SBP (SUPER BABY PIN)

SBP (Super Baby Pin), retail $115 (http://darkgear.com/mrbulk/sbabypin.htm)
Manufactured by "Mr. Bulk™" of CPF (http://darkgear.com/mrbulk/)
Last updated 01-25-12




The SBP (or Super Baby Pin as it's known) is a very, very bright LED flashlight that uses a Luxeon III LED and a single CR123A cell to produce its light. It is made by "Mr. BulkTM" (Charlie W.) on Candlepower Forums, a place on the net where people who are nuts about flashlights go. This amazing light is made by the same man who brought you the Long Gun Illuminator and the Space Needle II, two insanely bright LS LED flashlights.

The Super Baby Pin comes in a body that used to be a lithium xenon tactical flashlight. It is made of black anodized aluminum, and is just 3 1/2" long. Instead of a xenon incandescent bulb, "Mr. BulkTM" replaced it with a Luxeon Star III, a three watt Luxeon Star LED and a Fraen acrylic optic, powered by a circuit that provides about 1 amp to the LED.

This is one of the very first lights to come out using the new Luxeon Star III; the other is the new TriLight III, but remember, the TriLight III is absolutely huge when compared with the size of the Super Baby Pin. Four "D" cells compared with one CR123A cell. You be the judge.


SIZE



The Super Baby Pin came to me in part of a package that once contained a 1 cell CR123A lithium flashlight, with the light and battery in their respective plastic bubbles, and two staples holding the plastic halves together. So it was easy to remove the light and the included DPower lithium cell. Once the cell is in (see below), the Super Baby Pin will be ready to go.

For momentary use, press the rubberized button on the tailcap to get light; let it go to not get light.
For continuous use, twist the tailcap clockwise (as if tightening it) to turn the SBP on; it will then stay on by itself. Twist the tailcap counterclockwise (as if loosening it) to turn the SBP off.



To change the battery in your SBP, unscrew the tailcap until it comes off, and set it aside. Tip the dead battery out of the barrel, and dispose of or recycle it as you see fit. Drop a new CR123A cell in the barrel, button-end (+) first. Screw the tailcap back on; then back it off slightly when your SBP springs to life.

I measured 2.22 amps on the meter's 20 amp scale with the included battery. I cannot measure the LED current due to the way the SBP is assembled.



I dropped the Super Baby Pin on the rug right away when I was setting up to do its light metering. There was no damage, so I don't need to baby this flashlight.

The acrylic Fraen optic in my unit was carefully aligned and then superglued in place; as I understand other units have adjustable optics that you can align (as or if necessary) by unscrewing & removing the head, moving the optic horizontally where you think it will work better, and screwing the head back on. Not too tight now, or you'll crush the Luxeon LED and then you'll be SOL.

There is a very minor amount of spotting on the bottom of the optic from the cyanoacrylate (super glue) fumes, but in my opinion, this does not cause any significant dimming of the flashlight. This is an experimental technique, and if it goes tits-up because of it, so be it. Mr. BulkTM will hear about it first, and make changes so it doesn't happen again. I'm certainly not worried about it. The spotting in mine is very minor, and I don't think it affects the light output enough to be worth mentioning again.



Beam photograph at ~12".
Measures an amazing 930,000mcd with a Meterman LM631 light meter.
SBP has a very snow-white color to it that nobody would gripe about.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight.


Spectrographic plot
Same as above; newer spectrometer software & settings used.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; yet newer spectrometer software & settings used.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 420nm and 470nm to pinpoint native emission peak, which is 445.090nm.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 580nm and 630nm to pinpoint that queer little phosphor peak in the orange region of the spectrum, which is 611.150nm.

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.



ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis.
Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.



Unit has a pure white color with no yellow, brown, blue,
purple, or "rotten cat urine green" tint to its
beam or corona. Wait, I just said that, didn't I?



TEST NOTES:
SBP was made for me by "Mr. Bulk™" of Candlepower Forums and was received late in the afternoon of 12-11-03.
Testing is just getting underway, so this page is not complete yet.

The Luxeon is SWAK-binned, if that's important to you.


UPDATE: 12-13-03
The price of this flashlight is expected to be $115, including shipping to any US destination. For Canada, add $2. For all other countries, add $4. But DO NOT send your money to Charlie before getting in touch with him. This part is very important!!!


Light is of a homemade nature and will not be rated like a commercial flashlight.



Super Baby Pin * http://darkgear.com/mrbulk/sbabypin.htm






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