TEC-S323 Isotope Fob Review

TEC-S323 Isotope Fob Review

With the recent addition of the diminutive “DQG spy” to my current keychain setup, I've been finding my usual Tec Accessories S3 glow fob, a little too large in comparison.  Looking around for a smaller alternative that is still encased in metal, brought me to the TEC-S323 Isotope Fob, also made by Tec Accessories.

I've been out of the loop with these sorts of things, but the TEC-S323 Isotope Fob appears to have been released around a year ago.  It is a metal housing built to hold a 3x23 tritium vial.  The dimensions of the Tec Accessories Isotope promise to be slightly smaller, thinner and lighter than the TEC-S3/A3/T3 glow fobs.

Specifications:

(Taken from the manufacturers website)
Material: Stainless Steel
Finish: Bead Blasted
Outside Diameter: 5.0 mm [0.197"]
Overall Length: 31.5 mm [1.24"]
Split Ring Hole Size: 3.0mm [0.118"]
Total Assembled Weight (without tritium vial): 1.8 grams [.06 oz]
Total Assembled Weight (with tritium vial): 2.0 grams [.07 oz]
Cost: $23 (not including the tritium)

Packaging and Accessories:

The packaging is pretty plain from the Tec Accessories.  Everything comes in a ziplock bag.  Included is a small container with a small split ring and 3 rubber plugs.  You only need one plug for the installation of the tritium, so the others are spares.  Another small cylindrical plastic container holds the metal housing and keeps it safe whilst in transit.  A card with basic instructions is included.

Please note that the tritium vial is not actually included, if purchased directly from Tec Accessories.  You need to buy the 3x23mm tritium separately, or alternatively Merkava from cpfmarketplace sells the Isotope preinstalled with the tritium.  Merkava is one of my regular sources for tritium, but there are a few others also on cpfmarketplace forums.

Packaging

Contents

Instructions:

Pretty simple to put it together... no need to mess around with any glue or adhesives.  Put the 3x23 tritium vial into the metal housing. GENTLY ease one of the rubber plugs on top of the tritium.  Place split ring through the appropriate hole.  I tend to use a pair of fine pliers to open the split ring.  With the rubber plug and the split ring in place, the tritium vial is very unlikely to ever come out by itself.

Pros:

-Smaller than the TEC A3/S3/T3 glow fobs
-Simple to install
-Feels well made
-It's subjective, but I like how it looks
-Once again subjective, but I think tritium in a metal housing looks more classy than a plain plastic tube
-Reasonably priced compared to other custom metal housings

Cons:

-Not covered by a plastic shell, like the TEC S3/A3/T3.  This means it's smaller, but also potentially less protected if something hits it through one of the gaps in the metal housing.  However as of this stage, google does not find any reports of broken tritium in the Isotope
-Even though the TEC “Isotope” has been designed to maximise visibility, I feel that the tritium is slightly more visible in the TEC S3/A3/T3.  I feels this is the case, because the plastic shell provides more “spacing” from the tritium to the metal housing.
-Tritium definitely not as visible when compared to a plain acrylic housing.

Nite Glowring, tritium in acrylic casing, Tec S3 Glow Fob, Tec Isotope Fob, DQG Spy

Conclusion

I suspect the Tec Isotope Fob will be a permanent addition to my current keychain.  I like how it looks, and the smaller size better suits my keyring setup.  My only possible concern is whether the housing provides enough protection for the tritium.  It would take a very unfortunate knock to break the tritium, though.  I guess we'll find out with time and usage...

My keyring setup

Wife's keyring

Links


Information on tritium and TEC Isotope Fob:
http://www.tecaccessories.com/PDF/TA_S323_vials.pdf

Manufacturer's Webpage:
http://www.tecaccessories.com/TEC-S323.TEC-S323-Isotope

Forums to buy 3x23 tritium and preinstalled Isotope:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/forumdisplay.php?108-WTS-Other-Personal

TEC ACCESSORIES GLOW PELLET KIT - TRITIUM INSTALLATION WITH NORLAND 61

I have previously done a review of the TEC accessories glow fob.  A GITD pellet is contained with in this glow fob.  I prefer tritium which constantly glows and does not need to be 'charged up' with light.  Tec accessories sells a glow fob pellet kit, for replacing the stock GITD pellet with something else.

