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Detailed
Information:
The Lighting Pro Technologies PowerStik can convert
just about any 2-D cell light, even an economy $0.99
flashlight, into a fully regulated long lasting lighting
instrument that provides much more light for a much
longer period of time.
Using the PowerStik is very simple. Load it with 8
AA batteries, all positive side up. Drop it into the
light. Replace the stock bulb with one of the included
bulbs depending on your brightness/runtime needs. Close
the light back up and turn it on! When the light starts
to pulse (normal, slightly dimmer, normal) once a second,
it's time to replace the batteries.
The regulator/battery carrier system consists of five
brass rods that attach the top and bottom of the unit,
two yellow disks that provide proper battery orientation
and retention, and a sealed regulator circuit at the
base. Inserting batteries is very easy. Simply place
the bottom batteries in first and then snap in the upper
batteries. If running the unit on only 4 AA batteries,
place the two stacks of batteries on opposite sides
of the holder (diagonally).
The instructions do mention that the batteries should
be removed if storing the light for an extended period.
I do not know if this recommendation is because the
regulator circuit draws from the batteries constantly
and will eventually run them down or simply to prevent
damage from possible battery leakage.
The PowerStik includes two xenon bulbs. One bulb is
0.5 Amp for battery economy and the other is 0.9 Amp
for increased brightness. The included bulbs appear
to be bi-pin bulbs adapted to PR bases and are rated
at 3.6 Volts each. The stock bulb in the flashlight
MUST be replaced with the PowerStik bulb for the unit
to work properly. Although an expected life span for
the bulbs is not given, the regulator is advertised
to double the bulb life.
In my tests using a standard $1.00 Eveready Economy
light and my Lightbox Apparatus, the stock bulb w/2-D
cells initially put out about 1000 overall light units.
This output will diminish over time, rapidly at first.
The PowerStik w/0.5 Amp bulb put out 1250 overall light
units with the brightness expected to be maintained
over 12 hours. The 0.9 Amp bulb put out 2450 overall
light units with the brightness expected to be maintained
for 5 hours. This means that the PowerStik with its
low output bulb will put out more light initially and
over a much longer period of time than the stock bulb
with 2-D cells.
Also note that, at 2450 overall light units the high
intensity bulb is putting out about the same light as
a common 3-D cell aluminum light (2300 overall light
units) and is expected to do so for 5 full hours while
the 3-D cell light output diminishes dramatically over
that same time period.
Just to check the accuracy of the regulation claims,
I placed 4 AA cells in the PowerStik with the high intensity
bulb and let it run. After 45 minutes output was essentially
identical as when it started. Over the same time period
the light would have experienced significant dimming
if using 2-D cells and the stock bulb.
Now when you install a PowerStik into your flashlight
and turn it on you may be surprised at the way it fires
up. If you put your ear to the side of the light body
you will hear a high pitched buzz for about 1 second
and over that one second period of time the light will
gradually come on and ramp up to full brightness. Do
not expect the light to come on full intensity as soon
as you hit the switch. When you flip the switch the
regulator initiates what is called a "soft start"
so the bulb is protected from the shock of the voltage
going through a cold filament. This "shock"
is most often the culprit in bulb failure and is why
you most often see a bulb fail when it is first turned
on.
The PowerStik comes in a clear plastic tube with rubber
end caps inside the cardboard hang package. In case
the flashlight that the PowerStik will be used in has
a switch which will rub on the batteries, the plastic
tube can be dropped into the flashlight body first to
prevent the switch from damaging the batteries.
Appropriate precautions should be taken to avoid wet
environments when using the PowerStik with a flashlight
that is not watertight.
What I Liked: Serious regulation,
Great output, Loooooooong battery life for an incandescent,
Low power warning
What I Didn't Like: Nothing significant.
Other Things I Noticed: Battery
installation takes slightly more effort than simply
dropping in two new D cells, but is well worth the extra
10 seconds it takes.
As the batteries lose power the light
starts to pulse. If the light is left on the pulses
turn into 1-2 pulses followed by the light going out
completely, then coming back on for another 2-3 pulses.
If you shut the light off and give the alkalines a little
time to recover, the light will come back on without
pulsing. The batteries still need to be changed and
it will start pulsing again very soon, but you may be
able to squeeze another couple minutes runtime out of
the batteries.
Conclusions: An incredible upgrade
that will "supercharge" a common 2-D cell
light so that it gives very long runtimes or output
exceeding that of common 3-D cell lights, depending
on bulb selection. Get a really good bodied 2-D cell
light and drop in one of these for fantastic output
and runtimes.
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