Solarforce L2-R2 5 mode , 3.7-4.2v Review !

[old4570]

Ok .. $30 USD off Flea-Bay , came with one 18650 Batt and a belt holster .
Now I did order a 3-8.4volt R2 version , but I got the 3.7-4.2Volt one instead . Ive been waiting 2 weeks for the correct pill , but I dont see it happening , so no plug for the seller :mecry:

I have 2 Batts to test with, Trustfire 18650 - 2500mA , and Ultrafire 18650 2400mA Protected . I also have 2 different light boxes , so bear with me , also all light box readings will be minimum . One thing I did notice on high was that the R2 fades a little when it starts running warm , and it does run warm .
More latter :

Trustfire 2500mA :

Hi - 1A - 210Lux LB1 - 12000Lux LB2 - Throw 7500 - 7000Lux @ 1 meter
Med - o.66mA - 130Lux LB1 - 6400Lux LB2 - Throw 4700Lux
Lo - o.33mA - 70Lux LB1 - 2900Lux LB2 - Throw 2200Lux

Ultrafire 2400mA Protected :

Hi - 1.12A - 210Lux LB1 - 12000Lux LB2 - Throw 7800 - 7000Lux @ 1 meter
Med - o.72mA - 140Lux LB1 - 6400 LB2 - Throw 5500Lux
Lo - o.36mA - 70Lux LB1 - 2900Lux LB2 - Throw 2800Lux

Now as can be seen from the results , on Hi , as the temp rises output drops to around 7000Lux Throw , the temp seems stable at this point as does output , better heatsinking might be in order .

I have no build quality issues , this is an excellent product , everything is spot on , I might try the aluminum foil thing where you wrap the pill for better heatsinking .. Other than that , I can highly recommend the Solarforce L2 , and so far the only issues are that med and Lo might be a little on the too high side for output , but with a good 18650 this may not be a real issue , for the CR123A lovers , maybe not so good .

I hope to buy a pair of Ultrafire 3000mA 18650 batts in the future , to run this flashlight on , and in Lo , one would hope for 8Hours or better ...

Just check out that current draw on Hi - Wow ... 1 - 1.1A
CREE R2 (114-120 Lumens @ 350ma) , one could almost believe the 300Lumen claim from Solarforce .. :thinking:

 

[old4570]

I just spent the last hour carefully wrapping aluminum foil around the L2's pill until I got a nice firm fit , hopefully this will improve heatsinking ..
Haven't tried it as yet , but will in a moment .

 

[bigchelis]

Did the 18650 measure 4.2v topped off each?

I noticed that you got more amp draw and more lux with the ultrafire cell.

WoW that is impressive. Is this a smooth refletor or Orange peel?

 

[old4570]

Fully charged Batts , 4.18v , Not smooth reflector , Orange peel .

Yes , the ultrafire cells put out the most of all my Batts , they even beat out 2xCR123A batts in my R2 Flashlights .

I have 3 of the Ultrafire 18650 Protected 2400mA batts , and Im going to give the 3000mA ones a try ... People say there no good for really Hi Amp output , but they seem to be ok around 1A , which is right in the ballpark for R2 flashlights , so they could be just the ticket for better run times .

I read somewhere that the Trustfires were .. Good , but from my own tests the Ultrafires beat them every time , and thats not saying that Trustfires are anything but good , but rather that the Ultrafires I have are better .

In fact , all my Ultrafires have been good , Batts / Chargers / Flashlights .
Im especially impressed with the WF-502B R2 5-Mode . [ Next short review ]

 

[old4570]

Wrapping aluminum foil around the Pill would certainly seem to have helped , it seems to heat sink much better now .
:wave:

 

[phantom23]

Can you check does it has any regulation? (current consumption at lower voltages e.g. 3.7V)

 

[old4570]

Emittor Type:CREE R2
Reflector:OP Aluminum
Drop-in LED Circuit:Buck Current Regulated
Modes:Low/Mid/High/Strobe/SOS
Lumen:230
Head Dia.:26.5mm
Voltage input range"
3.0V~8.4V
Voltage & Current (DC Power Supply)
3.0V~110mA,8.4V~580mA

From KaiDomain : but its for the 3-8.4v Pill , but my guess is yes , there regulated , + Im running down on of my batts right now . OK KD sais the 3.7-4.2v is also buck current regulated ...

