This is going to be a fairly short review, so I will get right down to business.
The contenders:
The Romisen RC-G2 is a very inexpensive <$11 light from dealextreme.com that has a number of things going for it.
1. Positive clicky
2. Large (for 1 AA) reflector
3. Excellent machining and anodizing
4. No glue!!!
As we will realize, #4 is VERY important.
With a little advice from CPF members, I obtained this light, as well as the 20-mode driver and SSC U-bin LED from DX.
The 20-mode driver was modified to be a 1-mode driver, and had to be filed down about 1mm to fit into the pill. The stock P2 LED on star was unceremoniously ripped out and tossed, and the SSC was mounted directly on the heatsink, using homemade thermal epoxy (clear $3 epoxy mixed with Arctic Silver 5 in the proportions of Epoxy Part 1-2 = 2 parts, AS5 = 1 part).
After installing the modified pill back into the light, it was run down using a single Sanyo Eneloop AA (2Ah), to test runtime and ensure that good heat transfer was taking place. The light took it like a champ, and ran the battery down, getting warm, but never too hot to touch, with no complaints from the LED.
I then compared it with my good old L2D-CE P4 (which is my reference light). So, here goes nothing:
1. Body
Excellent machining and anodizing, very comfortable to hold. Much grippier than Fenix lights, both because of the body design and finish.
2. Switch
Positive clicky with a good momentary function that requires just the right amount of force (lighter than the Fenix T1).
3. Brightness
I do not have a lux meter and thus can't make a light box, but by eye it is somewhere in between the L2D-CE high and turbo.
L2D-CE P4 (turbo) + Romisen RC-G2 SSC
4. Beam
I really like the SSC U-bin tints, and this one does not disappoint. It's warmer than the Cree P4, but not as warm as my Rebel100 P2D. The beam is butter smooth, typical for the SSC LEDs. Very nice hotspot and generous spill.
5. Runtime
About 1:05 regulated at maximum brightess, then falls to about 1/2 of L2D-CE for another 1/2 hour or so.
6. Overall
For ~$20 and a little elbow grease (30 minutes), you get a very nice mini-tactical light that will probably give you a nice round 100lumens of light for 1 hour on a single AA battery. I have no problems recommending it to anyone).
And the obligatory "tactical" pic:
P.S. Ask me if you want comparisons with the P2D-R100 or T1.
The contenders:
The Romisen RC-G2 is a very inexpensive <$11 light from dealextreme.com that has a number of things going for it.
1. Positive clicky
2. Large (for 1 AA) reflector
3. Excellent machining and anodizing
4. No glue!!!
As we will realize, #4 is VERY important.
With a little advice from CPF members, I obtained this light, as well as the 20-mode driver and SSC U-bin LED from DX.
The 20-mode driver was modified to be a 1-mode driver, and had to be filed down about 1mm to fit into the pill. The stock P2 LED on star was unceremoniously ripped out and tossed, and the SSC was mounted directly on the heatsink, using homemade thermal epoxy (clear $3 epoxy mixed with Arctic Silver 5 in the proportions of Epoxy Part 1-2 = 2 parts, AS5 = 1 part).
After installing the modified pill back into the light, it was run down using a single Sanyo Eneloop AA (2Ah), to test runtime and ensure that good heat transfer was taking place. The light took it like a champ, and ran the battery down, getting warm, but never too hot to touch, with no complaints from the LED.
I then compared it with my good old L2D-CE P4 (which is my reference light). So, here goes nothing:
1. Body
Excellent machining and anodizing, very comfortable to hold. Much grippier than Fenix lights, both because of the body design and finish.
2. Switch
Positive clicky with a good momentary function that requires just the right amount of force (lighter than the Fenix T1).
3. Brightness
I do not have a lux meter and thus can't make a light box, but by eye it is somewhere in between the L2D-CE high and turbo.
L2D-CE P4 (turbo) + Romisen RC-G2 SSC
4. Beam
I really like the SSC U-bin tints, and this one does not disappoint. It's warmer than the Cree P4, but not as warm as my Rebel100 P2D. The beam is butter smooth, typical for the SSC LEDs. Very nice hotspot and generous spill.
5. Runtime
About 1:05 regulated at maximum brightess, then falls to about 1/2 of L2D-CE for another 1/2 hour or so.
6. Overall
For ~$20 and a little elbow grease (30 minutes), you get a very nice mini-tactical light that will probably give you a nice round 100lumens of light for 1 hour on a single AA battery. I have no problems recommending it to anyone).
And the obligatory "tactical" pic:
P.S. Ask me if you want comparisons with the P2D-R100 or T1.