I did a post here on how to temporarily install a tritium vial into one of these empty glow pellets.  This solution has been working reasonably well, but I've decided to glue the tritium in permanently with some norland 61.  Having tried green, blue and yellow tritium, I've decided to go with green as it is definitely the most brightest and most noticeable out of all the colours.

Here is a video on my technique for installing the tritium into these empty glow pellet tubes.  I do admit my technique could do with a bit of refinement... cleaning up the blu-tack is bit of a pain.








Just to recap, here is where I get my stuff from:
-The 3x23mm tritium is from:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?170374-For-Sale-Tritium-Vials
-The TEC Accessories Glow Pellet Kit from:
http://www.tecaccessories.com/products/product.php?II=33
-Norland 61:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?232854-Norland-61-Optical-Adhesive-for-Trit-installation

Summary of tips to install the tritium:
-Use a bit of blu-tack to block off one end of the empty vial
-You can use a flat end of a toothpick (or similar device) to neaten up the blu-tack if you have pushed it in too far
-Hold the empty vial at an angle, flow the Norland 61 slowly from one side. Let gravity slowly flow the liquid down to the end of the vial. This helps to avoid trapping dead air at the end of the vial.
-Only fill the tube about 1/3 of the way
-Gently insert the 23x3mm tritium. The Norland 61 will flow up the vial as you push it in.
-Leave it upright in bright sunlight or use a UV light to set the Norland 61
-Clean up the blu-tack. Use other larger bits of blu-tack to help pull it out. You can use a toothpick or a small brush to help remove the residual blu-tack
 -Top up the rest of the tube with Norland 61, set it again in UV light or sunlight.


Here is link to a PDF made by TEC accessories on various methods of using the glow pellet kit:
http://www.tecaccessories.com/PDF/TA_DIY_Kit_Trit_Project.pdf

TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRITIUM INTO TEC ACCESSORIES GLOW FOB

TEMPORARY INSTALLATION OF TRITIUM INTO TEC ACCESSORIES GLOW FOB

I've been meaning to change the GITD pellet in the tec accessories glow fob for some time now.  However, I was undecided on what colour tritium I wanted to glue into the empty tubes tec accessories sell.  I was trying to figure out a way to temporarily install the 23x3mm tritium, but still be able to remove the tritium in case I wanted to use that tritium vial elsewhere.

This is what I came up with.

Materials:

-23x3mm tritium
-'Blu-tack'.  Not sure what you call it in other countries but here is the wikipedia entry for it:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-Tack
-Small round circles of plastic cut out from empty battery packaging.  The circles should roughly be the diameter of the empty vial.
-Glow pellet kit from tec accessories

Method:
-Place the 23x3mm tritium into the empty acrylic tube from tec accessories
-Centre the tritium vial, place a little blu-tack in either end to keep the tritium in place
-Tack the plastic circles to either end of the acrylic tube
-Remove the o-ring in the tec accessories glow fob, swap the GITD pellet with your tritium pellet.
-Place the o-ring back in, make sure everything is firmly in place and there is minimal movement of the tritium pellet.

The small round plastic circles will hold the blu-tack in place and reduces dirt sticking to the blu-tack.  The o-ring and washer should hold the small plastic circles in place and stop them from falling out.  If you want to retrieve your tritium vial, it's pretty easy to take the blu-tack back out.

I'll see how this works for me in the medium term.  If it works out okay, I might just leave the tritium installed as is.  If it doesn't work out well, I'll just install them with norland 61 for a more permanent solution.

