NUWAI HLX-712L
LUXEON HEADLAMP

Nuwai HLX-712L Luxeon Headlamp, retail $46.95 (http://store.advancedmart.com...)
Manufactured by Nuwai for Advancedmart (http://www.advancedmart.com)
Last updated 10-27-06




The Nuwai HLX-712L Headlamp is a head-mounted light that uses a 1.2 watt SE (side-emitting) Luxeon Star LED to produce its light, has four modes (high, medium, low, and blink) accessible from a single pushbutton, feeds from two CR123A lithium camera cells, and has one thing found in very few flashlights or headlamps: an LED battery status indicator.

It has an elastic (stretchy) 3-point headband system, so it feels comfortable to use even though the batteries and illuminator are both in the front.


SIZE



To use the Nuwai HLX-712L headlamp (hereinafter, just called a headlamp), feed it first (see directly below), and then you can go paint the town red - or in this case, white.

Place the headlamp - where else - on your head, and adjust the buckles so the unit fits properly.
The illuminator head is adjustable by swinging it down or up as needed; it is on a detent-equipped hinge with a fairly stiff action, so the headlamp should stay where you put it unless you hit it against something. The forehead plate has a rubber pad which rests against the forehead for comfort. The straps themselves are affixed to plastic loops with their centers open; this allows the straps to be removed for cleaning when necessary.

Press and release the button on top of the unit once for high mode. Press and release it again for medium. Press and release it a third time for low. Finally, press and release it a fourth time to turn the unit off.

From any mode (including off), pressing and holding in the button for 3 seconds or more activates flash mode. This causes the LED to blink at full power at approximately 2Hz (2 blinks per second).
Regardless of which mode you were in when you activated flash mode, pressing and releasing the button in this state turns the unit off.


Photograph of the headlamp on a flashlight tester's head.



Unfold the headlamp away from the strap assembly. On the back of the headlamp, use a coin, flat screwdriver, butterknife, or similar instrument to disengage the two plastic hinges. Once you have them disengaged, remove the back and strap assembly, and set it aside.

If necessary, remove and dispose of or recycle the two used CR123A cells from the two chambers in the headlamp assembly.

Insert two new CR123A cells in the chambers, orienting the flat-end (-) negative of each cell with the spring in each chamber for it.

Orient the headlamp assembly so you know where the pushbutton switch is, and lay the back of the unit (the piece with the strap assembly) over the headlamp's opening so that the strap assembly is on the opposite side of where the switch is. Swing up the two plastic hinges, and gently press them in until they click.

Finally, fold the headlamp assembly and strap assembly back to where you had it before, and there, you're finished.

Notice I did not advise you to stomp on anything or flush anything away.

Due to the way the headlamp is constructed, I am not able to provide you with current usage readings.

Battery life is advertised to be 5 hours on high, 11 hours on medium, 22 hours on low, and 11 hours on flashing mode.



The headlamp appears reasonably durable. Due to its plastic construction, I will not administer the smack test on it.

It appears to be water-resistant. An O-ring is present on the back of the unit on the battery door, and another, beefier O-ring is present on the illuminator head itself where it unscrews. When I removed the bezel from the illuminator head and administered that dreadful suction test, no leakage was detected. So it should easily withstand being used in crappy weather without leaking or becoming flooded, and shallow-water landings shouldn't kill it either. The dog just took a leak on it? No problem. Just take the garden hose to it - good as new.

One thing present on this headlamp that is uncommon to find on other headlamps or flashlights is a battery status indicator.
Approximately three seconds after turning the unit on, one of the battery status indicator LEDs just in front of the switch will light.
A green LED means you have plenty of power (100% to 50%), a yellow LED means "caution" (the batteries are pooping out; 50% to 20%), and a red LED means you should change the batteries as soon as possible (20% or less power remaining).

The reflector is slightly stippled (texturised); this gives a smoother beam than you might see in a lamp with a mirror-smooth reflector and the same LED.

The brightness levels are labelled as 100%, 50%, and 25%.

Even at this early stage, I do not forsee awarding it any less than 4 1/2 stars and placing it in The Trophy Case on this website, denoting it as one of the best LED products available.



Beam photo (high) at ~12".
Measures 1,147,000mcd.



Beam photo (medium) at ~12".
Measures 520,000mcd.



Beam photo (low) at ~12".
Measures 290,000mcd.



Beam photo (high) at ~15'.
That red circular thing is from an American DJ Laser Widow

All measurements were taken on a Meterman LM631 light meter.


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



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by J.W. of Advancedmart, and was received on the afternoon of 01-07-05.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Nuwai
    PRODUCT TYPE: Headlamp
    LAMP TYPE: 1.2 watt Luxeon Star side-emitter (SE) LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Wide spot; centeral hotspot with ringy corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Rubberised pushbutton high/medium/low/flash/off on top of casing
    BEZEL: Rubber; LED and reflector protected by plastic window
    BATTERY: 2x CR123A cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Splash-resistant at minimum
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: 2xCR123A cells
    WARRANTY: 90 days

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Nuwai HLX-712L Luxeon Headlamp * http://store.advancedmart.com...






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