Jetbeam RRT-0 runtime questions

Captain Spaulding · Dec 8, 2009

Hello all,

Newbie here and im a bit confused. I recently got my Jetbeam RRT-0 and have been testing run times. THe documentation says that with a rechargeable 123 I should be getting 40 minutes on high. I am using AW cells and an ultrafire 138 charger and on a fully charged AW cell I am getting 10 minutes before the light dims to low mode. I have tried with several brand new AW batteries with the same result... all last about 10-11 min then dim to low.

I am also using a surefire 6P host with a Malkoff M60 drop in and I get the full expected run time on the same exact AW cells.

Am I not understanding the runtime expected for the jetbeam? Is something wrong with the Jetbeam? Any insight would be great.

Thanks in advance!

HKJ · Dec 8, 2009

Captain Spaulding said:
Hello all,

Newbie here and im a bit confused. I recently got my Jetbeam RRT-0 and have been testing run times. THe documentation says that with a rechargeable 123 I should be getting 40 minutes on high. I am using AW cells and an ultrafire 138 charger and on a fully charged AW cell I am getting 10 minutes before the light dims to low mode. I have tried with several brand new AW batteries with the same result... all last about 10-11 min then dim to low.

One problem might be the temperature, you have to keep the light cooled down to run at full power.
Try doing runtime a few minutes at a time, then let the light cool off and do another period. The add all the on periods together and see how long runtime you get.

DM51 · Dec 8, 2009

There's a good review of the RRT-0 here which may help you: JETBeam RRT-0 Overview With Lots of Pictures

Conan · Dec 8, 2009

Based on the Jetbeam website the run time on CR123 is 45 minutes on high. Now an RCR123 has only half or less than half the mAh of a CR123. But 10 minutes seem awfully short unless the heat is playing a factor.

Captain Spaulding · Dec 8, 2009

HKJ said:
One problem might be the temperature, you have to keep the light cooled down to run at full power.
Try doing runtime a few minutes at a time, then let the light cool off and do another period. The add all the on periods together and see how long runtime you get.

Really? Im new to this high performance flashlight thing but 45 min rated run time does not mean all at once and means that you have to cool the light every few min? THe light feels warm to the touch after 10 min, but not HOT...

QUOTE: "Based on the Jetbeam website the run time on CR123 is 45 minutes on high. Now an RCR123 has only half or less than half the mAh of a CR123. But 10 minutes seem awfully short unless the heat is playing a factor."

Now this makes more sense.. ill try on CR123s and see if that helps..

Thanks guys that gives me some things to try anyway...

Captain Spaulding · Dec 8, 2009

DM51 said:
There's a good review of the RRT-0 here which may help you: JETBeam RRT-0 Overview With Lots of Pictures

THank you very much. I did check that thread... i saw a brief mention of ruintime graphs but didnt see much more unless im plain blind and missed it... i couldnt find any discussion about people complaining about short run time.

again, im new. maybe i shouldnt even be complaining as i dont understand enough to complain about!

grunscga · Dec 8, 2009

I usually drop the light into a glass of clean water to do runtime tests. It's the easiest way to keep everything cool, and if the light can't survive a dunk in a glass of water, then I certainly don't want to bet on it out in the real world.

I'm still hoping to see a selfbuilt review at some point, which would answer all of our runtime, throw, and comparison-to-other-lights questions. I guess before I ask for a review of a light that eats 6 different kinds of batteries, though, I should probably contribute to his battery fund...

berry580 · Dec 9, 2009

+1 on BOTH testing in a cup of water (do that myself all the time) and hoping to see Selfbuilt review this light.

Instead of worrying about a light's a waterproofness, I'm more worried about the tests in water getting results that are too optimistic when compared to "actual usage" time. But i can can live with that since it at least gives me an idea what my sample's characteristics are like.

Not sure about others, but to me, a review without runtime/output testing is certainly a review that can be improved. :naughty:

grunscga said:
I usually drop the light into a glass of clean water to do runtime tests. It's the easiest way to keep everything cool, and if the light can't survive a dunk in a glass of water, then I certainly don't want to bet on it out in the real world.

I'm still hoping to see a selfbuilt review at some point, which would answer all of our runtime, throw, and comparison-to-other-lights questions. I guess before I ask for a review of a light that eats 6 different kinds of batteries, though, I should probably contribute to his battery fund...

