[Review] - Convoy 4X18A 4300 lumen 4000K Neutral White - by Lock

lock · Mar 22, 2020

Hello everyone ... today we will see the Convoy 4X18A: powerful "barrel" torch equipped with XHP70.2 LED in Neutral White version (4000K). The flashlight can be purchased on Aliexpress even with different tints.

Packaging and content
The Convoy 4X18A arrives in a sturdy anonymous brown cardboard box. A small label on the side allows you to identify the type of flashlight inside the package with the model and color of the LED.
A thick layer of packaging foam blocks the torch well inside the package, preventing it from moving.
In addition to the flashlight, we do not have any accessories, not even a user manual or a description of the product's technical specifications.

Main features:
• Uses a CREE XHP70.2 HD LED
• Maximum Output: 4300LM (6500k version)
• Charging interface: Type-C
• Available in different colors: 3000K Warm, 4000K Neutral (seen in this review), 5000K Natural, 6500K Cool
• Max output current: over 5000mA
• Mode: 1%, 10%, 40%, 100%
• 4x18650 power supply (4P configuration)
• Working voltage: 3.0 - 4.2V
• Backlit Side Switch
• Weight: 458g (without batteries), 641g (with batteries)
• Dimensions: 152mm (length) x 69mm (head diameter) x 50mm (body diameter)
• Reflector: SMO
• Max light intensity: 54000cd
• Copper LED support
• Lens with anti-reflective treatment

Output levels and runtime
The Convoy 4X18A has 4 normal output levels and there is no special or stroboscopic level. The outputs are divided as follows:
• Turbo 100%: (measured 3640 lm)
• High 40%: (measured 1461 lm)
• Mid 10%: (measured 480 lm)
• Low 1%: (measured 20 lm)

Below are the runtime schemes on the "Turbo" and "High" levels using 4x Sanyo 18650 3500mAh 30A as the power source.

The regulation is exceptional, as is the heat dissipation.
The particularly flat discharge curve shows an exceptional runtime with a relatively high output.
The 100% turbo remains so for about 6 -7 and then passes to about 40% of the initial power.
The Turbo can be reactivated several times in a row, obviously the thermal stepdown after a couple of consecutive activations will intervene more quickly.

The body and materials
The Convoy 4X18A is a powerful and massive flashlight capable of delivering about 4000 lumens to the Turbo. The torch is "chubby" but it holds well. Comfortable to use, in the hand it is balanced, not tired if used for a long time, the side switch is easily detectable in total darkness or if, for example, you are wearing gloves.

The 4X18A is powered by 4 18650 cells in 4P configuration, therefore batteries in parallel.
If necessary, you can also use the torch with one, two or three cells, obviously reducing the runtime proportionally with respect to the use of all 4 batteries.

The batteries to be used, given the powers involved, must necessarily be of good quality High Drain. If you want to use Flat Top cells you can take advantage of the adapter supplied. In my tests I used Sanyo Flat top cells without using this accessory without experiencing any type of problem. It is probably more useful if you are dealing with very short cells or with particularly flat poles.

Small note: inserting less than 4 cells without using the plastic adapter, if you do not pay a little attention while screwing the head, they will tend to move from their seat. No problem if you insert all 4 cells instead without using the adapter.

Caution!!! ... there is no type of mechanical protection against polarity reversal, therefore it is good to always pay close attention to the direction of insertion of the cells.
The switch is white, rubberized, quite protruding and surrounded by a small steel bezel ring. Below a small status LED lights up red or blue to indicate the progress of the recharge.

On the opposite side of the switch there is a Type-C charging port, well protected by a thick rubber cap. A small tab helps in opening. For a full charge, using a 2 Ampere charger, it took about 7 hours.

The parabola is in aluminum, smooth, deep, mirror polished. At the center is the large and powerful 4000K XHP70.2 HD well centered thanks to a central white color. The lens has a nice anti-reflective treatment.

The bezel is made of stainless steel, effectively protects the lens and is easily unscrewed.

The general construction quality is really excellent, the materials are of quality, the abundant thicknesses. The knurling is present on the whole central body, well made, it guarantees excellent grip in any condition. The minimal lettering, present only on the head, is well centered and without any burr.

In the head there are two series of dissipation fins, useful for dispersing heat when the torch is used on high levels.

The tail is flat so you can use the flashlight in tailstanding.

On the tailcap there are two large holes for inserting laynard, paracord or small carabiners.
The tailcap is removable and once unscrewed it allows access to the negative pole of the contacts.

The latter is fixed to the torch body with 4 cross screws.

The positive contact, on the head side, is formed by a thick copper protruding ring.
At the negative pole, however, we have 4 rigid golden springs.

The fillets arrive well lubricated and are particularly smooth, they are not anodized and physical lockout is not possible. I believe it is not even possible to electronically lock the interface (or at least I could not find a way to do it). In the absence of a user manual, I cannot say with certainty that the electronic lockout is not really present.

Following some other shots ..

User interface
The user interface is very simple, perhaps even too much! XD

With the flashlight off:
• With a click, the flashlight turns on at the last memorized level
• By keeping the switch pressed, you have direct access to the Low mode

With the flashlight on:
• With one click the flashlight turns off
• Holding down the switch will cycle through the levels as follows: Low-Mid-High-Turbo

From any mode:
• Double click to access the Turbo

Fascio, Tinta e Beamshots
The Convoy 4X18A is equipped with a Cree XHP70.2 LED on a DTP copper base with the possibility of choosing between 4 different color options: 3000K, 4000K 5000K and 6000K. The model seen in this review is the 4000K version which produces a Neutral light tending to Warm, particularly appreciable in natural environments. Color rendering is excellent.

The beam is wide, with a very bright spot and a respectable shot. The spill is wide and can be used to illuminate well in the immediate vicinity if, for example, the torch is kept parallel to the ground.
The tint is uniform over the whole beam. A small purple ring is visible at the end of the spill, probably resulting from the AR treatment of the lens.
Following some night shots ...

Beamshot #1

Beamshot #2

Beamshot #3

Beamshot #4

Beamshot #5

Final thoughts
The Convoy 4X18A is a powerful flashlight, with important but not exaggerated dimensions.

The head houses a deep SMO parabola that generates a wide beam, with a good shot and a very bright and exploitable spill.

The construction quality has particularly pleased me. Beautiful both the anodization and the abundant knurling.

The interface is very simple, stroboscopic levels are missing and there seems to be no electronic or physical lockout of the interface. The levels are well spaced even if there is no real Low level since the lowest one is around 20 lumens.

The regulation is excellent, the discharge curves show how an output of over 1400 lumens is maintained for a long time and in a totally stable way before Direct Drive.

I like that the cells are in 4P configuration and therefore that the torch can be powered, if necessary, even with a single battery.

Aside from the interface issue, which can certainly be improved, I have not found any other flaws for this new Convoy model.
Good product, definitely recommendable !!!

Thank you for reading!!! XD

[Review] - Convoy 4X18A 4300 lumen 4000K Neutral White - by Lock

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