Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA

[ernsanada]

I just received the Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA from Kaidomain.

The description says on the KD site says, " Uses original CREE Q2 LED bulb ". Near the bottom the description says " Another stunning products by Ultrafire after the C2. This C3 is a compact light, equipped with a CREE XR-E P4 LED Bulb. It gives 60+ lumens on a single 14500 cell or about 50 lumens for a single NI-MH AA cell, excellent! Built quality is great and the switch performance is lovely. "

On the DX site it says Cree XR-E P4.

So what kind of Cree does this light use?

Cost $20.40.

A great deal for the price!

From ordering to shipping took 12 days to Socal.

Comes with only a lanyard.

The fit is excellent, grade A.

The finish is excellent, grade A. Brushed Stainless Steel with no flaws.

Reverse one stage rear clickie.

Uses 1AA Battery. Can use a 14500 Rechargeable Lithium Battery.

The beam tint on this light is the only negative I can find. The corona has a creme color surrounded by a purplish color tint.

Inside view of the back of the Cree Module.

Inside view of the reverse single stage rear clickie.

This a view of the back of the battery tube where the rear clickie screw on.

Cree module screws out very easy with no effort.

Is this a Q2 or P4 Cree?

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Size comparisions.

Left, Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA. Right, Ultrafire C3 1AA

Left, Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA. Right, Ultrafire C3 1AA

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These are the lux readings I got. I am using a Meterman LM631 Light Meter measured at 1 meter. I waited 2 minutes before taking the readings. I am using fully charged Energizer Nimh 2300mAh Batteries in both lights and an AW Protected 14500 in the C3 SS.

Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh - 990 lux @ 1 meter

Ultrafire C3 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh - 770 lux @ 1 meter

Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel AW Protected 14500 - 1170 lux @ 1 meter


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Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh @ 77"

Ultrafire C3 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh @ 77"

Left, Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh. Right, Ultrafire C3 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh

Left, Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh. Right, Ultrafire C3 1AA Energizer Nimh 2300mAh Stepped down exposure

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I tried to fit a Duracell Nimh 2650mAh in the Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel and it fits. It would not fit in the Ultrafire C3 1AA.

That is why I used the Energizer Nimh 2300mAh in both lights during the lux readings.

AW's Protected 14500 with the label fit in the Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel with no problems. The AW's Protected 14500 Black will not fit in the Ultrafire C3 1AA.

 

[BigBluefish]

Thank you for another very nice review. I ordered one from DX yesterday; can't wait to get it.

 

[LightWalker]

Thanks for the fine review. This one looks like a winner. I've ordered two so far from Kadomain and I hope they are as good as yours.

If Ultrafire lies about their emitters like they do about their battery capacity then they all probably have P4's.

I sometimes wonder if the C3 Q5 is just a harder driven P4 but that light is quite bright.

 

[bspofford]

Any chance you might have a RexLight pill to see if it fits this light? Although they're not available now, the multimode Q2 pill/reflector upgrade kit is listed at $15 on KD.

 

[FelmarCorp]

Great review and pics !

just placed an order for this light :thumbsup:

 

[StefanFS]

Nice review. I ordered one, the first 'budget' light in a long time I intend to keep and use myself. It seems to be a good host for a new driver and emitter. I hope the switch is ok. Anybody checked resistance in the switch? Does the reflector screw into the head, or is it held in place by the pill?
Stefan

 

[aljsk8]

hi

i recieved this light a few days ago

i was amazed with the quality

last night i dropped it on the kitchen (tiled) floor
and now its stopped working - ill take it appart today to try and figure out whats wrong

if its dead i might swap out all the bits as its a really nice host

im pretty sure its a p4 cree as i think the q2 has only phospor on the die and not the full size of the dome i might be wrong though

Alex

 

[bessiebenny]

Q2 and P4 cannot be distinguished by how it looks.
Also, there's not much difference in output anyways.

