Manufactured by (unknown) for Litepro LLC (www.litepro.com)
Last updated 02-01-06




The Litepro Kee-Biner is a small LED flashlight that looks like a carabiner that climbers use - though it's marked on the front of the package and on the flashlight itself "NOT FOR CLIMBING".

It can be attached to your keys, backpack, cellular telephone, GPS receiver, etc. with a spring-loaded "gate" built into it or with the split ring on a short nylon strap (removeable, if desired).

It is powered by two CR1220 lithium coin cells, and features both flashing and steady-on modes. A 5mm (T1 3/4) white LED in the unit provides its light.

I don't know how to properly pronounce "carabiner", so I don't know with absolute, positive, 100% certainty if I should pronounce this as "kee byner" or "kee beener".
(Update 02-01-06): I heard from somebody this morning who appears to really know his {vulgar term for feces} about climbing equipment that the correct pronunciation of this product should be "kee beener".


SIZE



The Kee-Biner is ready to use as soon as you remove it from its retail package. Slitting down one side of the package with a knife was sufficient to remove the flashlight and the retail card - which contains warranty information and battery changing information inside.

To use the Kee-Biner, firmly press and release the circular area inset into the center of the Kee-Biner's round body, and it will come on in flashing mode, with a flash rate of approximately 2Hz (two flashes per second). Press and release it the same way again to turn the LED on in steady mode, and press & release it a third time to turn the Kee-Biner off.
Just like it says on the back of the shampoo bottle: lather, rinse, repeat.

The Kee-Biner can be clipped to a keyring, duffle bag, backpack, etc. using the spring-loaded "gate" on the carabiner part of the Kee-Biner's body. As I understand, this "gate" is on the opposite side of the "gate" on a real carabiner; perhaps this was done so that you could not confuse the two and get in trouble later when the Kee-Biner becomes broken under the load. You must NOT use this as a climbing device; I cannot emphasise this enough.
The Kee-Biner also comes equipped with a medium sized split ring on a small nylon strap; you can affix it to your existing keychain with this, or affix keys to the Kee-Biner's keyring.



To change the batteries in your Kee-Biner, lay it upside-down on a flat surface. Using a #0 phillips screwdriver, unscrew and remove the screw, and place it where you won't lose it. Lift and remove the back of the light, and set that aside too. Pick up the light. Press inward on the batteries until the entire light swings out from the LED-end, leaving the carabiner portion still horizontal and the LED part swung outward. Remove the entire battery/circuit/LED assembly. Push on the batteries from the LED-end with a pointed instrument; a pen, pencil, or the screwdriver you used a minute ago should do the trick here. They should easily slide out through the end of the circuit board opposite the LED. Dispose of or recycle the used batteries as you see fit.
Insert two new CR1220 cells into the battery compartment, flat side (+) facing up.
Place the circuit board back into the top half of the light, orienting it so the LED goes in the opening of the plastic case half for it and the small metal pushbutton switch faces down. Swing the entire assembly back into the metal carabiner until it stops, place the rear case half back on, being sure the LED end and screw hole are aligned properly, and screw the screw back in, taking care not to overtighten it.
Phew.
Done with that.
This battery changing procedure is difficult, but not impossible by any means.

Battery life is not stated on the packaging. One user of this product recommends changing the batteries after 3-4 hours of use.



As I stated before, you must NOT use the Kee-Biner as a climbing device; I simply cannot emphasise this enough. It is meant for use as a flashlight, not as a climbing device.

Having said that (again), the Kee-Biner *does* appear to be reasonably sturdy. Other than having an exposed LED that can become scuffed, scratched, or otherwise marred; ordinary flashlight accidents should not be enough to do it in. Hitting it against a steel rod 10 times did not cause any visible damage, and the light functioned correctly after this "correction" (punishment).

The Kee-Biner does not appear to be very water-resistant. There are no O-rings sealing the two case halves together, and a suction test performed at the LED-end did show the Kee-Biner admitted plenty of air, probably from the case half interface. I believe it has at least very light splash-resistance, but if it falls into water, the inside of the unit will readily flood. You can either take it apart (as you might for a battery change) and set the parts in a warm, dry place for a day or so, or attach a sturdy string to the carabiner portion and rapidly whirl it over your head. If it fell into seawater or if something peed on it, douche the parts out with fresh water before setting them out to dry. If you're in a bar and somebody throws a drink at you and some of it gets on your Kee-Biner, I don't believe you will have a problem with it if you dry it off with a paper towel or some TP as soon as you're able.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 7,400mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.
Light has a distinct bluish-cyan tinted white color to it.





TEST NOTES:
Test sample was sent by D.K. of Pocketlights.com along with five other lights, and was received on 05-10-04.


UPDATE: 02-01-06
The Kee-Biner is no longer being manufactured; its maker, Litepro LLC has closed its doors.





PROS:
Good looking, unique design
Appears to be at least reasonably sturdy
Clips just about anywhere
Two distinct light modes (steady-on and blink)


CONS:
Not very water-resistant
Tested unit not all that bright, and has a funny tint to its light
Battery change is a bit on the difficult side, and requires tools


    MANUFACTURER: Unknown mfg. for Litepro LLC
    PRODUCT TYPE: Keychain flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Wide spot, with ring well outside main beam
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off/mode change on top of flashlight body
    BEZEL: None
    BATTERY: 2x CR1220 cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Very light splash-resistance only
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: Batteries, medium split-ring on small nylon strap
    WARRANTY: 90 days

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Kee-Biner * www.litepro.com






Do you manufacture or sell an LED flashlight, task light, utility light, or module of some kind? Want to see it tested by a real person, under real working conditions? Do you then want to see how your light did? If you have a sample available for this type of real-world, real-time testing, please contact me at ledmuseum@gmail.com.

Please visit this web page for contact information.

Unsolicited flashlights appearing in the mail are welcome, and it will automatically be assumed that you sent it in order to have it tested and evaluated for this site.
Be sure to include contact info or your company website's URL so visitors here will know where to purchase your product.


WHITE 5500-6500K InGaN+phosphor 
ULTRAVIOLET 370-390nm GaN 
BLUE 430nm GaN+SiC
BLUE 450 and 473nm InGaN
BLUE Silicon Carbide
TURQUOISE 495-505nm InGaN
GREEN 525nm InGaN 
YELLOW-GREEN 555-575mn GaAsP & related
YELLOW 585-595nm
AMBER 595-605nm
ORANGE 605-620nm
ORANGISH-RED 620-635nm
RED 640-700nm
INFRARED 700-1300nm
True RGB Full Color LED
Spider (Pirrahna) LEDs
SMD LEDs
True violet (400-418nm) LEDs
Agilent Barracuda & Prometheus LEDs
Oddball & Miscellaneous LEDs
Programmable RGB LED modules / fixtures
Where to buy these LEDs 
Links to other LED-related websites
The World's First Virtual LED Museum
Legal horse puckey, etc.
RETURN TO OPENING/MAIN PAGE
LEDSaurus (on-site LED Mini Mart)



This page is a frame from a website.
If you arrived on this page through an outside link,you can get the "full meal deal" by clicking here.