S175 LUXEON FLASHLIGHT

S175 Luxeon Flashlight, retail $TBA (goldengadgets.com...)
Manufactured by (Unknown) for Golden Gadgets (www.goldengadgets.com/)
Last updated 08-24-06




This is an almost all-aluminum flashlight that uses a 1.2 watt Luxeon Star LED and an included pair of CR123A lithium camera batteries to power it. I can't tell for certain whether there's a high-dome or a low-dome Luxeon LED in there, but I'm reasonably certain it's a high-dome ("Lambertian") LED.
I later removed the bezel of the flashlight, and confirmed that there is indeed a high-dome Luxeon Star LED in there, still mounted to its hexagonal (six-sided) metal core printed circuit board.

The flashlight has a brushed aluminum matte finish on it, and it's pretty to look at whether it's on or off.


SIZE



The flashlight comes ready to use right out of the package, as it comes with the batteries included and already installed.

Press the rubberised tailcap button until it clicks and then release your finger and the flashlight will come on. Press and release it the same way again to turn the flashlight off.

There is no momentary or "signalling" mode available when the flashlight is off; however you can blink the light while it is already on by partially depressing the button. If you don't mind the "backwards" feel, you can blink the light this way.



To change the batteries, unscrew and remove the tailcap and throw it away...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead. ;-) Tip the dead CR123A cells out of the barrel, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit. Insert two new CR123A cells in the barrel, button (+) positive end first, then screw the tailcap back on. Aren't you glad you didn't get rid of that tailcap now? ;-)

As of 10:41am PDT on 04-22-04, I'm running it through my CBDSRDM on its included pair of Panasonic lithium CR123A cells, and expect to have a battery chart up here shortly. After about an hour and a half, the peak temperature on the bezel measures 89°F (31.7°C). So it's a cool-running flashlight, that much I'm certain of.


And here's the battery discharge analysis chart. Looks like it runs for just over an hour and a half to the half-intensity point. When I stopped the test near 7:30pm PDT, the flashlight was about as bright as two 5mm LEDs driven to spec. So the light output is still useful, but nothing like the intensity it has with brand new batteries in it.

Measures 217mA on the DMM's 2A scale.



The flashlight seems reasonably durable and weather resistant. The website says it comes with a holster, but mine did not come with one.

It is a very nice looking flashlight; with a brushed aluminum matte finish, a pair of chrome colored rings near the bezel and tailcap, and the circular depressions along the bezel and tailcap. So you need not be ashamed to admit you have one of these, or even whip it out near somebody.

Water resistance should not be much of an issue. When I relieved the flashlight of its batteries and then suctioned it, there was no leakage. So I'm confident it won't leak when used in the rain or snow, or if it's dropped into shallow water like mud puddles or creeks. If it falls into shallow water, just fish it out, shake it off, and keep going.

I ran over it at least four times with a 400lb electric wheelchair, and caused no damage except for a scuff mark on one side of the barrel. Electrically and optically, the flashlight functions as well now as it did when it was brand spanken new. And the scuff mark was removed by rubbing it briskly several times with cotton fabric (the lower front of a T-shirt).

The flashlight has longitudinal flutes milled into the barrel, and some round, recessed dimples at the head and tail ends. These don't aid in retention (the ability to hold the flashlight when your hands are cold, wet, or oily) as much as the matte finish of the flashlight does. They DO help, mind you, but I think the flashlight's finish is more helpful for this purpose.
This is my opinion only; your results may vary.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 510,000mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.



Beam photo on a wall at ~6'.



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



TEST NOTES:
Samples of the S175 and ALX-1213N flashlights were received on 04-07-04, and are in their initial stages of testing.

If you decide to order one of these flashlights, enter the coupon code LEDMUS to save 15% on them.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Unknown, for Golden Gadgets
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 1.2 watt Luxeon Star LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Soft spot with dimmer corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off on tailcap
    BEZEL: Plastic window protects LED and reflector
    BATTERY: 2x CR123A cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 217mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Unknown/TBA
    ACCESSORIES: 2x CR123A cells
    WARRANTY: Unknown/TBA

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





S175 Luxeon Flashlight * goldengadgets.com...






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