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SKYLITE MINI

Skylite Mini, retail $24.95 (http://members.cox.net/rigelsys...)
Manufactured by Rigel Systems (www.rigelsys.com)
Last updated 10-31-11

The Rigel Systems Skylite Mini is a slightly smaller version of the original Skylite, popular with astronomers because it has continuously adjustable white and RED LEDs.
The Skylite Mini also has continuously adjustable red and white LEDs.

It comes in a plastic body, and feeds from a standard rectangular 9 volt transistor radio battery.

Size of product w/hand to show scale

SIZE

To use your Skylite Mini, rotate the thumbwheel on its right side forward (counterclockwise) until it clicks to turn the LEDs on, and continue turning it to brighten them. Rotate the thumbwheel backward (counterclockwise) to dim them; continue turning until it clicks to turn the Skylite completely off.

Depending on how you have the small slide switch above the thumbwheel set, you get either red or white light.

If this switch is slid toward the top (as the label on the top of the flashlight is facing upward), you'll get red light. If the switch is slid toward the bottom (toward the thumbwheel), white light is emitted.

The LED color can be changed whether the light is off or on.

To change the battery in your Skylite Mini, look on the side of the bezel just in front of the thumbwheel for a little plastic tit in a rectangular opening. Push in on this plastic tit with a fingernail or the blade of a medium or large standard screwdriver; rotate the bezel (end cap) down and remove it.

Tip the body of the light so the open end is facing down, and tip the circuit board and battery into your hand.

Detach the used 9 volt battery from the circuit board, and dispose of or recycle it as you see fit.

Install a new 9 volt battery on the circuit board, orienting it so its larger terminal (-) negative goes to the smaller of the two terminals on the circuit board, and vice versa. Snap it on.

Slide the circuit board/battery combination back into the light's body, orienting it so the thumbwheel fits into the slot for it in the body.

Place the end cap so the rectangular opening without the long thing on the end faces the bottom; place it so the little plastic tit on the body fits into the opening on the cap, and swing the cap up. Press gently on the top front of the cap until it latches.

Current consumption measures 52.0mA (white) and 52.1mA (red) - both at maximum intensity.
Current consumption measures 1.88mA (white) and 1.88mA (red) - both at minimum intensity.

Photograph of the business-end, showing the four LEDs and the end window.

The Skylite Mini appears to be water-resistant, but because of the rotary pot

(the dial that dims the LEDs), it's probably not waterproof. So you should probably keep it away from creeks, rivers, beaches, snowbanks, puddles of wild boar pee, rain barrels, toilet bowls, swimming pools, sinks, tubs, fishtanks, cisterns, and other sources of water.
If it gets wet inside, just take it apart as you would for a battery change and set the parts in a warm, dry place for a day or so before you reassemble and use it again.

If it fell into seawater or if somebody or something peed on it, douche all the parts out with fresh water before setting them out to dry. You don't want your Skylite Mini to smell like seaweed or piss when you go to use it next. Besides, salt (from seawater or pee-pee) can't be very good for the circuitry, the rotary brightness control, or the battery contacts.

The plastic it's made from is ABS, and should be at least reasonably durable - but not instructably so. Therefore, stomping on a Skylite with steel-soled jack boots or running over one with a 400lb electric wheelchair would probably kill the poor thing, so please try and play nice.

Keeping one in your pocket or around your neck and using it as intended is NOT likely to damage the unit; neither are waste-height falls to dirt or grass, so it should not just fall apart of its own accord.

The window ("lens") is made from polycarbonate; so it's tougher than it looks.

The Skylite's adjustable brightness is a real plus it has going for it. If it's too bright for you, just turn it down a little. If it's still too bright, turn it down some more. And if it's *STILL* too bright at minimum power, then the Skylite Mini may not be at fault here.

With the side-mounted rotary dial and slide switch to switch between and dim/brighten the LEDs, I don't believe it will "go off" too easily in storage and transport.