Plastic battery packaging used to cut two round circles on the right

Blu-tack

Bottom: washer, plastic circle, 23x3mm tritium in acrylic tube with blu-tack on either end, plastic circle, o-ring

OTHER LINKS:
Tec accessories glow fob review
Glow fob pellet kit
Tec accessories glow fob
Merkava 23x3mm tritium sales thread

TEC accessories - TEC-S3 Glow Fob

TEC-S3 GLOW FOB

I've been eyeing off the TEC accessories Glow Fobs since they were announce and released.  I thought they looked well designed and reasonable in price.  I now have one in my hands and I have to say... I like it!

 

BACKGROUND

I have had my self-assembled tritium marker on my keychain for sometime and I've been quite happy with it.  It's lightweight, has a small footprint and is reasonable hardy.  The only downside was in the aesthetics.  It looks rather plain and uninteresting... especially in bright environments when the glow is not noticeable.

As an alternative, I've been considering some tritium keyfobs in metal housings.  A round up of various options can be found in this post:  Metal Tritium Markers/Keyfobs/Pendants.  Some of the designs available look amazing but the majority of them are quite expensive as they use titanium or other 'exotic' materials.

The TEC accessories glow fob was the most economical of the round up, and I have since acquired the stainless steel version; the TEC-S3.

SPECIFICATIONS

TEC accessories offer the TEC-S3 which has a stainless steel housing, as well as the TEC-A3 which has an aluminium housing.  Specifications (from the manufacturer) are as as follows:

Internal Glow Pellet:

    * Tubing: Clear acrylic
    * Glow powder: strontium aluminate (mixed with resin)
    * Outside Diameter: 6.35 mm [1/4"]
    * Overall Length: 28.6 mm [1-1/8"]

TEC-S3 Glow Fob:

    * Material: Stainless Steel
    * Finish: Bead Blasted
    * Outside Diameter: 9.0 mm [0.35"]
    * Overall Length: 40.0 mm [1.58"]
    * Weight: 5.9 grams [.21 oz]
Cost:  $22

TEC-A3 Glow Fob:

    * Material: Aircraft grade aluminum
    * Finish: Type III hard anodize
    * Outside Diameter: 9.0 mm [0.35"]
    * Overall Length: 40.0 mm [1.58"]
    * Weight: 3.2 grams [.11 oz]
Cost:  $18


PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The packaging for the TEC accessories glow fob is rather rudimentary, coming only in a plastic ziplock packet.  I don't mind this if it is only for myself, less packaging means less waste and is better for the environment.  However, it is less desirable if you are planning on giving it away as a present. 

TEC-S3 Packaging

A cardboard instruction manual containing information on 'glow-in-the-dark' is included.  It also includes an 11.1mm diameter split ring, which feels stiff and well made.


DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

I find the appearance of the tec accessories glow fob to be quite nice... it puts me in mind of an elongated mini-lantern.  The design of the metal housing does not inhibit too much of the glow fob, allowing good exposure and illumination from the fob.

There is a thick black o-ring at the end of the metal housing, which holds the inner glow pellet in place.  This o-ring seems pretty sturdy and I doubt the glow pellet will fall out by itself.  The o-ring can be pried out with a small screwdriver, allowing you to change the inner glow pellet.

Thick black o-ring holds the glow pellet in place

 It is nice to know, the tec accessories glow fobs come with a life time warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.


TEC-A3 vs TEC-S3

As mentioned earlier I have the stainless steel version of the glow fobs, the TEC-S3.  I find the colour matches the rest of my keyring, better.

Whether you get the aluminium (TEC-A3) or the stainless steel version comes down to personal preference.

The aluminium version is slightly lighter at 3.2g (vs 5.9g) and is slightly cheaper.  The TEC-A3 is annodised black, while the TEC-S3 has a matte silver-grey appearance.

From general experience, I find annodise aluminium tends to develop wear on the edges and sharp corners.  Stainless steel can still get minor scratches, but may be less noticeable and often blends in better.

