List Price: $6.63
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I have tested several LED flashlights before, including the MAGLITE 2-AA Mini LED, Rayovac BRSLED2AA-B Bright Solutions, Energizer Aluminum 2xAAA Pen light (PLED23AE), and Dorcy 41-1218 2AAA Pen Light. They all share a common problem: the LED brightness is strongly dependent on the battery voltage. Full brightness is only achieved when using a fresh set of alkaline cells. As the battery voltage drops, brightness also falls rapidly. This is very disappointing because I prefer to use rechargeable NiMH cells instead of disposable alkaline cells, but not if I can only get 50% brightness.
This Rayovac BRSLEDPEN-B LED Pen Light is cheaper and smaller than all the other LED flashlights above. It uses only one AAA cell instead of two. Yet surprisingly, it gives out the same brightness whether I'm using alkaline or NiMH cell. I measured its input power and found that it consumes nearly the same power as the battery voltage drops from 1.8V down to 1.1V (see my Customer Image for charts).
When powered by a NiMH AAA cell (1.25V), this pen light consumes about 120mA. I have tested the run time using an 800mAh cell. The light output is consistent for the first 6 hours. Only after 6.5 hours the light becomes noticeably dimmer. This run time is very reasonable for a 1xAAA pen light. Note that other LED flashlights may claim some outrageous run time such as '100 hours', but that number is misleading because the light becomes barely visible towards the end.
This LED pen light uses a magnifying lens to concentrate the beam. The circular bright spot it creates is well-defined, but has a 'halo' effect (look at my Customer Image and you'll see what I mean). This is a common problem with most flashlights using the same design.
One 'shortcoming' of this Rayovoc pen light is that: since it is so tiny, it can be easily misplaced. At the present price (around $5), I intend to pick up another one or two just in case. I will do it when I need to stuff my Amazon shopping cart to $25 to qualify for super saver shipping. That way, I can tell myself that the light is FREE!
[Update on June 23, 2010]
I received my second Rayovac pen light and its case is blue (the old one is grey as pictured). The light beam from the new one is whiter and brighter. So I guess there is an element of luck involved.
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It's not fancy, it's extremely well designed and reliably robust at a very fair cost, looks as if it should have a AA size battery rather than the AAA at first. I paid about $2.98 plus MI sales tax at a Miejer store going on about 3 years ago never thinking it would hold up to the amount unscrewing the switch end for frequent Ni-HI battery changes and the many tens of times a day of on off cycles I put the switch through. Its still working as flawlessly as a decent ballpoint pen would, and just that simple too. It's jumbo looking LED, not super white, just a very bright white-blue. I have with me around the house all the time and another to take with me on my medical rounds. I'll always be trying out fancier and more expensive LED penlights but very basic one is totally worthwhile.Revision 01.16.2011:
I bought one for a fiend recently and noticed that the new models all have a yellow tinted coating applied to the lamp lens surface that degrades the purity of the light. Most probably it's an attempt to make the light seem less bluish and add some red to it for more natural white light balance, but it just fails totally to achieve that and distorts the beam with a dirty yellowish affectation which makes using it really annoying and makes it really seem truly useless. I won't even bother to look at this, or any other lights by Rayovac again... they've spoiled a previously decent thing.
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This little penlight is a champ.I keep one in the BOB, and one in the home.
Personally, I like the "hard" click. That way it won't accidentally get turned on and run the battery down. And, the "click" is not that hard. Just a little more than a regular click pen.
It only needs one AAA battery, which is a huge plus.
Highly recommended!!
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A light-weight, compact, well-built pen light. Small but very bright spot. A handy little light for work, hobbies and just about anywhere you need to shed a little light on the subject. Easy to hold in your mouth for those times you need 3 hands. I'm going to order 2 more for myself and will also probably give them away as Christmas stocking-stuffers.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Rayovac BRSLEDPEN-B Brilliant Solutions LED Pen Light (Colors may
I have about 20 of these total. I got all of mine from WalMart for $2.88 each. In considering my rating, I have to stick with what I paid instead of the Amazon price of $6.63In short, it's well-worth the WalMart price, but don't pay $6 for one.
The light runs on one AAA battery, and a Rayovac heavy duty is included. An alkaline, lithium, or NiMH cell will works also. The package show and Amazon's description lists the light at 3 lumens, but my tests how about 5 lumens. That doesn't seem like much, but the concave lens focuses the light in a tight area, making it appear brighter. The beam is off-white with no side-spill; it's just one smooth hot spot. This light is good for night-time reading or walking to the bathroom without waking up your spouse. I use them mostly as pen lights in medical kits, but they're not for eyeball use. I haven't done any runtime tests, but NLee's graphs are more than I could provide anyway.
The pocket clip is plastic and is permantently attached to the tailcap. It's not bad, but I never use it. The light comes on with a reverse clicky switch; click to turn on, and then you can softly press the button in for momentary light. Click again to turn off. The clicky switch on this light is very tactile and quite loud.
Something I like to do is remove the small rubber ring on the body, as that allows me to get a little more grip on the light since it's recessed under there.
Again, the WalMart price is very fair, but I don't think I'd pay $6.63 for one (at Amazon) unless I couldn't find these anywhere locally.
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