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Pelican light shield version guide
I'm posting this guide to try to clear up any confusion about the 3 (yes, 3) different Pelican light shields that have been released so far. Feel free to mail me with any corrections or further info that you may have to offer.
I've compiled this list from "hands on" experience with versions 1 & 2, but the voltage info and circuit board revision info on version 3 was submitted to me.
Version 1
The first Pelican light shield was released around the same time that
the GBA was released.
Features:
- Incandescent(yellowish, high power consumption) bulb
- Went through a set of batteries in about 3-4 hours
- The bulb was known to burn out after only a week or two of use
- Was powered by the link port
- Supplied about 3 volts of energy to the bulb
- Dimmer switch
- Pass through for the link port
- Very sleek, low profile(only .25" high) design
- Circuit board inside the shield is marked "REV.4", or "REV4.x"
Version 2
The second version seems to have been released a few months
ago (possibly at the same time that the 3rd version was released)
Features:
- Uses a white LED and diffusing lens (oh, hey Pelican, as far as the research and development you gained from gbalight.com... YOUUUU'RE WELLLLCOME!)
- 3 position switch (on, off, auto)
- Uses a light sensing photo cell to turn the light on if you move into an area with poor/no lighting
- Powered by a single triple A battery
- Seems to only be available at Best Buy stores
- Bulky, high profile (nearly .75" high) design
- Dimmer switch
Version 3
The third version is identical physically, and function-wise to the first version, but now Pelican has re-worked the circuit board so that the shield now supplies less voltage to the incandescent bulb.
I guess that was Pelican's solution to the bulb burning out...give it less power so it's dimmer.
Can you say "lame"? The known revision of this new circuit board is "G4LS V.6"
New! Identify a version 3 shield without opening it! (only applies to transparent colors).
New! Click here for more info submitted by readers on identifying Version 3
The PROBLEM is that anyone who gets one of the new incandescent shields(version 3) that use the newer cicuit with less voltage is that the circuit doesn't supply enough voltage(for a satisfactory light that is) to mod it with the radioshack LED 
Conclusion
I hope that clears up some of the confusion about what's going on with the different Pelican light shield versions that are out there. As far as I know, they are currently producing versions 2 and 3. Remember: version 1 was replaced by version 3.
My advice to anyone who is still searching for the best light currently available (while we all wait for the portablemonopoly.com frontlight kit!) would be the following:
- If you want the brightest light "out of the box", get the Glowguard
- If you want to compromise light for screen protection, get the new (version 2) Pelican shield.
- If you want the brightest light and the best screen protection, find one of the first(version 1) light shields and modify it with the radioshack or a nichia LED.
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