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Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

This light keychain seems to be better than the ASP Sapphire USB.

The advantage of the ASP is his metal frame.
 
Any one have techniques for filtering 5mm leds like this so the blue can be toned down? I don't expect mine to arrive for a while yet, but I won't like blue beams of the past in any modern light. I don't want to give someone a blue beam as an example of a modern LED light.
 
Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

I never thought I'd be buying a 5mm light, but it seems really good for the price. I just ordered the clear one.

Should I be worried about accidental activation in the pocket? What is the switch like? Physical clicky or some sort of electronic switch? Rubber/silicone or plastic/polymer?
 
Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

The switch feels like rubber or a rubber substitute. It takes a definite click to get anything to happen. I have yet to find mine turned on in my pocket, and I doubt I ever will.
I believe it is a mechanical switch, because there isn't anything in the documentation about a current drain that an electronic switch would have. Also, I can think of a couple of different ways to program a circuit to do what this light does with a mechanical switch, and why increase cost on a low margin item if you don't have to?
 
Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

I agree with Timothybil, I'm not very worried about accidental activation. Even if it did happen, the light would likely come on in the low mode, so it would take a long time to drain the battery.

When you press and hold the switch to get momentary on from off, or into the ramping sequence from low, there is a short delay (about a third of a second) before anything happens. I don't know if this is indicative of an electronic switch, or if it could be achieved with either an electronic or a mechanical one. :thinking:
 
Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

Looks pretty good for the small amount of money it costs.
I could overlook the blue beam tint in a cheap keychain light.
Obviously, I would like a better tint, but a 45 lumen keychain light with multiple brightness modes, small size, durable construction and USB rechargeable battery is a pretty good package for under ten bucks. Even with a blue tint.
 
Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

Nice review. I wonder how it compares to the LRI X-Light?? I was looking at that over on Sucks site. I would love to see a head to head comparo on those. This one is looking pretty neat. Can you turn the Blue charge light on by its self? That would be slick.
 
Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

Awe. darn. Ok, one more question. Can the blue light be turned on as a locator beacon? I assume no. Curious, because I have one of their lights that you can turn a small red light on as a locator beacon. I love that feature sometimes.
Thanks
 
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Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

Str8stroke said:
Awe. darn. Ok, one more question. Can the blue light be turned on as a locator beacon? I assume no. Curious, because I have one of their lights that you can turn a small red light on as a locator beacon. I love that feature sometimes.
Thanks
Click to expand...

kj2 said:
Indeed, the answer is no ;)
Click to expand...

Yes, unfortunately the answer is no ;) I know some of the models in Nitecore's Explorer series have that feature. I think adding the option of controlling the charging indicator light with the switch would make a budget light like the TUBE too expensive, and possibly make the single button interface unnecessarily complicated.
 
Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

Turn it on Low, and that will be a locator beacon for up to 48 hours.
How much do you want a $5 light to do?
 
StandardBattery said:
Any one have techniques for filtering 5mm leds like this so the blue can be toned down? I don't expect mine to arrive for a while yet, but I won't like blue beams of the past in any modern light. I don't want to give someone a blue beam as an example of a modern LED light.
Click to expand...

No, I can't think of a really practical way to wrap my filter gel material around a 5mm. Some folks were pleased with scuffing the surface of older 5mm's with Scotchbright, to even out the beam, at the loss of throw. But I think you'll find that this beam is already pretty even colorwise, not like the blue hotspots and yellow corona's of the older LED's. But yes, it is a very cool white. It would not be quite as bright if it were warmer, and the mass market this is aimed at wants the brightness over color rendition.

I would try it, I think you will be surprised at how nice it is. Don't put it on a white wall next to your favorite Nichia 219 light, that is not a fair comparison. It is a keychain light for short usage that is light, compact, inexpensive, durable, adjustable and rechargeable. I wouldn't ask it to have 90+ CRI and 4500K color temp too. And yes, even most cool white XP-G's will look nicer, but still not a fair comparison.
 
I have one clear now, and another translucent blue in the mail.

It'll make a great keychain light for someone with a smartphone to feed. The interface is easy:
Click+hold for bright until you let go
Click for dim
Click-click for bright constant
Click + click-hold to select a brightness on the ramp.

I'm surprised at the output from a 5mm LED. Really impressed. The internals of the LED have a subtantially-thicker collector than usual. The PWM is, sadly, a visible ~500-1000Hz (Mk1 Eyeball measurement).

Interestingly, it maintains full-bright, or minimum, but not dimmed mode while charging. That is, if you have the light on and charge it, it will return to either BRIGHT or DIM, but not middle modes, when unplugged.

What I really want to do next is to open it up and add a small SMD LED, SMD 100k-Ohm resistor, and have a beacon/light on my keychain.
 
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Re: Nitecore TUBE - a brief overview.

Timothybil said:
The switch feels like rubber or a rubber substitute. It takes a definite click to get anything to happen. I have yet to find mine turned on in my pocket, and I doubt I ever will.
I believe it is a mechanical switch, because there isn't anything in the documentation about a current drain that an electronic switch would have. Also, I can think of a couple of different ways to program a circuit to do what this light does with a mechanical switch, and why increase cost on a low margin item if you don't have to?
Click to expand...

Swede74 said:
I agree with Timothybil, I'm not very worried about accidental activation. Even if it did happen, the light would likely come on in the low mode, so it would take a long time to drain the battery.

When you press and hold the switch to get momentary on from off, or into the ramping sequence from low, there is a short delay (about a third of a second) before anything happens. I don't know if this is indicative of an electronic switch, or if it could be achieved with either an electronic or a mechanical one. :thinking:
Click to expand...

Thanks for replies! At first I was like "no way I'm paying for a 5mm LED", but it seems like a great extra little light to have on your person. And if someone needed to borrow a light, I'd rather hand over this and not my HDS, or other prized EDC light. It's not exactly a throw-away light, but not something I'd be all too worried about losing.

I will probably buy more if I like this light. I think this would be a great non-flashaholic gift. People just need to remember to charge it every now and again.
 
I really notice the PWM on the lowest level, probably less than 500 Hz, but at any level above that, the frequency is WAY higher. I can still find it, but I have to really whip the light back and forth to tell that I am seeing a series of dots and not a constant streak of light. Super easy to spot that way on lowest level, though, like 1/2 inch between dots of light swinging at a medium speed. Of course, there is none on the max setting.
 
It's a five dollar light intended to be used on a key chain or jacket pull not perform search and rescue operations. It's not marketed at flashaholics for EDC use, but people that wanted a small light that was rechargeable using a common micro USB cord.

For what it is what more can you expect?

A camel was a race horse designed by committee.
 
I got two black ones not long ago through the special promotion. IMHO, this light is a real winner. I don't like electronic switches but the UI seems to have been very well thought out. Goes on on 1 lumen level, you have got easy access to 50 lumens and can select variable output. I can't see anything to fault for that price.

The only real question that remains to be answered is, how durable this light is on a keychain or in a pocket!
 
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