AKOray AA & AAA Review + RUNTIME

kosPap

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
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Naoussa Greece
03 Jan 2010: Added a look at a Similar Flashlight Trustfire F20
at post 390

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AKOray AAA Runtime added at post 42

Well here is a small review of the AKOray AA & AAA flashlights found on DX and KD

EDITED
After reading the first replies form fellow members it has come to my attention that there are more versions of the AA flashlight. Mine is the 6-mode version (very high, high, LOW, strobe, 2 fluter beacon, SOS)

Eye Candy

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Akoray AA, Akoray AAA, Fenix L0D-CE

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Akoray AA, Rexlight AA, Akoray AAA

Well they both are a chunk of a light but that means deep reflectors and thick body walls!

Overview

Fit and Finish is very good! The both have ACME threads (rectangular), double O-rings, a natural finish that appears to be HAIII, and machining is very good to excellent.

They both have DEEP OP reflectors and that make a TIGHT Beam in both, but while the AA has a Cree Q5 emitter the AAA falls short and has a SSC P9 smallish emitter. When you read the measurements you will see it "handicaps" the flashlight. I would gladly spent 6 more dollars for a SSC P4!

Other features include a rather firm pocket clip that allows DEEP head down carry (this is my liking as you can see from my EDC lights). Switch can be removed from the body (but I chose not to) and it probably allows clip removal too.
BTW the AA has a positive reverse clickie switch, but the AAA has a forward one! (albeit hard to click it unless you reach deep in the well). And they both tailstand...

The Bad

The AA is immaculate. I would say that it is the current Rexlight!

The AAA has two things I am worried about.
O-Ring channels are too shallow and/or the O-Rings are too thick... While testing it the foremost one was torn.
There is a dark spot right on the emitter center....Huh??? Beam is not affected though.

More Eye Candy

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Measurements


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So what these tables say is the Akorays are benefited from the deep reflectors. The AA is clearly above anything else and the hotspot lux are close to larger reflectors performance (RC-G2 and lower end P60 modules).

But did you see the AKOray 14500 measurement? This is totally crazy and unsafe....It is 5-10% more output to my Dreeelight 1A module!!! And the AMp draw, the Amp draw!

Te AAA with the weak emitter barely copes with my Cree P4 lights in the medium setting. It gets an edge on throw and that makes it usable as a second line backup.

Beamshots

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Rexlight on Medium (Eneloop)

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AKOray AA on Medium (Eneloop)

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Fenix L0D-CE on Medium (Ni-Mh)

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AKOray AAA (Ni-Mh)

So here you have it....The choice is yours...

Enjoy, Kostas
 
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Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Great review Kostas! Excellent 'eye candy' as well. Thanks for taking the time to post your observations and thoughts on these lights.
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Yikes, a 3.5 Amp draw from a Li-Ion?! Sure hope the LiMn 14500 is released soon..

I estimate/extrapolate your lightbox number to equal 330 emitter lumens 😱oo:
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Your AA model is broken. Mine only draws about 700ma from a 14500 cell.
Mine is the newer programmable model.
 
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Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Nice review and showroom quality pics! I'm just a bit surprised by the amp draw. :poof:

Is the AA flashlight that you've tested the earlier 5 mode or the 3 mode programmable one?

I've got the 3 mode AA from DX and love the programming versatility of the light.
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

how many lumens would you say these lights are?
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

I just got my AAA version today from DX. I agree with basically all you said. Mine didn't have the dark spot on the emitter. I'd estimate the output (NiMH)to be maybe half that of my Fenix T1 on Medium, so... 30-40ish lumens? Certainly useable but it won't impress anyone (at least anyone on here.) The finish/construction is awesome like you said. My O-Rings seemed to slide easily after I added some grease.

The worst thing... the switch. Would be better off as a twisty IMO. I can press it easily with my... pinky, impossible with my thumb. Pretty much a two handed operation. I can live with it, others probably wouldn't.

I didn't notice the AA model or I wouldn't have ordered the Ultrafire A10 (sku:19187)... I like the clip on these Akorays! Oh well, next time I guess.
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Nice review, Kostas. Thanks. And I was thinking I had enough 1AA lights for now.

Geoff
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Good review. Just curious to know if the AKOray light engine is dimensionally compatible with the Rexlight body? Thanks.
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Hello Kostas,

Thanks for the review and pics.
the AAA falls short and has a SSC P9 smallish emitter. When you read the measurements you will see it "handicaps" the flashlight. I would gladly spent 6 more dollars for a SSC P4!

I have the AAA version on its way from Hong Kong, but I'm less impatient now after reading your lukewarm comments.

Do you think the emitter can be easily replaced with a better one?
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Hello Kostas,

Thanks for the review and pics.


I have the AAA version on its way from Hong Kong, but I'm less impatient now after reading your lukewarm comments.

Do you think the emitter can be easily replaced with a better one?


Yes, would an emitter swap work? Nice construction for the price, tho that little clicky seems next to impossible to use!
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Collective reply to all....

On the AA:

After reading the first replies form fellow members it has come to my attention that there are more versions of this flashlight. Mine is the 65-mode version (very high, high, LOW, strobe, 2 fluter beacon, SOS). No do you want me spent more money on the programmable mode?)

I do not intend to make any changes to ir cos the flashlight has been taken away by me by friend....From what I remeber it seems it is not easy to remove the pill...

On the AAA:

Indeed the AAA switch is a bear to click...There in NO way to make it with gloved hands...

Regarding emmiter swap I do not know. One has to take advantage the reflector compatibility and the miniscule LED dimensions...

On the lumens I can't really say...I do like the beam shape...The fl;ashlight was purchased to be included in a. EDC survival pack and act as backup to my EDC light....I do like the tight beam, the reasonable draw and output is still practical...

Glad you liked the review guys, Kostas
 
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Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

I do like the tight beam, the reasonable draw and output is still practical...

Hi Kostas, nice review,, thanx 😉

can You please be so kind and try to make battery draw figures again 😉, I suspect Your DMM doesnt work properly, number are way to low IMHO. First try to remove factory cables, and use two pieces of copper wires instead,

here some 1xAA readings I got:

REX 2.1 Cree Q2: 1800mA 1400lux/1m
Ultrafire C3 Cree Q5 1600mA 1800lux/1m
Ultrafire C3 R2 7880 driver mod 2500mA 3600lux/1m
Nitecore D10 Cree Q5 1500mA 1900lux/1m
Akoray K106 Cree Q5 1800mA 1700lux/1m
 
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Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

This might sound like a totally noobish question, how do u guys measure the current draw?
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

This might sound like a totally noobish question, how do u guys measure the current draw?

On these lights it's pretty easy. I unscrewed the tailswitch assembly, exposing the negative end of the battery. Then just press one lead from the ammeter against the battery and the other lead against the exposed threads in the end of the tube. To switch levels, just tap the lead against the threads.
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Great review, Kostas. One thing, looks like you swapped current draw for Akoray K-102. My measurement are almost identical to yours, except draw is lesser from 10440 lithium then from NiMh (0.28 A from lithium, 0.38 A from NiMh).

Hrvoje
 
Re: AKOray AA & AAA Review

Thanks cheetokhan, that did the trick!

For the K-106, I was able to get readings for the custom low and medium modes, but not the high cuz my meter would only go up to 200mA.

Running on fresh 14500s, it lasted 41min on high till the overdischarge protection lowered it to medium.

On the lowest setting it ran for more than 10 hours before I turned it off.
 
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