ALUMINUM 3W LED FLASHLIGHT

Nuwai TM303X Quantum-III LED Flashlight, retail ~$50.00 (www.nuwai.com.tw)
Manufactured by Nuwai (www.nuwai.com.tw)
Last updated 04-07-06




(In reference to the package I received from a CPF member on 08-18-04):
{sung like the Foreigner song "Feels Like the First Time"}
Feels like a flaaaaaash-liiiight...feels like a FLAAAA-aaaash-liiiight!!!
Feels like a flaaaaaash-liiiight...feels like a FLAAAA-aaaash-liiiight!!!

The Nuwai TM303X Quantum III Tactical Flashlight, or Nuwai for short, is a small flashlight that comes in an almost all-aluminum body, has a Luxeon III LED at the bottom of a stippled (texturised) reflector, and has a single CR123A lithium cell in the barrel to power that LED.

The bezel (head) is scalloped, so you can't set it face down while it's on and not realise it's on.


SIZE



The Nuwai comes with everything you need to use it right out of the package. Easily cut the flashlight, its included battery, and its included holster out of the package with a pair of heavy-duty scissors. Install the battery (see below), and then you can go paint the town red. Or, paint the town white in this case. ;-)

To turn the Nuwai on, press the rubberised button on the tailcap until it clicks and then release it. To turn the Nuwai off, repeat what you just did to turn it on.

There is no momentary or signalling mode available when the flashlight is off; however you can blink it while it's on by pressing the tailcap button more gently than you would for turning it off; press it and hold it BEFORE it clicks. If you don't mind the backward or reverse feeling of this, you can blink the Nuwai this way if desired.

The Nuwai comes with a nylon belt holster. The flashlight fits it bezel (head) up, and can be affixed to a belt up to 1 1/2" wide. It has a snap closure on the back, so you do not have to remove your belt in order to affix this holster to it.

Attached to the top of the holster is a metal D-ring; this probably allows you to affix the holster to a strap or something on a backpack.

Since I do not use or own pants that require a belt, I cannot test this accessory in the manner in which it was intended.

(Edit 08-23-04): I have read that some belt holsters do not have a snap; the loop that goes around your belt is sewn at both ends. If this is the case with yours, you'll have to partially remove your belt and then thread the belt holster through it while putting the belt back on.
This is not a major issue in my opinion, and will not figure in the rating I give this flashlight next month.



To change the battery in the Nuwai, unscrew and remove the tailcap, throw it in the crapper, and flush it away...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead. ;-)

Tip the used cell out of the barrel and into your hand, and dispose of or recycle it as you see fit.

Insert a new CR123A cell in the barrel, button-end (+) positive first, then screw the tailcap back on.
Aren't you glad you didn't flush away that tailcap now? ;-)

Current consumption measures 762mA using the included Panasonic CR123A cell.

As of 8:51am PDT on 08-22-04, I am running a battery discharge analysis on this flashlight. When the machine poops out a chart, probably later today, I'll post it here.


And here's the chart.
Runs for 1 hour 40 minutes to 50% intensity, and 3 hours 30 minutes overall (to 1.5% intensity).
A Streamlight brand CR123A cell was used for this test.

The flashlight can be turned on and off even in this nearly discharged state.




Photograph showing the stippled reflector and LED.

The Nuwai appears to be at least reasonably durable. I smacked it against a steel rod ten times (five against the tailcap, and five against the bezel), and did not cause any detectable damage, and did not cause any malfunctions either.

I scratched through the exterior finish of this flashlight with the blade of a Swiss army knife, showing the flashlight has a Type II anodizing.
Would I really try to cut up a perfectly good, brand spanken new flashlight?
You bet your sweet patootie I would, if it's in the name of science.
Looks like I don't have to beat on the unit too much more or take a knife to it, so now it's a happy little flashlight.
O wait, I still need to throw the Nuwai around and run over it with a 400lb electric wheelchair... guess it isn't such a happy little flashlight after all. Let's take care of those tests now...BRB...ok it was not damaged at all by being run over four times with the rear drive wheel of an electric wheelchair, and being thrown didn't do it in either. So yes, it's durable.

