C
Chuck Olson
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I was wandering around Fry's Electronics recently and came across their
lengthy stock of flashlights. After trying a few, I decided one in
particular was worth a purchase. It was the Inova X1 and the designation
near the UPC code is X1MT-WT, which describes the white one I bought. I
imagine the WT might change to BK for a black one. But what's so
exceptional? It's just a perfectly simple cylinder with an LED and reflector
on one end and a rubber push pad on the other, with both ends the same
diameter. Press the pad or twist the cap tight to turn it on. Inside is a
single AA alkaline cell. The package specifies it delivers 25 lumens and it
cost me $18.99 plus tax..
Now we all know a white LED requires about 3.5 volts to light up, so this
flashlight must contain a highly sophisticated electronic circuit that
turns the 1.5 volts of a single alkaline cell into 3.5 volts and enough
current to light it quite satisfyingly bright. In fact the Energizer AA cell
in mine has been working for about 3 weeks, now, through many short searches
and a few long ones that really drain the energy from most flashlights. The
cell voltage is down to 1.26 volts, a level at which most portable
electronics just stop working, but not this one. The brightness is only 21%
down from when the battery was new.
To sum up - - this is a flashlight that works on cheap feed, lurks almost
undetectably in a purse or pocket, stays bright long enough to be
dependable, and drains the last drop of energy from whatever you feed it.
What more could you ask?
Chuck Olson
lengthy stock of flashlights. After trying a few, I decided one in
particular was worth a purchase. It was the Inova X1 and the designation
near the UPC code is X1MT-WT, which describes the white one I bought. I
imagine the WT might change to BK for a black one. But what's so
exceptional? It's just a perfectly simple cylinder with an LED and reflector
on one end and a rubber push pad on the other, with both ends the same
diameter. Press the pad or twist the cap tight to turn it on. Inside is a
single AA alkaline cell. The package specifies it delivers 25 lumens and it
cost me $18.99 plus tax..
Now we all know a white LED requires about 3.5 volts to light up, so this
flashlight must contain a highly sophisticated electronic circuit that
turns the 1.5 volts of a single alkaline cell into 3.5 volts and enough
current to light it quite satisfyingly bright. In fact the Energizer AA cell
in mine has been working for about 3 weeks, now, through many short searches
and a few long ones that really drain the energy from most flashlights. The
cell voltage is down to 1.26 volts, a level at which most portable
electronics just stop working, but not this one. The brightness is only 21%
down from when the battery was new.
To sum up - - this is a flashlight that works on cheap feed, lurks almost
undetectably in a purse or pocket, stays bright long enough to be
dependable, and drains the last drop of energy from whatever you feed it.
What more could you ask?
Chuck Olson
