Wee NS questions

[Beckler]

This is an intriguing little light and rechargeable makes me have to have it. Here are my questions for current users:

-Does it include the battery? Its webpage doesn't seem to indicate.
-How long does the batt. take to self discharge with no use?
-How the hell do I decide which version to get? Is the 50 lum. version the sweet spot with 80 being only barely noticeably brighter?
-I want the blue tritium locators. But what is the consensus on possible health effects of tritium vials, esp. since it'll be in my pocket a lot I think.

Thanks...

 

[MikeSalt]

Congratulations on your interest in such a fine light.

Right, onto your answers...

Yes, it includes a tiny little 90mAh 10180 Li-ion cell made by much respected CPF member, AW.

The self discharge rate is practically negligible with Li-ion chemistry. I charged one cell, put it back in the nano-charger a week later and it was still showing as full.

Hmmm, the general consensus is to go for the 50 lumen version. However, I have found that I never use the light more than 15 minutes between charges, and I carry a spare cell at all times. With this in mind, I just bought the brightest (80). Try to determine what runtime you need rather than what brightness you would like.

As for the tritium, the decay process produces short-ranged beta particles. When these collide with the flourescing surface inside the glass, the energy of the beta particle is harmlessly transformed into safe blue light. The beta particles are completely contained within the glass, and even if you broke the glass, beta particles cannot even go through skin. The only thing I discourage is cracking the glass and then inhaling the contents. Beta particles can go through the lining of your lungs.

Right, that is the particle physics lecture out of the way. Just don't forget your nano RCR123a charger if you do not already have one. Charging spacing magnets are provided with the Wee.

Mike

 

[PhotonBoy]

Website: http://web.mac.com/Lummii/Lummi2/Lummi_Home.html

A review: http://www.cpfreviews.com/Orb-Wee-NS.php

 

[gorn]

The common sense brightness for a we is probably the 50. That being said, I bought the 80. I just couldn't resist. Self discharge isn't really noticeable to me anyway. The Tritium won't harm you. I have carried a pistol with tritium sights for as long as they have been available (20 years maybe) and have suffered no ill effects. That includes one vial in the rear sight breaking while in my holster and leaking all the gas out. I understand that the beta radiation won't even penitrate you're skin.

I think you will be happy with a Wee no matter which brightness you select. It is just a plain cool little light.

 

[bdsmchs]

I have a very special custom lummi raw in alluminum, and I LOVE it.

My only complaint with the light is that there is no kind of weather sealing.

The CR2 battery works just great in it, and delivers a frightening amount of power for such a small thing.

You can't go wrong with ANY product from these guys.

 

[Jarl]

As for the tritium, the decay process produces short-ranged beta particles. When these collide with the flourescing surface inside the glass, the energy of the beta particle is harmlessly transformed into safe blue light. The beta particles are completely contained within the glass, and even if you broke the glass, beta particles cannot even go through skin. The only thing I discourage is cracking the glass and then inhaling the contents. Beta particles can go through the lining of your lungs.

Beta can penetrate skin

(You made me spend £50 on a raw al with your link in your sig, I'm allowed to moan!)

 

[MikeSalt]

(You made me spend £50 on a raw al with your link in your sig, I'm allowed to moan!)

Yeah, erm... sorry about that. As said before, I am not to be held accountable for loss of money due to my sigline.

Sorry, I forgot to clarify that beta radiation from tritium decomposition is not sufficiently energetic to penetrate skin at any significant depth. Of course, there are much higher energy beta particles that can.