Lenmar Powerport Flash Review

The lenmar powerport flash is a neat little combination of usb backup battery and led flashlight. It's powered by a 2,000 mah lithium ion battery, which has ample advantages over more common lithium polymer cells. First is the performance, not only will the ion cell hold a charge longer in storage, it will also give off a little more energy during discharging. Another plus of lithium ion is the number of cycles it can typically take. Most lithium ion cells will give 1,000 cycles before needing replacement, while lithium polymer will only give around 500 cycles. This means that overall the powerport flash will outlast the typical polymer type backup batteries flooding the market. Other features include 2 usb ports, capable of charging small devices like mp3 players, cellphones and bluetooth headsets with ease. The usb ports provide 500 mah at 5 volts when operating off of the internal ion cell and 1,000 mah at 5 volts when operating off of an external 12 volt source. Both ports are controlled by a simple on off switch, along the units left side, which uses a blue led light to indicate operation. Additional features include a bright led flashlight, flip out 12 volt adapter and a 4 led power gauge. The flashlight is a bright 4 led module, located to the right of the usb ports. At first I assumed that the flashlight would merely be a toy, but after using it for 2 weeks, I found it to be quite bright and useful. Not only did it provide enough light to make my way to the trash cans at night, but thanks to a 40 hour run time, can also be used in a power outage / emergency situation. The flip out 12 volt volt adapter is another nice touch, it will come in handy when on the go allowing it's user to recharge from a power pack, solar or an automobile without the need for extra adapters or tips. On occasion, I hooked the flash up to a 10 watt 12 volt solar panel and got a full charge in just a few hours. This makes the flash a great device to take outdoors or on a long driving trip. A second way to charge the power port is by using the included mirco usb to male usb adapter. It simply plugs into the rear of the unit, then into a usb power source. Both the 12 volt and usb method of charging will take around 2-3 hours to charge, depending on the sources power output. Another function on the flash includes the power gauge at the bottom of the unit, which features 4 bright amber led's. The lights indicate anywhere from a 25% to 100% state of charge, allowing a user to easily see the reserve capacity of the battery. The powerport flash truly is a great backup battery with a lot of great features, in essence combining the capability of 2 pocket items in one. The price is affordable, the value high and it's longevity lies on the backs of  its superior technology and a repeatable company. To sum it all up, I would recommend the flash to both family and friends. It will keep all of your devices charged up, even as your devices are upgraded to newer and newer versions.

To get a powerport flash of your own, please see the links below:


Link to Lenmar's site


Link to Amazon

Led Lenser P5 Review

What is the P5 ?

The led lenser P5 is one of the smallest flashlights in the led lenser lineup, but still extremely powerful with it's 105 lumen output. It's powered by one 1.5 volt AA alkaline cell, which sends power to a microprocessor to step up voltage to a cree led. Ahead of the led is an innovative optics system, incorporating both a powerful lens and a smooth reflector. The lens allows the P5 to cast light in an intensive spot up to 426 feet away, while the reflector allows the light to cover a wide, full moon shaped area of around 30 feet in the users immediate viewing zone. The cree led in the p5 cast a cool blue light, much like you would see in a high kelvin (6000k +) H.I.D. bulb. Some users may see this as an advantage, for it's ability to efficiently light up things far away, but some will also note the false color rendering of the bluish white tent. As far as the beam quality in both spot and flood modes, there is a slight ring noticed around the outer area. It is more present in the spot mode, covering the immediate area around the main hot spot, but not so much as to affect the quality of light. The body of the P5 is made up of high quality, anodized aluminum alloy, with led lenser logos, optics sticker and serial number along the sides. The anodizing should be good enough to halt sever scratching, but even better protection comes from the included belt holster. As for the operation of the light, turning it on comes by way of a click switch, located at the tail end of the unit. The switch allows the user to access both momentary and constant on operation modes with ease. On the head of the lenser, you'll find the speed focus system, which allows a user to quickly switch from flood to spot in mere seconds. The system is operated by clinching the head with your index finger and thumb, then sliding up and down to change modes. I found the operation of this system to be quick and easy, with very secure and fluent motions. Along the sides of the P5 is a textured grip, in a grid configuration. This allows a user to safely operate the light in any type of situation.

My Experience with it

Over the course of two weeks using my P5, I found it to have elements I both loved and hated. As for the love, the 105 lumen output seems to be even more than the factory claim. This is probably a direct result of the superior optics located in the head of the unit. Not only does it allow for the most possible light output of the led to be projected, but it also allows the P5 to throw like much larger lights. I compared the output of the P5 to my favorite 2 AA flashlight, producing just under 100 lumens. The 2AA should have had the advantage, with both a larger reflector and more cells, but the P5 simply blew it away. I used my back yard as a testing ground and found that the P5 easily reached out well over 100 feet, while my 2AA was only able to achieve around 60. Some other likes of the P5 include its small size, allowing me to easily carry it with me on a daily basis and store it in a drawer. As for my dislikes, the P5 lacks the ability to use NIMH (nickle metal hydride) rechargeable cells. You'll definitely want to use rechargeable batteries, since the P5 only has a 3 hour battery life (of which you'll get 1 hour of bright light). So using the P5 will get expensive with frequent use. The second dislike is the fact that it's not water proof. The P5 is only rated to resist water, meaning it can be rained on, but not submerged. This will make me think twice about using it as an EDC light when fishing or camping. As for the rest, the P5 makes a nice light, that will give it's user years of trouble free operation (just as long as they don't drench it or use rechargeable cells). It's build quality and design will make it a popular light for years to come, so if you want one, go out and get it! It may be expensive, but I found it to be worth every penny.

You can find the P5 at  www.coastportland.com  and a variety of online and retail locations.

MXDL 3 watt 1aaa luxeon led flashlight review

The mxdl 1 aaa flashlight is a great and affordable alternative to more expensive pen lights. It features a powerful 3 watt luxeon led emitter, capable of pushing out around 35 lumens of light. The body of the mxdl is made from high quality aircraft grade aluminum, while the lense and click button are made from plastics and rubber. As far as the size and feel, it fits nicely in the pocket and is easy to hold when in use. It comes with a pocket clip, making it perfect for a shirt or pant pocket. The battery life is above average with around 2 hours of bright light and up to 5 hours of usable light. I bought the mxdl flashlight to replace an aging maglite solitaire, which still had an inefficient incandescent style bulb. Not only is the mxdl 5 time brighter, it also will provide up to 3 hours more battery life than the maglite. The primary buyer of the mxdl is going to be someone who needs a light to carry all the time. Someone in the repair or service industry, like a computer technician or  hone inspector will greatly appreciate it. Whatever the case, anyone who buys this light won't be disappointed. Over the course of 3 months owning and using this light, it has been a good experience. Its anodized coating holds up well against scratches and moisture and is reliable enough for everyday use. I would definitely recommend this light to anyone in the market to buy one. It may be cheap, but it's brightness and build quality give it a good, premium feel

If you would like to buy this flashlight, please follow the link below:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mxdl-xt-7119-3w-50-lumen-led-flashlight-with-clip-color-assorted-1-aaa-55748