Turbo-Mate

User Modification: Turbo-Mate (Luxeon + DC-DC)
$TBA, see below for availability & additional info.
Manufactured by Kevin Fritz ("Lambda" on CPF)
Last updated 03-17-07




The Turbo-Mate is a custom modification of a Streamlight Key-Mate made by Lambda of Candlepower Forums.
Inside the flashlight's head is a HD (high dome) Luxeon Star LED emitter, and a DC-DC inverter "pill", powered by a single N cell. The LS LED is focused by the flashlight's reflector (taken out of a Brinkmann "Micro Illuminator" 1xAAA flashlight, and trimmed on a lathe to fit this flashlight), and is protected by the acrylic lens that originally came with this flashlight.

The Turbo-Mate can be affixed to a keychain by its included spring-loaded lobster claw type attachment, clipped into a pocket or onto the edge of other fabric by its included clip, or it can be hung around the neck by its included lanyard. Your choise here. :-)


SIZE



The Turbo-Mate came to me ready to rock; yours probably will too. If yours did not come with a cell installed, install it first (see below) and then you'll be ready to go.

To turn it on, twist the head clockwise (as if tightening it). And to turn it off, turn the head counterclockwise (as if loosening it).
Things just don't get much easier than this - well, not flashlights anyway.

To affix the included lanyard to the Turbo-Mate, just find the thin loop on the lanyard, and clip it into the Turbo-Mate's lobster claw attachment. A spring-loaded "button" on the lanyard allows you to adjust the size to go around your head and adjust the height at which the flashlight hangs in front of you. Squeeze the "button" and slide it up or down the length of the lanyard to adjust this.



The Turbo-Mate uses a single N cell; this was already installed in the sample I received.

To change the N cell, unscrew and remove the flashlight head, and throw it away - OH WAIT, YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead. :-) Tip the dead N cell out of the barrel, and dispose of or recycle it as you see fit. Drop a new N cell in the barrel, so the button (+) end faces up. Screw the head back on, and then loosen it slightly (1/4 to 1/3 of a turn in the unit I have; this can be 1/2 to 1 turn in yours) when your Turbo-Mate springs to life.
Aren't you glad you didn't throw that head away now? ;-)

Be sure the "pill" portion of the flashlight head does not fall out and become lost. If it does come out, reinsert it in the flashlight head with the LED facing the front of the head, and the circuit board facing the back of the head (so it faces you as the head is held upside-down).

There is an aluminum sleeve inside the barrel to allow the N cell to fit more snugly without rattling, so be sure this does not fall out and become lost while you're changing the battery.

Due to the way the Turbo-Mate was constructed, I was not able to get a current reading.



I just received the Turbo-Mate this morning (01-31-04 around 7:55am), so I don't have any information here yet.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 78,100mcd using a Meterman LM631 light meter.
Color temperature is just a bit on the cool (bluish) side, coming in at around 6000°K
The overall color is a very nice white.


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


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



TEST NOTES:
Test units of the Turbo-Mate and three other Lambda mods were received on 01-31-04
Turbo-Mate came with a lobster-claw spring-loaded attachment, a neck lanyard, an Energizer N cell already installed, and six additional Energizer N cells in a seperate package.

The Turbo-Mate won't be available for a couple of weeks as of this writing (01-31-04), so please don't try to obtain one before then. Mid-February 2004 is a good place to start.

Please visit the website and ask Lambda (Kevin Fritz) about ordering these flashlights. I just review flashlights here; I do not sell them.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    Light is of a homemade nature and will not be rated like a commercial flashlight.





Turbo-Mate * http://home.mchsi.com/~lambda/nano.htm






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