Review of the Petzl e + LITE flashlight

Petzl e + LITE is an ultra-compact emergency light from Petzl that combines a torch and a rotating beacon.

Before moving on to a detailed inspection of Petzl e + LITE, I want to additionally emphasize that this is not the main flashlight for work, trekking, trail running, climbing, etc., for which Petzl is well known in the world of outdoor goods. This is an emergency light. And it is precisely this purpose that explains its technical characteristics. Therefore, any comparisons to mainstream headlamps, which can produce a higher power beam over a large area for several hours at a time, will not be correct.

The main task of Petzl e + LITE is to lie in the case until the moment when the resource of the main lamp is exhausted, the lamp is damaged or lost. And when this trouble does happen, you will have at your fingertips an ultra-light and ultra-compact temporary replacement, which you have not paid attention to until now, and now there is a reliable source of light, albeit not super-bright power.

Therefore, if you are looking for a basic headlamp, I advise you to pay attention to other models from Petzl, since there is plenty to choose from. But if you need an emergency light - then take a closer look at Petzl e + LITE. Let's start, traditionally, with the main characteristics.

- Ultra compact size and light weight.
- Flash modes for giving alarms and indicating your position.
- Built-in whistle for audible alarms.
- Maximum brightness 30 lumens.
- Working time: 12 hours.
- Power supply: CR2032 2 pcs.
- Number of modes: 5 including two types of strobe.
- Dimensions (cm.): 4.5 x 3.5 x 2 (width \ height \ depth).
- Weight: 26 g.

Take a look at Petzl e + LITE shows in one available Black color.

In front of the blister made of cardboard and transparent plastic for Petzl e + LITE there is a transparent window through which you can better see the lantern on the counter. Everything here you can notice the ultra-compact dimensions, the presence of two diodes and a switch lever for selecting operating modes.

We will return to them later, but for now the cardboard part of the package emphasizes the maximum brightness of 50 lumens, a weight of 26 grams, a ten-year warranty and emergency purpose of the flashlight.

The back of the package lists the main characteristics and methods of application, and through the transparent window of the blister, you can examine the protective case for storing and transporting the flashlight.

Inside the package you will find a Petzl e + LITE flashlight, a protective case made of red plastic and a comprehensive instruction manual. Here we must give the manufacturer his due, because creating clear instructions for functional products using a minimum of words is not an easy task. But Petzl has been successfully dealing with it for many years.

Before getting to know the flashlight in detail, let's take a quick look at the protective case for storing and transporting it.

The oval case is made of hard translucent red plastic. The dimensions are 5 cm. X 8.5 cm. X 3.5 cm. (Width / height / depth) are specially designed to accommodate a lantern and an elastic sling with a clip.

Contrasting white Petzl logo on the front wall. At the back there is a vertical loop 1.2 cm wide and 4 cm high. With its help, a case with a flashlight can be hung from a belt, a backpack sling, or fixed on the outer surface of the unloading system. On one side of the case, there is an illustrated reminder of ground-to-air signals to indicate situations "everything is fine" and "help is needed".

In addition to a mechanical shelter from falls, shocks and squeezes, the case is able to protect the flashlight from dust and precipitation, allows you to carry the flashlight outside the equipment, where it will be clearly visible if necessary.

The lid of the case is kept closed by an elastic band, which ensures a tight fit of the lid to the case body, and does not allow dust and dirt to get inside. However, only the case provides protection for delicate electronic components.

The body of the flashlight, made of black plastic, is IPX7 certified and can withstand immersion to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes. This allows you to use the flashlight during precipitation of varying intensity, in the coastal zone, as well as during water activities: when rafting on rivers, kayaking on lakes, fishing from boats, and the like. The flashlight is also capable of operating in a wide temperature range from -30 ° C to + 60 ° C.

The Petzl e + LITE has an ultra-compact size of 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm x 2 cm (width / height / depth) and weighs only 26 grams. This weight and size allows it to be added to ultra-compact emergency kits, or to be carried with you as an emergency light source almost daily. To further reduce weight and overall dimensions, the headlamp is fixed to the head with an elastic sling only a centimeter wide.

There are Petzl logos on the sling, and on the opposite side there is a plastic clip that adjusts the length of the sling necessary for fixing. To make it even more versatile, the clip has a patented built-in whistle for alarming. The holes for this whistle can be seen in the photo above, and for added efficiency, there is a memo on both sides of the clip with an SOS alarm (those same three short, three long and three short beeps).