Matt

 

[old4570]

OK @ 3.69v [ Batt Volt ] = o.76mA Draw .. Im going to have to recheck this , as I think the leads on my multimeter are rubbish , I have a much better/expensive Pro multimeter , and it gives different readings , so Im going to run down a different batt since the other one is already on the charger .

Using different leads , @ 3.76v = o.92mA , and Im still draining the batt , so a few more readings .. 3.71volt = o.8mA , so looks about right ...

I tried another batt / 18650 - 2200mA , and its at about 3.86v and it puts out 1.08A , so it looks like when the batts drop bellow 3.8v output starts to drop .

 

[phantom23]

So there is no difference between 3,7-4,2V and 3,7-8,4V modules.

 

[old4570]

So there is no difference between 3,7-4,2V and 3,7-8,4V modules.

Cant speak for what I dont have ... + The 3-8.4v has different output levels for Med and Lo . so I cant really say its same or different , it was what I originally ordered , but not what was delivered , so , room for some one else to make a mini review . :thumbsup:

And Im not shelling out $20 USD for the pill itself , when for a few greenbacks more I can get a MC-E drop in [ Planned Purchase ] + It dont look like the seller is going to send me what I ordered , so ?? def room for some one to step in and give us some 3-8.4v findings .

 

[Black Rose]

Ok .. $30 USD off Flea-Bay , came with one 18650 Batt and a belt holster .

I bought the same thing for $25 USD.

Bought it from the web store of a seller that is also on eBay ($28 on eBay, $25 at the web store)

 

[DHart]

Solarforcestore sells these and in other colors and options (6P and 3P clones in black, grey and sand) for $25 including complete flashlight, battery, and belt case... shipping included! I just got a shipment from them a couple of days ago.

At $25 (heck, at twice that price) it's a great flashlight with excellent build quality. I've got several (three L2/6P clones and a L2m/3P clone) and running with Malkoff and Solarforce R2 lamp assemblies. Of course the Malkoff is a nicer lamp assembly, but for $25 the R2 lamp in the Solarforce flashlight is awesome.

 

[old4570]

Dang , just ordered one more , oh well , I was looking for a MC-E host in anyway ...

Hopefully this one will be 8.4volt ...

 

[phantom23]

I wrote to solarforcestore to replace 3,7-8,4V module to 3,7-4,2V. I don't use xCR123 batteries at all so I don't neet higher voltages.

PS. I paid $34 for sand L2 with R2 module, holster, 18650 battery, flat SS bezel and SS lanyard ring...

 

[jake25]

hey phantom you have the 5 mode right?

I'm starting to do business w/ Solarforce as an American representative/dealer.

I have a few 3.7-4.2V 5 Mode dropins coming in

PM me lets work something out.

 

[phantom23]

Solarforcestore answered quickly and they'll send me L2 with 3,7-4,2V module installed. I live in EU not US.

 

[old4570]

Ive ordered the short body , since I have the 3.7-4.2v pill , KD just emailed me to tell me its been posted .

 

[Black Rose]

Solarforcestore sells these and in other colors and options (6P and 3P clones in black, grey and sand) for $25 including complete flashlight, battery, and belt case... shipping included! I just got a shipment from them a couple of days ago.

What brand 18650 does it ship with? Is it protected or unprotected?

 

[harddrive]

I emailed Solarforce store and they said that it includes 1 x unprotected 18650. I didn't ask but would assume it is one of the white unportected Solarforce 18650.

 

[Black Rose]

Bummer...I was hoping for a protected cell to be included.