xevious
Flashlight Enthusiast
I just received my SPA Defense SPL-120. Not seeing the "P" suffix in the model number imprinted on the side got me worried that I didn't get a programmable. But it is. DEFINITELY.
I don't know how many companies rebrand the Novatac EDC lights; SPA Defense is the first I've seen do it. The label is all that is different--everything else is pure Novatac. Also, the Novatac website is imprinted on the tail cap. I have to believe Novatac does the imprinting as it looks like the same paint and imprint quality with the regular Novatac brand. It's just a tiny bit uneven--a little paint missing in some of the lettering, but all rather small (you need a loupe to make it out). Overall, it looks clean from the naked eye.
The EDC-120 is very well made (proudly in the USA). The anodized finish is excellent and the knurling really works--good grip without feeling abrasive. The switch on mine is the flat version (not raised like on the tactical model). It has a very good tactile feel and exudes good quality, one of the best I've seen. It feels like you could click it 24 hours a day for weeks on end and it would keep working like it did fresh out of the box. I also like the shape of the light. It naturally curves just where your fingers would want it to. A+ on this design started by HDS. It's a little too thick for a pocketable EDC, though. The clip is meant to secure it to the outside of your trousers, shirt, or jacket. So if you work at a job with a suit, you won't be packing it on your person.
The UI is a little complicated and at first I was lost because there was no manual in the box. SPA Defense sends the light in a thick ziploc bag inside a plain brown box with a rather makeshift label on it. But the good thing is that Novatac provides a manual in PDF form on the website to download, so not all was lost. Before I even got to the manual, I started toying with it... double clicking, triple clicking, click and hold... and sure enough the UI started to reveal itself. I have to say that it's really very well thought out. I only needed to see the manual to learn about the programming and optional modes.
The programming is a bit trickier than accessing the 4 main brightness modes. But once you do it, it seems easy to remember. Just in case anyone is curious:
Off, Single click: On, primary mode.
On, double click: Next mode (factory is a few steps brighter)
On, triple click: Next mode (factory is almost the lowest setting)
On, double click-hold: Next mode (factory is maximum).
If you want to reprogram any of the 4 modes, while it is on you triple-click and hold. After a second, the light begins stepping up until it hits maximum, then goes through 3 of the primary signals, then cycles again from the dimmest setting. When you release the button, the light remains on at your selected setting. Switching off confirms it. If you triple-click and hold, the cycle goes in reverse, from bright to dim... repeating again will reverse the direction. Got it?
The options menu is a little more complicated. 4 rapid clicks and hold brings you into the menu. Single click advances you through each option. On a given option, click and hold until you see the brightness step up a few levels then go off. Now that option is active and will remain on until you click off your light. Each has their own particular uses, some very specialized to tactical use, others just plain fun. The dim-to-bright and bright-to-dim step up/down really well, because Novatac built in 22 light levels for the EDC-120. It's a very smooth graduation of levels.
Here are the 9 options:
1. Emergency strobe <flash>
2. Emergency SOS signal <SOS>
3. Locator flash <dim flash>
4. Force setting <long flash>
5. Automatic button lock <three rapid flashes>
6. Automatic turn off <bright-to-dim>
7. Simple momentary <short-long flash>
8. Tactical momentary <short-short-long flash>
9. Ramping/Options menu <dim-to-bright>
Some of these options affect how the light operates while others enable a special flashing mode. One of the modes I really appreciate is the ability to set memory or forced mode. When forced mode is set, the light will be in that mode every time you turn it on. Disabling that enables memory--every time you turn on the light, it resumes the previous brightness or mode setting. This satisfies virtually every user (those who wish to ramp down or ramp up, or want the same mode started every time).
The brightest setting is 120 lumens. Not the brightest of the bunch these days for a 1xCR123, but it's a VERY usable beam. Super smooth... no rings. Well diffused spot. USABLE in every sense of the word. In this form factor and with all of the programming, this Novatac is a GREAT light.
Beam shots? It's already been done... this is indeed an EDC-120P, so I won't bother with redundancy (plus, I probably wouldn't do a good job of it anyway).
