[Review] - Lumintop EDC18 Nichia 219C 4000K 2800 lumen - by Lock

[lock]

Hello everyone… today we will see one of the latest flashlight born in the Lumintop house. We will talk of the Lumintop EDC18: a powerful 2800lumen linear light in 94mm length. Here the link of the company and here the link of the flashlight.

General description
The Lumintop EDC18 is a small but very high intensity EDC torch. It inherits the firmware of the FW3A (Anrùril UI) and emits an extraordinary maximum power of 2800 lumens with a single 18650 battery.
The side switch easily controls the whole interface.
The magnetic tailcap and the stainless steel belt clip make it easy to carry.
Ideal for the outdoors, as a backup flashlight or in general for the EDC.
Three versions are available for sale:

• Cree XP-L HI (5000K or 6500K)
• Nichia 219C (4000K) seen in this review
• Luminus SST20 (4000K)

Packaging and content
The EDC18 arrives with the classic Lumintop cardboard packaging. Inside we find the torch immersed in a thick layer of packaging foam.Overall, the package contains:

• Lumintop EDC18
• Laynard
• Belt clip
• Gitd Diffuser
• Key ring

Main features
• Emittiter: 3x Nichia 4000K High Intensity with copper DTP MCPCB
• Max Output: 2800 Lm (2500+ OTF lumen) version XP-L HI
• Max Brightness: 10.000cd (200m) version XP-L HI
• Battery: 1x 18650 (max length 66mm)
• TIR lens
• Firmware: Andùril
• Driver: FET+7+1 with low Parasitic Drain
• Aluminium body
• E-Switch
• Waterproof IPX8
• Weight: 76.5g without battery
• Dimension: 27.8mm (diameter) x 93.9 (length)

User interface
The EDC18 uses the Andúril firmware for its user interface: the user interface is complex and full of features, but for basic use it is very intuitive and easy to remember. The interface design we see below is certainly of great help. The functions are many but the ones I found most interesting are:

• Direct access to the Low level
• Memory Mode
• Momentary On
• Muggle mode
• Electronic lockout
• Battcheck and Temp Check
• Candle mode (which simulates the lighting of a candle)
• Lightning Storm (which simulates a lightning storm)
• Party strobe with adjustable frequency frequency (default 24Hz
• Tactical strobe with adjustable freunzae (default 10Hz).
• Bike strobe
• Ascending and descending ramping
• Direct access to the minimum ramping and maximum ramping setting

Following the Runtime curves for the Turbo and High levels

The body and materials
The Lumintop EDC18 is a small and compact linear flashlight with an incredible power in only 94mm in length for a weight of only 76g (without battery). The house declares a power of about 2800 lumens (+2500 OTF lumens) to the Turbo for the version with LED XP-L, while for the Nichia version in my possession I managed to measure a turbo of about 2400 lumens (really not bad !!! ... even if only for the first few moments after switching on and with the battery fully charged)

The price at which it is sold is also extremely convenient since it slightly exceeds 50 dollars. Using coupons it is possible to take the EDC18 even for less than 45 dollars.

The construction is impeccable, the matte anodization is beautiful which makes the torch smooth but not slippery and also the processing with abundant knurling present on the central body and tailcap.
The head has deep dissipation fins that allow good heat dispersion.

The switch is made of rubber, quite protruding, easy to detect even in the dark or if you are wearing gloves.

Under the switch a status LED constantly allows to know the residual charge of the cell. The LED turns on automatically when a battery is inserted. To turn it off we must unscrew the tailcap.

The threads are sliding, well lubricated and anodized on both sides, therefore the torch can be physically blocked by unscrewing the head or tailcap. On both sides two black o-rings prevent water from penetrating inside the torch. The central tube is not reversible.

At the negative pole we have a double golden spring, while in the positive one a small and rigid silver spring.

The belt clip is made of steel, very thick. It guarantees an excellent seal on clothes and pockets. It can be attached to both the tailcap and head side.

For power supply it is necessary to use only and exclusively unprotected high drain cells with flat pole. Attention to dimensions, only cells with a length less than or equal to 66mm can be used.
The 1 × 7135 + 8 × 7135 + FET multichannel driver with Andúril firmware guarantees a Turbo of 2800 lumens only and exclusively with the cells with the characteristics described above.

The general dimensions considering that it is a flashlight in the 18650 format, are however very small. The weight, given the abundant thicknesses, is generous.

Vertical milling on the head seems to be able to house the classic tritium bars.

Bundled with the torch also comes a g.i.t.d. which allows to obtain a totally diffused beam and to use the torch as if it were a small lantern. When turned off, the light will shine green.

At the tailcap there is a powerful neodymium magnet that allows you to attach the torch on any ferromagnetic surface, even in a horizontal position.

The bezel is in stainless steel, the lens is thick and with anti-reflective treatment

Beam, Tint and Beamshots
The EDC18 uses a triple emitter configuration. The model reviewed in this review mounts 3x Nichia 219C with neutral tint tending to Warm (4000K). Thanks to the TIR lens, the beam is flood with a brighter central spot and a wide spot that can be used for short distances.

Following some night shots ...

Beamshot #1

Beamshot #2

Beamshot #3

Beamshot #4

Beamshot #5

Beamshot #6

Beamshot #7

Beamshot #8

Beamshot #9

Beamshot #10

Beamshot #11

Beamshot #12

Beamshot #13

Final thoughts
Lumintop EDC18 is an exceptional product. The build quality is impeccable, the materials are first choice and the finishes are taken care of. What I liked most is the compactness: a small bomb with reduced dimensions. Beam and neutral tint have fully satisfied me.

The switch is very responsive, excellent anodizing, knurling on the body.

There is also a magnet in the tail that allows you to attach the torch both horizontally and vertically to metal surfaces.

Nothing to say about the interface that I now know well: really many functions, all interesting.
Good product, definitely to recommend !!

Thanks for reading !!!

 

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

I love the EDC18, it's very versatile and very solidly constructed for a workman like usage.

I've got to say that your beamshots are the most practically useful of any review I've ever read. Perfection in showing real usage (at least from my personal usage perspective).

 

[LightObsession]

Thanks for the review. This light is on my wish list.

 

[tgo]

I've ummed and ahhed over this for some time.
The thing putting me off is the switch. I've heard people say it wears badly, the rabbit logo wears off and it's not at all easy to swap it out.

If it had been a metal switch (not fussed either way about the illuminated rabbit) so it has the same sense of solidity as the rest of the light I'd be markedly more likely to get one.

Shame.

 

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

The black outer colouring on the switch does wear from constant pocket stowage, mine has some green bits showing through where the colouring has worn off the switch edges in my pocket.

That said, the actual switch material itself does not seem to be wearing at all. The button itself appears to be a translucent green material simply covered with black dye over the outside to screen print the rabbbit logo. I don't think the switch material is going to wear out any faster than any other torch's rubber switch, my switch's edges are still sharp and new looking, just lost a bit of the covering dye.

I reckon a metal switch would have been a big mistake and made it easy to activate in pocket and spoilt a great torch. The real beauty of the lumintop EDC18 switch is not the rabbit logo but the fact that you'd have to try really hard to get it to accidently activate yet it works so well under the finger.