Better and cheaper alternative to X2000

[fvdk]

I noticed that the X2000 zooming flashlights from DX are pretty popular but there is a better and cheaper alternative available on eBay.

There are several sellers that sell them for just under $9.- with free shipping.

Unlike the X2000 models from DX, these have an O-ring as well as a spring in the sliding mechanism which gives a very smooth sliding action and the head does not wobble.

Another advantage, is that these models come with an 3AAA holder as well as an extension ring so they can be used with 18650 cells. On top of that, they also come with a holster.

I have bought a couple of these now and I like them very much. On flood they easily light up a room while zoomed in, they have incredible throw.

Battery life is excellent as well so in my opinion you won't find a better flashlight for this amount of money.

As direct eBay links are not allowed, just do a search on:
CREE LED Flashlight Torch Adjustable Focus 200 Lumens

Some of the sellers that I have bought them from are: best-mobile-from-china / micro.digital / vikicompany

Frans

 

[joe1512]

Hmm, that looks like a nice light. Thanks for sharing your success. I really like the 18650 extender. Wish I had seen this a few weeks ago.

I wound up getting sku.26800 for 12.35 which is an X2000-ish light with a bike mount.

 

[Chris-841]

yeh these are nice little torches, mines one of the older models as its only 130 lm but still a very good torch
May have to update to the newer model

 

[rebelbayou]

I bought one of these lights last week off ebay for $4.99 plus free shipping. Mine has a red glow ring about an 1/8" from the edge of the bezel that lights up when the light is on. It came with a holster, lanyard and spare o-rings. It takes 3AAAs' and is advertised at 340 lms with hi, medium, lo. I'm sure it's not 340, but it seems almost twice as bright as my A1 EOS which is rated at 190 lms. Bought it late saturday night and it arrived on wednesday from across the country. So search around as there are a bunch of these clones being sold. For $4.99, it can't be beat. We'll see how durable it is as time goes on...

 

[shipwreck]

I have a DX C30 light that looks just like that.

 

[aurum]

Can take some pictures of the heatsink?

thanks

 

[fvdk]

Can take some pictures of the heatsink?

thanks

Here is a picture from inside the barrel.
The pill is crewed into the barrel and I have not had any heat problems while leaving the flashlight on at high for two hours.

Frans

 

[offroad]

I've thought of trying one of these, but wish it was 3x AA instead of AAA. I would be leaving it in a car or truck and I can get better deals and run time from AA lithiums than AAA's. The 18650 compatibility is nice for those that use them though.

 

[Chicago X]

I've thought of trying one of these, but wish it was 3x AA instead of AAA. I would be leaving it in a car or truck and I can get better deals and run time from AA lithiums than AAA's. The 18650 compatibility is nice for those that use them though.

Plus about a million.

I'm going to order one, thanks to the OP's review.

This light would be a giant-killer if it took 3 AAs.....

Edit: ordered one from a USA-based seller, will disclose actual seller and experience when it lands. Thanks again to the OP for the review/impressions.

 

[fvdk]

Plus about a million.

This light would be a giant-killer if it took 3 AAs.....

3 AA's would also make it a lot bigger
I mainly use mine with 18650 cells so it is great that this one has the option to use both. Runtime on AAA's is not bad either so very usable and nice if you buy them for friends.

ordered one from a USA-based seller, will disclose actual seller and experience when it lands.

I hope that you will receive one that has the same quality as these ones.
All the versions I got from DX are of lesser quality, mainly the sliding mechanism of the head.

Tomorrow I will disassemble one and post more pictures. I will also do a runtime test with fresh AAA cells.

Frans

 

[Chicago X]

3 AA's would also make it a lot bigger
I mainly use mine with 18650 cells so it is great that this one has the option to use both. Runtime on AAA's is not bad either so very usable and nice if you buy them for friends.{snip}
Frans

You are 100% correct. From what I've seen online, the diameter would almost double, from just over one inch to just under two.

The double+ runtime advantage over AAAs, without going to lithium-ion would be a great option, IMO.

I usually gift iTP A3s, but this could be a good alternative if quality is high. :thumbsup:

 

[offroad]

the diameter would almost double, from just over one inch to just under two

Shouldn't be nearly that large, looks like it would be under 1.5 inches to me.

My KD 3xAA to D adapters measure 1.188" at the widest point (with eneloops), and a Solarforce L2M has .123 wall thickness. The total tube OD on a 3xAA X2000 clone should be 1.434" or less if the wall thickness they use is thinner than the SF. My Mag 2D tube measures 1.556" so it would be fat but less than a Mag-D.

With the cheap local availability of AA lithiums ($1.65ea at Sams), 2.5x runtime (3000mah vs 1200) I would probably buy one for each car, the truck and RV (5 total). Might require a larger head though as I don't have one to measure. It would be big compared to the 3xAAA version but small compared to the 2xD incans a lot of people carry in vehicles.

Won't happen though I'm sure.

 

[fvdk]

As promised, here are the pictures of the disassembled flashlight.

To disassemble, first remove the ring in front of the head and take out the O-ring + lens and than remove the pill.

I drilled two small holes in the pill to make it easier to unscrew. Once the pill is out, you can pull the head of the barrel.

Runtime results on 3xAAA will follow.

Frans

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9306/partsp.jpg

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5797/switchv.jpg

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7878/driverf.jpg

Over sized images changed to links

 

[offroad]

To disassemble, first remove the ring in front of the head and take out the O-ring + lens and than remove the pill.

Thanks for the pics, looks pretty well made for the price and even the soldering looks good. Where is the spring in the sliding mechanism? I'm assuming the clear o-ring below the head in the first pic is the one that makes the head slide smoother.

Do you know what emitter its using, if not perhaps a closeup would help someone else identify it. Does it remember the last used mode or always turn on in high?
Looking forward to your run time results.

 

[fvdk]

Thanks for the pics, looks pretty well made for the price and even the soldering looks good. Where is the spring in the sliding mechanism? I'm assuming the clear o-ring below the head in the first pic is the one that makes the head slide smoother.

In the picture, the spring and the O-ring are still on the barrel. The O-ring is black so not that well visible but it is 2 to 3 mm in front of the spring.
The clear O-ring in the picture goes between the ring on the head and the lens.

Do you know what emitter its using, if not perhaps a closeup would help someone else identify it. Does it remember the last used mode or always turn on in high?
Looking forward to your run time results.

It is advertised as using a Cree Q5 emitter and I think it very well might be.
To be sure, I would have to remove the metal shiny disc surrounding the emitter but I think it is glued so I won't bother.

On high, it took 2.5 hours before the AAA batteries went flat.
I would say the for the first hour, it was on full power, in the second hour it slowly dimmed to a brightness level of approximately 50% and in the last half hour it dimmed till about candle mode.

I think that on medium, you would have at least 5 hours of very usable light with AAA's.

Frans

 

[fvdk]

Does it remember the last used mode or always turn on in high?

It will always start on high if has been off for more than 15 seconds.
Otherwise each half-press or full switch off and on again will cycle to the next mode.

Frans

 

[Chicago X]

Frans: Thanks for the disassembly pics !!! :thumbsup:

offroad: Thanks also for the correction; your math makes me even more frustrated that they don't offer 3xAA !

 

[dandism]

I would also love a 3xAA version. Some day... :candle: