Mr.Lite KC-05 Test

[old4570]

CPF Marketplace Spiel

Ok ! Some pictures to look at ...













Last picture shows Mr.Lite with ITP and Maratac ...

1st of all , the build quality is good for the price , it has O rings in the right places [ Lens + body join ] , and they look like they will do the job [ Im not going to dunk it ] . The threads are well done and smooth , something one would want in a twisty .

Did I mention its a twisty , and it has two levels , to start = Med - Lo - High - Strobe - Beacon [ very slow ]

Next level is very low - low - med - high - extra high - low SOS - High SOS - Beacon ...

Every time you turn the light off , it returns to the first level , Med - lo - Hi - Strobe - Beacon .. This might be annoying if you like the 2nd level more .

Lets check out the performance ..

Alkaline AAA
1st level
Med = 46Lumen / 0.62A current draw
Lo = 17Lumen / 0.34A current draw
Hi = 67Lumen / 1A current draw

2nd level
Very Lo = 10Lumen
Lo = 18Lumen
Med = 48Lumen
High = 69Lumen
Very High = 72Lumen

Lithium AA
1st Level
Med = 57Lumen / 0.6A
Lo = 19Lumen / 0.25A
Hi = 67Lumen / 0.86A

2nd level
Very Lo = 11Lumen
Lo = 19Lumen
Med = 47Lumen
High = 66Lumen
Very High = 72Lumen

Now these figures are approximates and may vary a little one way or the other . I simply could not measure current for the 2nd level as getting into it when measuring current proved , well I just couldn't do it , in fact its a little tricky getting to the 2nd level , as the instructions were in Chinese .

Now lets check out some beamshots , 1st Level , med - lo - high :


Medium


Low


High

Overall I would rate Mr.Lite as very usable , the level switching could be improved , and I really dont see why such a small light has strobe ?
I like the 2nd level more than the first , and it would have been nice if it held the chosen level . I sourced mine from here and got it in about 1 week . If you like a lot of modes and want something trick , well , another light to look at buying .
I would love to see SOS - STROBE - BEACON modes removed from such a small light , and replaced with Moon mode [ 2-3Lumen ] Low [ 10 Lumen ] and Medium is fine , as is High at there current levels .
I dont know about running a 10440 in this light [ Mr.Lite ] , as the manufacturer seems to be adamant about not doing so , but I cant see reaching the claimed output with anything less than a 10440 .

Putting the 10440 aside for now , this is still a very nice light for the price that it is being sold for , and just perhaps , its trying to be to many things for to many people [ some thing for everyone ] when perhaps all that is needed is function , rather than razzmatazz .
My only two gripes are / Chinese instructions - and the 2nd level wont hold as it returns to the 1st level when its turned off .

I would love to see 4 Light Levels with no junk modes , if this were to happen , this light would be a must own !

No buyers remorse on this one , and I would rate my sample as good buying !

 

[Orca_kkl]

I have a gold colored KC-05. Originally bought as gift, but kept it because I could not (would not?) part with it once I played with it a bit. Nice and small to be kept anywhere on me, in the front pocket of my backpack, or in one of the pen holders on my laptop bag (with a spare aaa in another holder).

The instructions in Chinese are very basic. No mention of how to change between two modes. An series of old posts a few months back covered it very well. For me, the diagrams say it the best: from mode 1, if I turn off the light at "low" setting and turn back on within a short time (not so short as if to change level to high, nor too long as if to turn it off), it goes into the second mode, at low-low. From there as long as I do not turn it off, it stays in the second mode.

The slow Beacon mode as you indicated is listed as "low battery reminder" in the Chinese manual: "flashes once per 10 seconds, reminding you to change battery." It appears to be a "standby" mode of sort as part of the cycle loop. Don't really know what it is...

 

[rebelbayou]

I have had a KC-05 for about a month now. I ordered 2 and gave 1 to a friend. I agree with old4570, well worth the money. So far, it's the best $15.00 light that I have ever bought from a Chinese company. It's ironic about the manual being in Chinese. 1 of mine was in Chinese but the other 1 came in English. Thanks for the review old4570. I was curious about the lumen output, as I know it's not the claimed 180 lumens. I am anxiously awaiting someone else to try a 10440, as I like the light too much to blow the emitter and have to wait on another one to come in. Anodizing around the head is a little chipped as I carry it in my pocket with knife, change, etc. Other than that, it has worked flawlessly.

 

[HKJ]

When I reviewed it some time ago I did a diagram of the modes and how to select them:

The UI is easy enough to use, but I do not believe it is very practical. Sometimes the driver can be reprogrammed with other sequences. I got some MrLite lights with custom programmed sequence that was much better for me.

 

[old4570]

Thank you , turn of on low , I held for 5 seconds , turned it back on for the second level ... Thanks guys ..

 

[applevalleyjoe]

Love the its case/can..woo...woooo :whistle:

 

[old4570]

Mr.Lite KC-05 with 10440 http://www.jayki.com/11316