Ultrafire WF-500

[WHT_GE8]

Why is there not more info on this light? I know its not the highest quality light, but the price is amazing. Worst case scenario it doesnt work at all and your out what $25. Is there any more beamshots of this thing anywhere?

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1317

Think im going to order one just for the sake of it. Was going to build an ROP but this looks like a cheaper and easier solution. Even if it goes bad I can get about 3 of these for the price of one ROP.

Here are the replacement bulbs:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12126

What do yall think?

 

[John-Galt]

Here you go:

http://www.lighthound.com/search.asp?keyword=Ultrafire+WF-500&search=GO

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=244254

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=149830

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=145586

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=146636


John-Galt

 

[VegasF6]

It's bright, at least at first. The stock bulb very very quickly dims. I bet I didn't have 2 hours max runtime on mine. The bulb darkened so much it became a shadow of itself. So, I bought the focusline bulb and it wasn't working?? Hooked it to the bench power supply and wiggled "stuff" and promptly blew it up. So, I don't have a bulb at this time. There is a lumens factory bulb, if you didn't already know it, but it costs just about the same amount as the entire light, which I think is a wee bit excessive, huh?

Other thoughts.
None of my protected 18650's including black AW's would light it. So, I only use unprotected cells in it, which pretty much makes me scared to use it.
Mine came with a clicky switch, so far it is holding up, but I would have preferred a twisty for reliability.
Lighthound carries nearly any part you could want, quite a plus.
In addition, many led modules from DX etc fit into the light, including a P7 module. A plus. But, heatsinking is poor on them and requires at least some tightly rolled aluminum foil, and that isn't ideal.

For $50 you can get a wolf eyes M90. Lumens factory also makes bulbs for them, but they are a better price. And Wolf Eyes makes quality bulbs as well (don't quote me on this, but I think LF makes them for Wolf Eyes)

So, while the WF-500 is a lot of bang for the buck in the short run, if you plan on actually using it much, it isn't so great.

 

[Mungon]

I think its much bang f buck lumenfactorys llamp and 2 black awbatt starts on single klick no fuzz desent throw lots of spill works realy good as dog walking light. isnt a car that will miss you on the road and youl see everything you need to bye it and if you dont liket it...well like 25 $ youl survive :) I'm very happy with mine / Micke

 

[mvyrmnd]

I agree with Mungon, if I understood his post properly :P

For the money, if you find it's no good, you can always buy the 3xCree Q4 dropin for it.

I have one of these, and when the bulb is good, it's magnificent. I haven't run it long enough for the bulb to fade yet, though. Plus I think DX now have the replacement bulbs in stock. Get 2 or 3 when you order the light.

 

[gallonoffuel]

You can also use the bulb/reflector assembly (KD SKU: S003981) in a maglite for a nice upgrade to the stock bulb. The process is fairly simple. I desoldered the outer spring, and then soldered a bead around the negative contact ring on the PCB to allow for a taller negative contact area. I also stretched the positive spring a bit. Then thread the original mag bulb retainer onto the bulb post (with no bulb in it, obviously) and set the new bulb/reflector assembly into the bezel. Screw it all down. If the contacts aren't right, try resoldering your negative contact ring, or using the defocus feature until it turns on. I got enough solder on the negative ring to make contact no matter how it's oriented. I used a glass lens as well, as this bulb makes some heat. The bezel doesn't quite screw down all the way but if you wanted to turn down the lip of the reflector you could. Mine is a shelf queen and an experiment host so I just left it as is.

I powered mine in a 2D mag with a pair of 3xAA battery carriers. The ones on KD are probably NOT designed for this much current but I only turn it on in short bursts. It ran on alkalines a few times but I now run 6 cheap nimh AAs. Again, the batteries might not be designed to power this, so all of this is done at your own risk.

I can also run this on 2Ds if necessary. It's a lot dimmer than running on 6AAs (of course) but it's brighter than the stock 2D bulb and the OP reflector makes a beautiful beam. And as mvyrmnd said, you can always get the LED version if you like.

 

[Phaserburn]

I have my WF-500 pimped with a magD size UCL lens, LF bulb and AW 2600ma cells. I think this is a great setup. At 3A, the bulb is right inbetween the ROP low and High. Mine has been completely reliable.

 

[mvyrmnd]

My 3x Q4 dropin arrived today.

I removed the tube extension and I'm using 3x CR123 to push it to the max 9v input.

The current is 1.3A at the tail. Based on Q4 specs, each emitter should be putting out ~250 Lumens.

The xenon bulb also got a shove at 9v, and held up for the minute I had it in there. It wasn't much different to the 2x18650, as the CR123's can't put out as much current.

 

[gallonoffuel]

I have pushed the stock WF-500 bulb at 9v for a fairly long time with no issues, I'd be more concerned about the batteries holding up than the bulb. It's meant to run at 7.2v, or 8.4v hot off the charger, so 9v isn't unreasonable. I run mine at 7.2v with 6 NiMH AAs in series. and it's still plenty bright. Now take that stock bulb and reflector assembly and stick it in a 2C mag with 2x18650s. Nice package for an incan with cheap bulbs.