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Detailed
Information:
The ALX-053L is a very nicely made light. Solid construction,
good design, and quite good output.
The body is made of machined aluminum which has been
"clear anodized" which retains the silver
color of the aluminum. The anodize is Type II which
is fairly durable and will protect the surface of the
body from corrosion and minor abrasion. The raised areas
on the body have been checkered with shallow grooves
which provides some improvement for grip. There are
two deeper grooves near the tailcap which helps with
retention. A flat panel is machined on one side for
logo imprinting. This flat panel also aligns with the
switch to aid in activation when grasping the light
in the dark. The head of the light has 6 raised plateaus
which help prevent the light from rolling away when
placed on its side. The tailcap has a recessed post
which is flush with the base of the light. The post
is drilled for attachment of a lanyard (included). This
design allows the light to stand on its end with the
lanyard attached.
The bezel contains a plastic lens and a silvered plastic
reflector which is quite deep. This allows more of the
light to be captured and thrown forward. This type of
design is important when working with the rather large
light source surface of the Luxeon Star. The LED is
still on its factory heatsink and is held in place
by a retaining ring. The retaining ring is screwed into
the body and clamps down on the Luxeon Star, keeping
it in good contact with the aluminum platform below.
This permits the transference of heat that may develop
in use, thereby protecting the Luxeon from thermal damage.
The switch is a simple click switch and it is located
just behind the head of the light. The switch actually
activates the light on the up-stroke, so it is necessary
to release the button for the light to come on. The
switch is covered by a textured rubber cover that provides
a non-slip surface and water resistance.
The torch is sealed at both ends by O-rings which have
been well lubricated at the factory. The bezel lens
also appears to have an O-ring seal. The switch, as
mentioned before, is also covered by a rubber seal.
This light is not intended for submersion, but should
be able to withstand a good soaking without liquid penetrating
the body. If water does get it, simply open it up and
allow it to dry.
Ergonomically, the torch fits well in the hand. Balance
is toward the rear of the light. The knurling is not
rough at all and does not abrade the skin. No sharp
edges were found. The switch is easy to locate due to
the presence of the large flat panel machined into the
side of the body. It is not excessively heavy, nor does
it require a tight grip to use and handle.
For batteries the ALX-053L takes three 123A lithium
3 Volt cells. These are very expensive in retail stores
and are best purchased on-line from various e-tailers.
Batteries are expected to last about 3 hours. There
is a regulator circuit inside the light to help maintain
constant brightness.
Runtime Plot:
Runtime
completed with BatteryStation 123A batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
The light has an initial drop in intensity,
which is not unusual. It remains in regulation for about
2 hours before dropping in intensity fairly rapidly.
I took temperature readings during the runtime test
and the body of the light reached 130 degrees F. That
is hot enough to scald the skin, so be careful if using
it for extended periods!
Batteries are included, as well as the attached lanyard
and a very nice padded, full length belt sheath with
a velcro closure. A belt loop on the back will accommodate
up to 1 3/4" belts. There is some elastic sewn
onto the front of the sheath, purpose unknown.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Tough/impact resistant, Decent battery life, Regulated,
Bright, Easy battery change, Lightweight, Stands up
What I Didn't Like: The beam is
rather doughnut shaped at the center. The very center
is dimmer than the edge of the central spot. I have
noticed this with every Luxeon V that I have and appears
to be an unavoidable characteristic of having such a
large point source light for the reflector to focus.
Other Things I Noticed: This particular
Luxeon V is the warmest one I've seen yet. It has a
distinct yellow tint compared to the others I have.
It allows the user to see rich, warm reds, browns and
oranges. Where most LEDs are bluish in tint and tend
to wash out the red end of the spectrum, this one was
a refreshing change for the eyes.
Conclusions: A good Luxeon Star
torch overall. Well machined, well designed, and good
output. Comfortable in the hand and easy to use. No
need to every worry about having to change the bulb
since the Luxeon Star will last a very, very long time
and cannot blow like a normal bulb.
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