3W 16-LEVEL LUXEON
CPF LED FLASHLIGHT

3W 16-Level Luxeon CPF LED Flashlight, retail $64.00 ()
Manufactured by (Unknown)
Last updated 10-05-11




This is the 3 watt 16-level Luxeon LED flashlight that was offered on a Candlepower Forums group buy not long ago (mid-September 2005).

It features a Luxeon III LED driven to 4 watts at the bottom of a mirror-smooth reflector, is powered by two CR123A lithium cells inside its alumimum body, and has two pushbuttons on its barrel to ramp up the intensity and ramp down the intensity with no less than 16 levels between full power and extinction (off).

The LED and reflector are protected by a glass window (or "lens" if you prefer that term, even though it does not focus or defocus the light in any manner).

This is a limited-edition unit that is serialised; the serial number of mine is 230 out of the 290 units that were made with the 4-watt drive level.


SIZE



To use this flashlight, feed it first (see directly below), and then you can go paint the town red - or in this case - white.

Press the frontmost button and hold it for as long as necessary to increase the intensity; release it when you reach the desired intensity.

Press and hold the rearmost button to decrease the intensity. Release it when the desired intensity is reached. Holding it in for approximately two seconds (from maximum intensity) will turn the flashlight off.

There is no momentary or signalling mode available in this flashlight; please do not look for or expect to find one.



To change the batteries in this flashlight, unscrew and remove the tailcap, throw it to the floor, and stomp on it with old or used bowling shoes...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 CR123A cells in the barrel, button-end (+) positive first, then screw the tailcap back on. Aren't you glad you didn't stomp on that tailcap now?

Current measures 938mA on the highest setting and 0.216mA (216ľA) on the lowest setting.




Photograph of the "business-end", showing the LED and reflector.

The flashlight appears to be reasonably sturdy. Ordinary flashlight accidents should not be enough to do it in. I administered the smack test on it (ten whacks against the corner of a concrete stair; five whacks against the side of the tailcap and five whacks against the side of the bezel), and no damage was found. This tells me that the flashlight has a hard anodized type III covering ("HA-III" as us flashlight nuts know it) on it.

No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected after I unscrewed and then replaced the tailcap after this test. The flashlight did malfunction before this, but appears to be functioning properly now.

I usually don't do "The Smack Test" on limited-edition flashlights, but enough of these were produced to warrant such a test.

When I unscrewed the tailcap, relieved the barrel of its batteries, and then performed that dreadful suction test on it, 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 lifted his leg on it, just take the garden hose to it or douche it off under the faucet...good as new!

I tried to cut through the window (lens), and was not successful. That tells me it is made of glass, not plastic.
Would I really try to cut up the lens of a brand spanken new flashlight I paid good money for?
You bet your sweet patootie I would, if it's in the name of science.

The light produced is a pure white, with no obvious yellow, blue, purple, or "rotten porpoise urine green" tints to it.

The method of dimming has yet to be determined; my usual test for a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimmer failed to show evidence of such a dimming circuit.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12".
Measures 1,550,000mcd (high) to unmeasureable (low) on a Meterman LM631 light meter.



Beam photograph on a wall at ~15'.

That red star thing is from an American DJ Laser Widow, and that rectangular graphic thing near the lower-left is a marquee from a Williams 'Stargate' upright coin-op video game from the early-1980s.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight (minimum intensity).


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight (maximum intensity).


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight (three levels above absolute minimum intensity); newer spectrometer software & settings used.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight (maximum candiosity...er...uh...intensity); newer spectrometer software & settings used.

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.


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



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased from a Candlepower Forums group buy on 09-15-05, and was received on the afternoon of 10-27-05.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: White Luxeon III LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Medium spot with dimmer corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton brighter and pushbutton dimmer on barrel
    BEZEL: Metal; LED and reflector protected by glass window
    BATTERY: 2xCR123A cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 216ľA to 938mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Yes, to shallow depths anyway
    ACCESSORIES: Wrist lanyard, nylon holster
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





3W LED 16-Level Flashlight *






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