TACTICAL GEAR ''HID'' FLASHLIGHT

Tactical Gear ''HID'' Flashlight, retail $5.99 (http://cgi.ebay.com...)
Manufactured by (Unknown)
Last updated 01-24-05




This is an unknown brand flashlight that features three white LEDs in its business-end, powered by three AA cells in its aluminum barrel. The advertising spiel claimed that this was an HID flashlight.
What a bunch of horse puckey.

There is a band of texturised rubber near the center of the barrel to help aid in retention.


SIZE



This flashlight came to me ready to use right away. Push and release the rubberised button on the barrel to turn the flashlight on; push and release it the same way again to turn the flashlight off. This is continuous or hands-free mode.

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 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 flashlight this way if desired.



Unscrew and remove the tailcap, dump the used AA cells into your hand and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit, and load it back up with three new AA cells. Put them in with the button-end (+) positive going in towards the front of the flashlight. Screw the tailcap back on, and throw the flashlight back in the junk drawer. Or use it, if nothing else is handy at the time. It certainly won't bite, if that's what you're worried about. :o

Current usage measures 124mA (41.3mA per LED) on my DMM's 4A scale and the Vivitar brand alkaline cells that were provided with it.



This flashlight looks durable, but it is not. When I administered my "new and improved" whack test (ten whacks against the corner of a concrete stair; five against the side of the tailcap and five against the side of the bezel), the expected damage was found - gouging to bare metal on both the tailcap and bezel where it was struck, and more importantly, the flashlight no longer works.

The flashlight has a black Type II anodizing on it. I was rather easily 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 even if I already broke it?
You bet your sweet patootie I would, if it's in the name of science.

Because of the failure and due to the fact I was not able to repair the flashlight, testing can no longer be conducted, I will issue a "0 Stars - Whip Out Your Ding Dong or Sit On the Commode and Go #1 On It!" award, and place it in "THE TOYLET BOWL" section of this website's menu.

(Edit 4:21pm PST same day)
If the bezel (head) is struck very hard just-so, the flashlight lights up, but it goes out again with only a very slight bump, such as might occur when you set it down. That tells me there's an intermittent somewhere in the bezel.

There is voltage between the barrel and switch spring, so I have indeed verified the intermittent is not in the barrel, but in the bezel itself.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 14,540mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.
This is a significantly lower than expected value, considering this flashlight has three LEDs.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased on Ebay at this link, and was received on 01-24-05. When this page expires on 04-18-05, use the View seller's other items link to see if this product is still available from this seller.

This flashlight was made in China.
A flashlight's country of origin does matter to some people, which is why I placed it on this web page.

Test sample became broken before I could finish evaluating it. So it'll get a "0 Stars - Piss On It!" rating because of critical failure that occurred during testing.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 3
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood; triangular configuration
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off on barrel
    BEZEL: Metal; LEDs and reflector protected by plastic window
    BATTERY: 3xAA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 124mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Unknown
    ACCESSORIES: 3xAA cells
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating

    A critical failure occurred during testing; that's why this rating was assigned.





Tactical Gear ''HID'' Flashlight * http://cgi.ebay.com...






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