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The Ghost II 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, head, and tailcap have ribs machined into
the sides for grip. The body wall is not excessively
thick, but it isn't el-cheapo thin, either. The finish
is a matte silver. At the very front of the light is
a polished silver ring which contains the LEDs, recesses
in holes. Both the head and tailcap are removable. The
tailcap has a hole for the attachment of a wrist lanyard
(included) and is flat so that it can stand on end.
The tailcap serves as a twist switch for operating the
light.
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.
Output is in the form of a slightly bluish tinted white
spot of light. The spot is fairly wide and tapers off
around the edges. Very far out from the main beam is
a separate ring of light.
Beam at one meter at target center
Runtime Plot: Very good!!! DC-DC regulator works hard
to keep the light going for a long time.
Runtime
completed with Eveready batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
The tailcap is the switch. Twist-tighten for on, loosen
for off. If you turn the light on and twist the tailcap
one full "rib pattern" backward, you can press
in and release on the tailcap for momentary signaling.
The light is sealed from the environment by O-rings.
I'd give it a splashable at the minimum. If water gets
inside just disassemble as much as possible without
tools and let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: It's small, but not awkward. A bit large
around the head to be carried comfortably inside the
front pants pocket. Use the cargo pocket if your pants
have them. Jacket pockets work well too.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
A single AA alkaline cell powers the light. As a result
there must be a boost circuit to power the LEDs. To
change the batteries simply remove the tailcap, drop
out the old battery, place in a new one and reassemble.
Nothing to it.
Accessories: A nylon finger lanyard (too small for
the wrist) is included and attached.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Impact resistant (withstood multiple drops), Bright,
Easy battery change, Lightweight, Stands up
What I Didn't Like: Nothing yet.
Other Things I Noticed: Unlike
many other mulit-LED lights appearing in huge quantities
on the market today, this little critter actually appears
to be of better quality than most.
Conclusions: This is a good quality
light with good output and great runtime. I had no problems
with the light at all, and I would recommend it for
normal tasks. For the price, I don't think you're going
to beat it... I don't know how it reacts to lithium
AA cells yet, but I'll take a look at it sometime in
the future.
UPDATE: from reader Jason:
I was just writing to comment on the AdvanceMart
Ghost II. I just bought several of these lights, and
while tinkering with them found that they will also
accept AAA batteries without the need for an adapter.
Just throw the AAA in and it works no problem. The
AAA does bounce around inside a bit when the light
is off and the back cap is not tightened, but it's
secure when on. I just thought you might like to know
this, for me this makes these little torches MUCH
more handy and flexible!
UPDATE: from reader Chris L:
The O-rings are a bit brittle and dry, unlubricated,
and will easily break if you try to unscrew the tailcap
or head too quickly.
Instead, when unscrewing it for the first time, do
so slowly and smoothly, so the O-ring won't break.
Then, coat the O-ring and threads with petroleum jelly,
or other suitable lubricant.
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