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The Pelican M1 LED, model 2310, is a very professional
looking, straightforward light. It uses a Luxeon I LED
for light, a regulator circuit to maintain constant
output for as long as possible, and utilizes one 123A
lithium cell for power.
The body is machined aluminum with what appears to
be a Type II anodized black finish. The head and tailcap
have 8 flat plateaus machined in to help prevent the
light from rolling off of a surface. The switch is just
below the head and the body tube has a raised knurled
area for grip. The knurling is not aggressive at all.
The tail cap includes a water resistant vent and an
internal spring which serves as the negative battery
contact.
Overall the machining and finishing is excellent. It
is aesthetically, and functionally, a very nice light.
Bezel/Head: The bezel ring is removable, but it is
totally unnecessary to do so. Behind the polycarbonate
lens is a plastic reflector which is partially textured
to help smooth out the beam. The low-dome Luxeon can
be seen in the center of the reflector. Somewhere behind
the LED is a regulator circuit that keeps the light
output constant while in use until the batteries become
too depleted for the circuit to function. At that point
output diminishes over time.
Output description: The white light produced by the
LED is a high color temperature and produces good color
rendition weighted toward the blue of the spectrum.
A slight bluish tint is detectable when compared against
a near sunlight-white source. The beam pattern has an
unusual shaped central spot (pentagonal), a slight corona
and a wide spillbeam. There were some slight artifacts
in the beam due to the fact that the low-dome Luxeon
was not quite centered in the reflector. I did attempt
to center it after the testing was complete, but was
unsuccessful.
Beam at one meter at target center
Runtime Plot: This graph shows the regulator in action.
After just about 2½ hours the light output drops
dramatically and the LED goes into direct-drive mode
with output diminishing over time.
Runtime
completed with Duracell brand batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
Switch description: The switch is a typical reverse-clickie.
Press until it clicks for "on". Once on, press
gently to blink, or press until it clicks for "off".
The switch gives both auditory and tactile feedback
when used.
Seals / Water Resistance: O-rings seal the light at
the appropriate places, and the vent in the tailcap
is water resistant as well. The rubber cap protects
the switch. It can be soaked, dunked, splashed, etc.,
but it is not intended for diving.
If it gets wet inside, just disassemble as much a possible
without tools and let it dry before using again.
Ergonomics: This light is designed to be a rather small
companion. It is a very nice diameter for holding in
the hand, but is quite short. The knurling does provide
some grip improvement, but it's not aggressive at all.
Be careful in situations where dropping the light would
result in its loss. Because of the flat plateaus around
the tailcap, it is easy to grip when twisting off the
tailcap to change the batteries. The switch is small,
but easy to depress with the thumb.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Batteries: One 123A cell powers the light. I would
recommend Titanium
brand cells for $1.00 each (here's
a review) or BatteryStation
or Surefire
brand cells for less than $2 each. I would not recommend purchasing
these cells at retail stores since they cost $10 a pair
or more in most retail stores!
To change out the batteries: unscrew the tailcap, drop
out the old cells, place in new cells observing proper
polarity. Reattach the tailcap and you're ready to go.
Accessories: A nice nylon sheath with snap closure
is included in the package. There is a plastic sleeve
inside the sheath and in the body/flap that provides
additional rigidity and protection for the light. There
is a pouch to one side of the main compartment for holding
a spare cell. This extra compartment is closed with
a velcro flap. The cell is removed by squeezing from
the bottom, pushing the cell upward.
What I Liked: Water resistant,
Tough/impact resistant, Regulated/good battery life,
Bright, Easy battery change, Lightweight, Stands up
What I Didn't Like: Nothing
Other Things I Noticed: Nice sheath!
Unusual shape to the central spot.
Conclusions: Overall a well made,
nicely designed, and effective illumination tool. Very
good output regulation gives about 2½ hours of
steady output followed by diminishing output which will
serve as an indicator to change cells. I like it, and
would feel comfortable recommending it for use by anyone
who needs a very small but bright illumination tool.
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