Acebeam UC15 - brightest dedicated keychain light yet!

If only they could make a high quality TIP, all my requirements would be met (except for the cool factor lights).
I will likely get one of these if the price comes down.

I guess they wanted to do a compact light capable to be used during the “zombie apocalypse”, with AAAs all over TV remote controls all over the place :smiling_imp:
I made myself the same question you did will, but at least this seems an innovative light due to the possibility to use 2 cells in a compact version, and that may have longer runtimes it some Ni-MH cells are used!

As some people said here, it is too much expensive, though :expressionless:

do you know if 10440 flattop cells will work? Hard to find button tops.

even at 40$ i cant spend that much since i dont have those type of cells anyways so kinda expensive keychain light, imo useless unless built in battery think they missed that a keychain is supposed to be easy not forcing u to struggle with batteries install and that… then u might aswell for that price buy a real proper flashlight.

1000 lumens is a bit overkill anyways, even 500 would be bright as heck if it had built in battery, even my manker lad at 300lumens max lights up pretty good in total darkness.

Saypat - best with button top cell. Flattop performance is flaky because of clearance issue with the driver mounting screws :-(ask me how I know).

10440 is for extreme output but remember the UC15 does take AAA for up to 250 lumens which is still plenty. The parallel battery format means it could run 2x runtime vs a single AAA light (depending on driver efficiency of course.)

Granted this light is on the expensive side (especially as a BLF topic) and frankly a little large and heavy for a keychain but the three types of LED options and replaceable batteries may fit some users needs. It’s not for everyone but I say yay to more choices.

FWIW, my favorite continues to be the TIP. Speaking of which, I remember when the TIPs, LADs etc. w/built-in’s where first introduced some people took issue with the fact that their batteries weren’t (easily) replaceable which meant they were “disposable” after several years. Oh, and I also have a 10 yr old Fenix L0P single AAA light on my keychain so I like traditional as well.

Solder blob a 10440. Will work as good if not better than a button top.

It is expensive, but I don’t see the batteries as a problem. It would make for a good dangler I think. Thanks for the review!

That’s a lil too big for a keychain light IMO.

I’m done buying key chain lights until they start putting a lock out on them. No one can seem to get this right. Who cares about 140 or 240 or 340 lumens. It’s all pretty close as far as use cases go, they need to start making better UI to differentiate as well as using good tint/cri.

Good review, but as some have said, to big and to much $$$$$

Agree. It seems like rocket science to put in a decent lockout function.
Only my Tube as a decent one until it breaks.
Nitecore’s attempt to remedy the TIP was to include a pocket clip that can be reversed to cover the buttons. The only other protection is the 30 sec shutoff.
One my favorite lights. Been lucky so far.

+_**Also it would been better if it had built in battery seems a hazzle for that price u must struggle with batteries put in and out charge…
_+

agreed

Very expensive.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ACEBEAM-UC15-Cree-XP-L2-Nichia-1000-Lm-LED-Flashlight-Torch-AAA-10440-Black-/302579175981

very very expensive and u dont even get any batteries…

for me that =

601.97 South African Rand

i paid 630 South African Rands for my TIP so i would but a UC15 IF it was rechargeable , but its not

I just received an Acebeam UC15 froM HKEquipment.

It seems that they have quietly redone the firmware to a significant degree.

None of this is reflected in the packaging (yet), but the (truly horrible) instruction sheet attempts to describe some of it.

First, new modes have been added and the existing ones have new values:

NiMH AAA:

  • moonlight - 5 lumens
  • low - 30 lumens
  • medium - 60 lumens
  • high - 105 lumens
  • turbo - 250 lumens

10440 Li-Ion:

  • moonlight - 5 lumens
  • low - 140 lumens
  • medium - 330 lumens
  • high - 600 lumens (stepdown to 200)
  • turbo - 1000 lumens (stepdown to 200)

The moonlight mode is exclusively available from the "OFF" position. Once the light is powered up, you cannot return to moonlight without powering it down first.

Turbo can be accessed directly using a double-click from various starting points

The UI is considerably more complicated, and involves the use of three different types of long button presses: 1, 2, and 5 seconds. The 1 and 2 second presses are indistinguishable on the instruction sheet (except where space allows for a text label) as the dotted lines in the flow chart appear identical. In practical use, however, you can work it out by simply holding down the button and watching the light cycle through all the possibilities.

Operations are divided into 3 functional groups: white, turbo white, and colored. Once you are within a group, you release the button and you can then (1 second) long-press to cycle through the supported functions (low-medium-high; red-uv).

The 5-second button push is exclusively used from the OFF position to implement the lockout function. The light will cycle through different modes, finally blinking 3 times and shutting down at 5 seconds. Holding it for 5 seconds from that state will unlock it and send it to the last used mode.

The 3-blink sequence indicating lockout is not documented anywhere.

Also, nowhere in the included instructions is there mention of things that are found in the online publicity materials:

  • The fact that the backlight on the power button functions as a battery level indicator, changing color from green to red as the voltage drops; or what the corresponding ranges are for different battery types. [In fact, if you believe the instruction sheet, you would conclude that the sole purpose of the green backlight is to indicate that the flashlight is operating in "color" (red or UV) mode].
  • The fact that the red LED will blink to indicate low battery condition.

so you dont like it ?

R630 !!!

I got the TIP 2017 glacier S/S 360 lumen version for $23 including shipping, that’s R268 at today’s exchange rate.
And I saw it advertised cheaper through another affiliate coupon less than a week after I ordered it!

from where ?