Manufacturer:- www.tnccustomproducts.com
Purchase Price :- $99.95/£52 http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Size:-86.73mm long, 22.2mm Diameter
Weight (With Batteries):- 56g (2 oz)
Battery Type / Qty :- 1off 1.5V AA Alkaline, 1.2V NiCad, NiMH, or 1.7V Lithium
Battery Life :- 2-3 Hours (Manufacturers Figures)
LED Type :- 1off Luxeon LED bin
Rated Output:- Not Known
Estimated LED Lifespan:- Over 100000 Hours
Colour :- Aluminium
Working Temperature :- Not Known
Lens Material :- Glass
Optics :- 17mm Reflector
Electronics:- MJ Design 12 Super Converter 350mA Drive
Body Material :- Aluminium
Finish :- Type III Hard Anodise Natural Finish
Seal Type :- 3off O-Rings
Depth Rating :- Not Known but Rated Water proof
Manufacturers Guarantee:- 1 Year

This is a much anticipated light to add to my growing collection. What I really wanted was a high quality Luxeon light that uses common AA cells. This has to be the best one available at this moment in time!

I have commented on the TnC machining before with previous lights that I own by them. It must be said again that this light yet again has superb machined components. Right up there with the very best available.

My other TnC light or collaboration is the Mike Jordan Super Flashlight 2. This must be a reciprocal arrangement as this TnC light is fitted with MJ electronics. An excellent choice as both parties seem to get the best out of their arrangement.

The light is made from several machined parts. The tail cap with compression spring. The main battery holding tube and the two piece reflector head assembly. All of the parts are sealed against each other with O-rings so the light should be very water resistant.

The reflector head assembly holds a Mineral glass lens and this is sealed with yet another O-ring. The head can be removed from the battery tube as a whole unit. Retaining the reflector and the glass lens. This is great as I can now use the light in candle mode with all round light from the Luxeon LED.

This brings us onto the electronics and LED. The electronic module is a single sealed assembly that is contained inside an machined screw in unit. Another good idea as it allows rapid assembly of all the components and future painless upgrades!

There was one small fault with the light when I got it though. The electronics unit had only be hand tightened and this resulted in slightly sporadic operation. Simple when I found out. Just tighten it down with the two holes machined in the top of it. Noting that the screw threads are opposite to that which we normally expect to find. Sneaky! You need to turn it anti-clockwise to tighten it.

The electronics give a true regulated 350mA to the LED and should give a good 2-3 hours of light before light outputs drops off, but will still be useable for a few more hours. Light output is pretty good for such a small light.

The light runs on a single 'AA' Cell and can use anything available from Alkaline to NiCad and NiMH through to the slightly higher voltage Lithium without any problems.

Installing the battery is a just a case of unscrewing the tail cap and inserting the cell with the positive end towards the head of the light. You screw the tail cap back on and when it is nearly screwed on as far as it will go the light will turn on. Sealing on the tail cap is with two O-Rings. I assume this is to allow a better water tight seal when the cap is unscrewed slightly when not switched on.

The switch operation is slightly puzzling to me. I assume that the anodising on the screw threads acts as an insulator. Thus when the clean bare metal machined edge inside of the tail cap touches the back of the battery tube the light turns on. I am worried that if the anodising wears away the light would stay on all the time. Hard to tell with such a new light. I look forward to feedback from other users.

The head of the light is laser engraved with the following lettering 'TnC Custom Products' 'Key-Lux 'AA' 350mA' 'MADE IN USA' This does finish off the design of the light and gives a professional look to this low volume product.

The aluminium parts for the light are all hard anodised with a natural colour. This means that they are all a slightly different shade of gray/green in colour. I think this adds to the character of the light and gives it a unique toned effect.

In use the light is great to hold in the hand. The knurling really gives a good grip to the body of the light without being too rough. Light output is great for inside a room at night. Reading or close up work as the light output is not overpowering. A good emergency light as it will run on common 'AA' cells which most people seem to have in their home. Also gives a fairly decent run time on the single battery.

Use can get momentary operation if you carefully adjust the tail cap until just before it turns on. Applying pressure to the tail cap can then operate the light as a pushbutton would do. Neat.

I think this light is designed as a Key chain light hence the 'Key-Lux' name. I don't think that I would want this light on my key chain as it is too large for that. Also it is too expensive and too well made to scratch the finish when attached to a bunch of keys. What I think it should have is a small pouch or belt holster to allow it to be carried in a pocket or on your belt. That would really finish the product off.

Each TnC product I see impresses me more and more. I cannot wait to see their product line expand and flourish into what I see as one of the best made products on the market at the moment. I would love to see a collaboration with one of the electronics gurus to product a similar uController based light with adjustable power levels. This would become one of the most desirable high end flashlights ever made in my opinion.

Dealers

www.tnccustomproducts.com The Manufacturers website

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