Now I know what the attraction is all about, having the light in my hands finally. :twothumbs Me like! :goodjob: Novatac.
I don't know how many companies rebrand the Novatac EDC lights; SPA Defense is the first I've seen do it. The label is all that is different--everything else is pure Novatac. Also, the Novatac website is imprinted on the tail cap. I have to believe Novatac does the imprinting as it looks like the same paint and imprint quality with the regular Novatac brand. It's just a tiny bit uneven--a little paint missing in some of the lettering, but all rather small (you need a loupe to make it out). Overall, it looks clean from the naked eye.
The EDC-120 is very well made (proudly in the USA). The anodized finish is excellent and the knurling really works--good grip without feeling abrasive. The switch on mine is the flat version (not raised like on the tactical model). It has a very good tactile feel and exudes good quality, one of the best I've seen. It feels like you could click it 24 hours a day for weeks on end and it would keep working like it did fresh out of the box. I also like the shape of the light. It naturally curves just where your fingers would want it to. A+ on this design started by HDS. It's a little too thick for a pocketable EDC, though. The clip is meant to secure it to the outside of your trousers, shirt, or jacket. So if you work at a job with a suit, you won't be packing it on your person.
The UI is a little complicated and at first I was lost because there was no manual in the box. SPA Defense sends the light in a thick ziploc bag inside a plain brown box with a rather makeshift label on it. But the good thing is that Novatac provides a manual in PDF form on the website to download, so not all was lost. Before I even got to the manual, I started toying with it... double clicking, triple clicking, click and hold... and sure enough the UI started to reveal itself. I have to say that it's really very well thought out. I only needed to see the manual to learn about the programming and optional modes.
The programming is a bit trickier than accessing the 4 main brightness modes. But once you do it, it seems easy to remember. Just in case anyone is curious:
Off, Single click: On, primary mode.
On, double click: Next mode (factory is a few steps brighter)
On, triple click: Next mode (factory is almost the lowest setting)
On, double click-hold: Next mode (factory is maximum).
If you want to reprogram any of the 4 modes, while it is on you triple-click and hold. After a second, the light begins stepping up until it hits maximum, then goes through 3 of the primary signals, then cycles again from the dimmest setting. When you release the button, the light remains on at your selected setting. Switching off confirms it. If you triple-click and hold, the cycle goes in reverse, from bright to dim... repeating again will reverse the direction. Got it?
The options menu is a little more complicated. 4 rapid clicks and hold brings you into the menu. Single click advances you through each option. On a given option, click and hold until you see the brightness step up a few levels then go off. Now that option is active and will remain on until you click off your light. Each has their own particular uses, some very specialized to tactical use, others just plain fun. The dim-to-bright and bright-to-dim step up/down really well, because Novatac built in 22 light levels for the EDC-120. It's a very smooth graduation of levels.
Here are the 9 options:
1. Emergency strobe <flash>
2. Emergency SOS signal <SOS>
3. Locator flash <dim flash>
4. Force setting <long flash>
5. Automatic button lock <three rapid flashes>
6. Automatic turn off <bright-to-dim>
7. Simple momentary <short-long flash>
8. Tactical momentary <short-short-long flash>
9. Ramping/Options menu <dim-to-bright>
Some of these options affect how the light operates while others enable a special flashing mode. One of the modes I really appreciate is the ability to set memory or forced mode. When forced mode is set, the light will be in that mode every time you turn it on. Disabling that enables memory--every time you turn on the light, it resumes the previous brightness or mode setting. This satisfies virtually every user (those who wish to ramp down or ramp up, or want the same mode started every time).
The brightest setting is 120 lumens. Not the brightest of the bunch these days for a 1xCR123, but it's a VERY usable beam. Super smooth... no rings. Well diffused spot. USABLE in every sense of the word. In this form factor and with all of the programming, this Novatac is a GREAT light.
Beam shots? It's already been done... this is indeed an EDC-120P, so I won't bother with redundancy (plus, I probably wouldn't do a good job of it anyway).
Now I know what the attraction is all about, having the light in my hands finally. :twothumbs Me like! :goodjob: Novatac.
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