Likki Lite 5 Watt LED SL-13

Provided for review
by the kind folks at:

 
 
3½ Stars
GoodVery Good
         

Light Type: Luxeon V LED
Light Class: Outdoor / Rough Use / Etc.

The Likki LS-13 is a lithium cell high-intensity Luxeon V LED flashlight. The body of the light is made of machined aluminum and anodized black for corrosion resistance. A clickie tailcap on the end activates the light.

Body: The body of the light is made of Type II anodized machined aluminum. Two rings of checkering surround the head, which is not easily removable. The body of the light has a wide band of checkering around the center and one flat panel on the side. The tailcap has two rings of checkering and a small hole on one side for the attachment of a lanyard.

Bezel/Reflector/Bulb: The head of the light is significantly larger than the body and houses a smooth reflector, polycarbonate lens, and the Luxeon LED. Inside, somewhere, is a boost circuit to provide the necessary power to take advantage of the Luxeon V output capability.

Output: Output is in the form of an intense white light. Great output! It has a broad center spot, slightly dimmer in the very center as is common with Luxeon V lights. The color of the beam is very close to sunlight with no noticeable tinting.


Beam at one meter at target center

Runtime Plot: Pretty good! The driver circuit keeps the light going at more than 50% starting output for about 2 hours. It then drops to a point where it starts flashing on and off. This is a sign that the boost circuit is trying to draw more from the batteries than they are willing to give. Now is definitely time to change the batteries. After that, it drops to a low level and stays there.


Runtime completed with Streamlight batteries. More information on runtime plots is available HERE.

Switch: The switch is on the tailcap and is a standard on-off click switch. The switch is covered by a flat rubber cap. This cap is very slightly recessed from the surrounding material of the tailcap so that the light can sit on its tail end, although it wobbles a bit. The clickie switch is a "reverse clickie", turning the light on after it clicks and is released. The switch gives a good positive feedback when used.

Seals: O-ring seals protect the light at the head/body and body/tailcap connection points. Dunkable. If water gets inside just disassemble as much as possible without tools and let it dry before using again.

Ergonomics: A very good size all around. About the size of a G2.


Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light

Batteries: Two 123A lithium cells power the light. As always, I'd recommend getting them from an online retailer where they can be had for as low as 1.25 each. If you want to pick them up at a retail store, go ahead, but be ready to pay $10 for a pair! To change the batteries just unscrew the tailcap, drop out the old cells, drop in new ones positive first and reassemble.

Accessories: A very good quality belt sheath is included which allows the light to be carried in the head-up or head-down position. A velcro flap retains the light in the holster. The belt attachment loop closes with both snap and Velcro, so it won't fall off and you don't need to remove your belt to attach the sheath.

What I Liked: Water resistant, Tough/impact resistant, Regulated/good battery life, Very Bright, Easy battery change, Lightweight, Stands up

What I Didn't Like: The only real gripe I have is that the lens is dirty on the inside and I cannot get into the head to clean it because it is glued together.

Other Things I Noticed:

Conclusions: A very nice light. In fact, I like this one a lot and would recommend it highly. Unfortunately it is not yet listed on Advancedmart's site (at the time of this printing). I like the size, the feel, the use of only 2 cells, and the spectacular output. A great compact Luxeon V light.

 


Quick Facts Table:

Item Reviewed.......................... Likki Lite SL-13
Review Date ............................. July 2005
Case Material ........................... Aluminum
Case Features .......................... Textured for grip
Case Access Type .................... Unscrew tailcap
Switch Type ............................. Click switch on-off
Reflector Type ......................... Silvered Plastic
Lens Type ................................

Clear plastic

Bulb Type ................................. Luxeon V LED
Beam Type ............................... Fixed focus wide spot
Beam Characteristics ............... Mostly smooth, some artifacts
Throw (Lux) at 1m (click for description) ~ 561 at beam center. (23.68 Comparison Chart equivalent)
Overall Output (click for description) ~ 4800 (48.00 Comparison Chart equivalent)
Battery / Power Type................ 2 x 123A Lithium
Battery Life (advertised) ........... Unknown
Battery Life (test results) ........... ~ 2 hours to 50% output
Environmental Protection ......... O-ring seals
Weight (oz.) with batteries ....... 4.3 oz.
Special Items of Note ............... Belt sheath included
Warranty .................................. Unknown
Retail Cost ................................ $74.98 at time of review from Advancedmart.com
 

 

 
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