PAL ONESTAR

PAL OneStar, retail $TBA (www.theledlight.com
Manufactured by Light Technologies
BUY IT AT THELEDLIGHT.COM
Last updated: Feb 14 2001

LED Light


The PAL OneStar is a small, rubbery pocket flashlight, using a bright white LED and a 9 volt battery.
The light is encased in a Sanoprene case, and features 8 distinct light levels, from the very dim "always on" to a very bright spotlight.





To use the OneStar, just press the button on the top half of the flashlight. Unlike most other flashlights, this one doesn't instantly come on, but pauses about half a second and then begins stepping up in brightness at half second intervals. When the desired level of illumination is reached, let go of the button.
Pressing it at any time the light is on immediately turns it off.



The OneStar uses a standard 9 volt transistor radio battery.
To change it, take off the steel band by pinching the front and back with the thumb & index finger of one hand. With the other hand, pinch the band on the two sides until it unclips itself. Then you can slide the band off, and pull the lower portion of the rubber case off. Pull off the old battery and snap in a new one.
To reassemble, just push the rubber bottom back on, slide the opened band back on until it is in the shallow center groove around the light, and clip it shut.

At the lowest possible setting (the "Constant On" function), the battery should keep the flashlight glowing for a couple of years. At the highest setting (level 7), it should give you around 20 hours at high brightness with a new battery. Lower settings will extend the battery life.


MR. METER SEZ...

Constant on: 0.030mA
Levels 1-7 (mA): 11.25, 16.8, 26.8, 45.3, 53.5, 57.9, 65.7





The OneStar is a fairly sturdy flashlight that should last for many years. The Sanoprene cover provides protection against falls, and also gives it some protection against foul weather.

One vulnerable area is the exposed lens. Although the manufacturer made a short "nozzle" or "cowling" around the lens, it does not extend far enough to protect it from gouging or scratching. Just setting the light down on a table head-first makes a sickening "plasticky" tapping sound from the lens end hitting the tabletop. Do this enough, and the lens will become scratched and gouged, which when severe enough, will degrade the beam of the flashlight.

Also, the warranty explicitly warns against removing the cover from the top portion of the flashlight that protects the circuitry and LED, but the first time I tried to change the battery, guess what came off first?

That's right - the top piece the warranty warns you not to take off!!
Now doesn't that just suck? (shhhh, I won't tell if you won't)



LED Light
Beam photo.


The OneStar has 7 different brightness levels plus the "constant on" setting.
Holding down the button will step through each level, maintain it for approximately 0.5 second, then step up to the next. After approximately 3.5 seconds, the OneStar reaches the hightest setting and stays there, regardless of how long the button is depressed. This prevents the light from cycling down to the lowest setting if you don't have a quick enough trigger finger, which would become a major annoyance after a couple of occurances.

I found the light easy to use and not nearly as irritating to activate as I thought it would be.
In a dark room, setting #1 is often perfectly adequate; higher settings can be used if you aren't adapted to darkness or when searching for dropped or lost items.

The bottom of the case has a pair of small holes, presumably to allow the PAL OneStar to be attached to a thin cord or lanyard. This is an improvement over their earlier models, but the holes are too small to be easily threaded by anything but small diameter, at least somewhat stiff cord, twine, or fishing line.
Thin cotton twine was successfully threaded through the openings with only mild difficulty.



TEST NOTES:

Testing is currently in progress.
Light has spent a great deal of time on the night table, as the "always on" function makes it the perfect nightlight. Just bright enough to illuminate the face of an alarm clock without ruining night vision.

Any updates related to this review will be posted as they happen.




PROS:
Fairly small, rubber case is comfortable to hold, multiple light levels let you pick your poison, tool-free battery change, easy to find battery.

CONS:
Not especially strong - though it will survive most mishaps. If you need a battery in an emergency, prepare to shell out up to $7 for one at the local Quick-E-Mart. Otherwise do yourself a favor and buy a couple at Rat Shack for less than $2.


          MANUFACTURER: Light Technologies
          PRODUCT TYPE: Small Handheld Flashlight
          LAMP TYPE: LED, White, 5mm
          No. OF LAMPS: 1
          BEAM TYPE: Circular spotlight with no corona
          SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton with digital interface
          BEZEL: Magnifying lens, internal reflector
          BATTERY: 1 rectangular 9v battery
          CURRENT CONSUMPTION: See article text above
          WATER RESISTANT: Yes
          SUBMERSIBLE: No
          ACCESSORIES: Battery
          WARRANTY: Limited lifetime




                PRODUCT RATING:

                DURABILITY: 4
                BRIGHTNESS: 8
                USEABILITY: 7
                BATTERY LIFE: 9
                BATTERY AVAILABILITY: 9

                OVERALL SCORE: 37




PAL OneStar * www.theledlight.com



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