NLS FLASHLIGHT

NLS, retail (not for sale) (no URL known)
Manufactured by Larry B ("tvodrd" on CPF)
Last updated 02-24-14




The NLS is a custom-made flashlight, manufactured by Larry B. ("tvodrd" on Candlepower Forums). It features a Luxeon I LED, powered by a single N cell held in its diminuitive barrel.

The NLS comes in an anodized aluminum body, colored green in this case, and its LED & positive (magnifying) lens are protected by a glass window (or "lens" if you prefer, even though it does not focus or modify the light in any manner).


SIZE



To use this miniature marvel, you will first want to feed it with a single "N" cell if it was not already installed in the flashlight when you received it.

Getting light is as easy as turning the head clockwise (as if tightening it) until it lights up; turn it the other way to plunge yourself back in darkness.



To get your NLS powered up and ready to face the world, unscrew the head until it comes off (don't worry about losing parts or bulbs), and drop an N cell in so the button end faces up. Screw the head back on, and you're finished.

Unable to measure current consumption due to how the NLS was constructed.




Arc-AAA on the top, NLS on the bottom.

This is a custom-made, one-of-kind (well, FEW of a kind, anyway) flashlight, so if I beat on it or try to drown it in the toilet and succeed at either, I might not (well, probably will not) be able to obtain a replacement. So I won't perform the more abusive tests for this website sakes.
Therefore, this section of the web page will appear SIGNIFICANTLY more bare than this section of the web page on a page about a commercial flashlight.

There have been reports of the glass windows falling out of these, but this has not occurred to mine.
According to Larry B., the NLS was a POS , but mine seems to be holding up quite nicely.

There is an O-ring at the base of the bezel (head) that engages rather firmly with the barrel when the two are tightened together. Water-resistance is highly probable, but I have no desire to risk ruining a perfectly good NLS by throwing it in the cistern (toilet tank) to find out. If I do manage to wreck it, it is highly likely that I would not be able to obtain a replacement.

There is a DC-DC inverter in the head, to step up the voltage from the ~1.5 volts the N cell generates to the ~3.6 volts the LED needs.



Beam photograph at ~12".
Measures 85,000mcd using a Meterman LM631 light meter.



Compared to an Arc AAA.
The Arc is on the left, the NLS is on the right.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight.


Spectrographic plot
Same as above; newer spectrometer software & settings used.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; yet newer spectrometer software setting used.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 430nm and 480nm to pinpoint peak native emission wavelength, which is 462.837nm.





Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; newest (01-13-13) spectrometer software settings used.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; newest (01-13-13) spectrometer software settings used. Spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 550nm and 650nm to show that queer little phosphor peak characteristic of LS 1 and 3 watt LEDs of this era.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; newest (01-13-13) spectrometer software settings used. Spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 460nm and 470nm to pinpoint peak native emission wavelength, which is 463.500nm.

The raw spectrometer data (tab-delimited that can be loaded into Excel) is at http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/45/nls.txt

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.



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



TEST NOTES:
Unit was built by Larry B. ("tvodrd" on CPF) from Candlepower Forums, and was received on 11-20-03.

The official name of this flashlight is the NLS. I believe that stands for "N" - the type of battery it uses, and LS - the type of LED it uses.

I was not given the green light to publish this evaluation until today (03-12-07).


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS: