STREAMLIGHT KEY-MATE

Streamlight Key-Mate, retail (www.streamlight.com/keymate_info.htm)
Manufactured by Streamlight (www.streamlight.com)
Last updated 07-04-04




I found the Streamlight Key-Mate in my laboratory tonight (07-04-04) while looking for LEDs. I don't know how long I've had it; and there's apparently a better version being sold now.

What the Key-Mate is is a mostly metal flashlight using a single 5mm white LED to produce its beam, and three LR44 button cells to power that LED.

A black rubbery pushbutton on the end of the tailcap allows you to turn the Key-Mate on and off, or blink it in any pattern you see fit.

I believe the Key-Mate uses a Nichia NSPW500 white LED.


SIZE



To use your new Key-Mate, load it with batteries if necessary (see below) first.

Press the tailcap button firmly until it clicks and then release it to turn the Key-Mate on. Press and release it the same way again to turn the Key-Mate off. This is continuous mode.

Press the tailcap button less firmly and hold it that way to run the Key-Mate in momentary or signalling mode; release the button to turn the flashlight back off.

The Key-Mate comes equipped with a spring-loaded, closed-loop clip, allowing you to easily affix the flashlight to a keychain or lanyard.



To change the batteries, unscrew & remove the tailcap, tip the used cells out, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit. The light takes 3 common LR44 button cells. The easiest way to get them in is to stack them on a table with the button end (-) facing up; and lower the barrel of the Key-Mate directly over them. Then you can either pinch your thumb & forefinger around the bottom as you lift and flip it over (so the batteries don't fall right out), or slide a business card underneath, and then lift the barrel & card at the same time and flip it over. Then just screw the tailcap back on firmly.

Measures 54mA on my DMM's 2A scale.




Picture showing the Key-Mate's business-end. You can see the bezel, lens (or "window", if you prefer to use that term), reflector, and LED.

The Streamlight Key-Mate appears to be quite durable. It passed my smack test (10 smacks against a steel rod; five on the tailcap and five on the bezel) with no detectable damage, and it still works properly.

It is covered with what I believe is a Type II anodized finish. I scratched through the finish and exposed bare metal with the blade of a Swiss army knife. Since most people don't go around cutting up flashlights with knives, this finish should stay new looking for quite some time on your own Key-Mate.

The Key-Mate is weather- and water-resistant. When I removed the tailcap, relieved the flashlight of its batteries, and performed that dreadful suction test, the flashlight held a vaccume (vacumn, vaccuummnne, vaccum, vacume, vacuum, etc.). The tailcap was also tested in this manner, and no leakage was detected there either, even when the switch was activated several times. So, yes, I'm confident in saying that it is weather- and water-resistant; you should not have any problems using it in the rain or snow, and falls into shallow water shouldn't kill it either. There are O-rings sealing both the bezel and the tailcap, so water should not readily enter it.

The Key-Mate has shallow knurling (texturising) along the bezel and barrel. While this knurling isn't aggressive (sharp), it does aid slightly in retention (the ability to hold the flashlight when your hands are cold, oily, or wet). This knurling is not aggressive enough to cut pockets when the light is carried this way.

The beam that comes out of the Key-Mate has a slight but noticeably bluish hotspot, surrounded by a white outer penumbra and a much dimmer but still white corona. This is a perfectly normal configuration for a Nichia white LED and reflector, and does not in any way indicate a problem with the flashlight.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 12,100mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.

I was certain to install new batteries in the Key-Mate for this test.
The batteries are less than one year old, and have never been used.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit of the Streamlight Key-Mate was found on the evening of 07-04-04 while looking for LEDs. I do not know when I received it or who sent it. If this was you, please pipe up so I can properly thank you for it.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Streamlight
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small LED flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood with defined hotspot and corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off/momentary on tail
    BEZEL: Metal; LED and reflector protected by plastic window
    BATTERY: 3x LR44 button cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 54mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Unknown/TBA
    ACCESSORIES: Unknown/TBA
    WARRANTY: Lifetime

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Streamlight Key-Mate * www.streamlight.com/keymate_info.htm






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.