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The Civictor V1 is a little Luxeon I LED pocket light powered
with a simple, easy to find AA alkaline, rechargeable,
or lithium cell (1.5V max). It is very small and lightweight.
It is not made by a company with a name that starts with
an "F", ends with an "X", and sounds
like the word "Phoenix", but it has similar design
characteristics. As I understand it, the Civictor was actually
designed by our mystery company, but was sold to and
is manufactured by Shenzhen LangHeng Electronics Co.
Body: The body of the Civictor V1 is machined
aluminum with an anodized finish and is available in
black only. Although information from the factory is
not available on the type of anodize, a third party
has provided information that leads us to believe that
it is Type II. The body and head are completely cylindrical
and there is a wide ring of gentle checkering around
the head and body. The tail has two holes cut into it.
This allows a lanyard (included) to be attached. The
tail is completely flat, allowing it to stand on end.
Bezel/Head: The head of the V1 includes a tempered
glass lens, a metal reflector, a Luxeon 1
watt LED, and a DC-DC boost circuit, all permanently installed.
The lens is slightly recessed which serves as some protection
from impact and abrasion. The LED is perfectly centered
in the reflector. The reflector has a slight ringy texture.
Output: Output is very good for a single AA
alkaline cell. Using an alkaline cell, output is "semi-regulated"
and although it diminishes over time it's output curve is
much better than a standard direct-drive alkaline output curve.
The white light produced by the LED is a high color
temperature and produces good color rendition. No tint was detectable
in the beam.
Beam at one meter at target center.
Runtime Plot: Runtime with an alkaline AA cell
is shown below. Considering the fact that the light
is using an alkaline AA cell, which is poorly suited
to provide power to the high-energy-demanding Luxeon,
output and runtime is very good! This curve provides
ample evidence of a straightforward DC-DC boost
circuit which results in "semi-regulated"
output.
Runtime
completed with Rayovac brand batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
Runtime
completed with Energizer 2300mAh brand batteries. More
information on runtime plots is available HERE.
Switch: The head of the light is the switch.
Tighten for on, loosen for off.
Seals / Water Resistance: The light is protected
from the environment by a thick o-ring and a sealed bezel.
The light is labeled as "waterproof"
with no specific depth rating. I would call it "dunkable"
but not "diveable". I would recommend lubricating
the O-ring with a teflon based lubricant. This may be
found in many hardware stores (and Radio Shack) in a
precision applicator and is often labeled as "Super
Lube". I find it works extremely well.
If it gets wet inside, just disassemble as much a possible
without tools and let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: Nothing special to report here,
except that it is small and easy to carry in the
pocket.
Size compared to a common 2 AA aluminum light
Batteries: For batteries, this light is approved
by the manufacturer for use with AA alkaline, rechargeable
NiMH and AA lithium L91 cells. All others are at your
own risk. The input voltage for the Civictor is 0.9V to
1.5V only.
To change out the battery: unscrew the head, drop out
the old cell, place in new cell observing proper polarity.
Reattach the head and you're ready to go.
Accessories: Inside the box you will find a spare
O-ring, a nylon wrist lanyard, and a nylon belt sheath.
What I Liked: Waterproof, Tough/impact
resistant, Bright, Easy battery change, Lightweight,
Stands up
What I Didn't Like: None
Picky Little Things: None
Conclusions: The Civictor V1 is a
very nice little pocket light which should provide a long
period of reliable service. Using a simple and inexpensive
AA alkaline, or rechargeable NiMH, you get great light
output for a very reasonable amount of time. The factory
has indicated that a 1.5V lithium AA is safe to use
as well and should provide excellent output
and runtime. The V1 is well designed, good quality,
and shows every indication of being a very durable illumination
tool.
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