Sunwayman created quite a stir when they first introduced their revolutionary Variable Magnetic Control System (MCS) as it allowed one to quickly and easily "dial up" the brightness they wanted. The MCS features prominently throughout the V series line; starting with the V10R up through to their latest, the V60C. However, the MCS is no longer the real news here but rather the new "soft contact" charging system that Sunwayman has incorporated into their newest V light. While a rechargeable light is not a novel concept, it's the execution that is. Let's see how well it does.
MFG SPECS
● CREE XM-L T6 LED, with a lifetime of 50,000 hours;
● Digital Sensor Magnetic Control system - slightly twist the Rotator Ring from left to right to select your desired mode ranging from 5 to 728 lumens, super-low standby mode, or a strobe function;Hidden SOS Mode: when the light is at Strobe mode, twist the rotator ring to the Max output and back to the strobe within 2 seconds, the SOS mode is activated; twist the ring away from the SOS mode and stay for more than 2 seconds, the Strobe Mode is resumed and SOS is hidden.
- Max Output: 728 Lumens (2hrs)
- Min Output: 5 Lumen (150hrs)
- Strobe: 728 Lumens
- SOS
● Constant current circuit, constant output
● Effective range of 395 meters
● Uses 3 x 18650 batteries (V60C charging base can be applied to charge the batteries); or 6 x CR123A primary batteries; or 6 x 16340 rechargeable batteries, but V60C charging base must NOT be applied to the 16340!
● Working voltage: 5.5~25.2V
● High quality reflector maintains great throw distance and spread with an ideal beam pattern
● Dimension: 165mm (length) x 57mm (head diameter) x 45mm (body diameter)
● Weight: 354.6g（battery excluded）
● Aerospace-grade aluminum alloy
● Military Specification Type III- hard anodized body
● Waterproof, in accordance with IPX-8 standard
● Ultra-clear tempered glass lens resists scratches and impacts
● Tail stand capable- can be used as a candle
● Included Accessories: lanyard, O-ring, holster
PACKAGING
The V60C arrived in a cardboard box w/foam inserts that provided ample protection:
Items shipped with the light were:
- Holster
- Lanyard
- 1 x large o-ring
- 2 x small o-ring's
- Instruction manual
- Warranty card
- Mini product pamphlet
DESIGN / FEATURES
The V60C will be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with Sunwayman's lights as it features many of the same design motifs:
This is akin to the strategy that certain car manufacturers have employed to make their entire line distinctly recognizable as their brand (e.g. the famed kidney grill on BMW's).
The V60C features what normally would be considered a turbo head @ 2.25" (56.9mm) but the batteries are arranged in the carrier in a triangular side-by-side-by-side formation, adding considerably to the diameter of the battery tube thus not giving it that impression. Here it is next to a M3LT (2.5" head) but unlike the V60c, the batteries are arranged inline with the tube:
The flat stainless steel bezel was easily removed without any tools; it secures a AR coated lens (this isn't mentioned in the manual or product page) which I did not try to remove:
The LED was just a tad off-center on my unit but it didn't contribute to any flaws in the beam that I could make out.
Just aft of the bezel is what looks to be an anti-roll ring, however it's purely cosmetic as it's actually slightly smaller in diameter than the bezel (so if you must lay the V60c on it's side, make sure it's a even surface otherwise it will go rolling off somewhere!). This gradual tapering effect continues sequentially down through the four cooling fins before finally leveling off at the control ring:
The base is completely flat and offers a very stable foundation for tailstanding (albeit it won't rest evenly if the lanyard is in use):
There are springs on both the cathode and anode (in which case, it's covered):
NEW 9/30: One thing I discovered while testing is that if I set the light on a hard surface with enough force, the light would temporarily black out. Upon investigating what might be causing this, I found that the rate of cathode's spring at the bottom of the battery tube to be very light. When dropping in the battery carrier, it will cause the spring to fully compress and bottom out. I speculated that what was happening was that when I set the light down w/force, it temporarily disengaged the carrier from the anode spring thus causing the temporary "off" state.
I raised this to Sunwayman's attention and their reply was that this was in fact by design to protect the batteries. They tested the light w/springs of various rates and found that when a spring with a strong rate was used, it transmitted more of the shock to the batteries during impact testing (which in certain cases, led to damages to the anode tips). Thus they purposely went with a spring w/a lighter rate.
