Reviews > Lighting > Flashlights - LED > TA EternaLight Ergo 3 > Owner Review by Scott Downard

Technology Associates EternaLight Model Ergo 3 LED Flashlight

Name: Scott Downard
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Height: 6’ (1.83 m)
Weight: 205 lb (93 kg)
Email address: firerook@msn.com
City, State, Country: Apple Valley, California, U.S.

Backpacking Background:  As a teenager, I did a lot of backpacking and hiking with the Boy Scouts.  After I turned 18 and left the Scouts, I abandoned backpacking.  Ten years later, when I was 28, I started getting interested in backpacking again.  I started buying gear to replace the old stuff from my teenage years. I hike in the local mountains and desert areas.  I hike mostly in the spring and fall in moderate weather.  Some rain is encountered. I do day hiking and short term (i.e. weekend) backpacking.  I typically tent camp, but have been looking into tarp camping.

Technology Associates EternaLight Model Ergo 3 LED Flashlight

URL:   http://www.techass.com

Suggested retail price: $39.99

Listed weight without batteries:  3 oz (85 g)

Listed weight with batteries: 4 oz (113 g)

Weight as delivered without batteries: 3 oz (85 g)

Weight as delivered with batteries: 4 oz (113 g)

The unit comes with 3 Energizer alkaline AA batteries.  I use Energizer AA Lithium batteries which allow the unit to float if dropped in water.  Lithium batteries being lighter, increases the buoyancy of the unit.  This also provides better cold and hot weather performance.  I have not had to change the lithium batteries since I put them in October of 2003.  I have noticed only a slight decrease in light output.

I have poor night vision and usually carry a flashlight when I know I will be doing activities at night or in low light conditions.  I have owned this light for approximately one year now and I prefer to carry it instead of my traditional Mini-MagLite.  I would take this light on my backpacking trips and day hikes until recently when purchased my Black Diamond Moonlight headlamp.  It has not been replaced because it is a bad light, but a headlamp is easier to use while setting up my tent in the dark.  I continue to use my EternaLight to find the keys I drop in the dark or to check on my vehicles and property at night. 

The shape of the unit reminds me of a Star Trek phaser, as it is flat and rectangular.  It has four LED bulbs protruding from the front of the housing.  It has the appearance and feel of high quality materials.  I have dropped the light onto concrete and rocks and the unit continues to function properly with only minor scratches appearing on the housing.  The flat design of the unit feels comfortable in the hand.  After I became accustomed to the button positions and I was comfortable using all of the functions, I could easily turn on the light and use the available features by feel alone.  The top of the housing features a raised area around each button that makes them easier to find, but difficult to accidentally turn the unit on. I have had this light in my pocket with lip balm and change without the unit being activated.  This raised area includes a written list of the various functions of the EternaLight.  There is a tether hole at the back of the housing that has allowed me to put a wrist strap on the unit.  This adds a bit of security for me while I am using the light.

Changing the batteries is not something I would want to do in the field.  It involves taking out four tiny screws from the back of the housing.  The size screwdriver that is needed is listed as a size 0.  I wouldn’t normally be carrying a screwdriver of this size with me while backpacking.  After doing this, the back of the housing may be pulled off.  The inside of the unit is marked with easily readable polarity marks for the correct installation of the batteries.  There is a warning in the manual that states, “Installing the batteries incorrectly can permanently damage your light.”  After installing the fresh batteries, the back of the housing is placed together with the front.  There is a rubber gasket that rests between the two halves of the housing.  This provides the water proofness of the unit.  When installing the four screws back into the housing, care must be taken not to over tighten as this can cause the plastic threads in the unit housing to strip out.

From the Technology Associates website:

• Provides all EternaLight SMART series features.
  PDF On-line manual for operational features and details.
• Ergonomic shape is comfortable to hold. Measures 2 5/8" X 3 5/8" X 1" (66 mm X 92 mm X 25.4 mm).
• Weighs only 4 oz.
• Water resistant design -see Statement of water tightness.
• Highly durable and impact resistant -see Statement of durability.
• Lanyard hole for easy tethering.
• Recessed lamp setting holds alignment longer.
• Will FLOAT when lithium batteries are installed.
• 30-day Money Back Guarantee!
• LIFETIME limited warranty!
• TA Peak Light Output Rating: 53

Illumination distance: Not given on website or in manual.  On maximum brightness, I can still identify people and objects such as cars and tents at 75 ft (23 m).

The light has seven basic function modes.  These features are:

1. Timer mode.  When first powered on, EternaLight will light up with full power but will shut itself down gradually. Each of the four lights will extinguish approximately every 2.5 minutes in succession. When all lights are finally extinguished, the unit is Off.
2. 12 dimmable power settings

      The approximate power consumption and life for each setting is given in the table below:

Rate button clicks      %of maximum power       *Hours of life expectancy

        0                 100                           50

        1                 66                            75

        2                 33                            150

        3                 28                            180

        4                 24                            210

        5                 19                            270

        6                 15                            330

        7                 12                            410

        8                  9                            530

        9                  6                            785

        10                 5                            950

        11                 4                            1200

        12                 2                            2800

3. Flasher mode.  All four LED’s will flash simultaneously.
4. Strobe mode. LED’s perform in a strobe light fashion.
5. Dazzle Mode.  The LED’s will flash in an attention getting pattern.
6. S.O.S. mode.  The unit will flash a Morse Code of S – O – S (Save Our Ship)
7. Momentary mode.  All lamps will be extinguished.  This mode allows you to use Morse Code signals or to flash the unit in a desired pattern.

The four LED’s provide a beam of light that has no black spots.    At 75 ft (23 m) the light has an approximate hot spot radius of 15 ft (5 m).  The light color is a nice bright white.

Overall, I really like this handheld flashlight.  It’s lightweight, brightness, and long battery life are great features.

Things I like:

• Light weight and compact design
• Adjustable brightness settings
• Long battery life

Things I don’t like:

• The process for changing the batteries (You need a small screwdriver for the tiny screws)
• The housing the screws go into is plastic and the threads can be easily stripped if over tightened

Reviews > Lighting > Flashlights - LED > TA EternaLight Ergo 3 > Owner Review by Scott Downard