JetBeam C-LE V2

[ernsanada]

I just received my JetBeam C-LE V2 from Bugout Gear CPF Special

Shipping took 3 days to Socal!

You have to be a CPF member to get this special price.

This is a gift for Christmas.

Use a Cree 7090 XR-E (Q2 bin).

My light has a ring around the beam. I thought having an OP Reflector the beam should have a more diffused ringless beam.

Fit is good.

The Type III, Hard Anodize has some spots in the finish, mostly in the battery tube knurling. Type III HA has slight mis-match in color. Other Jetbeams I received had top notch anodizing.

Uses T6061 Aircraft Grade Aluminum Alloy.

Optical lens with AR coating.

Input Voltage: 0.7-2V. AA sized battery.

Reverse Clicky, Tail Stand

PWM Circuit: Medium bright - Low bright - Maximum bright SOS - Strobe, with memory function each level (same with C-LE V1.2).

I am disapointed with CLE V2's beam output. I guess it's because Jet Beam recommends only 0.7-2V. Too bad it can't run on 14500's.

Box was smashed during shipping on the bottom. Box seal was broken.

Comes with 2 o-rings, rear rubber boot cover and lanyard.

Rear view of the Aluminum Reflector.

Inside view of the reverse clickie.

My current Jet Beam Family.

Right to Left, Jet II Q5, Jet Beam CLE V2, Jet Beam CLE, Jet I

Right to Left, Jet II Q5, Jet Beam CLE V2, Jet Beam CLE, Jet I

I forgot one light.

Right to Left, Jet II Q5, Jet Beam CLE V2, Jet Beam MKII X, Jet Beam CLE, Jet I

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I also took lux readings of the Jet Beam CLE V2 and Jet Beam CLE. These are the lux readings I got. I am using a Meterman LM631 Light Meter measured at 1 meter. I waited 2 minutes before taking the readings. I am using Duracell 2650mAh Nimh AA Rechargeable Batteries which were fully charged.

Jet Beam CLE V2 Duracell 2650mAh 550 lux @ 1 meter

Jet Beam CLE Duracell 2650mAh 680 lux @ 1 meter

Low readings due to recommended input voltage, 0.7-2V.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Jet Beam CLE V2 Duracell 2650mAh @ 80"

Jet Beam CLE Duracell 2650mAh @ 80"

Left, Jet Beam CLE V2 Duracell 2650mAh. Right, Jet Beam CLE Duracell 2650mAh @ 80"

Left, Jet Beam CLE V2 Duracell 2650mAh. Right, Jet Beam CLE Duracell 2650mAh @ 80" Stepped down exposure

 

[Gannz]

Thanks for the review... great photos as usual. Is it at least a little brighter than the XR-E versions?

Am I the only one who thinks that writing on the head is cheesy? First the Nitecore DI and now this. These manufacturers read CPF and usually respond. So who's been requesting the pointless, butt-ugly writing lately? :sick2: Come on... fess up...

 

[LG&M]

Nice review, Thanks. I have had mine for about a month & I like it very much. Mine does not have the C-LE on the head & the clicky boot is black not yellow come to think of it I don't think I even got a replacement boot. The out put might not be all it could be but I find it useful I would put it at about 65+- Lumen. If I could change anything I would ditch the strobe & S.O.S.

 

[Lite_me]

I have one of these v2.0s from the first batch and mine has an orange sw cover, no writing on the head, but the biggest difference I see is that mine has (2) o-rings on the tailcap. :shrug:

It also is very bright with a nicely defined spot with great throw for a single AA light. The beam is not nearly as ringy as the pic above. Great tint too.

Pic showing the (2) o-rings.

 

[MstrHnky]

i also just received one from the latest batch and it has the defined ring around the beam, too.

 

[cmacclel]

Jetbeam must have changed something which apparently is not good. I bought 10+ of the original V2 lights all where much brighter than my V1 and I had no rings in the beam. Everyone that I have given them to has been very happy.

JetBeam whats up with that butt ugly new writting on the Bezel. If the original V2's where like that I never would have even purchased them

Mac

 

[ernsanada]

I forgot to mention that when you choose a light level the light flashes off then on very quickly. It takes about 2 seconds when the levels are changed, it's annoying to me.

 

[MstrHnky]

I forgot to mention that when you choose a light level the light flashes off then on very quickly. It takes about 2 seconds when the levels are changed, it's annoying to me.

at first, i thought it was annoying too, but it signifies that you can turn off the light and it will turn back on in the last mode you had it on. if you turn it off before that "flash" happens, the light will not remember where you last had it.

is it me, or does it seem that the light will randomly turn on to the medium setting, no matter what you left it on when you turned it off?

 

[ernsanada]

at first, i thought it was annoying too, but it signifies that you can turn off the light and it will turn back on in the last mode you had it on. if you turn it off before that "flash" happens, the light will not remember where you last had it.

is it me, or does it seem that the light will randomly turn on to the medium setting, no matter what you left it on when you turned it off?

Whatever levels I leave my light on it will turn on to that same level.

I have other lights that will remember the last level on and not have that blink. It must be the way the UI was designed.

 

[ernsanada]

I cleaned the Cree module (rear) with Deoxit. Also the battery contacts, +ve and -ve. I got some black junk off.

First readings.

