NightStar FAQs - How does the switch work?

Inside the switch is a small magnet. As the switch is moved forward the magnet slides over and activates a reed switch mounted on the circuit board inside the flashlight. When the reed switch is activated (or closed) energy in the capacitor flows through the StarCore® LED.

This design feature has several advantages over conventional mechanical switches used in other flashlights. The most significant advantage is reliability; the simple sliding plastic switch does not corrode or wear out and the reed switch is rated at over 1 million cycles. By comparison, mechanical push button or toggle switches have components that corrode and springs that fatigue after limited on/off cycles.

Another key advantage to NightStar's switch design is that it does not require a watertight seal because the magnet on the outside is able to activate the reed switch through the plastic housing.

Finally, because the electrical circuit is not exposed to the outside world (as with a typical mechanical switch) there is no possibility of igniting combustible materials.

More Frequently Asked Questions:

• Who invented the shake flashlight?

• How does the switch work?

• Why do NightStar, NightStar CS and NightStar RS require different amounts of shaking?

• What are the magnets made of and how are they magnetized?

• Can light output be made brighter by replacing the StarCore® LED with an incandescent bulb?

• Can batteries be included in the design to allow for a longer, brighter light output?

• Is a pacemaker sensitive to the magnetic field that surrounds NightStar?

• Can adding more LEDs increase the light output?

• How is the charging magnet reflected at either end of the flashlight?

• Why was a lens chosen for the output window?

• Why doesn't NightStar interfere with night vision?

• Why is the housing made from plastic?