25 years of light, no battery: NoxTi Tri encases tritium in titanium
NoxTi Tri packs three tritium tubes into an especially rugged titanium housing, allowing the keychain to glow for 25 years without ever needing to be recharged. The light source can be replaced to extend its lifespan or change the color.
After Xedge successfully funded the NoxTi Tritium Keychain on Kickstarter in April and has since shipped it to most backers, the company now revealed NoxTi Tri. The slightly larger version of the keychain is still made of titanium and, at 15.8 grams, weighs only around 5 grams more than its predecessor. The major new feature is that not just one, but three tritium tubes can now be inserted into the housing.
This is intended not only to increase brightness, but also to allow three different colors to be combined, so that NoxTi Tri can glow in three different colors on three sides. The tritium tubes are available in green, yellow, blue, purple, turquoise or red, with green glowing almost five times as brightly as red. Tritium is radioactive and has a half-life of 12.3 years, so after around 25 years, the light source still retains around a quarter of its original brightness.
The light source can then be replaced with commercially available tritium tubes. Alternatively, NoxTi Tri can also be fitted with photoluminescent tubes, which only glow if they have previously been exposed to sufficient daylight. A silicone cushion and a spring are designed to protect the light sources in NoxTi Tri even better than in the previous model.
The NoxTi Tri tritium keychain is currently being funded on Kickstarter and costs HK$275 ($35) as part of the "Launch Day Special", after which the price for crowdfunding backers rises to HK$305 ($39). However, the three tritium tubes must be purchased separately for HK$470 ($59). A black finish instead of silver and a titanium carabiner each cost an extra HK$119 ($15). Shipping is free worldwide, but prices exclude import VAT and customs duties.
