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Reviewer's
Impressions:
Underwater Kinetics 2 AAA eLED demonstrates an up-and-coming
trend in the field of LED lights. Namely the use of voltage
boost/regulator circuits to power LEDs on the lower voltages
that power smaller incandescent lights.
The eLED circuit appears to do a relatively good job of regulating
power to the LED. Per the UK advertised graph of runtime,
the light will dim 50% over about 19 hours. During the 20th
hour it will drop the other 50%. This indicates that the batteries
have been drained to the point where they boost circuit can
no longer suck any more power out of them. This type of a
curve is known as "semi-regulated". A fully regulated
light would not dim at all until the batteries are completely
drained.
Fit and finish are good with no real problems to be found.
The body of the light is very solid and durable.
Inserting the batteries can be a little tricky. You need
to insert the "bottom" battery (positive first)
that will drop into the shorter side of the light, tapping
the light repeatedly until the battery falls into place. The
bottom contacts on inside of the light are built on a pivot
point so they help tip the bottom battery into place. After
the first battery is in, insert the 2nd battery (negative
first) and attach the head. The top battery is held in fairly
tightly by the contact strip inside the body. To remove the
batteries, remove the head and snap the light downward toward
the opening to fling out the top battery. Then shake the light
gently until the bottom battery drops out.
The electronics are literally crammed inside the tiny head
of the light and get in the way of the light output a little
bit, but not badly. The lens focuses the light from the single
LED into a round spot with a couple of notches missing around
its edges as a result of the electronics getting in the way.
However, the lens does project more light further than many
other single LED lights.
Water resistance is very good. Dunking resulted in no water
getting into the case. It is advertised as waterproof to 500
ft.
Important things to note: The removable nylon clip that comes
with the unit will fasten it to a ball cap very well, allowing
it to be used like a headlamp.
I think this would make a very good backup light for caving,
diving, or camping since it is so small, durable, and bright
for its size. Extremely pocketable and won't chafe your pocket
linings. Because it is plastic it shouldn't damage other equipment
it is packed with.
+ + + Pluses: Waterproof, Tough/impact
resistant, Semi-Regulated, Lightweight, Stands up, Good output
for its size, Common batteries.
- - - Minuses: Battery change requires
a little patience but is not too bad
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