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The Wave is like many new LED lights coming out recently.
By using a number of 5mm LEDs for producing light, these
LED lights are now competing well with traditional incandescent
flashlights in terms of output. Some of these lights
use boost circuits or resistors depending on the power
source.
The body of the light is made of anodized aluminum.
The body has little plateaus machined into the sides
for grip. The tailcap has pair of O-rings set into grooves
for improving grip, while the head has two heatsink-type
rings at its base. The body wall is quite thick. The
finish is a"gunmetal gray". At the very front
of the light is a polished silver ring which contains
the LEDs, recessed in holes. Both the head and tailcap
are removable. The tailcap is flat but it cannot stand
on end due to the protruding tailcap switch. The end
of the tailcap contains a rubber covered push button
click switch for operating the light. The machining
work done to make this light is not all that great.
Variations in the depth of grooves on the light, poor
quality machining in the tailcap, metal shavings everywhere,
and dirty contacts were the norm.
Head/Bezel/Lens: At the front of the light you will
see the polished silver disk where the LEDs reside in
recessed holes. By recessing the LEDs into the front
of the unit, the flashlight produces a more concentrated
beam while at the same time the LEDs are protected from
impacts. There were a few dings in the metal plate upon
arrival, but it is only cosmetic, and the dings are
polished so it must have happened at the factory before
the plate was polished/coated. I should also note for
the techies out there that most 5mm LEDs have a yellow
phosphor on the LED die which is visible from the end
when you look at the turned-off LED. These have a phosphor
which is almost white.
Output: The Wave does put out a good spot of light.
The beam has a very distinctly visible purple tint which
is a touch annoying. The spot is fairly wide and tapers
off around the edges. A very soft spillbeam surrounds
the main spot.
Beam at one meter at target center (much more purple
than shown).
Runtime Plot:
Runtime
completed with Eveready batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
The switch is covered by a textured rubber cap. This
cap is very slightly recessed from the surrounding material
of the tailcap so that the light can sit on its tail
end. The clickie switch is a "reverse clickie",
turning the light on after it clicks and is released.
When I received this light I noticed that the tailcap
cover was badly askew. I was able to hook it easily
with my finger and remove the tailcap revealing a very
poorly machined groove for the tailcap cover to sit
in. Part of the groove was not even machined away and
as a result the tailcap rubber cover could not sit properly
in the groove.
The light is sealed from the environment by an O-ring
at the tailcap, but not at the head/body junction. I'd
give it a splashable at the maximum. If water gets inside
just disassemble as much as possible without tools and
let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: A convenient size. Not too large, not too
small. A too large to be carried comfortably inside
the front pants pocket. Stick it in a sheath or vertically
in your back pocket, but sitting on it could be very
uncomfortable. Jacket pockets work well too.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Two inexpensive AA alkaline cells power the light.
A boost circuit inside supplies power to the LEDs. To
change the batteries just unscrew the tailcap, drop
out the old cells, drop in new ones positive first and
reassemble.
Accessories: Nylon wrist lanyard included.
What I Liked: Impact resistant
(withstood multiple drops), Good output, Easy battery
change, Inexpensive batteries
What I Didn't Like: Poor quality
machining work overall is the hallmark of this light,
Strong purple tint to the beam.
Other Things I Noticed:
Conclusions: Fair quality light
with good output, using very inexpensive and readily
available cells. It has a very nice design, but the
machinists who did the metal work need more quality
control officers looking over their shoulders.
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