Review of the 3 in 1 Laser/LED Flashlight/Pen

[The_LED_Museum]

3 IN 1 LASER/LED FLASHLIGHT/PEN (5)
Retail $2.00
Manufactured by (Unknown) (No URL available)
Last updated 04-08-20

The 3 in 1 Laser/LED Flashlight/Pen is exactly that: a red laser pointer, a (very bluish!) white LED flashlight, and a retractible tip ballpoint pen; all wrapped up in one handy-dandy instrument.

The device runs on three LR-41 button cells, contained inside the upper part of the pen. It comes in a handsome two-tone metal case, which has a slightly shiny blue finish with chrome accents.

The ballpoint pen writes in black ink, and the writing quality is similar to or slightly better than ordinary disposable Bic pens. I'm not a pen expert though, and I do not play one on TV or on the internet, so I'm not really qualified to rate this part of the instrument.

SIZE

To use the pen portion, grasp the barrel by the chrome ring in the center with one hand, and twist the writing-end of the barrel with the other, clockwise (as if tightening it) to extend the pen tip.
Perform the same action except twist the writing-end of the barrel counterclockwise (as if loosening it) to retract the pen tip.

To use the LED, press the lower button on the barrel and hold it in to turn it on; release the button to turn it off.

To use the laser, press the upper button on the barrel and hold it in to turn it on; release the button to turn it off.

This instrument comes with a pocket clip, allowing you to carry it clipped into a shirt or pants pocket, reducing the chance that you'll lose it when carried that way.

To change the batteries in this instrument, hold it so the laser and LED openings are facing the floor. Unscrew the two halves of the pen, and set the writing portion aside.

Tip the three used LR-41 button cells out of the barrel and into your hand, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Stack three new LR-41 button cells on top of one another on a flat surface like a table or counter, button-end (-) negative facing up.

Lower the upper portion of the pen directly over the cells, and slide it to the edge. Place your thumb or a finger over the end so the cells just don't fall out and clatter to the floor when the pen passes the edge of the table or counter. Invert (flip over) the pen and your thumb or finger simultaneously, and remove your thumb or finger from the opening.

Screw the lower portion of the pen onto the upper portion.
There. Fun yeah!

This instrument is reasonably durable, but because it has a laser in it, I won't do the smack test on it. I know you love to see me break things, but ain't gonna happen today, folks.

Lasers are meant to be loved, not punished.

Water-resistance is minimal at best. When the business-end was suctioned, air had no problems whatsoever passing through it.
So please try not to drop it in creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, oceansides, docksides, puddles of manx cat pee (what - no kitty litterbox?), slush piles, mud puddles, tubs, toilet bowls, cisterns, sinks, fishtanks, dog water dishes, or other places where water or water-like liquids might be found.

If it fell in water and you suspect it got flooded, disassemble it as you would for a battery change, dump out the water if necessary, and set the parts in a warm dry place for a couple of days or so just to be sure it's completely dry inside before you reassemble and use it again.

If it fell into seawater, rinse all the parts out with fresh water before setting them out to dry. Salt (from seawater, etc.) can't be very good for the insides.

Beam terminus photograph (LED) at ~12".
Note the strong cyan tint -- this is how you can tell that a white LED is significantly overdriven and that it's really pissed.

Intensity measures 11,400mcd on an Amprobe LM631A Light Meter.

Beam terminus photograph (laser) at ~12".
Laser power measures 5mW on a LaserBee AX 3.0 Watt Laser Power Meter w/Thermopile.

Beam terminus photograph (laser) on a wall at ~10 feet.
Some camera movement occurred; the crescent shape does not really exist.

Spectrographic analysis of the laser in this instrument.

Spectrographic analysis of the laser in this instrument; spectrometer's response band narrowed to a range between 650nm and 665nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 656.070nm.
The raw spectrometer data (tab-delimited that can be loaded into Excel) is at 3n15las.txt

Spectrographic analysis of the phosphor white LED in this instrument.

Spectrographic analysis of the white LED in this instrument; spectrometer's response band narrowed to a range between 460nm and 480nm to pinpoint native emission peak wavelength, which is 469.120nm.
The raw spectrometer data (tab-delimited that can be loaded into Excel) is at 3n15led.txt

USB2000 Spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.

At least two beam cross-sectional analyses would normally appear here, but the ProMetric System
that I use for that test was destroyed by lightning in mid-July 2013.

​

TEST NOTES:
I purchased this at the Happy Market in Fresno CA. USA on 04-08-20.


UPDATE: 00-00-00


PROS:
Nifty 3-in-1 instrument
Laser has low enough output to be safely used as a cat toy


NEUTRAL:


CONS:
Not very water-resistant and for heaven sakes NOT submersible
White LED is significantly overdriven and you can easily see that it's really pissed
Batteries it requires may be a bit difficult to locate
Has a bit of a "chintzy" or cheap feel to it

MANUFACTURER: Unknown
PRODUCT TYPE: Writing pen w/ inbuilt white LED flashlight and red laser pointer
LAMP TYPE: Phosphor white LED, diode laser
No. OF LAMPS: 2 (1 of each)
BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood (LED), very narrow spot (laser)
REFLECTOR TYPE: N/A
SWITCH TYPE: Momentary pushbuttons on the product's body
CASE MATERIAL: Predominantly aluminum
BEZEL: LED & laser recessed into hosels for them in bezel
BATTERY: 3x LR-41 button cells
CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
WATER-RESISTANT: Very light splatter/sprinkle-resistant at maximum
SUBMERSIBLE: No
ACCESSORIES: Batteries
SIZE: [/i]Unknown/unable to measure
WEIGHT: 11g (0.390 oz.) (incl. batteries)
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China
WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated



PRODUCT RATING:

 

[paul1598419]

I got one of these about 10 years ago. Mine is all silver colored, though. Cost the same $2.00 price. I have only had to change the batteries in mine once since I got it, but it still works well. Never got around to measuring the WL as I expected it to come in between 650nm and 660nm.

Mine seems to be built better than the one you got. It feels quite solid in the hand.