|
Palm4 by NitePalm
The NitePalm Palm4 is a single 5mm LED flashlight powered
by a typical 9V alkaline cell. It has 4 modes of operation
which include high, low, SOS blink, and a very low output
"find me" beacon which can be turned off.
The light is encased in rubberized, textured plastic
for durability and includes a magnetic, removable belt
clip.
Body: The body of the Palm4 is almost entirely
rubber, except for the base which is plastic. As a result
it is a very durable design which can handle most common
impacts and drops. The body has a diamond texture and
a clear plastic label on the front. At the base is a
twist cap that releases the bottom of the light and
opens the battery compartment. A coin can be used to
twist the mechanism open. The switch is on the side
and is also covered by the rubber body.
Bezel/Head: Looking from the front you will
see a rubber shroud which protects the clear window
lens. Behind the lens appears to be a Nichia CS LED
and the electronics.
Output: Because the Palm4 uses a bare 5mm LED
and no other lenses, the beam is only focused by the
LED capsule. The beam is rather wide with a brighter,
slightly more bluish, center. The beam is abruptly cut
off around the edges by the rubber shroud which protects
the lens and front of the light. The end result is a
fairly wide but very user-friendly beam. Output is surprisingly
bright for a single 5mm LED, and it should be sufficient
for many low-light tasks.
Low output is great for use in very low-light situations
so that you do not disrupt your night adapted vision
too much. Likewise, the "find me" beacon can
serve as illumination in extremely dark situations if
you only want a little light.
|
Level
|
|
|
|
High
|
36 (6.00)
|
330 (3.30)
|
|
Low
|
2 (1.41)
|
20 (0.20)
|
All throw readings are in Lux
at one meter. The numbers in parenthesis are for comparison
in the Comparison
Charts.
Beam at one meter at target center
Runtime Plot: Coming Soon! Runtime is advertised
as 40-200 hours. Runtime test on "high" shows
the manufacturer's runtime estimates are a bit off.
You should expect about 7 hours before the light output
drops significantly to a much lower level and continues
on with a long "tail" of low output after
that.
Runtime
completed with Duracell brand batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
Switch: The switch is a simple pushbutton on
one side of the light. Out of the box you may see that
the light is on, but only slightly. This is the "find-me"
beacon. Press and hold the switch to turn this feature
on or off. For normal operation, press to turn on high,
press again for low, press again for SOS blink, and
press once more for off.
Seals / Water Resistance: The Palm4 is advertised
as watertight to a depth of 15', but it is not intended
for diving. If water gets inside, open it up and let
it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: It's small, it's lightweight, and
it's very easy to use.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Batteries: A single 9V alkaline cell powers
the light. To change out the battery, use a coin or
some other object to twist the center round locking
plate on the bottom of the light and remove the base.
Drop out the old cell and place in the new 9V battery,
observing proper polarity. Reattach the base and twist
the center lock back into place.
Accessories: A removable belt clip with an embedded
magnet is included with the light. It simply slides
onto a receiver plate on the side of the light and locks
in place. The magnet is strong enough to hold the light
on a vertical metal surface.
What I Liked: Good output, various
output options, durable, small, lightweight
What I Didn't Like: Nothing.
Picky Little Things: It requires
a coin or some other similar object to change the battery.
Although not hard to find, it is a little inconvenient.
Conclusions: A good little flashlight!
Very durable, good runtime, good output and nice options.
|
