BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part IX)

[bessiebenny]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

UPDATE
- Sorry for lack of updates. Been too busy with my offline life. =(
- I've been looking for something new and found these two that looks "interesting".
- This and This. Although the AA flashlight interests me more, it's only 1-mode. So I think I'll get the 3-mode 3AAA version. (if I order it, I'll let you all know)
- Not sure if it's gonna be any good though. I hope it is. =)
- I have a lot of catching up to do and lots of photos to take. It will get done in due time. (but extremely slowly unfortunately)

p.s. CPF is being more proactive about removing/discouraging any advertising-like posts. I've never advertised but seems my thread has always been geared towards certain online shops. The DX/KD links are not the only links where these lights might be sold. I only link it to them coz that's where I buy from mostly and so it gives you a reference of how much it costs at least from 1 or 2 shops. There may be cheaper or better places. If so, definitely let us know. =)

btw, I get no sponsorships/loyalties from ANY shop. I buy at same price as anyone else unfortunately. =P

 

[old4570]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

(3*AAA) SKU: S007396

Ive been looking at the 3xAAA lights at KD and DX as well , esp as a friend is looking for a new flashy , but he wants supermarket batteries .

I got the SAIK SA-8 a while ago , the driver went and I fixed it with a 2 mode driver , but I think its a fantastic little light , even on 3xAAA . I gave it to my Mum as she only had some rubbish Retail lights .

There seem to be a lot of 3xAAA / 1 x 18650 lights being ignored just because there 3xAAA . Im tempted to buy another SAIK , but there seem to be many 3xAAA around the $10USD mark and up , and for the average person who dont care about Flashaholism , might be right on the money .

Matt

 

[bessiebenny]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

With 3AAA lights, you can also buy some 18500 batteries and use it instead of 3AAA.
BTW, Romisen RC-W4 is a very good 3AAA light also that deserves some attention.

 

[Wiggle]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

+2 akoray AA. The programming makes it fit your needs exactly. Also very flexible since you can run it on alk, nimh and lithium.

I've got the 16340 version on the way, I think it'll be a nice little EDC.

 

[old4570]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

With 3AAA lights, you can also buy some 18500 batteries and use it instead of 3AAA.
BTW, Romisen RC-W4 is a very good 3AAA light also that deserves some attention.

Yeah , ive considered the 18500 , esp as some of the dedicated 3xAAA are a little short for the 18650 ...

Yeah , Ive ho and hum ed over the RC-W4 .. Needs modes ...

 

[jt4703]

Looking for 3 mode P7 on DX with Med/Hi/Strobe

Delete this.

 

[flip]

Re: Looking for 3 mode P7 on DX with Med/Hi/Strobe

Oops! Sorry, I misread your post. I was going to suggest the MC-E drop-in from DX.

 

[hyperloop]

Re: Looking for 3 mode P7 on DX with Med/Hi/Strobe

i got this drop in, really like it too. But i must point out that the strobe is really fast and also i dont think that its 410 lumens on high but its still bright enough for me right now. It is very floody too.

I fitted it in a Ultrafire host with a reverse clicky and it works great. It can get warm though but if you're riding the air flow should be able to handle the heat issues.

 

[BurlyEd]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

I got the SAIK SA-8 a while ago , the driver went and I fixed it with a 2 mode driver , but I think its a fantastic little light , even on 3xAAA .

I had a SA-8 for a few minutes one day. I tried it with 3 x AAA, 18650, and 3 primary CR123A's. So far so good. Then I tried it with 2 16340's fresh off the charger.

Please tell me where you found a 2 mode driver that fits the SA8. I could not find any driver with the same diameter as the original, but also thin enough to fit in the SA8. Does your new driver take 8.4v (I mean longer than a few milliseconds)?

