I realize that there is a generally low opinion of buying LED flashlights from China via ebay here at CFP. However, as with all such generalizations, there are some noteworthy exceptions. I believe that that the flashlight described here is one VERY sweet exception.
This flashlight, most simply put, is an Ultrafire WF-502B shell with a Cree XM-L (T6) drop-in (1x 18650 battery) that I purchased for $21 postpaid. This would be a very good price for the drop-in alone. There are many auctions for this flashlight on ebay...just search "1000 Lm Cree XML" on the ebay search line. Currently, upwards of 50 listings will show. I won the very first auction entered for $21.01, including postage. It arrived just 12 days later. While I really can't accurately attest to the actual lumen output generated (or for how long), this flashlight is exactly what it claims to be, an Ultrafire WF-502B fitted with a Cree XM-L in an aluminum reflector. I believe that this is an outstanding buy in a high-output, LED flashlight.
The amount of light generated appears at least close to the 1000Lm claimed, at least initially. I found it to be equal or greater than three times the total output of a Cree Q5 300 Lm flashlight I have and about an order of magnitude greater than the output of my standard 3-D cell Mag-Lite LED. Most significantly, it's comparable or brighter than my Trustfire 900 Lm SSC P7 flashlight. Moreover it is a white light, with no obvious color tint at the highest level. A slight blue cast is seen at the intermediate level (~300 Lm) and a definate blue tint at its lowest level (< 100 Lm).
The flashlight has a center (spot) beam that is effective to about 100 yards at night, which is pretty good for the relatively large LED emitter (MUCH better than my Trustfire 900 Lm SSC P7, which has too little a center beam to even speak of). The spill-over (flood) light is clean and brilliant. Overall this flashlight is now my best all-around use flashlight, especially with its other light modes (intermediate and low). It also has strobe and SOS modes, for a total of 5. At 30", the light pattern consists of a very bright center spot about 5" in diameter and a wide and bright spillover beam to about 15" in diameter. The transition from spot to spillover is distinct, but not very sharply defined as is usually the case for smaller LED emitters. The beam is highly functional and relatively free of anomolies. [The point here is that after seeing some people complain about donuts in the beam of a Fenix T-35, one must be careful. I wouldn't say it's as good as the T-35, but it's not far behind either.]
I have done some preliminary testing of the battery life is on the highest mode. I had fitted this flashlight with an Ultrafire 18650 battery (3000 mAh) freshly recharged with a starting voltage of 4.15V. The flashlight was positioned vertically with the lamp pointing up. The flashlight was turned on high for periods of 10 minutes, for a total of 10 periods (100 min). Between test periods the flashlight and battery were allowed to cool for 5 minutes, during which the voltage of the battery was measured, the flashlight reassembled and the next period begun. During the first couple of periods the flashlight hood got as warm as ~50°C. The battery never got as warm as ~40°C. The voltage of the battery dropped along a gentle curve, being 3.31V at the end of the last period. I appeared to me that the light output slowly dropped, but staying imperceptibly close to the initial output for at least 30 min. and above 500Lm for at least 1 full hour. At the end of the test the light output was still estimated at about 400 Lm. Extrapolating slightly, I would estimate that the battery life above 3.0 volts to be at least two hours on the high mode. Lastly, from this data, I would guess that the output is only partially regulated, if at all.
The Ultrafire WF-502B is a well-made, fully anodized, aluminum flashlight shell that is easily fitted with newer LEDs as they become available. It's dimensions are 136mm x 33mm x 25mm. The switch is an end cap, clicky-type. The rubber switch extends beyond the end of the cap so it cannot be stood on its tail. It comes with a steel pocket clip to which I have attached a spare wrist strap.
In summary, I believe that one would be hard-pressed to find a more cost-effective, high-output LED flashlight anywhere today. At least for this flashlight, ebay has a real winner available.
This flashlight, most simply put, is an Ultrafire WF-502B shell with a Cree XM-L (T6) drop-in (1x 18650 battery) that I purchased for $21 postpaid. This would be a very good price for the drop-in alone. There are many auctions for this flashlight on ebay...just search "1000 Lm Cree XML" on the ebay search line. Currently, upwards of 50 listings will show. I won the very first auction entered for $21.01, including postage. It arrived just 12 days later. While I really can't accurately attest to the actual lumen output generated (or for how long), this flashlight is exactly what it claims to be, an Ultrafire WF-502B fitted with a Cree XM-L in an aluminum reflector. I believe that this is an outstanding buy in a high-output, LED flashlight.
The amount of light generated appears at least close to the 1000Lm claimed, at least initially. I found it to be equal or greater than three times the total output of a Cree Q5 300 Lm flashlight I have and about an order of magnitude greater than the output of my standard 3-D cell Mag-Lite LED. Most significantly, it's comparable or brighter than my Trustfire 900 Lm SSC P7 flashlight. Moreover it is a white light, with no obvious color tint at the highest level. A slight blue cast is seen at the intermediate level (~300 Lm) and a definate blue tint at its lowest level (< 100 Lm).
The flashlight has a center (spot) beam that is effective to about 100 yards at night, which is pretty good for the relatively large LED emitter (MUCH better than my Trustfire 900 Lm SSC P7, which has too little a center beam to even speak of). The spill-over (flood) light is clean and brilliant. Overall this flashlight is now my best all-around use flashlight, especially with its other light modes (intermediate and low). It also has strobe and SOS modes, for a total of 5. At 30", the light pattern consists of a very bright center spot about 5" in diameter and a wide and bright spillover beam to about 15" in diameter. The transition from spot to spillover is distinct, but not very sharply defined as is usually the case for smaller LED emitters. The beam is highly functional and relatively free of anomolies. [The point here is that after seeing some people complain about donuts in the beam of a Fenix T-35, one must be careful. I wouldn't say it's as good as the T-35, but it's not far behind either.]
I have done some preliminary testing of the battery life is on the highest mode. I had fitted this flashlight with an Ultrafire 18650 battery (3000 mAh) freshly recharged with a starting voltage of 4.15V. The flashlight was positioned vertically with the lamp pointing up. The flashlight was turned on high for periods of 10 minutes, for a total of 10 periods (100 min). Between test periods the flashlight and battery were allowed to cool for 5 minutes, during which the voltage of the battery was measured, the flashlight reassembled and the next period begun. During the first couple of periods the flashlight hood got as warm as ~50°C. The battery never got as warm as ~40°C. The voltage of the battery dropped along a gentle curve, being 3.31V at the end of the last period. I appeared to me that the light output slowly dropped, but staying imperceptibly close to the initial output for at least 30 min. and above 500Lm for at least 1 full hour. At the end of the test the light output was still estimated at about 400 Lm. Extrapolating slightly, I would estimate that the battery life above 3.0 volts to be at least two hours on the high mode. Lastly, from this data, I would guess that the output is only partially regulated, if at all.
The Ultrafire WF-502B is a well-made, fully anodized, aluminum flashlight shell that is easily fitted with newer LEDs as they become available. It's dimensions are 136mm x 33mm x 25mm. The switch is an end cap, clicky-type. The rubber switch extends beyond the end of the cap so it cannot be stood on its tail. It comes with a steel pocket clip to which I have attached a spare wrist strap.
In summary, I believe that one would be hard-pressed to find a more cost-effective, high-output LED flashlight anywhere today. At least for this flashlight, ebay has a real winner available.