Jet Beam CLE V2 Duracell 2650mAh 550 lux @ 1 meter

Jet Beam CLE Duracell 2650mAh 680 lux @ 1 meter

Low readings due to recommended input voltage, 0.7-2V.

Second readings.

Jet Beam CLE V2 Duracell 2650mAh 620 lux @ 1 meter

 

[selfbuilt]

Hi Ernie,

Nice review as always, :thumbsup: Can't say I care much for the new lettering on the head - a bit over the top.

Your reduced throw seems a little odd, since both my v1.2 and v2.0 out-threw my original v1 C-LE (overall output was the same for all 3 lights on NiMH). Here's the summary chart from my C-LE v2.0 review (first batch of v2.0, when they first came out).

At that time, there was no real difference between the output or runtimes of the v2.0 compared to the v1.2. Full review text is here:

JetBeam C-LE v2.0 review with comparison to previous versions: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS

Oh, and mine also had the double o-rings in the tail area.

 

[ernsanada]

I must have got a bum unit.

 

[RecycledElectron]

There appears to be some variability in quality of components and build. They all work - but. I have or have had about 6 v2's and one v1.2. The v1.2 was noticeably dimmer than the v2's, with a whiter or slightly purplish beam. It's supposed to have a P4 in it. The 2 v2's that I got from BugOutGear were astonishingly bright and had a very tight and well centered beam. Brighter than a C3. Unfortunately mine died after a half hour of use and was replaced under warranty by BOG, but the replacement was nowhere near as bright as my wife's. Our two original lights were serial #'s 9 and 15. Since then I've purchased another 3 trying to find one that throws as tight a beam and as bright as my wife's, unsuccessfully. I've settled on one that throws as tight a beam, but is not as bright, put that head on my v1.2 body, stuck it in my pocket and called it good. I would probably have to go through a ton of lights to find one that equaled the original light that I bought. And maybe they don't now exist. Perhaps those were "special" binned lights to hit the market in the first wave to get a favorable reaction, I don't know, just speculation. I am disapointed, however. If I want something brighter than my CL-E all I have to do is dig out my old C-3, throw a 14500 in it an I can light up the night almost as well as my wife.

Edit: Yes, I do use Deoxit and Progold.

 

[Vikas Sontakke]

What us that Jet I light? Is it still available? How did I miss that?

- Vikas

 

[MarNav1]

I just got a V2 a couple days ago. The beam is terrible on it which suprised me quite frankly. The outer fit and finish are great except for the lettering on the bezel, they could have left that off IMO. The beam quality on my original C-LE was excellent which is why I bought this light, I wanted a clicky. Flavio at BOG said send it back no problem but with what I'm seeing here I may just ask for a refund or go for a Jet II, we'll see.

 

[MstrHnky]

btw, great review, but you're missing one picture of the head where the + battery makes contact (gold and black with "jet-beam" written on it). you can unscrew the light just below the horizontal "grip" ring, as well as just above it.

while i am not as pleased with this light as i thought i was going to be, based on reviews of the first batch of v2 (doesn't throw as far as i thought, beam pattern isn't as tight, light isn't as bright as i thought it would be), i will be keeping it because i still think that the price was right and it will suit my needs just fine.

can anyone give me suggestions/links for a pouch? i heard the fenix L1T fits perfectly.

 

[revmarktx]

I have one of the first batch C-LE V2.0 and have been very happy with it. The beam is very nice no ring or artifacts. Throw is not it's strong suite, but it is plenty bright with lots of usable spill. Mine does not have any writing on the head, has double o-rings and a red tailcap (no spare). I would guess that it is putting out about 55-65 lumens. The quality is good, threads were good and clean. It was a good deal for $29. I'm sorry to see that the quality is more variable in the most recent batch.

Reverend Mark

 

[pipspeak]

I'm also a bit underwhelmed, not least because the beam pattern is so full of rings. Not what I'd expect from an OP reflector. It's way ringier than my fenix with a smooth reflector.

Brightness is also a bit underwhelming... I guess it's not intended as a high-powered light but the jet's high is not even as bright as medium on a fenix L2D. It's a bit better with a lithium cell in it.

At least I got one from this latest batch with no writing on the bezel.

 

[cheapo]

I'm surprised. my brother's v2 has a perfect beam. no rings at all, and a lot of output- pretty much the same as my mk2x. the finish is perfect, and its just a really high end light. This review totally negates my opinion on the light. I'm very surprised.

 

[MstrHnky]

here is exactly what i posted on a thread i made a few weeks ago:

"wow, i am impressed.

i emailed bugoutgearusa.com at 11:14pm and received this reply 8 minutes later:

"Mark,

I understand your frustration and don't blame you. Jet Beam is the reason the ETA keeps getting pushed back. We just received an email from them telling us the C-LE's are shipping out to us tomorrow. They had a couple of manufacturing delays and then they have to QC the entire batch, which takes up most of the delay. I don't believe anyone else has them in stock, but if you would like to cancel your order we would be happy to do so. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Sincerely,
Flavio
BugoutGearUSA.com"


i do believe him, but i just hope jetbeam isn't pushing this batch out to market with any flaws.

this should hopefully be the last delay... we will see."


after reading this again, and seeing the reduced quality of the most recent batch, i wonder if they delayed the light after some problems and then pushed them to market anyway.

i'd like to see side by side beam shots, etc from the first batch cl-e v2 and the latest.