The beam output by this sad little flashlight ;-) is a pure, slightly cool white, with no pink, yellow, purple, or "rotten cat urine green" anywhere in it. Not in the hotspot, not in the penumbra, and not in the corona.
Now, it's a happy little flashlight...at least it will be until I try to drown it in the cistern.

When the tailcap was removed, the flashlight was relieved of its battery, and that dreadful suction test was performed, no leakage was detected. So it will not leak through the bezel. The tailcap itself was also suctioned, and it did not leak either, even when the switch was activated and deactivated several times.
There is an O-ring on the barrel, where it will seal against the tailcap when the tailcap is screwed all the way on. So I do believe it is water-resistant and even submersible to a foot or so. Let's try the sink test and see what happens...BRB...ok, after immersing it for three minutes in about a foot of water at 72°F (22.2°C), no leakage was detected at the bezel or at the switch. Some water was found on the threads, but it could have gotten there when the Nuwai was unscrewed to check for water elsewhere inside the flashlight body.

Now, it's a happy little flashlight. I don't need to whack it, throw it, or try to drown it anymore.

EDIT 08-22-04: When I removed the battery to replace it for a battery discharge analysis, the battery was WET. So water DID get in the flashlight barrel after all, probably around the tailcap.
Awww, the poor little thing. All of this unnecessary punishment, abuse, drowning... ;-)
But that's what I do here at The LED Museum. So these punishments, abuse, drownings, etc. are warranted.

The Nuwai has deep squares moulded or machined into the barrel, a deep knurling (diamond-shaped texturising) on the bezel, and some shallow shapes machined on the tailcap. So, retention (the ability to hold the flashlight when your hands are cold, oily, or wet) should not be an issue.

The top of the bezel is scalloped, so you know when it's been left on when set face-down, and you can then get it turned off rather than wasting the battery. Yes, I really did that - to a SureFire KL2 if I remember correctly.

The Nuwai looks like it can stand on its tailcap to provide ceiling illumination, but the top of the switch rubber protrudes just far enough that it balances very delicately. You have to be rather careful when standing the flashlight on its tailcap, and you will want to place it on a surface you know is flat and relatively level. It CAN be done, mind you, but it's just a bit unstable.



Beam photo at ~12".
With a disposable CR123A cell, it measures 658,000mcd.
With a rechargeable R123 lithium-ion cell, it measures 875,000mcd.

Both measurements were taken on a Meterman LM631 light meter.


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



Beam photo at ~4'.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased from a Candlepower Forums member who lives in northern Europe, and was received around noon PDT on 08-18-04.
I believe the cost was $58.00 including shipping.

This flashlight looks an awful lot like the OMBU 5 watt LS Flashlight, except that this one is shorter because it uses one cell instead of two.


UPDATE: 10-25-04
You can purchase this flashlight at http://store.advancedmart.com/nu3waluposil.html.
No need to hunt for it outside the US anymore.


UPDATE: 01-19-05
This flashlight can flicker when the battery is low; this is perfectly normal and is nothing whatsoever to be concerned about.


PROS:
Very bright
Pure cool-qhite color with no unwanted tint
Durable aluminum housing
Can use rechargeable cell for increased brightness


CONS:
Not submersible


    MANUFACTURER: Nuwai
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 3-watt Luxeon LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Wide spot with dimmer penumbra and even dimmer corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Rubberised pushbutton on/off on tail
    BEZEL: Metal; LED and reflector protected by clear plastic window
    BATTERY: 1x CR123A cell
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 762mA (disposable), 908mA (rechargeable)
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: CR123A cell, nylon holster
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Nuwai TM303X Aluminum 3-Watt LED Flashlight * www.nuwai.com.tw






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