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The Advancedmart Chromed Brass 0.5W LED-050CR2 is a
really cute little keychain/pocket light. It has a silver
finish, is knurled for grip, and has a clickie switch
on the tailcap. The LED is one of the newer 8mm 0.5
Watt LEDs and inside is a boost circuit to help with
maintaining brightness over time.
The body is made of chromed brass with a silver
finish. Near the head are 3 decorative rings machined
in the body followed by a wide band of knurling
which is fairly aggressive and provides a very
good grip. Another ring of knurling surrounds the tailcap
for ease of removal when it comes time for a battery
change. The tailcap has a drilled tab
for the keychain attachment (included) and has a domed
clickie in the center of the tailcap.
At the front of the light you will find a recessed
plastic lens with the 8mm 0.5 Watt LED inside a smooth
reflector. Despite the use of a smooth reflector, the
beam is quite nice. Inside the head of the light is
a DC-DC boost circuit to power the LED with the single
CR2 lithium cell in the body tube. The circuit also regulates
output to some degree, keeping the light from simply
dropping off as it normally would without the circuit.
Output is in the form of a bluish tinted beam which
has a distinct wide central spot surrounded by a distinct
corona. Only very slight imperfections in the beam were
found. I was a little surprised by the output, it is
a bit dimmer than the AA cell model of the same light.
I should add that, per the supplier, this light was
actually designed to run on either a rechargeable CR2
or a normal CR2 cell. The rechargeable CR2, when charged,
has more voltage than a normal cell. The result is that
they made them a bit dim so they didn't fry with the
rechargeable cells. Unfortunately I don't have any rechargeables
of that size to test with.
Beam at one meter at target center
Runtime Plot: Re-run since initial posting with a new
Duracell battery. Much better runtime this run. There
is definitely a boost circuit in there working.
Runtime
completed with Duracell batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
The switch is domed so that it matches the contour
of the tailcap. It is a reverse clickie - the light
doesn't come on until after the switch is clicked. Some
people don't like this setup, but in a pocket/keychain
light it can be very beneficial. If the button is pressed
by accident the light doesn't come on unless it goes
all the way in and clicks. This helps prevent accidental
draining of the battery while packed or in the pocket.
Pressing the light's tailcap on a flat surface until
the switch is flush with the opening in which it sits
does not turn on the light. Activation can only happen
if the switch is pressed in beyond the end of the tailcap,
thereby reducing accidental activation even more.
The light has an O-ring seal on the tailcap, which
was well lubricated. You may want to throw a little
silicone grease on the ring to help keep it in good
condition every once in a while. As for water
resistance, I'm not too sure
about the tailcap switch, but I'd say it's splashable
at a minimum.
Ergonomics: It's a good size for a keychain light, but
it has a little heft. The knurling provides good grip
and the clickie is easy to activate with the pad of
my thumb. No real issues here.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
A single CR2 Lithium cell powers the light. To change
the battery simply unscrew the tailcap and drop out
the old cell. Place a new one in positive first and
reattach the tailcap. I am told by the supplier that
this light can also be powered by rechargeable CR2 cells.
A keychain attachment is included and attached to the
light. A cute little nylon belt sheath is also included.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Tough/impact resistant, Good output, Easy battery change,
Lightweight
What I Didn't Like: A bit dimmer
than I expected.
Conclusions: An OK little keychain
light. Good knurling and feels solid in the hand.
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