My new UF C308 has a Q5 and a 2 mode driver with memory! I wish I could match that! The C308 is one of my favorite flashlights. It seems as well-made as a Solarforce bit it has the same versatile battery choices as the UF U4-MCU, and Romisen SA8 and RC-W4 (CR123A/18650/18500/AAA). I am still looking for holsters for my C308 and my new Fenix TA30. Any suggestions?
C308:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20127

:tsk: :buddies:

 

[Cemoi]

TANK007 TK-701 and TK-702 comparison

I have bought both the TK-701 and the TK-702 (I only wanted the 701, but DX sent me the wrong one, and when I complained they proposed me to keep it and send me the correct one for half price).
But when I compare them I'm puzzled. 701 is supposed to be fitted with a SSC 42180-U, and 702 with a Cree P4. When I take a close look at the emitters, they seem identical:

Which LED is this?
It is different from the one visible on the picture on the DX description page for the TK-702. But in the same set of pictures the light body is labelled TK-701, so it looks all mixed up.
The construction quality is very poor for both (non anodized threads, one is flickery if fully tighten). On the other hand, I am rather satisfied (taking the price into account) by the clicky switch, the beam shape and the runtime. Here are a few beamshots of the hotspot:

TK-701 on the left, TK-702 on the right, full batteries:

After 50 mn, still equally bright:

After 60 mn, TK-702 is almost dead:

After 70 mn, TK-701 is very dim:

So apart from the number written on the body, the only differences are:

• the runtime (about 25% more for my TK-701 labelled light)
• the beam color: the TK-701 labelled is very cold, slightly purple, whereas the TK-702 labelled is a nice warm tint

If they actually use the same LED, they must be from very different color bins. And can the difference in runtime be explained by different Vf?

 

[Centerfinger]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

Just wanted to say thanks for your reviews. I have been looking at DX and trying to find the right thing for me. There is a lot to choose from.

 

[old4570]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

I had a SA-8 for a few minutes one day. I tried it with 3 x AAA, 18650, and 3 primary CR123A's. So far so good. Then I tried it with 2 16340's fresh off the charger.

Please tell me where you found a 2 mode driver that fits the SA8. I could not find any driver with the same diameter as the original, but also thin enough to fit in the SA8. Does your new driver take 8.4v (I mean longer than a few milliseconds)?

My new UF C308 has a Q5 and a 2 mode driver with memory! I wish I could match that! The C308 is one of my favorite flashlights. It seems as well-made as a Solarforce bit it has the same versatile battery choices as the UF U4-MCU, and Romisen SA8 and RC-W4 (CR123A/18650/18500/AAA). I am still looking for holsters for my C308 and my new Fenix TA30. Any suggestions?
C308:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20127

:tsk: :buddies:

SAIK is limited / was to 6volts , the 2 mode driver is also limited to 6 V
ProductId=1801 @ KD 2.5 to 6 Volt input range
The SAIK uses a 20mm driver board , this one is 17mm , I made some legs for it to make it 20mm , made it a press fit and glued it .. It works .

I have 2 20mm 8mode drivers on order that run up to 9volts , but ??? where are they ?? [ Not from DX or KD ] . Its been at least a month now .

Do a search for SAIK SA-8 as I made a post on the fix . http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=225727
Holsters :thinking: I really like the ones that came with my L2 solarforces , I have 3 of them now .. [ Holsters ] They seem to be well made and should fit just about any 18650 size flashy . [ P60 Host ]

Matt

 

[bessiebenny]

Re: TANK007 TK-701 and TK-702 comparison

My MC-E Mini L2 Solarforce .. This will be my battery tester , Solarforce RCR123A's arrived this morning : Time to test batts .

Awesome info! Thanks for posting it here.
I've just added it at the main post now. =)

Which LED is this?

It's a Seoul emitter. SSC emitters has that soft gel-like cover over the emitter. (If you press it, it's soft)

 

[Cemoi]

Re: TANK007 TK-701 and TK-702 comparison

It's a Seoul emitter

Thanks.
So I was right assuming that DX sent me in fact a second TK-702, incorrectly labelled 701.
Not sure it's worth submitting a new request for replacement. 🙁

 

[Slash5]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

My MC-E Mini L2 Solarforce .. This will be my battery tester , Solarforce RCR123A's arrived this morning : Time to test batts .


