GERBER LX3.0 FLASHLIGHT

Gerber LX3.0 LED Flashlight, retail $49 (www.batterystation.com/lx3.htm)
Manufactured by Gerber Legendary Blades (www.gerberblades.com)
Last updated 08-24-06




The Gerber LX3.0, herinafter just called the LX3, is an almost all-metal flashlight that uses a 3 watt Luxeon LED to produce its light, and three AA cells in the barrel to power that LED.
Remember, this flashlight was made by a company originally called CMG (Course Made Good), so you know it's good.

The barrel is made of metal and is not knurled (texturised), but it has a matte finish and two indentations on either side, so retention (the ability to hold the flashlight when your hands are cold, wet, or oily) should not be a huge issue.


SIZE



The light came to me with three Duracell AA cells, just needing to be fed. Do that (see below), and then you'll be ready to paint the town red.

To turn the light on, twist the tailcap clockwise (as if tightening it). And to turn the light off, turn the tailcap counterclockwise (as if loosening it) about 1/8 of a turn from the fully tightened position.

If you unscrew the tailcap approximately 1/12 of a turn from the tightened position (example: as you're looking straight down at the tailcap, where the tailcap is at the 12:00 position fully tightened; you would loosen it to the 10:30 or 11:00 position), you have a momentary or signalling mode available by pressing and holding the tailcap for as long as you need light, and releasing the tailcap to turn the LX3 off.



To feed your LX3, unscrew the tailcap until it comes off, throw it in the {vulgar term for feces}bowl, and flush it away...O WAIT, YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead. ;-)

Tip the barrel into your hand so the used AA cells fall out. Dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Drop three new AA cells in the barrel, button-side (+) positive first. Screw the tailcap back on, and you're finished. Oh, and unscrew that tailcap slightly when your LX3 springs to life. You don't want to waste those brand spanken new batteries ya know.
Aren't you glad you didn't flush away that tailcap now? ;-)

Measures 984mA on my DMM's 2A scale.

The LX3 is advertised to run for 50 hours on a set of batteries.
I don't know what Gerber's definition of runtime is though, so I'll have to run it through my CBDSRDM and find that out.

As of 08-06-04, I'm running a battery discharge analysis on it, and will post the chart here when the machine poops it out.

After approximately 30 minutes, the bezel (head) measures 102°F (38.8°C). Ambient temperature in the testing area was 74°F (23.3°C).
While the temperature of the bezel is warm, it's not hot. So you won't burn yourself on the LX3 if that's what you were worried about.


And here's the chart. Runs for 2 hours 50 minutes to 50%, and 9 hours 30 minutes overall.
At the end of the test, the LX3 was at approximately 4% of its original intensity. Duracell alkaline AA cells were used for this test.




Photograph showing the business-end of the flashlight.

The LX3 appears to be a durable instrument that should provide you with many trouble-free years of service. I smacked it against a steel rod ten times (five on the tailcap, and five on the bezel), and did not cause the flashlight to malfunction in any manner. There are some scuff marks on the tailcap and bezel where it was hit, but no physical damage is evident.

I was able to scratch through the finish of the LX3 with the blade of a Swiss army knife; showing that the finish is a type II anodizing.
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.

There is some battery rattle when the unit is shaken. You don't have to shake it vigorously to hear it, but you do have to shake it with a sense of purpose.

The LX3 is labelled as being water-resistant. When I removed the tailcap, relieved the flashlight of its batteries, and then performed that dreadful suction test on it, it passed. That is, no leakage was detected. The tailcap is sealed by an "O" ring on the end of the barrel, so I don't think it will leak there either. Not very readily, anyway.
So you need not be afraid to use it in rain, snow, or other foul weather; and falls into shallow water shouldn't kill it either. If it falls into seawater or the dog pisses on it, just take the garden hose to it or rinse it off under the faucet...good as new.

The beam that comes out of the LX3 is a very pure white, with just a very slight bluish tinge to it. There's no yellow, purple, or "rotten dog urine green" tint anywhere in it. Not in the hotspot. Not in the penumbra. And not in the corona.

The beam is a good combination of hotspot (for throw) and corona (for up-close use like walking). In my opinion, this is one of the better beams you can hope to get in a Luxeon LED flashlight with optics.

There is a hole in the tailcap, so you can affix a lanyard to the LX3. The lanyard is not provided though, so if you wish to use one, you'll have to procure it elsewhere.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures exactly 900,000mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.

This is a very nice value for a single LED.
The tight beam accounts in good part for this high value.



Beam photo at ~5'.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by K.F. of The Battery Station, and was received on 08-05-04.


UPDATE: 08-24-06
I went to perform a spectrographic analysis on this flashlight, and I found that one of the AA cells had corroded and become stuck inside.
I tried pounding it on cement, tailcap down, and was not successful in dislodging the bad cell.


PROS:
Durable construction
Pleasant to look at, hold, and use
Very good brightness for a single LED flashlight
Water-resistant and weatherproof
Uses batteries that are readily available and relatively inexpensive


CONS:
Does not have regulation
Battery life is significantly less than advertised


    MANUFACTURER: Gerber Legendary Blades
    PRODUCT TYPE: Handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: Luxeon LED, 3 watts
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Medium spot, with square penumbra and dimmer circular corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Twist tailcap on/off
    BEZEL: Metal; LED and optic protected by plastic window
    BATTERY: 3 AA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 984mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Yes, to a limited, unknown depth
    ACCESSORIES: 3 AA cells
    WARRANTY: Lifetime

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Gerber LX3.0 Flashlight * www.gerberblades.com






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