EZYFLARE


EzyFlare, retail $19.95 (www.ezyflare.com)
Manufactured by C2U, Inc. (URL not known)
Last updated 06-26-20




The EzyFlare is an electronic, non-incendiary (does not use fire) "flare" designed to be activated and set out when you have trouble with your vehicle and need to pull off the side of the road (or into the "breakdown lane" on the freeway if available).

It has 20 super-bright 5mm LEDs; five yellow LEDs on the top of the unit that flash in unison at ~2Hz (~2 flashes per second), and fifteen red LEDs concealed in the sides that do a "chase" pattern at the same time.

It operates from four AA cells that you supply yourself.


SIZE



To use the EzyFlare, first remove it from your trunk or glovebox or wherever you stored it. On the bottom (underside) of the unit are two hinged plastic "legs". Unfold them, and position them as you see in the photograph below.



Once the "legs" are extended and locked into position, press and release the small rubberised button on the underside of the unit, and place it in the roadway as you might an ordinary flare.

Face the unit toward the rear if you're placing it near the back of your automobile, or face the unit toward the front if you're placing it near the front of your automobile.

The EzyFlare can also be used as a helicopter landing zone indicator; in this case, do not deploy the legs, and set the unit face-up so the helicopter pilot can see it. The EzyFlare has three rubber feet on its underside, so it will remain in place even when helicopter rotor wash hits it. I don't own or have access to a helicopter though, so I cannot verify this firsthand.

One user of the EzyFlare who uses them as helicopter landing zone indicators reports he holds them in place with ground stakes so they do not become airborne or flip over due to rotor wash.



To install the batteries, turn the EzyFlare upside-down. Using your fingers, unscrew and remove the three "tool-free" screws from the battery door. Unfold the two plastic "legs", then lift off the battery door, throw it in the {vulgar term for feces}bowl, yank that silver handle on the front of the cistern down, and flush it away...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.
If these screws are in too tight, use a butterknife, dime, or similar to loosen them slightly before unscrewing them with your fingers.

If necessary, remove the used AA cells from the battery compartment, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Insert four new AA cells in the battery compartment, orienting the flat-end (-) negative of each cell with the spring for it in its chamber.

Place the battery door back on, being sure the screw holes in the ends match up.
Screw the screws back in place, and fold the two "legs" back down.

There, you're all finished now.
Aren't you glad you didn't flush away that battery door now?

Due to the intermittent nature of the LEDs in this product, I am not able to furnish you a current consumption measurement.



Because this is an all-plastic product, "The Smack Test" would really not be appropriate here.

The EzyFlare appears to be splash-resistant at very minimum. I threw it in the bathroom sink and then ran the faucet over it for about half a minute. When I dried it off with some bunghole paper, no water was visible inside, and the unit did not malfunction. I did not see any O-rings when I first installed the batteries, but when I examined the unit more closely, there is a rubbery gasket that covers the entire underside of the battery door.

According to the product's inventor, there is one large internal o-ring surrounding the entire Polycarbonate shell, with three other internal o-rings completing the water barrier.

The screw holes behind the battery door are threaded brass bushings, not just plastic. So you will not strip them in normal use. For that matter, you will not strip them even if you abuse them slightly by overtightening the screws. You'd be more likely to break off the plastic screw heads before you stripped the screw receptacles themselves.

The only weak point that is VERY obvious are those hinged "legs" on the underside of the unit. They could easily become broken if they are bent too far back, or if the unit is dropped with the "legs" extended.

From the inventor of the EzyFlare, comes this regarding the "legs" or stand:

One factor that arose during testing was that stand. I had tested strong stands, metal stands, etc, but I found that the stronger the stand, the more likely it was to cause damage to the Ezyflare if it was accidentally run over, by way of puncturing the bottom case, or ripping a section of the base out exposing the insides to water. So, I made a decision to increase the probability of a functioning product, even if it was run over while the stand was in place. In fact, the existing stand is actually many times stronger than what is physically required to hold up the Ezyflare, and is itself made from Polycarbonate.

The red LEDs on the EzyFlare's perimeter appear to be more decorative than they are functional. The yellow LEDs in the center are FAR brighter and more visible; at least when they are viewed directly.
I was later informed that the "rotation" of these LEDs is designed to catch the eye, so they don't need to be blindingly bright.

There is no "low battery" indicator that I'm aware of; change the batteries when the EzyFlare's brightness decreases or if the unit poops out altogether.



Photograph of the EzyFlare turned on.



Video on YourTube showing EzyFlare's blinking patterns.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased on Ebay on 05-16-05 for $11.17. I received it just a few days later, but did not begin my evaluation until 05-28-05. The seller of the EzyFlare included four Energizer Max AA cells, which are normally not furnished with the unit.

Product was made in China. A product's country of origin really does matter to some people, which is why I published it on this web page.


UPDATE: 07-02-05
I took this product to the bottom of the front porch, energized it, deployed it on the concrete sidewalk (standing upright on its stand), and did two things: one is that I kicked it on its front so it sailed approximately ten feet away, and two, I hit it with a metal cane as if I were getting a golf ball out of the bunker on a par-4 hole at the local golf course. No damage was found after either hit. The larger of the two legs did pop out of its holder after both hits, but it was easily reinstalled and was not damaged.





PROS:
Unique, attention-getting flashing pattern


CONS:
Seems a bit bulky for what it's intended usage is


    MANUFACTURER: C2U, Inc.
    PRODUCT TYPE: Emergency roadside flare
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 20 (5 yellow, 15 red)
    BEAM TYPE: N/A
    SWITCH TYPE: Rubberised pushbutton on/off on bottom of unit
    BEZEL: LEDs protected by thick transparent plastic
    BATTERY: 4xAA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION:
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: None
    SIZE: 8" by 2"
    WARRANTY: Lifetime

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star RatingStar Rating





EzyFlare * www.ezyflare.com






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