HKJ · Dec 9, 2009

Captain Spaulding said:
Really? Im new to this high performance flashlight thing but 45 min rated run time does not mean all at once and means that you have to cool the light every few min? THe light feels warm to the touch after 10 min, but not HOT...

QUOTE: "Based on the Jetbeam website the run time on CR123 is 45 minutes on high. Now an RCR123 has only half or less than half the mAh of a CR123. But 10 minutes seem awfully short unless the heat is playing a factor."

Now this makes more sense.. ill try on CR123s and see if that helps..

Thanks guys that gives me some things to try anyway...

None of the small high power lights can run for extended time without cooling when at full power.

I just did a runtime for the RRT-0 with AW 16340 and a eneloop battery and a fan to keep the light cool (Scale is in minutes):

palomino77 · Dec 9, 2009

Thank You HKJ

I'm new also, I'm expecting delivery of RRT-0 and Jet-I PRO V3. I was hoping for similar runs times on 14500. Selfbuilt has review with run times on Jet-I. Do you plan on doing run time with 14500?

HKJ · Dec 9, 2009

palomino77 said:
Thank You HKJ

I'm new also, I'm expecting delivery of RRT-0 and Jet-I PRO V3. I was hoping for similar runs times on 14500. Selfbuilt has review with run times on Jet-I. Do you plan on doing run time with 14500?

The runtime on 16340 and 14500 will be similar.
I am not going to do more run times on the light.

berry580 · Dec 9, 2009

i think we can expect a bit more runtime from a 14500 compared to 16340 due to its greater volume.

Captain Spaulding · Dec 11, 2009

k so i hesitantly (its a $100 light and i was scared) but i did put in a fresh surefire cell and turned it on high and dunked it... it ran for 16 min before dimming this time.. is this expected?

berry580 said:
+1 on BOTH testing in a cup of water (do that myself all the time) and hoping to see Selfbuilt review this light.

Instead of worrying about a light's a waterproofness, I'm more worried about the tests in water getting results that are too optimistic when compared to "actual usage" time. But i can can live with that since it at least gives me an idea what my sample's characteristics are like.

Not sure about others, but to me, a review without runtime/output testing is certainly a review that can be improved. :naughty:

Dobbler · Dec 11, 2009

Captain Spaulding said:
k so i hesitantly (its a $100 light and i was scared) but i did put in a fresh surefire cell and turned it on high and dunked it... it ran for 16 min before dimming this time.. is this expected?

Sounds like it may be running in direct drive :thinking:

bullettproof · Dec 12, 2009

send it back u have a lemon i bet.

Captain Spaulding · Dec 12, 2009

freaking fabulous. just my luck. and its already started off a shi**y day.

all the good stuff i read about jetbeam and i get the lemon.

bullettproof said:
send it back u have a lemon i bet.

pobox1475 · Dec 12, 2009

I usually drop the light into a glass of clean water to do runtime tests. It's the easiest way to keep everything cool

If a light can not sustain the manufacturers advertised run time while held in hand to dissipate heat then I don't want it.

Run time is continuous IMO.

Captain Spaulding · Dec 12, 2009

pobox1475 said:
If a light can not sustain the manufacturers advertised run time while held in hand to dissipate heat then I don't want it.

Run time is continuous IMO.

i tend to agree. did i not do proper research on this Jetbeam? is an exchange gonna be any better or should i just stick with Surefire?

HKJ · Dec 12, 2009

pobox1475 said:
If a light can not sustain the manufacturers advertised run time while held in hand to dissipate heat then I don't want it.

Run time is continuous IMO.

There are a few problems with that:

Nobody want to hold the light in the hand while doing a runtime measurement.

What about lights that gets to hot and have to rest, how do you specify runtime for them?

berry580 · Dec 12, 2009

Captain Spaulding said:
k so i hesitantly (its a $100 light and i was scared) but i did put in a fresh surefire cell and turned it on high and dunked it... it ran for 16 min before dimming this time.. is this expected?

not sure about others, but to me, $100+ lights are made to be used (and even abused)

16 mins doesn't sound right, even an AW 16340 will last over 20 mins on high.

most lights you see on this forum will easily be dunkable. i shower with my lights on a rotation basis everyday without any issues and its been a year already. just make sure the o-rings are healthy and in place though.

HKJ said:
What about lights that gets to hot and have to rest, how do you specify runtime for them?

this is especially true for small sized high powered lights

Jetbeam RRT-0 runtime questions

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