There are two transistors and two resistors visible from the front, but I honestly don't know what they're for. Possibly a regulation circuit, but I can't tell for sure just by what I can see in there. Maybe it's a buffer circuit of some kind so all the magic smoke doesn't escape from the potentiometer (brightness dial). Or maybe it's a bit more sophisticated than that. I honestly can't tell by looking through the outside of the flashlight body or looking at the PC board myself (I'm *NOT* an electronics expert).

(Update 11-24-05): I have heard from the manufacturer, the following about these parts:

The transistors + resistors are a current regulation circuit, as battery ages & voltage drops, keeps current through LEDs the same (more or less). Will regulate whites from 9-7 volts, reds all the way down to 5 volts or so.

Beam photograph (red) on the test target at 12".
Measures 4,300mcd (highest) to 10mcd (lowest) on a Meterman LM631 light meter.

Beam photograph (white) on the test target at 12".
Measures 67,700mcd (highest) to 17mcd (lowest) on a Meterman LM631 light meter.

Spectrometer plot of the red LEDs in the Skylite (maximum candiosity*...er...uh...INTENSITY).

Spectrographic analysis of the red LEDs in the Skylite (minimum intensity).

Spectrometer plot of the white LEDs in the Skylite (maximum intensity).

Spectrographic analysis of the white LEDs in the Skylite (minimum intensity).

Spectrographic analysis of the red LEDs in the Skylite; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 630nm and 680nm to pinpoint peak wavelength, which is ~656.70nm.

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.

Beam cross-sectional analysis (white LEDs).

Beam cross-sectional analysis (red LEDs).
Images made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.

TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by L.P. of Rigel Systems, and was received on the afternoon of 11-23-05.

* The term "candiosity" (pronounced "

") refers to a piñata's level of candy fill; it is also the title of a Viva Piñata episode.

UPDATE: 12-20-05
I've been informed that the current consumption values on my sample are too low because two transistors were installed incorrectly, so once I receive a replacement unit, I'll remeasure both its current draw and intensity.

UPDATE: 12-27-05
I received replacement "guts" and bezel today, so I'll remeasure both intensity and current consumption values and place the new values where the old ones were.

UPDATE: 03-26-06
I have decided to rate this product five full stars and place it in The Trophy Case on this website.

UPDATE: 04-18-08
I used this light frequently between 04-14-08 and 04-17-08 after our electric power service was disconnected because my sister forgot about the bill.
It was used mainly in red LED mode so that I could read the time on the LCD display of a clock.

UPDATE: 09-16-08
When I went to use it yesterday morning, I found that the intensity adjustment wheel had a significantly stiffer "action" to it than it did before. It still worked properly - just a lot stiffer. The unit has not been dropped or manhandled, so I am at a total loss as to how this may have occurred.

Disassembling the unit (as one would to change the battery) and then reassembling it appears to have restored proper operation. So if this happens to yours, the "fix" is quick, easy, and free.

PROS:
Two colors in one handy-dandy instrument
Variable brightness - the red gets dim enough to not disrupt night vision
Uses a battery that is easy to locate
***VERY*** long expected battery life at lower settings
Long warranty period

CONS:
Not submersible - but this was not meant to be used as a dive light anyway

MANUFACTURER: Rigel Systems
PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld astronomy flashlight
LAMP TYPE: 5mm LED
No. OF LAMPS: 4 (2 each white & red)
BEAM TYPE: Medium flood with square corona
SWITCH TYPE: Rotary on/brightness change/off
BEZEL: Plastic; LEDs protected by plastic window
BATTERY: 9 volt transistor radio battery
CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 52.0mA (white), 52.1mA (red) maximum
WATER- AND PEE-RESISTANT: Yes
SUBMERSIBLE: NO WAY HOZAY!!!
ACCESSORIES: Neck lanyard, 9 volt battery
WARRANTY: 5 years

PRODUCT RATING:

Skylite Mini * http://members.cox.net/rigelsys...

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