TRITIUM vs GITD

The GITD pellet in the tec accessories glow fobs requires exposure to light to be 'charged up'.  In their instruction manual, tec accessories indicate the GITD fob charges better with natural sunlight or UV light.  It also suggests exposure over a longer period will offer a longer lasting glow.  With night adapted vision, it is still possible to see it glowing after 8-12 hours (though it would be very feint).

I do have some GITD fobs from other sources and I do have to say; the tec accessories GITD pellet is slightly superior.  The GITD pellet from tec accessories seems to glow brighter for a longer period.  I believe TEC accessories source their GITD pellets from 'andygold' who has a sales thread on cpfmarketplace.  Andygold has good reputation for GITD key fobs. 

Tritium marker, TEC S-3, GITD fob from another maker

Directly after 'charging up' GITD fobs are brighter than tritium, but this burst in brightness will fade fairly quickly

Tec accessories offer a 'glow fob pellet kit', which can be used to replace the existing GITD pellet.  You can use this kit to either create your own GITD fob, or create a tritium fob using 23x3mm tritium.  I plan on getting one of these kits in future, and replace the GITD fob with some tritium!

Here are some of the advantages/disadvantages I see between tritium and GITD.

Advantages:
-Tritium does not need to be charged up with light
-While GITD fobs can initially be brighter than tritium, the brightness will fade and often after an hour (or less), the tritium will be more brighter than the GITD fob.

Disadvantages:
-a very minor amount of radiation is released.  It is not meant to be harmful unless you break the tritium vial and breathe-in or ingest the tritium.
-Tritium has a half life of 10-12 years.  Over time tritium will very slowly fade in brightness.  In 10-12 years it will be half as bright.


CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Not much to say on this aspect, if I had to  be picky, I do note some machining marks on the inner edges of the 'window struts'.  There are some very small air bubbles in the glow fob, but I think this is inevitable, all my other GITD fobs also have this issue.


CONCLUSIONS

While a little larger and heavier, the TEC S-3 glow fob does look nicer and more attention grabbing than my usual tritium marker.  I have now added it to my keychain, but I may consider taking it off if I'm finding my keyring gets too heavy.  I feel its worth the price... it's not overly expensive when you compare it some of the custom products available. 

TEC-S3 on the keyring

MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE:
http://www.tecaccessories.com/products/category.php?CA=8


OTHER LINKS:
Tritium Keyfob Review
Metal Tritium Keyfob/Pendants/Markers

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

Tritium Keyfob / Markers / Pendants - Titanium, Stainless Steel, Aluminium and Other Metals

Tritium Keyfobs and Pendants - in Metal Housings

I seem to get a lot of interest on tritium keyfobs, so I thought I would elaborate on a few more options that are out there.  The focus of this will be tritium markers that have a metal housing.  Most are fairly expensive... I haven't actually bought any of these, so I can't provide you with a review.  Photos are from the makers' website/thread, and permission has been obtained from the makers before reproducing them.
   

TEC Accessories Glow Fob

Comes in aluminium and stainless steel.  It includes a glow-in-the-dark (GITD) fob.  If you buy the replacement kit, you can replace the GITD fob with a 23x3mm tritium instead.  The TEC accessories glow fob is much more affordable than the titanium tritium keyfobs.  You will have to buy your own 23x3mm tritium though

http://www.tecaccessories.com/products/category.php?CA=8

Also available:
http://www.jsburlys.com/index.php?app=ecom&ns=catshow&ref=tecaccessories

G1K Titanium Tritium Pendants/Keyfobs

Customisable with number of slots, sides and colour of tritium.  He still is making them, contact him via cpfmarketplace

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?229872-FS-Titanium-Tritium-pendants

Bart TiGlow

Seems to be available.  Bart's been dealing tritium for a while now... a well respected seller!

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=238397&page=1

Krypto-Lite Housings

Comes in a variety of metals; titanium, stainless steel, brass, carbon steel damascus.  You will need to buy your own 23x3mm tritium, so factor this into your costs.

