"Review": Amutorch Stainless Steel XPG3-S3 AA flashlight [Modded TIR Lenses]

Hey! First of all, thanks for your words and help!

@ Phlogiston
Yup, I think that you’re right! Another emitter would (will :smiley: ) make this a better light! Although I prefer this host to the BLF-348! Both are simple and (as far as I perceive) good, but this one has a more classy touch :wink:
About the link, I’m sorry :person_facepalming: When they are too big I normally use tinyurl.com to make them shorter and avoid lots of lines!
But yes, that is the light I’m talking about! And for what I’ve seen, their store seem to have some interesting stuff !!

@ Yokiamy
Hum, thanks for the tip! I’ll take a look at the link you sent and see what’s there for me! I don’t know if I’m ready for a Nichia, but I like a lot the tint of my Convoy S2+ XML2 T6-4C, so…maybe I’m closer :smiley:

@ The Miller
Thanks for your words! I just tried to do my best, trying to share some things and trying to learn too! That’s what BLF is for me :wink:
BTW, this light will look good side-by-side with the FW3A :sunglasses: It’s a pretty nice light that just need some modifications to be top !!! :smiley:

I have a Convoy S2+ with T6-4C as well, which is quite nice, but since i swapped another S2+ with a 219C 4000K, i rarely use the cree anymore.
If you are into T6-4C bins you’ll love the Nichia.

If you try a Nichia, you’ll not be in 4C anymore :-p

Hum, I guess I’ll have to consider that one then :smiley:

Funny thing is, when I started reading about flashlights and got my 1st good one (Convoy S2+ with XML2 U2-1A), and saw lots of things about the Nichia 219, I always thought “I’ll never get one of these, I don’t like the “yellowish” tint it has”. Now I’m considering to use a Nichia to mod some lights :stuck_out_tongue:

Thanks for your indications!

BTW, another question, if you can help me!
These Amutorch, as mentioned above, use those TIR lens, with a 25 degrees angle, so the beam is very narrow.
I wanted to give it a more floody look.
However, I’ve done some search and I can’t find TIR lens with a more wide angle (45 to 80 degrees). Nor can I find small reflectors that fit this light.

Does anyone know if or where can I find lens or reflectors (diameter: 14-15mm; Height: 10-11mm) to fit these flashlights with a more floody type?

I’m already considering to buy some fake Hugsby flashlights to swap reflectors with these if I can’t find a place where lens or reflectors are sold…

Got an order of the SS AA in with Neal via PM. Really good price with the 219C shipped to USA. So good I bought 2.

here is a page on AliExp. with some TIR lenses.
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/Diameter-17mm-Lens/219000_258607431.html?spm=2114.12010612.0.0.5db5850872c7JE
The 17mm in the holders can be removed and are 15mm OD.

Very nice review :smiley:

@ vwpieces
Thanks for the link! I didn’t thought about that, to get the holders out! :person_facepalming:
I guess I’ll try those :wink: Last week I got some TIR lens from them but they have a larger diameter…

Meawhile, I found these OP reflectors, that seem to have approximate dimmensions:

Hum, may I ask the price of the one you got from Neal? :smiley:

@ firedome
Thanks you! :wink:

DC-FIX
DC-FIX

Thanks for the help Ronin42!
I spent a while reading the thread, ’cause I’ve never heard about this product! Seems quite nice to give it a floody aspect :wink:
I guess that first I’ll try to get a floody lens or a reflector, and then I’ll try this DC-fix it I can’t find a matching one.
And for what I’ve seen Boaz has been off for a while, so I’ll wait for him to get back :wink:

Thank you very much :wink: :+1:

Welcome, and sent you a PM.
Nick

Hmm, this light with the nichia sounds like a really cool setup. I have a LiPo 14500 sitting around that would work for it.

@ vwpieces

Gonna check it and reply :wink: Thanks!

You bet on that :wink: After giving it a nichia or a warm tint, we’ll become “BLFs” (best light friends) :smiley: :stuck_out_tongue:

When giving feedback to the seller I stressed that giving it a better tint would make more buyers happy! I don’t know if they’ll change it for a stock light, but I’m crossing fingers :wink:

BTW, I don’t know if the pronlonged use of 14500 batteries will damage it or not but, so far, the reason I found for the seller to say that it only takes AA batteries is the lack of a spring (or a solder blob) to make contact on the bottom of the driver. Or the fact that it gets a bit hot on the highest mode.

I “tested” (hand feeling) this light with a 14500 Li-Ion battery to see how hot it gets.
The battery is a Sanyo UR14500P (with a magnet on top to make contact with the driver), and was not fully charged.
After entering the High mode, it took about 2.30 minutes to get extremely hot in the head.
The body didn’t get hot, the light didn’t flicker, it was holding well in terms of luminosity, and it was possible to hold it well in the hands (except the head).

Being a Stainless Steel, thin body, it gets hot really fast, but its temperature drops very fast as well, after being turned OFF.

With a regular AA Ni-MH battery it doesn’t get so hot, of course, but after a minute on High, we start to feel it warm!

Cant wait to order one with Nichia from Neal!
Neal said approx 7-10 working days and will be on holiday next week, so unfortunately i have to wait before ordering :frowning:

Yesterday, at night, I was using the flashlight and I heard a “bzzzzz” coming from it!

At first I thought it was from the battery, so I changed and used different batteries, alkaline, Ni-MH, 14500 Li-Ion, but the “bzzzz” remained.

Then I thought it was because I was messing with this particular light (the one I used for the review, [dis]assembling continuously… ).
I tought it was any damage I had provoked to the driver or the emitter… So I picked up another of these and used it with all types of batteries. Guess what? The noise remained!

So, on Low and Medium settings, the flashlight produces a slight noise (bzzzz), and I guess its due to the driver.
It is not a super noise but it can be detected about 40 cm away from the head, especially in silent environments.

The only occasions I had heard it before was in a Convoy S2+ (3/5 mode driver) when I was using the 3 mode configuration on Medium, and on a Nebo Redline that uses CR2 alkaline batteries (when the battery power is dimming it makes a similar noise).

Anyone has a clue on this and if it is something that can be “solved”? (without swapping drivers, of course :smiley: )
Thanks in advance!! :+1:

Probably the Pulse Widh Modulation you are hearing, i have the same issue with my s2+ on low and medium, not on high since you dont have PWM on high.
It also depends on the reflection of the material (try it) some materials absorb better then others

Hum, that was my guess PWM, but I thought that it would be expectable on high, as well! My mistake :person_facepalming:
By reflection you mean the used material, like TIR lens or reflector + lens?

Reflection, i meant that you can hear the difference between materials. Try it for instance on your car and then listen to the difference when pointing on your tire and pointing to steel or glass parts.
Also the direction of the flashlight makes a difference, seriously, try it :wink:

Edit:

Made a quick video to demonstrate it
.

Thanks Yokiamy for the video! :slight_smile:
Yup, there is difference for sure!! It doesn’t take out the small noise it has, but directing it to different surfaces makes it less intense.
Since the beggining I’ve been thinking about a driver and LED swap for these lights, and this makes me think a bit more on that, despite overall qualtity is not “endangered” right now!!

Looking at the back side of that TIR, an XM-L2 looks like the ideal fit. May also get you a wider beam angle. The 4C is one of my favorites, I bet 75% of my XM-L2 lights have had them installed!