NUWAI X-3 3W LED FLASHLIGHT

Nuwai X-3 LED Flashlight, retail $34.95 (www.eliteled.com...)
Manufactured by Nuwai (www.nuwai.com.tw)
Last updated 06-17-06




The Nuwai X-3 Flashlight, or Nuwai for short, is a small flashlight that comes in an almost all-aluminum body, has a Luxeon III LED at the bottom of a smooth reflector, and has two AA cells in the barrel to power that LED.

The Nuwai has an adjustable beam focus - you can set the beam narrow or wide as you see fit; you can also take the head completely off to use it as a kind of electronic "candle" if you want to or need to use it that way.


SIZE



The Nuwai comes with everything you need to use it right out of the package. Easily cut the flashlight, its included batteries, and its included holster out of the package with a pair of heavy-duty scissors. Install the batteries (see below), and then you can go paint the town red. Or, paint the town white in this case. ;-)

To turn the Nuwai on in momentary or signalling mode, press the rubberised button on the tailcap and hold it that way for as long as you need light. Release the button to plunge yourself back into darkness.

To turn it on in continuous or hands-free mode, twist the tailcap clockwise (as if tightening it).
To turn it off, twist the tailcap counterclockwise (as if loosening it).

The Nuwai has an adjustable beam focus; turn the bezel (head) counterclockwise to widen the beam and turn the bezel clockwise to narrow the beam.



To change the battery in the Nuwai, unscrew and remove the tailcap, throw it in the crapper, and flush it away...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.

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

Insert two new AA cells in the barrel, button-end (+) positive first, then screw the tailcap back on.
Aren't you glad you didn't flush away that tailcap now?

Current consumption measures 291.5mA using Kirkland brand alkaline AA cells.




Photograph showing the smooth reflector and LED.

I administered The Smack Test by beating the living tweedle out of it (ten whacks against the concrete floor of a patio; five whacks against the side of the tailcap and five whacks against the side of the bezel), and found the expected damage. There is some minor gouging to the bare Metalgreymon - er - the bare Metalkabuterimon - um that's not it either...the bare Metalseadramon...er...uh...wait a sec here...THE BARE METAL (guess I've been watching too much Digimon again! ) on the sides of the tailcap and bezel where it was struck. And there is a noticeable dent on the side of the bezel where it was struck too. No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected either - it still turns on & off correctly, and still has that nice adjustable beam.

The flashlight appears to be weather- and water-resistant at the very least. When I removed the tailcap, relieved the barrel of its batteries, and then performed that dreadful suction test, no leakage was detected. So if it fell into shallow water, just shake it off and keep going. And you need not be concerned about using it in rain or snow. And if it fell next to the mailbox and the dog pissed on it, just take the garden hose to it or douche it off under the faucet...good as new! Being water- and pee-resistant is fairly new for a Nuwai product, and makes an already good product even better.

There is a nobby texture to the flashlight's barrel, and some longitudinal flutes on the bezel and tailcap, so retention (the ability to hold onto the product when your hands are cold, oily, or soaked with water, weewee, or diet Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream) should not be an issue.

I already mentioned the variable beam width; you can also remove the bezel completely and use the flashlight as an electronic "candle". Just hold it above eye level so that you do not become dazzled or blinded by the exposed LED.



Beam photo at ~12" (narrow beam).
Measures 1,537,000mcd.



Beam photo at ~12" (wide beam).
Measures 165,000mcd.

Both measurements were taken on a Meterman LM631 light meter.


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



Beam photo at ~10'.

Those rectangular graphic things near the upper 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 marquees is from an American DJ Laser Widow.




TEST NOTES:
Test units of this and several products were sent by G.L. of Eliteled and were received on 05-27-06.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Nuwai
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 3-watt Luxeon LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Varies - beam width is adjustable
    SWITCH TYPE: Rubberised pushbutton on/off momentary; twist tailcap continuous
    BEZEL: Metal; LED and reflector protected by clear plastic window
    BATTERY: 2xAA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 291.5mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Yes, to shallow depths at minimum
    ACCESSORIES: Two AA cells, nylon holster, lanyard
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





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