I spoke to the maker, he's still making them but out of action until April.  He's got some new designs and working with some new materials too (copper, bronze, stainless damascus).  He can be contacted via cpfmarketplace.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?216025-Titanium-Krypto-lite-Housings-SOLD-OUT

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?229360-Krypto-Lite-Tritium-Housings-%28Titanium-Stainless-and-Brass%29

New designs from Krypto-lite

Damascus Krypto-lite

Farid Titanium Tritium Keyring

Farid had a thread on cpfmarketplace a little while back.  I believe he also posts in britishblades forum.  He reports he is still making them and is now using 5x40mm tritium (which is larger and brighter than 3x23mm tritium).  You could try private messaging him at cpmarketplace for more information.


http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?224936-Farid-Titanium-Tritium-keyring

http://www.britishblades.om/forums/showthread.php?116852-Farid-new-tritium-pendant

If you know of any other metal-housing tritium keyfobs, or if you know of any updates to the ones I have posted, leave a comment or send me an email to update this post.


UPDATE: 9/8/11
Steve Ku from cpfmarketplace is doing a run of large titanium tritium pendants.  These are quite large compared to the other offerings on this post. 
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?254736-Titanium-Tritium-Pendants-%28LARGE!%29
 

Update: Broken Merkava II Tritium Glowring

SEE HERE FOR PREVIOUS TRITIUM KEYFOB REVIEW

Quick update on my merkava II tritium glowring:

Unfortunately with time my merkava II tritium glowring, has finally cracked and broken.  The tritium vial inside still seems to be fine, only the other casing is broken.

I wouldn't recommend putting this tritium marker on a keyring, its better suited for applications where it would get less abuse.  The main benefit I see in the merkava II, is that it is the smallest and thinnest tritium marker, that contains a 23x3mm sized tritium.

I have put in a order for some empty tritium holders to install the spare tritium myself.  I have found the empty holders from LESLIEx317537 have held up well so far.

Tritium Keyfob Review

For those of you unsure of what tritium is, have a look at the wikipedia link for tritium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium_illumination

"Tritium illumination is the use of gaseous tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, to create visible light. Tritium emits electrons through beta decay, and when they interact with a phosphor material, fluorescent light is created, a process called radioluminescence."

Tritium markers provide a futuristic glow, which I find helpful to locate my keychain or flashlights in low lighting conditions. They can come in a variety of colours, I find they can be decorative, looking quite pretty and 'cool'. Do note, certain colours will be less bright than other other colours. The following chart indicates the relative brightness levels of various colours.

Tritium markers are self illuminating, it does not need a power source, nor do they need to be 'charged up' with light (as with normal glow-in-the-dark items). They will continually provide their illumination for many years. The half life of tritium is 10-12 years, which means after 10-12 years it will be half as bright.

Do be aware, tritium does emit a small amount of beta radiation, however the amount of radiation produced is considered very minor and is unlikely to affect your health. Have another look at the wikipedia entry for more information on this, here is an excerpt:

"Tritium presents no external radiation threat when encapsulated in non-hydrogen-permeable containers due to its low penetration depth, which is insufficient to penetrate intact human skin. The primary danger from tritium arises if it is inhaled, ingested, injected or otherwise absorbed into the body. This results in the emitted radiation being absorbed in a relatively small region of the body, again due to the low penetration depth. The biological half-life of tritium—the time it takes for half of an ingested dose to be expelled from the body—is low, at only 12 days. Tritium excretion can be accelerated further by increasing water intake to 3-4 liters/day.

Direct, short-term exposure to small amounts of tritium is relatively harmless. If a tritium tube should break, one should leave the area and allow the gas to diffuse into the air. Tritium exists naturally in the environment, but in very small quantities."

Despite the reassurances that it is safe, if you are truly paranoid about the minor radiation released, you could consider keyfobs filled with glow powder instead. However, these glow-powder keyfobs/markers, need exposure to light in order to be 'charged up'. They can initially be brighter than tritium, but with time the luminescence will fade. I find after an hour (or even less), the tritium will be brighter than the glow-powder keyfobs.