BTW, Ernasanada, I see that your UF C3 is using a Cree P3 emitter.
So I guess that's why we see such difference in output with SS C3.

Man. I gotta order mine soon. This light looks great. Love your pics! =)

 

[aljsk8]

sorry not to derail this thread but i received a q2 from DX and it definetly looks different to a p4 ill take a photo when i get chance to show you guys

p4 - is all yellow inside the dome (phosphor)

q2 just yellow on the die silver everywhere else under the dome

its a very noticeable difference - maybe ive got a reject

Alex

 

[magic_elf]

Well we now know that all the stainless steel bodies before this release have over inflated prices, this could be a great host for better electronics and emitter.

Now all we need is to someone to get ahold of these in bulk and fit them with some of the nice customs drivers and emitters available

 

[aljsk8]

there are different grades of stainless steel and the price difference is quite large - that said a Chinese factory paying employees $1 an hour making 1000s of these is going to be a lot cheaper than a US custom builder or outfit making 100 stainless steel lights or even 1 light

material is only part of the cost so other lights are not over inflated

i paid a lot of money for a custom stainless steel light but if you melt the metal down and see what its worth then its probably very little - theres a lot more to it than that

 

[bessiebenny]

p4 - is all yellow inside the dome (phosphor)
q2 just yellow on the die silver everywhere else under the dome

its a very noticeable difference - maybe ive got a reject

It's no defect. Recent Cree emitters come with a silver core / yellow die.
That's just the new manufacturing process. Even P4 looks like that now. =)

 

[ernsanada]

The Rexlight 2.0 Cree Module and Reflector drops right in and it works! Even though they are different sizes.

A great improvement in tint and if you like the Rexlight UI. I like the tint but not the UI in the Rexlight but I think the Reflector and Module has found a new home.

Now I am having problems with the lens o-ring. It sticks out if the reflector is tightened too much. This is the same problem on the first generation C3 I have.

Left, Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA Relector. Right, Rexlight 2.0 Reflector

Left, Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA Module. Right, Rexlight 2.0 Module

Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA, Stock Reflector and Module

Ultrafire C3 Stainless Steel 1AA, Rexlight reflector and Module

 

[phreeflow]

Anyone know where we can get our hands on some of the 2.1 upgrade modules? KD's been out for a while...

 

[Vikas Sontakke]

Anyone know where we can get our hands on some of the 2.1 upgrade modules? KD's been out for a while...

Try requesting it in BST forum or look for few people who claimed that they were disappointed in the module to sell it you.

Apart from KD, there no other dealer selling that module.

- Vikas

 

[bspofford]

Any chance you might have a RexLight pill to see if it fits this light? Although they're not available now, the multimode Q2 pill/reflector upgrade kit is listed at $15 on KD.

The Rexlight 2.0 Cree Module and Reflector drops right in and it works! Even thought they are different sizes.

As I hoped! Thanks for the answer. I ordered one Rex 2.1 module to test my hypothesis, but my s/s C3 and Rex module kit haven't arrived yet. Wish I would have ordered more modules when they were available! Hope KD will have more soon.

 

[Patriot]

I still can't believe they can make a light that nice and sell it for $20....:huh:

 

[nerdgineer]

I just received mine and it is very, very nice. 40% more output than my early single mode C3, white color, great finish, smooth smooth nicely fitted SS on SS threads, yada yada. An absolute steal at this price if you don't mind the extra weight...

 

[Russianesq]

GREAT Job! Thanks so much! :twothumbs

 

[phreeflow]

As I hoped! Thanks for the answer. I ordered one Rex 2.1 module to test my hypothesis, but my s/s C3 and Rex module kit haven't arrived yet. Wish I would have ordered more modules when they were available! Hope KD will have more soon.

Seems like a recent purchase...where'd ya get the Rex 2.1 module? KD said they aren't getting anymore and have been out a while?:thinking: