Well, it's been an interesting journey with this product. Read on to find out all you wanted to know (and more for sure) about my experience with it.
Short Review: Great product, good value for the money. Easy to mount (with multiple mounting options), nice features (lights that can be directed where you want them, hi-low output, motion detection), good light output and a company with some of the best customer service I have had.
Full Review: I'm going to start with the end result and work backwards.
Design/Operation:
Very clean look and useful size. Each of the "light pods" has 3 LEDs and they put out a good amount of light. Each pod can be tilted about 30 degrees in any direction from parallel to the surface of the unit. This is a great feature as if you mount on the side you can get much of the light pointed towards the inside of the safe. They are independently directed, so one could point forward, one left, one right or even focused on the same location. It seems like they can tilt a little further away from the switch, but I didn't measure this. The single button is used to cycle the light through the Off - High - Low (and back to Off) modes. A switch is located on the opposite from the button which allows you to set to Off-30-60. Off requires you to use the button to cycle the modes. 30 sets a 30 second delay for the motion detection. Any motion detected will leave the light on for 30 seconds. Motions during the 30 seconds will be disregarded and the light will turn off. Once it is off, wave your hand again and it will pick up the motion. 60 is the same function for 60 seconds of light. I have had no issues with the motion detection. It doesn't seem overly sensitive, but a simple wave anyplace near the sensor works fine.
Mounting:
I chose to use the 'hook' velcro for mounting. I attacked the hook side to the light via the sticker and it attaches well to the safe's interior carpet/lining. I mounted it at the top of the safe and while there is a little play in it (meaning it hangs slightly off the ceiling of the safe), it seems like it will stay for a while. The safe is lined with a wood liner (probably MDF) which you could screw into, but I didnt want any holes in the lining. I'll update the review after a while to update on the effectiveness over time of the velcro. There is an optional mounting bracket which is very thoughtfully designed. This bracket can be removed, mounted to the wall and then the light attached to it. No guessing whether you got the screws in the right place when the company was too cheap to leave you anything but a hole in the back of the thing you are mounting (sorry a pet peave). Again, this is one of the most convenient items I have had to mount recently.
Packaging/Instructions:
Typical hard plastic packaging that is difficult to open without a box knife or scissors. Some have complained that they were unable to find the instructions and I would agree they aren't in the most obvious place. In short, there is a cardboard backer that is folded over. The instructions are in there. They did take an early reviewers feedback to heart and included a mounting sheet that is attached by an adhesive dot to the mounting bracket. Again, printed small, but they included an arrow which shows you how to remove it. I rarely read instructions, but for this review I did take a look. I like that they were written by someone who's first language is English not translated to English using Google Translate. They are also written in French and Spanish, although I cannot comment on the effectiveness as I don't speak either of those languages well enough. I can only say I hope they didn't use Google Translate from English.
Customer Service
So, here is where we back up in the journey. The first light I received, I was unable to get to work (wait until you hear why before you assume it is a bad product or an ID10T error). I returned it to Amazon, no hassles and received a second one quickly. Still no luck. In both of the first two, I tried six brand new Duracell AAAs and six brand new Duracell Quantum AAAs. I tested my batteries, I tried them in different spots, still to no avail, so I decided rather than send back to Amazon, I would call the company. I spoke to a very kind female (dont remember her name), but I talked through the issues and told her I really must be doing something wrong, but I can't figure it out. She said no problem, they would send me another. About a week later a box shows up with 4 brand new lights in the box. I've never had a company send me 4 items to replace one (likely because 4 was the packing method and easier than having to break it out and pack separately), but a very pleasant surprise.
The Problem Solved:
OK, so now I figure cool , I have 5 (remember I still have the second one from Amazon). I opened each of them and ran into the same exact issue. None would work. After I opened the fifth one, I decided I would grab my screwdriver and see what I could find inside. I am a mechanical engineer, but I know some basics about electricity. I couldn't find anything wrong with the inside, although the device is well built and relatively straightforward. I tried the sixth one and figured there had to be something else. I had noticed on a previous product that the wrapper on the newer batteries often gets in the way of the contacts on the device. I check, but visibly I couldn't see any gaps, but I decided to fashion a makeshift feeler gauge out of an index card and found a gap. The positive end of the battery closest to the end of the device wasn't actually making contact with the terminal on the light. So I grabbed a screwdriver and pried it out slightly and viola! Worked like a charm. I went back to one of the previous devices and the same fix worked on the same terminal. The reason I didn't ding the product for this is that this is a battery/product combination issue. The nipple on the battery might not be long enough or the wrapper on the battery might be decreasing its effective length. Anyway, once I figured this out I was able to go back and make the others to work as well.
Design Improvements / Recommendations
I own a Stack-On safe. On the front side of the safe, there is a 'lip' that goes around the door and would be a great place to mount the light so that the light faces the back of the safe. However, the lip is about 1/2" smaller than the light. I would think they could reduce the width of the light to fit without sacrificing much (might even reduce the cost) and it would fit in many more locations. This may be a design choice because of the location of the motion sensor (it would face the back too), but this could be fixed by moving the sensor to the edge of the face. The only other recommendation is to make the terminals stick out further so that all batteries fit. I don't know why the Duracell batteries I tried (and remember I tried many combinations and locations) wouldn't work, but it would be a help.
Again, overall I am very satisfied with the purchase and experience.
| Size | 1.5"H X 11.75"W X 2.25"D |
|---|---|
| Brand | Stack-On |
| Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous |
| Style | Style 300 |
| Color | Black |
| Closure Type | Hook and Eye |
| Manufacturer | STAAP |
| UPC | 085529113004 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00085529113004 |
| Part Number | SPAL-300 |
| Item Weight | 11.2 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 2.25 x 11.75 x 1.5 inches |
| Item model number | SPAL-300 |
| Batteries | 6 AAA batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number Of Pieces | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Average Battery Life | 200 Hours |
