Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L T6

[fstuff]

Q5 max lumens is ~200, according to the manufacturer spec sheet.
I can get a 18650 Q5 for $2 on ebay.

This one seems like best bang for the buck $2 18650 Q5 since it comes with belt pouch.
(Don't understand why it comes with an extension ring?)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Sale-3-...650-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-Light-/371349109091

it seems like the next most popular 18650 emitter on ebay is the XM-L. (max lumens = ~1000, according to spec sheet.)
unfortunately, a lot of the cheap ebay flashlights that say XM-L are fakes.
They are actually a Q5.

I should know. I bought one for $4. (see pic below)
Seller said it was a XM-L. It's actually a Q5 because of the distinctive light pattern.

Q5 Light pattern:

A real XM-L will have this light pattern:
(left is XM-L, right is the newer XM-L2)

Anyone have a Link to cheap 18650 XM-L that really is a XM-L and not a fake that uses a Q5?
thx


edit:
hm.. a WF-501B (XM-L T6) for $3.70?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WF-501B-250...886347?hash=item1e9cfda0cb:g:xEEAAOSwV0RXvBZs

Anyone know if that is a real XM-L?

edit2:
this youtuber says that wf-501b is probably fake and only does 200lumens (ie: Q5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko25nYDAJvg

 

[Bdm82]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

I'm going to give you a non answer ... answer.
Convoy s2+ can be had with a variety of leds and drivers/strengths, many under $10. No zoom.
Thorfire TA13 is authentic on the led, is zoomy, and about $13.
To me anything cheaper than these two options is junk or risky. These two are pretty well respected options.

 

[fstuff]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

I'm going to give you a non answer ... answer.
Convoy s2+ can be had with a variety of leds and drivers/strengths, many under $10. No zoom.
Thorfire TA13 is authentic on the led, is zoomy, and about $13.
To me anything cheaper than these two options is junk or risky. These two are pretty well respected options.

Link to S2+ for under $10?

 

[Bdm82]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

Check out gearbest.com or search for Simons convoy store on aliexpress.
GB frequently has specials on them. Not right now though so price is more like 12. And you'll have the wait from china... e to 4 weeks.

 

[Lexel]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_44144.html?wid=21

11$ and really not cheap crap, but not as good as 30-50$ lights

too bad the Eagle Eye x2r 30% promotion is over
that was 15$ and is build like 30$ lights

if you want a very small powerful light try the Jetbeam Jet-1 MK
it is in gearbest promotion atm
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_368125.html
code PTFFP
With lithium battery that is quite a bright light with 480 lumens

looking for zoom crap flashlight
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_394633.html?

 

[jorn]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

Q5 is not a led, but a brightness bin. I guess you mean xr-e led with q5 bin?

 

[fstuff]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

Q5 is not a led, but a brightness bin. I guess you mean xr-e led with q5 bin?

yes.
from what I've read, people equate q5 with xr-e, just like T6 is synonymous with xm-L/xm-L2

 

[Lexel]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

On warmwhite XM-L2 and XPL HI T6 is also common

 

[fstuff]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

hm.. this $4 T6 shows a pic of the correct xm-L emitter.
but it also has a pic showing the Q5 light pattern as well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331742679158

might take the risk and buy this since it's only $4 if there isn't a Convoy s2+ on sale for under $10 in the next few weeks.

 

[Bdm82]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

hm.. this $4 T6 shows a pic of the correct xm-L emitter.
but it also has a pic showing the Q5 light pattern as well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331742679158

might take the risk and buy this since it's only $4 if there isn't a Convoy s2+ on sale for under $10 in the next few weeks.

Hard to say on that one, it's a gamble. I see you're looking to save money, but as you know what led you want, I'm surprised you want to gamble here.
It may be 4 instead of 11, but is $11 really too much for a budget light?
The $4 light ships from HK so you'll be out 3 weeks if it turns out a dud. For $4 I'd be surprised if it was cree anything and not a lattice bright.
If you go that route though let us know if it turns out to be a good find or not!

 

[fstuff]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

Hard to say on that one, it's a gamble. I see you're looking to save money, but as you know what led you want, I'm surprised you want to gamble here.
It may be 4 instead of 11, but is $11 really too much for a budget light?
The $4 light ships from HK so you'll be out 3 weeks if it turns out a dud. For $4 I'd be surprised if it was cree anything and not a lattice bright.
If you go that route though let us know if it turns out to be a good find or not!

I just ordered a multimeter from ebay to test how low the capacity is of the '5000' mah 18650 batteries that came with my fake xm-L flashlight.
if they're less than my enloope 1900mah AA batteries, then i'll probably just scrap the 18650 platform and stick to single AA lights.

the multimeter is being shipped from china so it'll take a few weeks to arrive.
so I can wait on buying a new flashlight. lol

 

[Lexel]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

A good geniue 18650 cell costs 5$ in china stores
typical capacities are 3000-3500mAh

those fake cells have mostly around 500mAh and cant deliver high currents

a DMM wont help to measure the capacity unless you can get the current saved into a logfile snd get that analysed

you can buy Ultrafire XM-L2 hosts for less than 10$ but the quality is not good
and there is no way to get a good cell plus XM-L2 host below 10$

 

[fstuff]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

A good geniue 18650 cell costs 5$ in china stores
typical capacities are 3000-3500mAh

those fake cells have mostly around 500mAh and cant deliver high currents

500mah?!
wtf?!

that's less than my enloope AAA batteries (700mah).
Why does a battery that big only have 500mah?

a DMM wont help to measure the capacity unless you can get the current saved into a logfile snd get that analysed

if I fully charge the fake 18650 battery, why wont the DMM give me a correct measurement?

 

[fstuff]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

Hard to say on that one, it's a gamble. I see you're looking to save money, but as you know what led you want, I'm surprised you want to gamble here.

The $4 light ships from HK so you'll be out 3 weeks if it turns out a dud. For $4 I'd be surprised if it was cree anything and not a lattice bright.

how much less lumens are lattice brights compared to a cree? ie: XM-L T6

 

[Lexel]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

Even a 20mAh battery got the same voltage when fully charged
for capacity you need to monitor current and time

 

[easilyled]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

It might be a false economy looking for bargain basement products just as the battery picture shows above.

So many of these products will be disappointments. Buying something on the next rung which is still cheap but reasonably well respected seems a better tactic to me.

 

[jorn]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter? ie: XM-L

500mah?!
wtf?!

that's less than my enloope AAA batteries (700mah).
Why does a battery that big only have 500mah?



if I fully charge the fake 18650 battery, why wont the DMM give me a correct measurement?

No. 500 mAh at 4,2 V is more than 700 mAh at 1,5 v. But its still bad..

 

[yellow]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter ie XM L T6

what?
A compelete cheapo flashlight (with batteries), costing less than the real single led alone, is crap ...
What a surprise


PS: please stop naming the led "Q5", or "T6", or whatever and NAME the Led model: Cree XR-E; Cree XM-L, ...

 

[jorn]

Re: Cheapest 18650 flashlight that isnt a Q5 emitter ie XM L T6

PS: please stop naming the led "Q5", or "T6", or whatever and NAME the Led model: Cree XR-E; Cree XM-L, ...

No,no,no. I will start calling my car for "270". Because thats what the speedometer goes up to