The sound signal is strong enough to be heard over considerable distances. A whistle is always better than screams, because you can hear it further, and it does not plant the vocal cords like a scream. Therefore, the whistle is a useful addition that will allow you to use the Petzl e + LITE to give not only visual but also audible signals.

The lantern is attached to the slings with a small plastic platform, with which the body is connected by a ball-shaped hinge. This hinge allows you to direct the flashlight beam in the desired direction when it is worn on the head, draped over the neck. Considering the already compact size and weight, it is quite appropriate that Petzl added this feature to the design. If you wish, you can even distract the flashlight with reflectors inward to protect them from scratching and damage during storage and transport.

On the front wall behind the reflector with a diameter of 1.3 cm. The main white diode is located. Next to it, along a reflector with a diameter of 0.7 cm. - an auxiliary red diode. Both reflectors provide diffused light depending on the selected operating mode.

A complete list and characteristics of these modes are shown in the table below.

Switching between operating modes is carried out using a white lever with the Petzl logo, which is located next to the LED reflectors. As you can see in the photo above, there are five operating modes in the flashlight, but there are only eight lever positions.

Additional two positions are indicated by the inscription "OFF" allow you to turn off the lamp on either side of the lever. thanks to this feature, you can start the work of the flashlight from a white LED, or from the other side - a red diode. For night operations, I would advise you to turn on the red diode flashlight so as not to harm your "night vision" and not to give out your position over long distances. If you immediately need a bright light, you can set the lever to its original position.

Another position of the lever, indicated by the lock, is the mode in which the electrical circuit between the diodes and the batteries is completely broken. It is intended for long-term storage of the flashlight, and allows you to save some charge on the already not too capacious element of the living room. The win serves as a fuse in case you accidentally catch the lever on clothes and the like.

The batteries are located in a special compartment, which is accessible through the back of the case. It contains a round lid with a slot. In order not to look for foreign objects to open the lid, the size of the opening was selected in accordance with the width of the button on the clamps of the lantern sling. Therefore, you can take a whistle clip, insert its button into the slot of the battery compartment cover and unscrew it from the back wall 1/8 of a turn counterclockwise.

Inside you will find two CR2032 lithium batteries. This is the main reason for the relatively short operation time of the Petzl e + LITE at 12:00, and at the same time for its ultra-compact size and low weight. The lithium battery has a low self-discharge rate, so the manufacturer claims that the flashlight can last up to 10 years in storage mode on one pair of batteries. The warranty period for the flashlight is the same for 10 years, and the batteries are already included, so I have no reason not to believe Petzl.

Also in the photo above, you can pay attention to the rubber seal of the battery compartment cover, does not let dust, dirt, drops and water inside in case of immersion. The IPX7 standard is partially achieved thanks to it.

Petzl e + LITE should be used as an emergency replacement for the main lamp in case of damage, loss or exhaustion of battery resources. Using an elastic sling, it can be easily put on the head or dangled from the neck. The turntable and ball joint allow the light to be directed where it is needed. A lever with a clear position fixation helps to determine which mode the flashlight is in now, even by touch.

Thanks to the elastic strap and the pivoting hinge, the Petzl e + LITE can be placed in less typical places. So, for example, you can tie a sling around the wrist, directing the beam forward, as shown in the photo above. So you get a hand-held flashlight with the ability to free your fingers for something more needed.

Well, one more of the possible applications of the protective case is its use as a reflector above the lantern. This way you can illuminate small rooms such as tents and the like with diffused light. Although this is not the main application, it is also possible with a flat, level surface.

All in all, the Petzl e + LITE can be used as an emergency light, allowing you to get out on the trail in the dark when the main light fails. The brightness is also enough to illuminate objects in your immediate vicinity. The strobe modes using white and red diodes will help to attract attention, or indicate your presence in the dark, and the supplied whistle works equally effectively both at night and during the day.

Therefore, having a Petzl e + LITE with you in an emergency, you do not have to sit in the dark, and you can attract the attention of search and rescue teams. Versatility multiplied by its small size and weight will not allow you to make room for the Petzl e + LITE in an emergency kit.

The Petzl e + LITE flashlight presented in the review can be purchased at punisher.com.ua online store

Source: https://secretsquirrel.com.ua/snaryazhenie/ohliad-likhtaria-petzl-e-lite/
Author: MAD