Review Of Nitecore TM16GT

But in just 2 of the 4 batterries? That’s the confusing part.

The fact they continue to release products with parasitic drain is disheartening. The small $30 TIP had it also but in that case they listened to customers and fixed the issue.

they use 4S for the power part in the LED driver

BUT

they pull the juice for the driver itself from the middle (2S)

thats why only 2 cells are used in soft standby...

they use 4S for the power part in the LED driver

BUT

they pull the juice for the driver itself from the middle (2S)

thats why only 2 cells are used in soft standby...

Thanks for the explanation. But hold on, this was the case with the TM06 (not sure about the TM06S though) as well right, with the rear clicky switch; only two cells would loose juice. But if the light uses 4S from the batteries, doesn’t this simply mean that you are using differently charged cells which we should avoid at all times? So isn’t this a really bad design?

That is correct, but there are ways to work around it. Obviously the first option is to physically lockout the light by partially unscrewing the tail cap. Another option, the one I use, is to rotate the pairs of 186550s to even out the effects of the parasitic drain. I also don’t let the cells drain below 4.0v before I swap them. By doing this I keep the load closer to even on all the cells, and they all recharge the same amount. Tacky, but it helps.

I too wonder what the deal is with Nitecore and parasitic drain. Some of their lights the drain is so low that for all intents and purposes it is not there. I have some Tubes that I got when they first shipped, and they still have a charge and light up just fine. Then my EA11 kills its 14500 after only a couple of months of lockout. Looks like the have the new designers working on the drivers, without supervision.

TM16GT - Yep that makes sense, explains why battery 2 and 3 were drained. I won’t be leaving it in that mode again it was just for testing purposes.

So this model has parasitic drain even when its not in “find me” flashing mode?
I store it in a Pelican case so leaving it with the tailcap loose a couple turns isn’t an issue but we shouldn’t have to especially since this is the GT (Revised version) those issues should have been resolved

Has anybody bypassed the springs of this light?I ask,because if the result of this is positive,I could send my TM16GT to a friend to do it.

The TM16 can be modded easily enough, far and away besting a great many other modded lights. I put XHP-35’s in mine, it’s nearly double the lumens and awesomely bright.

I love the form factor of the TM16, fits in the hand so well and yet is still a Monster of a light.

Nice review, all the graphs and charts make it look so professional. :wink:

And what about the driver,have you made this yourself,or not?And the reflector,is it OK for the new leds?
If it is possible for a friend here in Greece to make this conversion ,I could send the light to him for this.

Are there any tips/guides as to what mods can be done relatively easily on the TM16GT?

Stock driver, with a bit of resistor bump. The XHP-35 is a 12V emitter but the same size as an XP-L so they do fit the reflector fine. I used copper direct thermal path mcpcb’s fitted to the emitter shelf.

I am looking for my notes on this one (cleaned out my desk last month, can’t find anything!) but I believe it’s now making over 7000 lumens.

Is the light glued Dale?

Well, yeah, there’s that. Nitecore likes to glue the snot out of em. Red Loctite even. PITA.

I’d love my TM16GT to be pushing 7000 lumens with whatever increase in throw that gives. I smile at the 1km throw that this has already, any extra would be superb.

.
I’ve told about the glued light to the friend who can mode this according to Dale,and he answered that it is very difficult to take off the glue,so I forget this for the moment.

I have no evidence, but I suspect there is a design rule used by Nitecore:

- For every micro ampere of parasitic drain use one drop of Loctite.

hahaha i don’t think so , even my mh20 has a good amount of loctite

They do NOT want you going inside!

I’ve gotta find my notes or measure it all over again, can’t remember what it was doing… I do remember it was a chore to get inside, and I remember making 4 26mm Max Toch mcpcb’s fit on the shelf for the XHP-35’s, but I’ve taken enough readings of other lights that the numbers just get all scrambled. Getting old.

Just came in from the shop after making a Ti spacer for my home made Ti/Cu Quad EDC, it now takes a larger 18500 with 50% more capacity than the 18350 and is rated for 50% higher amperage as well. It was making 2300 lumens on the half cell, hoping to see 3000 on the 18500. Tiny Monster, hah! Nitecore doesn’t even know…!

Yesss, and Nitecore truly apologises for that stupid low drain value; their engineers are baffled. They’ll make sure it won’t happen again.

Not sure what you’re talking about, the MH20GT has a cell storage life of 6 months with the beacon on and a year with it off.

Edit: My Bad, that’s 12 months with the beacon on and 24 months with it off, not much to complain about there!