KEY RING INCANDESCENT CARABINER

Key Ring Incandescent Carabiner, retail $2.99 (www.wallgreens.com)
Manufactured by (unknown) for East West Distribution Co. (No URL known)
Last updated 01-31-05




This unknown brand key ring incandescent carabiner is a small incandescent flashlight that looks like a carabiner that climbers use - though it's marked on the front of the package and on the flashlight itself "NOT FOR CLIMBING".

In the photograph above, part of the tag is still stuck to the silver colored gate.

It can be attached to your keys, backpack, cellular telephone, GPS receiver, etc. with a spring-loaded "gate" built into it or with the split ring (removeable, if desired).

It is powered by one AAA cell, and has a twist-bezel switch to activate and deactivate its bulb. And except for the lens-end, it is made out of aluminum. The sample I'm evaluating for you today is anodized a vivid purple; these lights are available in other colors too.

I don't know how to properly pronounce "carabiner", so I don't know with absolute, positive, 100% certainty if I should pronounce this as "kerra byner" or "kerra beener".


SIZE



The flashlight is ready to use as soon as you feed it a battery you provide (see below).

To use the flashlight, turn the bezel (head) clockwise to switch the bulb on, and turn the bezel counnterclockwise to switch the bulb off.

There is no constant-on mode available; please do not look for or expect to find one.

The carabiner flashlight can be clipped to a keyring, duffle bag, backpack, etc. using the spring-loaded "gate" on the carabiner part of the flashlight's body. As I understand, this "gate" is on the opposite side of the "gate" on a real carabiner; perhaps this was done so that you could not confuse the two and get in trouble later when the flashlight becomes broken under the load. You must NOT use this as a climbing device; I cannot emphasise this enough.



Unscrew and remove the bezel, dash it to the ground, and stomp on it with spiked baseball shoes...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the used AAA cell out of the barrel and dispose of or recycle it as you see fit.

Insert a new AAA cell in the barrel, button-end (+) positive facing outward. Then screw the bezel back on. Back it off slightly when the flashlight springs to life - you don't want to waste a brand spanken new battery ya know.
Aren't you glad you didn't stomp on that bezel now?



As I stated before, you must NOT use the flashlight as a climbing device; I simply cannot emphasise this enough. It is meant for use as a flashlight, not as a climbing device.

Having said that (again), the flashlight *does* appear to be reasonably sturdy. Ordinary flashlight accidents should not be enough to do it in. I administered the smack test on it (ten whacks against the corner of a concrete stair; five whacks against the fat part of the barrel and five whacks against the side of the bezel), and found the expected damage. There is some gouging on the fat part of the barrel where it was struck. No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected.

The flashlight has a vivid purple Type II anodizing on it. I was able to scratch through the finish with the blade of a Swiss army knife. It is more than reasonably durable though. So it should stay looking new for a long time, even if it goes up against keys, tools, or other flashlights during storage or transportation.
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.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures a truly pitiful 2.36cd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.
Light has a slightly more yellow color to it than this photograph depicts.





TEST NOTES:
Test sample was purchased at Wallgreens on 01-07-05.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:
Pleasant appearance


CONS:
Tested unit not all that bright


    MANUFACTURER: Unknown mfg.
    PRODUCT TYPE: Keychain flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: Incandescent blub
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Irregular medium flood
    SWITCH TYPE: Twist bezel on/off
    BEZEL: Metal; lamp and reflector protected by plastic window
    BATTERY: 1xAAA cell
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Very light splash-resistance only
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: None
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Key Ring Incandescent Carabiner * www.wallgreens.com






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