|
Available from Lumaray.com
The Lumaray FL12 is a very unique LED flashlight. The
folks at Lumaray decided to take 12 of the new high
output Nichia CS white LEDs, package them in some very
tough polymers, place collimating lenses at a precise
distance from each LED for a concentrated beam, create
a very unique locking mechanism for the battery compartment,
and then add a serious dose of futuristic style to their
design for good measure. The result is a very unusual
flashlight that looks like it stepped straight out of
a sci-fi movie. I have heard folks mention that some
flashlights look like "light sabers". The Lumaray looks
more like a Klingon particle beam weapon with an attitude.
Aside from its unique design, the Lumaray FL12 is made
from polycarbonate, a high impact and chemical resistant
resin made by GE called "Xenoy", and stainless
steel springs. Very tough stuff all the way around.
The somewhat hexagonal anti-roll head includes 6 recessed
lenses around the outside for 6 LEDs and 6 unlensed
LEDs in the center of the head. Just below the head
is the locking mechanism that holds the head to the
body.
The junction between the head and the body is sealed with 2 O-rings for water resistance. The body is slightly tapered, narrow at the top. The tube starts out round and tapers out to a hexagon profile. On the very end is the unusually shaped tailcap with 6 posts that allow the light to stand on end when placed on a flat, level surface.
As mentioned, the head contains 6 high output Nichia
CS white LEDs in the center of the head and 6 more of
them behind collimating lenses. The six lenses take
the light from the 6 outer LEDs and focus it into a
fairly coherent beam. Behind those lenses is an application
of glow-in-the-dark material which glows brightly for
many hours after about 5 minutes of exposure to light
from the LEDs.
 
Bezel face-on in normal light and in the dark to show
glow after activation
Output is in the form of a narrow beam which produces
a smooth spot of white light with a blue corona. The
six unlensed LEDs in the center produce a wide flood
of light which supplements the tight spot beam with
a wide corona. This results in a light beam that is
effective at both close range and at a fairly good distance.
Beam at one meter at target center and at target edge
to show spillbeam.
At very close range the 6 spots created by the LED
lenses don't have time to converge and you have 6 completely
separate spots of light with fill between them provided
by the central 6 LEDs.
Beam extreme close-up to show 6 separate LED spots from
the lensed LEDs plus fill between the spots provided
by the 6 unlensed LEDs.
Runtime Plot: No regulation here - just 3 C cells powering
12 LEDs. Since the 12 LEDs don't really draw that much
electricity from the fairly large C cells, you can expect
a very long period of illumination from this light.
Initially bright, output is expected to diminish over
time.
Runtime
completed with new Rayovac batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
The head of the light serves as the switching mechanism.
Twist one direction for on, the other way for off. Inside
the head are flexible angled contacts that touch a stainless
steel wire molded into the inside of the body and runs
from top to bottom. At the bottom of the battery tube
a removable stainless steel spring serves as the negative
contact for the batteries.
Between the head and the body tube are three O-rings. Two of the O-rings serve as seals to prevent the entry of water into the body, which results in a watertight depth rating of about 3 meters (15 feet). The third O-ring protrudes into the body of the light through 3 slots cut in the O-ring groove. This third O-ring actually acts as a battery stop so that when you drop out the cells they don't all fall out onto your feet. Instead they stop traveling down the tube when they contact the O-ring, allowing you to shake the tube and remove one cell at a time.
Ergonomics: The Lumaray is very comfortable in the hand and is rather lightweight for a 3-C cell flashlight. The tapered body helps with grip, although there is no texture where you would grip the body tube.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
The three C cells are changed by unlocking the head
from the light using the very unique Lumaray mechanism.
First, with the light facing upwards, you rotate the
locking mechanism below the head to the right until
it stops. Then, placing your thumb and forefinger of
one hand on two of the mechanism grip plates, and a
finger from your other hand on the third grip plate,
you pull all of them straight down. This causes the
lock tabs under the head to cam outward and release
the head of the light which then pops up. Remove the
head by pulling straight up. Leaving the rotating mechanism
in the unlocked position you drop out the cells one
by one (thanks to the Lumaray battery retainer) and
replace with new. Then press the head back in place.
A taper at the base of the head allows the locking surface
to slide under the three locking tabs. When the head
clicks back into place, rotate the locking mechanism
to the left until it stops. Although all of this sounds
complex, it is deceptively simple.
Head of Lumaray with locking mechanism unlocked and pulled down, opening the locking tabs and allowing the head to pop up.
Although no accessories come with the light, the tail is designed to accept lanyards through the openings around the 6 tailcap posts.
What I Liked: Water resistant to 15 feet,
Tough/impact resistant, Long battery life,
Bright clean spot of light, Easy battery change, Relatively lightweight for a 3 C cell light, Stands up
What I Didn't Like: Nothing
Other Things I Noticed:
Conclusions: The Lumaray FL12 can
clearly illuminate targets well out of the reach of
non-lensed LED lights and at the same time illuminate
the area close to the user. It has a very cool design
and overall a very good light. One of the few times
where a really interesting looking light doesn't just
try to sell itself on its looks and actually performs
quite well. Great for close work due to the 6 unlensed
LEDs and also for medium range tasks which take advantage
of the tight spot of light produced by the lensed LEDs.
|
