FL6-2006 FLASHLIGHT

LumaRay FL6-2006 Flashlight, retail $74.95 (www.lumaray.com...)
Manufactured by LumaRay (www.lumaray.com)
Last updated 03-05-07




The LumaRay FL6-2006 is a new LED flashlight that features six white LEDs in the bezel, powered by three C cells in the barrel. It is named the FL6-2006 because it uses six of the brightest Nichia "CS" LEDs, and was introduced in - you guessed it - 2006.

It comes in an amost all-plastic body, which (as you will read below) appears to be made out of some pretty "tuph stuph".


SIZE



To use the FL6-2006, feed it first (see directly below), and then you'll be ready to rock.

Twist the bezel (head) clockwise (as if tightening it) to turn the FL6-2006 on, and twist the bezel counterclockwise (as if loosening it) to turn the FL6-2006 off.

There is no momentary or signalling function available, so don't look for or expect to find one.

A greenish glow will come from the lensed LEDs when the FL6-2006 is off and it had been used recently; this is from a GITD (Glow-In-The-Dark) compound around these LEDs, and if the flashlight is set where you can see the bezel, the glow should be visible with dark-adapted vision for up to ten hours.


I don't normally show flashlight packages, but this one is unique enough to warrant such a photograph. Note: This is the box a LumaRay FL12 comes in; that's why it reads "FL12" on the side.



To change the batteries in the FL6-2006, locate the cantilever assembly below the bezel (head), and while holding the flashlight so the business-end faces the ceiling or sky, turn this cantilever assembly counterclockwise (as if loosening it) until it stops.

Hold the flashlight in one hand, with your thumb over one of the pads on this cantilever assembly. With the other hand, place your thumb and forefinger over the other two pads on the cantilever, and push down (toward the tailcap) on these pads. This should release the bezel.

Remove the bezel, gently place it on the ground, and kick it in the garden so the praying mantids will think it's something yummy to eat and strike at it...O WAIT!!! THAT'S THE GOOD PART!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the three used C cells out of the barrel and into your hand, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit. Shake the flashlight slightly if necessary if the cells do not slide out. This is a feature of the FL6-2006, so when you're changing batteries in total darkness, they won't just all tumble out and fall on your feet...ouch!!!

Drop three new C cells into the barrel, button-end (+) positive facing outward.

Press the bezel straight onto the barrel until you hear it click; then turn the cantilever assembly clockwise (as if tightening it) until it stops and you hear a clicking sound.
Aren't you glad you didn't kick that bezel into the garden with all those hungry, hungry praying mantids now?




Photograph of the bezel. That greenish glow you see coming from the lensed LEDs on the outer perimeter of the bezel is a glow-in-the-dark compound in there; this is completely normal and is nothing whatsoever to be concerned about.

The FL6-2006 appears durable, and IS durable. When I administered that terrible smack test on it (ten whacks against the concrete floor of a patio; five against the side of the tail and five against the side of the bezel), only the expected damage was found: some light gouging on the tail and bezel where it was struck. No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected. I performed this test with the batteries loaded - nobody goes around throwing *EMPTY* flashlights.

Water-resistance is AAA+++.
The FL6-2006 is waterproof and submersible to 50 feet, so you need not be concerned about using it in foul weather; and water-landings won't kill it either. And if the dog takes a leak on it, just take the garden hose to it or douche it off under the faucet - good as new.

The FL6-2006 will stand on its tail to shine on the ceiling, so it can be used as a flameless "candle".

The barrel has a very lightly pebbly texture with a series of circular depressions moulded into it; both the tail and bezel have plenty of texture (in the forms of longitudinal ribbing and slightly projecting parts), so retention (the ability to hold the flashlight when your hands are cold, oily, gloved, or wet) should not be a major issue here.

The large flutes in the bezel (head) function quite well as an anti-roll device.

A lanyard may be attached if desired, use any of the attachment points on the tailcap for this purpose. A lanyard is not provided with the FL6; if you wish to use one with this flashlight, you'll have to procure it elsewhere.

The primary light output consists of a medium spot with a sharp fall-off at its perimeter, produced by convex (magnifying) lenses in front of the six LEDs around the outer perimeter. The beam is white, with a blue ring around its outer edge - this is a perfectly normal beam configuration with lensed LED flashlights. All of the individual beams from the outer edge of the bezel coalesce into a circular beam at approximately 8".

Besides having substantially brighter LEDs, the length of the flashlight has been reduced by ~0.5" from the previous FL6 model, water-resistance (submersibility) has been increased from 15' to 50', and the barrel ("handle") has been redesigned.

*** VERY IMPORTANT!!! ***
Due of the redesign of the handle (barrel), the old head unit (from the earlier generation FL6 and FL12) will not fit on the new handle. However, the new head unit will work with the old handle style.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 810,000mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.



Beam photo at ~10".

Those rectangular graphic things at the lower left are marquees from:
Midway ''Omega Race''
Sega ''Star Trek''
Williams ''Joust''
Venture Line ''Looping''
Universal ''Mr. Do!'s Castle''
Jaleco ''Exerion''
Gremlin/Sega ''Astro Blaster''
Atari ''Tempest''
upright coin-op arcade video games from the 1980s.

And that red star thing on the right is from an American DJ Laser Widow.


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


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



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by Ed of www.lumaray.com on 06-20-06, and was received on the afternoon of 07-03-06.

This flashlight is made in the United States. A flashlight's country of origin really does matter to some people, which is why I mentioned it on this web page.


UPDATE: 07-05-06
I showed this flashlight to my stepsister, and she is in total agreement with me that it looks like something from the future. She was uncertain why somebody would pay $75 for a flashlight though, until I explained to her that the bulb would never go out and that it would have a far longer battery life than an ordinary $1.99 drugstore flashlight.


PROS:
Very unique appearance as flashlights are concerned
Very unique way of changing batteries
Durable construction
Water-resistant and submersible
Produces an impressive spot of light
Includes glow-in-the-dark compound behind lenses
Long battery life
Uses batteries that are common and relatively inexpensive
Battery cushion ensures cells just don't fall out


CONS:
Little spill light - may be of concern to some users
Slight backspill may be of concern to some users


    MANUFACTURER: LumaRay
    PRODUCT TYPE: Medium/large handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 6
    BEAM TYPE: Medium spot w/fairly abrupt fall-off at perimeter
    SWITCH TYPE: Twist bezel on/off
    CASE MATERIAL: Tough plastic
    BEZEL: Plastic; LEDs behind plastic lenses
    BATTERY: 3xC cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Yes, to 50 feet
    ACCESSORIES: None
    SIZE: 7.8"H 2.25"D
    WEIGHT: 12.5oz with batteries
    WARRANTY: 2 years

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star RatingStar Rating





LumaRay FL6-2006 Flashlight * www.lumaray.com






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