BB Budget Battery Test

1/ KD – PRCR123A 3.7v - 625mAh - $3.01 each
2/ Solarforce PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $3.95 each [ 800mAh claimed by seller ]
3/ Trustfire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $2.25 each .
4/ E-bay – RCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $2.20 each.
5/ Ultrafire – RCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $3 each [ Ebay ]
6/ AW- PRCR123A 3.7v – 750mAh - $9 each
7/ Ultrafire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $3.19 each
8/ Ultrafire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 880mAh - $2.50 each
9/ DX - RCR123A – 800mAh 3.7v - $1.64 each .
10/ Spiderfire – PRCR123A 3.7v – 1000mAh - $4 each

Great test, been wondering how the cheap batteries compare.
I guess the remaining questions are:
Whats the difference between individual batteries - would another battery of same model follow the same curve.
And what would they be like after 10 or twenty cycles.

Looking through your stats, it looks like the Ultrafire protected 880 are as good as any and better than most - and the best bang for the buck.

 

[kramer5150]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

@ Cemoi....

The DX page says a Cree XR-E is in that TK-702 (SKU:19622)... but the pics show a cree XR-C (two wire).

IMHO the XR-C isn't all that spectacular, it doesn't surprise me the Seoul version light outperforms it....:sigh:

 

[Benson]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

@ Cemoi....

The DX page says a Cree XR-E is in that TK-702 (SKU:19622)... but the pics show a cree XR-C (two wire).

IMHO the XR-C isn't all that spectacular, it doesn't surprise me the Seoul version light outperforms it....:sigh:

The XR-C is just a low-current version of the XR-E; at the TK-702's 300mA, they'd both be equally unimpressive. I'd be more inclined to blame the TK-701's 350mA driver than the emitter.

 

[old4570]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

Great test, been wondering how the cheap batteries compare.
I guess the remaining questions are:
Whats the difference between individual batteries - would another battery of same model follow the same curve.
And what would they be like after 10 or twenty cycles.

Looking through your stats, it looks like the Ultrafire protected 880 are as good as any and better than most - and the best bang for the buck.

Depending , there may always be individual variation , so if you take into consideration , what part of the production run , or even which production run the batt came off , there will be some variation . Im not sure how many batt manufacturers there are for CR123A , there could be duplications , simply under different labels and production runs , others Like No ? could possibly be rejected batts from brand name distributors ... Possibly !

And for those No4's , I cant find them on flea bay , except for some Green 3v ones marked as 17335 ?

 

[kramer5150]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

The XR-C is just a low-current version of the XR-E; at the TK-702's 300mA, they'd both be equally unimpressive. I'd be more inclined to blame the TK-701's 350mA driver than the emitter.

Aah OK... I was under the (false) impression that the XR-E is brighter than the XR-C, at equal drive currents.:twothumbs

 

[bessiebenny]

Re: BessieBenny's Budget LED (DX/KD etc) Flashlights Review Roundup (Part 9)

And for those No4's , I cant find them on flea bay , except for some Green 3v ones marked as 17335 ?

The ones Matt reviewed are from this ebay shop - stores.ebay.com/cwtco
Just search for RCR123A and you will find them. Cheap but non-protected.

UPDATE
- No idea why. Just out of impulse, I bought MTE SF-22 SSC P7-D-SXO 5-Mode just then.
- It looks mean and is one of the cheapest SSC P7 lights. Also is using the latest P7 D bin.
- I also ordered it as it looks like it might be able to tail stand. (Which I really like to have)
- Ordered some Ultrafire 18650's as well. (Cheapest protected 18650 - sku 19624)
- Anyways, I will do a full review when received. =)