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(That's a silver split ring that came with the light resting under the clip)
The Streamlight ProPolymer Luxeon series is proving to be
a really fantastic set of lights. This is the second light in
the series I have evaluated and I am now completely impressed.
Body: The body is made of polymer, has two flat panels on
either side and is slightly oval in shape. There is a slight
texture to the body which enhances grip a little bit.
On the tail is the switch and a clip.
A lanyard attachment point
is molded into the body just below the head.
The combination of a polymer body and a Luxeon LED makes
for a very impact resistant light. At the base of the
bezel threads on the body is an umbrella valve to release
any pressure that may build up inside the light.
Bezel/Reflector/Bulb: The bezel/head area consists of a black plastic shroud,
a polycarbonate lens with scratch resistant coating,
and a lamp assembly with a deep, smooth reflector. The
lamp assembly contains the reflector, the Luxeon I LED
and a regulator circuit that does a very good job of
driving the LED at constant brightness for several hours.
The lamp assembly is made mostly of metal to absorb
waste heat from the LED. The assembly also contains
two catalyst pellets to remove waste hydrogen which
may form inside the battery compartment.
The one concern I had with the Propolymer Luxeon series
surrounded driving the LED at a fairly high rate inside
a plastic body. Despite the use of a lot of metal in
the lamp assembly to draw heat away from the LED, heat
could build up inside the plastic light cause damage
to the LED. Thermal measurements did show that this
concern appears unfounded in the 4AA version of the
light. Since the 3C version is driving the LED only
slightly harder than the 4AA, heat buildup should not
be a concern here either.
Output: Output is in the form of a tight spot with a medium
sized corona and wide spillbeam. The central spot is
very intense and provides excellent throw. Beam color
is very white with no noticeable tints. Once again,
this is one of the best Luxeon beams I've seen, which
is quite an admirable feat considering the fact that
a smooth reflector is used. Smooth reflectors usually
produce large artifacts in the beam, but not in this
case. The tiniest artifacts can be seen in the corona
around the central spot, but you'd never see them if
you weren't purposely looking for slight imperfections
in the beam itself.
Beam at one meter at target center and at target edge
to show spillbeam.
Runtime Plot: Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Over
6 hours of regulated output, diminishing thereafter.
Solid, true regulation during the regulated period.
Very nice!
Runtime
completed with Rayovac batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
The switch has a rubber cover and operates smoothly.
The switch is a clickie and pressing
partially will activate the light for momentary operation.
It provides both tactile and audible feedback when activated.
One thing that bugs me a little is that the switch is not
recessed to the point where the light can stand on its tail
end. The switch protrudes from the base and could be subject to
accidental activation.
Water Resistance is very good, and although it is not
dive rated, I have no doubts that it can withstand a
fairly significant dunking. The switch is rubber sealed
and there is an O-ring sealing the head of the light.
The safety vent valve is an umbrella valve that only
allows pressure out, keeping the environment from getting
in.
Ergonomics: Good size and easy to activate. Comfortable in
the hand. The clip is very easy to use and allows very rapid
access and stowing of the light by clipping it to your
belt/pants.
Size compared to a common 2AA aluminum light
Batteries: 3 C alkaline cells are used to power the
light. No other battery formulation is indicated as
acceptable in the packaging. To access the batteries,
unscrew the bezel cover, remove the lamp assembly, and
place the 3 cells in negative first. The lamp a assembly
has polarity protection built in to prevent the light
from working if the cells are put in backwards.
Accessories: A chromed split ring is included if you
want to attach it to the light.
What I Liked: Very water resistant,
Tough/impact resistant, Regulated/long battery life,
Bright, Easy battery change,
What I Didn't Like: Nothing significant
Other Things I Noticed: n/a
Conclusions: An excellent Luxeon
light all the way around. Great output, solid construction,
great runtime. A total winner!
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