AURORA (3) 1.5W LED FLASHLIGHT


Aurora (3) 1.5W LED Flashlight, retail $35.99 (www.advancedmart.com...)
Manufactured by (Unknown)
Last updated 07-24-05




I was sent this flashlight by J.W. of AdvancedMart, and this evaluation is to agument the two other Aurora evaluations that were prompted by posts on Candlepower Forums (CPF).

The Aurora (3) (model # ALJ-311L) is a small handheld flashlight that comes in an almost all-aluminum body, and features a 1.5 watt Nichia Jupiter LED to produce its light. The LED light is focused by a positive (magnifying, convex) lens, and it projects an almost perfectly circular beam with a much dimmer, ringy corona (spill light).

It is powered by a single CR123A cell in the flashlight's barrel.


SIZE



This flashlight came to me just needing to be fed its included Duracell Ultra brand CR123A cell (see directly below).

Press the button on the barrel until it clicks and then release it to turn tbe Aurora on.
Do the same thing again to turn the Aurora off.

There is no momentary or signalling mode available when the flashlight is off, however, you can blink the flashlight while it is on by partially depressing the button. If you don't mind the backward or reverse feeling of this, you can blink the flashlight this way.

The flashlight comes with a nylon pouch/belt holster. The flashlight fits this holster bezel-up; a flap with velcro on it folds over the top and attaches to the body of the holster, so the flashlight doesn't just fall out. This holster fits belts up to ~1.50" wide. I do not own or use pants that require a belt however, so I cannot test this accessory in the manner in which it was intended to be used.



To change the battery, unscrew and remove the tailcap, throw it to the ground, and stomp on it with old or used bowling shoes...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the used CR123A cell out of the barrel (a Duracell Ultra CR123A cell comes with it), and dispose of or recycle it as you see fit.

Insert a new CR123A cell in the barrel, button-end (+) positive first.

Finally, screw the tailcap firmly back on.
Aren't you glad you didn't stomp on that tailcap now?

Current consumption is 528mA on my DMM's 4A scale.




Photograph of the Aurora's business-end, showing the convex lens and part of the LED behind it.

The flashlight appears to be reasonably sturdy. Ordinary flashlight accidents should not be enough to do it in. I administered the smack test on it (ten whacks against the corner of a concrete stair; five whacks against the side of the tailcap and five whacks against the side of the bezel), and found the expected damage. There is some minor gouging on the sides of the tailcap and bezel where it was struck. No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected.

There is what I believe to be a Type II anodized finish to the entire exterior of the unit. The Aurora is colored predominantly a medium grey.

The lens is made of plastic (probably acrylic or Lexan). I tried to cut through it with the blade of a Swiss army knife, and with minor difficulty, I was able to.
Would I really try to cut up the lens of a brand spanken new flashlight?
You bet your sugar-coated toilet muscle (sweet patootie) I would, if it's in the name of science.

I also tried to chop through the Type II anodized finish on the barrel with the blade of a Swiss army knife, and again with minor difficulty, I was able to.
Would I really try to chop up the barrel of a brand spanken new flashlight?
You bet your sweet patootie (sugar-coated toilet muscle) I would, if it's in the name of science.

The Aurora is weather-resistant, water-resistant, and probably even submersible to at least a shallow depth. So you need not be concerned about using it in foul weather. Shallow water landings should not kill it either, and if the dog goes to the can on it, just take the garden hose to it or douche it off under the faucet...good as new.

A wrist lanyard is affixed to the Aurora via a small opening in the tailcap. This lanyard is long enough to go all the way around the flashlight, so it may be hung from a horizontal pole, small diameter pipe, small diameter tree branch with no readily accessible "end", etc.

There is knurling (cross-hatch texturising) on the barrel and on the bezel, so retention (the ability to hold onto the flashlight when your hands are cold, wet, or oily) should not be much of an issue.

The tailcap is flat, so the flashlight may be stood on its tail to use as an electronic "candle", in which its light is shone at the ceiling and it illuminates a whole room that way.

The light source is a 1.5 watt Nichia Jupiter LED. I am not familiar with this LED in its feral state, so I cannot answer any questions you may have about it, sorry about that. The light is focused into an almost perfect circle, and reminds me of a searchlight - speaking of searchlights, I used to run a BBS using Searchlight BBS software. I was reminded of Searchlight BBS software when I shined this flashlight around also because my housemate runs a BBS using this software.

The beam consists of a cool white, circular, moon-shaped spot with bluish-white edges. There is a significantly dimmer, ringy corona (spill light) outside the main spot, but is VERY dim.



Beam photo at ~12".
Measures 444,000mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.
This value is high primarily because the LED has a positive lens in front of it.



Beam photograph at ~15 feet.
That red star thing is from an American DJ Laser Widow.
I don't normally provide beam photographs on a wall with non-Luxeon
flashlights, but this flashlight is bright enough for this type of picture.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by J.W. of AdvancedMart on 07-15-05, and was received on the morning of 07-22-05.
Unit is available at AdvancedMart.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 1.5W Nichia Jupiter white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Medium spot with sharp perimeter; ringy corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off on barrel
    BEZEL: Metal; LED protected by a convex lens
    BATTERY: 1xCR123A cell
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 528mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Yes, at least to a shallow depth
    ACCESSORIES: 1xCR123A cell, wrist lanyard, belt holster
    WARRANTY: 90 days from AdvancedMart

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Aurora (3) 1.5W LED Flashlight * (www.advancedmart.com...)






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