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The Inova Radiant series, which includes AAA, AA and
C cell lights, is Inova's method of entry into the lower
priced light market. These lights use less expensive
components compared to their high-end products making
them much more affordable, but lack some of the finishing
touches.
Body description: The body is made of a high
impact polycarbonate with an octagonal shape. This shape
naturally serves to prevent the light from rolling off
of a partially inclined surface. The center section
of the body is black and has a slightly grippy/rubbery
feel. Surrounding the head of the light are vents molded
into the plastic which allow the metal body tube inside
to vent waste heat from the LED to the environment.
This design helps to protect the LED from thermal damage.
The switch is in the tailcap and there are two lanyard
holes in the tailcap as well.
Bezel: At the front of the light you will see
a rubberized octagonal cap which can be removed, but
there is no reason to do so as it helps protect the
front of the light from impacts. A plastic lens sits
in front of the polished 2-stage reflector. The Luxeon
I LED can be seen in the very center of the reflector.
Output: Light output is in the form of a central
spot with no defined corona and a wide spillbeam. The
white light is a high color temperature and produces
good color rendition weighted toward the blue end of
the spectrum.
At a distance of about 6" the light produced a
beautiful smooth spot. Any further and an irregular
patch of dimmer illumination formed in the center of
the spot that makes it appear as though it were a doughnut
of light. This seemed to be very unusual for a light
coming from Inova, who is becomming known for their
dedication to quality...
Beam at one meter at target center, note dark patch.
Sure enough, a reader reported to me that
Inova was aware of the donut hole in the light beam.
It was due to a machining mistake in the reflectors
(40/1000 of an inch) and they implemented a "fix".
All current models do not exhibit this "donut effect".
Apparently I just got lucky... After purchasing a new
unit I found that the beam is a very clean spot of light
with a tighter spot:
Beam at one meter at target center
Runtime Plot: Although the packaging states
that the internal circuitry provides "non-dimming
light output", it does in fact dim over time, reaching
50% in about 6 hours and then dropping rapidly. It does
not, however, dim nearly as rapidly as a direct-driven
alkaline AA light. It appears to me that this is simply
a voltage boost circuit in operation which helps to
regulate output to some degree.
Runtime
completed with Duracell batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
Switch: The switch is on the tail of the light
and is covered by a cone-shaped rubber cap. Pressing
in on the switch lightly permits momentary (signaling)
operation, pressing in until it clicks keeps the light
on until you click it off. Only gentle pressure is required
to operate the switch and audible feedback is barely
noticeable (it's quiet). There is no way to "lock" the
switch in the off position without compromising the
water resistance of the light and because of the gentle
pressure needed to activate the switch it can be prone
to accidental activation.
Seals / Water Resistance: The packaging advertises
it as "water resistant" and states that it
is not designed for submersion. The O-ring which seals
the tailcap appears to be a bit thin for my liking.
I would recommend keeping it well lubricated to prevent
it from binding.
If it gets wet inside, just disassemble as much a possible
without tools and let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: It feels comfortable in the hand
and the switch is easy to operate. It does seem a bit
large in diameter for a 2AA cell light. Because it is
plastic it can be held in the teeth, but it's a bit
large for this.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Batteries: For batteries, this light takes two AA
cells. Duracell brand cells are included.
To change out the batteries: unscrew the tailcap, drop
out the old cells, place in new cells observing proper
polarity (negative toward the head in this case).
Reattach the tailcap and you're ready to go. When you spin
down the tailcap it will hit a stop so that the flats of
the tailcap always align with the flats of the body tube.
You will also notice that the body tube has a metal cylinder
liner inside which provides electrical connectivity to the head.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Impact resistant (survived multiple drops), Long battery life,
Good output, Semi-regulated
What I Didn't Like: Accidental
activation probable - no switch guard.
Conclusions: A good general use
consumer-level light to replace your worn out Minimag.
Provides a significantly better beam. The long runtime
could come in very handy and overall output is greater
than a typical 2-D flashlight. Nice styling, but lacks
a little of the refinement (and a lot of the price tag)
of the higher-end Inova lights.
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