SUPER TIGER 9xLED FLASHLIGHT

Super Tiger 9xLED Flashlight, retail $19.95 (http://store.advancedmart.com...)
Manufactured by Favourlite (www.favourlite.com)
Last updated 01-18-07




The Favourlite Super Tiger (the name reminds me of the early 1980s Stern Electronics coin-op arcade video game "Super Cobra"), model # ZF303LED, is a 3xD cell aluminum flashlight that has nine near-UV (~390nm) LEDs in the business-end, powered by three D cells in the aluminum body.

This is the marquee from a Stern Super Cobra upright:


VERY IMPORTANT!!! Five other flashlights are also named the Super Tiger. One uses three D cells and has nine WHITE LEDs in its business-end; another uses two AA cells and has four white LEDs in the end; another uses two AA cells and has an incandescent light bulb in it, another uses three AA cells and has six LEDs; and another uses two AAA cells and has three LEDs; please do not confuse them with this Super Tiger.


SIZE



This flashlight comes almost ready to use right out of the package. You'll want to feed it three D cells first (see below).
To actually remove the flashlight from the plastic package, easily cut open one side and either the top or the bottom of the package with a pair of heavy-duty household scissors or use a knife or razor blade if scissors are not available.

Press the rubberised button on the barrel until it clicks and then release it to turn the Super Tiger on. Press and release it the same way again to turn the Super Tiger off.

Pressing the button less firmly (before it clicks) and holding it that way turns the Super Tiger on; releasing the button turns it back off. This is momentary or signalling mode.



To change the batteries in this flashlight, turn the tailcap counterclockwise until it comes off, throw it to the ground, and stomp on it with spiked golf shoes...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the three used D cells out of the barrel and into your hand, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Insert three new D cells in the barrel, flat-end (-) negative first (this is opposite of how the batteries go in most other flashlights, so pay attention to polarity here), then screw the tailcap back on.
Aren't you glad you didn't stomp on that tailcap now?

Current usage measures 356mA (~39.56mA per LED) on my DMM's 4A scale.
For deep violet/near-UV LEDs like the ones in this flashlight, I think the current is a bit on the high side.




Photograph of the light's business-end, with the nine LEDs and reflector shown.

The Super Cobra - er - Super Tiger is at least reasonably durable. I smacked it ten times (five against the bezel, and five against the tailcap) against the corner of a concrete stair, and found the expected amount of minor scuffing on the side of the bezel and tailcap where it was struck, but the smacking did not cause the light to malfunction.

The flashlight has a black 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, coins, 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.

The Super Tiger is water-resistant, but it is not waterproof or submersible. When the tailcap and batteries were removed and that dreadful suction test was performed, it failed rather miserably.
So while foul weather probably won't kill it, please try not to drop it in creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, oceansides, docksides, puddles of mouse pee, slush piles, mud puddles, tubs, toilets, sinks, fishtanks, dog water dishes, or other places where water or water-like liquids might be found.

If it fell in deeper water and you suspect it got flooded, remove the tailcap and batteries, dump out the water if necessary, and set the parts in a warm dry place for a day or so just to be sure it's completely dry inside before you reassemble and use it again.

If it fell into seawater or if somebody or something peed on it, douche all the parts out with fresh water before setting them out to dry. You don't want your Super Tiger to smell like seaweed or piss when you go to use it next. Besides, salt (from seawater or #1) can't be very good for the insides.

There is a large band of knurling (diamond-shaped texturising) on the barrel, a band of longitudinal ribbing on the bezel, and the entire tailcap has a band of longitudinal ribbing on it. So I don't think that retention (the ability to hold the flashlight when your hands are cold, wet, or oily) will be much of an issue here. The knurling on the barrel isn't aggressive (sharp), so it should not cut through your coat pocket if you regularly carry your Super Tiger there. The Super Tiger is a very heavy flashlight, so you probably would not carry it that way - not for long anyway.

The LEDs in this flashlight radiate at approximately 390nm, and they are of the dual-bond type. Uniroyal is the likely manufacturer of them. They are very well-matched for intensity and wavelength - I don't see a lamp-to-lamp deviation of more than a couple of nanometers (between all nine LEDs - that's just a couple of nm between the shortest and longest wavelengths).



Beam photo at ~12".
Wavelength is too short (est. 396nm) for me to measure the intensity.


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



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

This flashlight is made in China.


UPDATE: 01-25-05
The switch on my Super Tiger malfunctioned a little while ago, leaving the flashlight stuck in the "on" position. It was repaired by removing the rubber button with the blade of a knife, and pressing the exposed switch inward. For whatever reason, it started working again. I reassembled the Super Tiger, put the batteries back in, and performed several successful activations/deactivations.


PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Favourlite
    PRODUCT TYPE: Large handheld UV flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm UV LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 9
    BEAM TYPE:
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/momentary/off on barrel
    BEZEL: Metal; LEDs and reflector are protected by a clear plastic window
    BATTERY: 3xD cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 356mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Splash- and weather-resistant
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: None
    WARRANTY: Not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Super Tiger 9xLED Flashlight * www.favourlite.com/new/






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