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The Advancedmart 0.5 Watt Clickie Tailcap AA (TM-313X) is
made by Nuwai, a manufacturer who makes many LED lights of
varying but generally rather good quality. This particular
offering uses the new 8mm 0.5 Watt LED and is powered by a
single AA cell.
The body is made from anodized aluminum. The entire body
has a fine texture made of very fine rings all the way around
which improves grip relative to a smooth body. The head is
significantly larger than the battery tube and it has a curved
shoulder where the two connect. The battery tube has a removable
clip attached. The clip is a bit flimsy and doesn't do a very
good job of holding the light in place if clipped in the pocket due
to the fact that the head is heavier than the body tube and tailcap.
The tailcap is slightly larger in diameter than the body tube
and is screwed in place until tight. At the end of the tailcap
is a rubber covered clickie switch.
The head of the light is larger than the body tube so that
it may house the fairly large smooth slivered plastic reflector.
At the very end is a plastic lens to protect the reflector and
LED. Since the LED is powered by a single AA cell ,there is a
DC-DC boost circuit inside the head to increase the voltage to
the point needed to drive the LED.
Output is in the form of a very high color temperature (slightly
bluish) beam. The beam has a brighter central spot surrounded by
an irregular corona and a wide spillbeam. Some artifacts can
be seen in the beam at close range, but these blend together into
a smooth spot at a distance. For a single LED, output is very good.
Beam at one meter at target center
Runtime Plot: Great runtime! Almost 8 hours to 50%
output. The boost circuit is really pulling all it can
from the single AA cell.
Runtime
completed with "Energizer" battery. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
The switch is a rubber covered clickie on the end of
the tailcap. It does protrude from the end, so the light
cannot stand on its tailcap. Pressing the tailcap on a flat
surface will cause the light to turn on but the switch does
not click, so removing the pressure on the switch causes the
light to go back out. Not quite as good as a lockout tailcap,
but at least if it turns on in your luggage it will only
remain on as long as there is pressure on the switch. The switch
does not have a true lockout function. Unscrewing the tailcap,
even nearly all the way, does not prevent the switch from turning
the light on and off. The rubber cap on the switch has a slightly
visible texture and grips the finger rather well.
The light does have an O-ring seal between the body and the
tailcap. I was unable to remove the head to discover the seals
that may be there. The switch has a tight fitting rubber cover.
I would give it a "splashable" rating at the very least.
Ergonomics: Small, but easy to use. Gripping the light in the palm
with the bezel sticking out the pinky end of the hand allows
the user to operate the switch easily with the thumb. The switch
provides positive tactile and auditory feedback.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
A single AA alkaline cell powers the light. To change the batteries
simply unscrew the tailcap and drop out the old cell. Drop in
a new cell positive first and tighten the tailcap fully.
The attached pocket clip is the only accessory. It really
isn't that good of a clip and I don't think I would trust it
that much. Drop the whole thing in your pocket instead of
relying on the clip. You may want to leave the clip attached,
however, as it does serve as an effective anti-roll device.
What I Liked: Water resistant at
a minimum, Appears generally tough, Impact resistant
LED bulb, Semi-regulated DC-DC boost circuit, Bright
for a single LED light, Easy battery change, Lightweight,
Great runtime.
What I Didn't Like: Clip not that great.
Other Things I Noticed: Beam is slightly irregular,
but not a significant detriment to the light or its use at all.
Conclusions: Nice little pocket light! Output is
quite good and it seems to be rather well made. Good for the pocket, purse,
briefcase, etc. Runtime graph is pending, so we'll see how it does for output
over time very soon.
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