MINI CARABINER FLASHLIGHT

Mini Carabiner Flashlight, retail $2.99 ()
Manufactured by (Unknown)
Last updated 03-28-07




This is a cute little flashlight in an aluminum body, attached to a carabiner-type clip. It feeds from four AG3 button cells, and has a 5mm white LED in its end to provide you with light. It feeds from four AG3 button cells held in a plastic holder in the barrel; see below to find out why I don't like the holder.


SIZE



The Mini Carabiner Flashlight is ready to use right away; batteries are included and installed.

Turn the bezel (head) clockwise (as if tightening it) ***VERY FIRMLY*** to turn it on, and turn it counterclockwise (as if loosening it) to turn it off.

You can clip it to your keychain using the carabiner-style clip.

You must NOT use this as a climbing device; I cannot emphasise this enough.



To change the batteries, unscrew and remove the bezel (head), very gently place it on the ground, and kick it into the garden so the hungry, hungry praying mantids will think it's something yummy to eat and strike at it...O WAIT!!! THAT'S THE GOOD PART!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the green battery sleeve out of the barrel and into your hand.

Using a pen or similar instrument, push the used AG3 button cells out of the green sleeve, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit. Press them out by pushing in on the pile from the button-end (-) negative.

Insert four new AG3 button cells into the green sleeve from the wider end of the sleeve, orienting them so their button-ends (-) negatives go in first.

Place the sleeve back into the flashlight barrel, flat-end (+) positive first.

Finally, screw the bezel back on.
Aren't you glad you didn't kick that bezel into the garden with all those hungry, hungry praying mantids now?


Here is what a praying mantis looks like.
I found this guy on the morning of 09-08-06 clinging to the basket of my scooter.



As I stated before, you must NOT use the keyring attachment as a climbing device; I simply cannot emphasise this enough. It is meant for use as a keyring attachment with a flashlight attached to it, not as a climbing device.

I smacked this flashlight against the concrete floor of a patio ten times (five against the side of the bezel, and five on the side of the tailcap) and was not able to damage the flashlight in any manner, other than causing some rather minor gouging to the bare Metalkoromon - er - the bare Metalangemon....nope that's not it either - the bare Metalbeezelmon - um - that's not it either...the bare Metalcalmarimon...er...uh...wait a sec here...THE BARE METAL (guess I've been watching too much Digimon again! Now I'm just making {vulgar term for feces} up!!! ) on the sides of the tailcap and bezel where it was struck.
No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected.

I also threw it rather hard to the same floor, calling it a "farking segment of a sewer pickle" (toilet words substituted with innocuous ones here) as it hit the ground because it is extraordinarily difficult to turn on.
There is no knurling (crosshatch-shaped texturising) anywhere on the product or other texture of *ANY* type; this is one reason why it's so darned hard to turn on.

And no, I really, really don't need psychotectic treatments* or reflection therapy** with my need to beat poor, innocent, defenseless, helpless, cute & loveable little flashlights against concrete. It's just part of my job.

This *REALLY IS* a cute and loveable little flashlight; it's a shame I'll have to rate it so poorly in large part because of the "catbeat segment of poo-poo momma farking" (toylet words replaced with innocous ones - the correct acronym is PWPOSMF) bezel switch.


The product is weather-resistant, and even submersible to shallow depths for a short time too. There is an O-ring on the barrel that engages with the bezel (head).


Here's proof that I *REALLY* did "The Toilet Test" on it.

It appears to have a Type II anodizing on all of its exterior surfaces. I tried to cut through the finish with the blade of a folding knife, and I was rather easily successful.
Would I really cut up a brand spanken new flashlight?
You bet your sweet patootie (sugar-coated toilet muscle) I would, if it's in the name of science.

This flashlight requires the use of a special sleeve to hold the batteries; the flashlight will no longer function if this sleeve is lost or accidentally disposed of. So it will lose more stars off its final rating in addition to having the hard-to-use switch.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12".
Measures 22,700mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrometer plot of the LED in this flashlight.
Ocean Optics USB2000 Spectrometer on loan from WWW.TWO-CUBED.COM.


ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis.
Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.



TEST NOTES:
Test units were purchased on Ebay on 03-15-07 and were received on 03-19-07.

Product was made in China. A product's country of origin really does matter to some people, which is why I published it on this web page.

Because it's so darn diddly-arn difficult to turn on, and because it uses a special battery sleeve and the flashlight will not work without it, I can't in good conscience give it a very high rating on this website.

Out of 11 of these I received, ONLY A SINGLE ONE of them turns on & off easily.


*   From the Star Trek: TNG episode "The Outcast".
** From the Star Trek: TNG episode "Frame of Mind".


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:
Unnecessarily difficult to turn on & off
Special battery sleeve used; unit will not function if this becomes lost or disposed of


    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small LED flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: White 5mm LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood
    SWITCH TYPE: Twist bezel on/off
    CASE MATERIAL: Metal
    BEZEL: Metal; LED partially recessed in inverse conical depression for it
    BATTERY: 4xAG3 button cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Probably not
    ACCESSORIES: Carabiner clip, 4 batteries
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Mini Carabiner Flashlight *






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