You can buy these tritium markers/keyfobs from a variety of places. Ebay, online websites, and through sellers on cpfmarketplace.com. Most tritium markers come packaged and ready to use. You can also buy the tritium vials on their own (available in various sizes), and it is possible to install these vials, yourself, into clear empty keyfobs (sold separately). Some flashlights have milled tritium slots, to allow you to install a tritium vial into the flashlight body. A popular 'glue' to install these vials is norland 61. It sets very clear and does not change colour or fog with time. A UV source is required to accelerate the set of norland 61.

Here is a current photo of my of tritium markers.

They are listed as follows from left to right:
-small betalight kit marker (green)
-merkava II tritium glow-ring (green)
-self installed 23x3 tritium in clear case (white)
-self installed 23x3 tritium in clear case (green)
-rainbow keychain marker
-clear case nite glow-ring (blue)
-green case nite glow-ring (green)
-blue case nite glow-ring (blue)


'standard' nite glow-rings
These comes in green, blue or pink casing. They can be bought from cpfmarketplace, ebay, other online sources

'Special' clear-casing nite glow-rings
These come in a clear case instead of the coloured cases. I believe these are a special edition that can only be found through 'merkava' at cpfmarketplace. As these cases are clear, they are meant to allow more light through than the coloured cases. In my opinion this difference is minimal, and I actually prefer the more colourful cases myself. I believe they come in 5-6 different tritium colours.

Small betalight kit marker
I bought these from ebay. I believe they come in a variety of other sizes and colours. As the tritium contained with this marker is fairly small (5mmx1mm), it is not as bright as the others. It is significantly smaller than the nitek markers.

Merkava II tritium glow-ring
These are assembled by merkava at cpfmarketplace. They are relatively diminutive in size, and the 23x3mm tritium contained within is fairly bright. If you look at the photo, you can tell it has not help up very well on my keychain. It has become heavily scratched and a crack has developed, this is only after 7-9months of usage.

'Rainbow' keychain marker, cast within acrylic
These feature tritium vials, manually cast in acrylic. They are hand made by iknitsteel at cpfmarketplace. However he is no longer making them until further notice. Check out his thread for some of custom jobs he has done, they are quite amazing. Another maker (mattrg), has taken up the void iknitsteel has left... I can not comment on the quality of mattrg's work as I have not personally bought from him yet.

As you can see there is limited illumination from the side profile

As these are made to order, they are customisable; you can have various colours and multiple tubes of tritium. The one I have consists of 5x1mm tritium vials of seven various colours. I find this version aesthetic and colourful, however it does not provide the best illumination when viewed on the profile shot. In my opinion a 23x3mm tritium source provides better illumination.

23x3mm tritium vial self installed in clear acrylic case
I bought the tritium vial from merkava, the clear acrylic case from LESLIEx317537, the norland 61 from RocketTomato; all from cpfmarketplace. At the moment this is my tritium keyfob of choice. It is slightly wider than the merkava II marker, however I find it more robust and does not scratch as easily. It does take some effort to order the items separately, and glueing the tritium into the clear case, does take some practice and forethought. If you want something ready and pre-made, this is not for you.


This list is far from complete, you may find other various versions of tritium markers from other online sources (often hong kong based websites that also sell flashlights). Tritium vials are sometimes used in fishing, and you may find them available at some fishing websites (e.g. tritium-max betalight). There are some makers who offer tritium encased within a titanium shell (e.g. bart, farid, g1k).

Links

CPFmarketplace forum with sales threads of previously mentioned sellers:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/forumdisplay.php?108-WTS-Other-Personal

TiGlow from bart
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?238397-TiGlow-titanium-glowrings-RE-OPENED

Steve Ku's sales thread on cpfmarketplace dealers corner:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?232068-3mm-x-22mm-tritium-pendant-and-6mm-keyrings

 Additional Photos 

PHOTOS FROM PREVIOUS POST