With additional testing, I ran vigrously with the light and was not able to induce any blackouts. Only with extreme start/stop shaking motions that runs parallel with the light was I able to induce any blackouts. So from my perspective I don't think this is a major issue and actually appreciate that some thought was put into this and not that it was a design flaw. END NEW 9/30
The battery tube is a single integrated unit without a traditional tailcap or switch. The anode/cathode charging contact points within the base are uniquely designed to be exposed for easy docking to the charger and is affixed via four hex bolts adding to the rugged good looks of this light:
There have been some concerns raised that this creates a risk of shorting, however, given the anode is recessed, it lessens this risk greatly (but doesn't completely mitigate it):
There is a built-in protection in the battery carrier that acts like a fuse in case a short does actually ever occur, however, once that happens the carrier will need to be replaced. I've made a suggestion that perhaps a PCB can be installed at each end of the carrier to help solve this problem.
NEW 10/3: To clarify what I mean when I say the anode/cathode are exposed, here's a pic of me taking a voltage reading by placing the leads on them:
END NEW 10/3
The battery carrier is smartly designed so that it can be inserted either way into the battery tube without worries of reversing polarity (you still however have to be mindful of inserting the batteries into the carrier in the correct polarity though). It achieves this by making a "parallel" connection of the anode/cathode through the bars (which are now heat-shrinked vs. the bare ones shown on Sunwayman's product page) that hold the two end pieces of the carrier together.
To expound (explanation to come):
The batteries are connected serially and can accomodate either 3 x 18650's (12.6V) or 6 x CR123's or RCR123's (18V & 25.2V respectively):
NEW: 10/5 
END NEWSIZE
The form follows what has been dubbed on the forums as a soup can shape; that is, short and "chunky" :nana::
I don't currently have any other lights in this form factor so have compared it to the larger lights in my collection:
From L to R: RediLast 3100, Dereelight DBS V2, Sunwayman V60C, Lumapower TurboForce Kit, SureFire M3LT, Klarus XT20
However, it doesn't feel overly large in my medium-sized hand: NEW 10/1
FIT & FINISH
This is now the fifth light from Sunwayman that I've had the privilege of testing/owning and I've come to expect a high level of quality and the V60C does not disappoint. Everything, from the solid build to the flawless finish, is truly top notch:
As can be seen in pic above, the anodizing is flawless and matched between the head and tube.
The control ring offers just the right dampening to allow smooth control without being so stiff so that one handed operation in an underhand grip is possible with the forefinger and thumb. If there was but one nitpick here, it's that the the control ring clicks solidly when it hits the detents when rotating it CCW (ie: shutting off the light) but it doesn't have the same feel when rotating CW.
I also noted some very minute spots where the ano was missing on the square-cut threads on my sample but this would be the first Sunwayman for me that exhibited this:
UI
As previously mentioned, the V60C doesn't have a conventional switch. The control ring is used for turning the light on/off as well as controlling brightness and accessing strobe and a hidden SOS mode. The ring offers approx. 135 degrees of travel total of which the brightness adjustment covers 110 degrees and the remaining 25 degrees of travel allotted to accessing the strobe/SOS mode. Save for a few design grooves, the control ring is smooth and doesn't feature any knurling. This may cause operational difficulties with gloves on.
[MORE TO COME]
RUNTIME
The relevant battery stats are provided above each runtime graph along with:
- Voltage of the battery at the start and end of the test
- Current draw as taken right before the test (to come)
- Actual runtime until the battery first starts to cut out (first in HR and then in M so in the case of the AW2600, read this as 2.1 Hrs OR 128 Min)
- For testing on Max (in which case a fan was used), temperature: ambient, the head at start and the max it reached
Axis: X = Time in Min and Y = Relative Output
I've only managed to get the runtime on 3 x AW 2600 for now but anticipate getting a 3rd RediLast 3100 by next week so will add those results later. I was able to exceed the stated ANSI runtime since the 2.1hrs were for the total time the V60C stayed on Max brightness.
NEW 10/5: Runtime on 3xRediLast3100 now posted; total runtime on Max was 2.6hrs. END NEW
INDOOR BEAMSHOTS
All shots on Canon S3 IS using WB that yields the closest to what my eyes see (left = 1/13" @ f2.7 | right = 1/80" @ f2.7).
Click on pics to load full size.
Due to the smooth and deep reflector, the V60C is definitely geared towards throw but still provides very good flood. It is currently the best thrower in my collection. Please refer to this post for beamshots and comparo to 17 other lights.
OUTDOOR BEAMSHOTS
All shots on Canon S3 IS, ISO 80 @ f2.7 using Daylight WB but the tint is actually not as green as depicted here. Distance to the white wall is 21.3 ft (6.5m) and to the steps (at the forefront of the bottom of the pic is 12ft).
Shutter speeds: left = 1/4" | center = 1/20" | right = 1/80"
Click on pics to load full size.
Please see outdoor comparo beamshots for V60C (and 23 other lights) here.
NEW 10/11: LONG DISTANCE (565ft / 172m)
Full details for this shoot and comparo vs. other lights here.
GALLERY
Disclosure: V60C provided by Sunwayman for review.
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it's working as expected (I think) :thinking::
