Lichao POLICE 7W -- Review

[Derek Tomes]

G'day all. I read CPF every once and a while for reviews, mostly looking for good caving lights. I just picked up a cheap little torch the other day and I thought I'd review it here.

The good points:

• Case is solid
• Runs on 3 x AAA batteries
• It comes in a nice cardboard box
• That's about it for the good points...

On the Negative Side of the equation...

• I had to open it up because, out of the box, it didn't work.
• Opening it up, I discovered that there is a lot of empty room in there
• One of the the wires to the Zhongsheng ZS20HBA emitter was TIED on, not soldered...

• As far as I can see googling the emitter, it's only 1W, not 7W...
• The light it puts out is about the same as my 1W Luxon headlamp, after a couple of hours of caving.

Does anyone know who "Lichao" is?
Where can you find info on the Zhongsheng ZS20HBA emitter?

 

[1996alnl]

Your a brave soul taking that light into a cave.

 

[jirik_cz]

From my experience all those flashlights with "police" printed on them are the lowest quality and lowest output of all flashlights on the market.

 

[Gunner12]

Watts mean nothing. A "1W" emitter can be driven at 3 watts and a "3w" emitter can be driven at 1 watt. Also a previous gen high power emitter driven at 1 watt will have half or less output then the current gen high power emitter at the same power.

It's probably another generic emitter, so around previous gen Luxeon perfomance at best.

Also 3AAA isn't a very good powersource. Total capacity around the same as a single AA battery and dims quickly if using alkaline batteries.

How much was it?
Where did you buy it?

:welcome:

 

[kramer5150]

I hope thats not one you take caving... LOL....

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Marduke]

I hope you didn't spend more than $2 on that POS. Any more than that and you were cheated.

 

[StarHalo]

The "Where To Begin" indicator lamp is lit

But I'll give it a try..

The good points:

• Runs on 3 x AAA batteries

That's not a good point - any other battery format has more energy density than AAA, meaning you're taking up a lot of space for very little power. 3xAAA is just a poor design all around, so when you see it, you have a good idea of just how much effort was (not) put into the design of the flashlight.

• I had to open it up because, out of the box, it didn't work.

If it can't survive the trip from the factory, how will it fare being dropped in a cave? (More importantly, how will you survive the cave once that happens..)

• One of the the wires to the Zhongsheng ZS20HBA emitter was TIED on, not soldered...

More evidence of how much thought was put into the light..

Does anyone know who "Lichao" is?
Where can you find info on the Zhongsheng ZS20HBA emitter?

These should have been questions asked prior to purchasing the light. "Who actually made this?" "Do these companies have a reputable history?" etc.

The long and short of it is, you probably would have been safer going into the cave with a MiniMag, which is definitely not recommended.

You should read up on this forum and educate yourself on modern flashlight design and manufacturers before re-entering a cave. Some flashaholic sage advice: Everyone wishes that they had just skipped all the cheap lights in the beginning and had just gotten one or two good lights.

Flashlights are just like tools at the hardware store; there's the cheap crap and then there's the serious tools..

 

[Search]

Sheesh StarHalo

I think he just wanted to buy it and warn people lol

If, however, you really would consider using this..

I'll send you a 6PL free of charge

 

[Zatoichi]

If, however, you really would consider using this..

I'll send you a 6PL free of charge

I was just about to head off into a cave with one...

 

[BBnet3000]

i sure as hell would not take that into a cave

im guessing thats like a really cheap knockoff of the 3xAAA led lenser and its ilk. even when they arent cheap knockoffs like that, the 3xAAA battery config pretty much sucks compared to 2xAA

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Pure quality...

 

[nohcho]

That's just sad.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

I bet it is Type 0-HAA (Hardly any Anodizing) ?

 

[Mjolnir]

I bet it is Type 0-HAA (Hardly any Anodizing) ?

Otherwise known as black spraypaint?

 

[mossyoak]

HEY PEOPLE HE DIDNT TAKE IT IN A CAVE... he was saying its as bright as his 1 watt headlamp after a few hours caving with the FRIGGIN headlamp. read people read...

 

[Sgt. LED]

"One of the the wires to the Zhongsheng ZS20HBA emitter was TIED on, not soldered"

WOW that is so bad!

Now you have to bump up the heatsinking, swap the emitter to a K2, swap the reflector to OP Al, swap the lens to UCL, try to fit in a McClicky, order GITD switch boots, buy GITD O-rings, see if you can run it on 1 18500 AW cell, order a GdUP board form the shoppe, decide to custom order a Ti bezel, mill some tritium slots in it, find some tritium, put good lube on the threads, and then you can brag about having the coolest Lichao light EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Federal LG]

Otherwise known as black spraypaint?

Jesus Christ, where did you buy this Lichao POLICE light ?

Just tell me... I´ll gather my team to strike the place with a "take no prisoners" command!

 

[Sgt. LED]

You know now that I give it a second look it reminds me of a Hi-Point pistol.

Not much of a gun but a decent boat anchor or head smasher. This light is the same thing, bad as a light but good to smash something with. It even has the same spray painted, cast iron look to it!

 

[seaside]

I saw couple POLICE brand (?) flashlights, and none of them is for police use. Heck... they are absolutely cheaply made. I don't even recommend it to anyone unless he/she is my enemy who wants to go cave with it.

 

[vali]

Dont make fun of the guy, please. Be a bit respectfull. Try to give him constructive advice instead. :whoopin:

Please, dont use that one in a cave unless you want to risk your life. There is nothing bad using it in "normal" applications where a "unexpected" fail will not carry any danger. Use trusted flashlights in critical situations.

If you like and want to buy cheap things read this http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=223240 but dont trust your life on them either.

If you want REAL high quality lights prepare yourself to spend a bit more and read the forums. If you get lost with so many brands and models, ask for advice. After getting your first premium light you will understand most of ppls comments on this thread.

Wellcome btw. :welcome: