“REVIEW” - WUBEN T70 Camouflage – XHP70.2 Led – 4200 Lumens [PIC HEAVY] ***Extension tube = 2 x 26650***

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Post# 2 – BEAMSHOTS AND CONSIDERATIONS

FLASHLIGHT COMPARISON

Let’s start with some flashlight comparison, just to get a notion on the T70’s dimensions!

First, the Wuben family: T70 > TO46R > TO10R > E05

Then, with other lights:
Odepro KL52 > Wuben T70 > Zanflare F1 > Olight M2R Warrior > Convoy S2+

And finally, with my other XHP70.2 flashlight, the Amutorch AM30, my biggest and most powerful flashlight (so far :stuck_out_tongue: )!

Now, some “under UV” light beamshots as well, to check on the LED!

A comparison with the Amutorch AM30 (left, with SMO reflector).

Let’s see what it shows with a close-up above the LED. In the lowest mode, there are some stripes due to the CC driver. No PWM is visible without camera.

Here’s a look to the beam pattern as well.
Being this a Cree XHP70.2 LED it produces a yellowish shift in the corona that even the OP reflector can’t disguise. It is normal. In outdoor situation it is not highly noticeable unless on the lowest mode in some occasions. If we are not hunting white walls, it will not be troublesome! :stuck_out_tongue:

I compared the beam of the Wuben T70 with the Amutorch AM30 (that used a XHP70.2 as well, but thas a larger SMO reflector) and it can be seen that the OP reflector spreads the light on a not-so-focused beam.
Left: AM30 - Right: Wuben T70

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BEAMSHOTS

Before beamshots, this is a reflection of the light directed to the ceiling, in order to perceive how it lights up the dark :smiley:

And now the beamshots!!
INDOOR
1,5M >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2M

OUTDOOR
5M >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 12M

16M

20M

40M >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 45M

60M

Flashlight beam comparison
I picked my most powerful flashlights (I don’t have many, but they fit my current needs :wink: ) and made a comparison on their highest output The T70 has the blue W button:

Wuben T70 >>> Olight M2R Warrior >>> Emisar D4 >>> Amutorch AM30


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CONSIDERATIONS

First, I want to thank again to Jelina and Wuben for sending this flashlight for review! Thanks!

Second, I will tell what I think of the Wuben T70!

What do I like?

  1. Overall quality is excellent! This must be stated in the first place, as all that is related to the body and components is great, without flaws or functioning issues!

2) I love this Camouflage pattern! I really do, as it is different from what I had so far, and because the anodizing that makes this pattern is also great! I am not sure if it will wear fast or not, but I will find out with more use.

3) Thick body with good ergonomics! This is my first 26650 flashlight so I never had a battery with these body characteristics, namely diameter. Being a thick body flashlight and larger than the 18650s, it fits well in the hand, being easy to locate the front and the back (as the switch and the USB port are in opposite faces but not symmetrically!!!). That is an improvement looking at the TO46R for example.

4) The output! It lights well in some hundreds or meters, despite having a OP reflector and not SMO, what would make it more throwy.

5) The mode spacing! As ever, Wuben nailed it , and the mode spacing is perfect, having perfect usability in all of them.

6) Shortcut to Turbo and Momentary Turbo from OFF! I like these 2 features, once momentary Turbo helps to blink as a distress signal and the constant Turbo from OFF allows having a burst of light when needed!

7) Hidden Strobe and SOS! I don’t need to say much more, do I? :stuck_out_tongue:



What would I change?

1) Shortcut to turbo from ON. I would implement this as another feature once it may be important to have Turbo without having to cycle through all the modes.

2) Ramping mode. I would probably change the way the ramping is operated, introducing the possibility to ramp up and down without having to do the whole path upwards or downwards to ramp in the opposite direction!

3) Introduce a Moonlight Level! Well, even this being a flashlight designed mostly for outdoor use, eventually military (due to the camouflage), I would introduce a Moonlight level outside the 4 regular modes, with direct access from OFF. It is always useful to have a lower mode on a flashlight like this, in my opinion!

4) Configurable Memory! Well, on the one side, having memory for the last used mode is not that bad being an “outdoor” flashlight, but I would prefer to have it configurable so that users can chose what to have. I know it is not a common thing to do in these companies’ flashlights, but it would be a nice feature to have!


Last but not least, some CAMOUFLAGE photos, where the T70 conceals in the Autumn leaves :blush:


This said, I repeat that this is a very pleasant flashlight, with superb quality and competence! The smaller issues/changes I mentioned are not big constraints but would make this flashlight even better! I guess some of these UI things will be surpassed on the Wuben TO50R :wink:

Thanks for reading and let me know about questions or comments you have!!

Best regards! :+1:

Can you get a magnet close to the springs?

I would like to know if they are steel, or made of a copper alloy.

Thanks again!

Yes I can! Just did it and the magnet didn’t stick on the springs (both, driver and tail)! :+1:
Actually, the magnet doesn’t stick to any part of the flashlight on the exterior, nor the interior! lol

Nice. That means they’re using high current phosphor bronze/BeCu springs.

That means there shouldn’t be a problem regarding to spring voltage drop affecting turbo output.

I have to say though. The light is massive, even if using a 26650.

Oops, I guess I missed your comment all this time :person_facepalming:
Yup, if compared to other lights (namely the smaller ones as Emisar D4S), this light is big, but I can tell you I’ve been abusing it and the mass allows it to sustain turbo quite well! It gets hot, no doubt, but at least at naked eye, there is few output decay within a certain range of time (not measured, btw)!

I returned to the thread to mention that:

  • below 3.7V or 3.6V (didn’t measure the voltage at the time), the highest output cannot be reached using the regular group mode (through ramping it can go higher that the regular modes);

- at about 3.40V the switch started blinking red, so these must be the 15% indicated on the manual;

- after blinking for a while, it went back to “normal” (with short constant red) for some time, and then when I changed mode, it went blinking red again

- at this voltage (± 3.4V), using the regular group will only allow Low and Medium modes and occasionally High!

- when using Strobe (double frequency, characteristic from Wuben), on a silent environment you’ll hear the circuit internally, like if it was a fan with double frequency!

After using it for a while now, I can say that this light is reliable and is really well built, no matter what!
Even if it is “big” I guess someone wanting a good light for outdoor, will be happy with this one!! :+1:

Some weeks ago, Jelina from Wuben sent me an extension tube for the Wuben T70, so that it can fit 2x26650 batteries.
The tube arrived some days ago, and here are come pics.
Note: I don’t have more 26650 batteries, so I had to test the flashlight with 2x18650s and some tubes inside. Still, it worked !

Thanks for the informative review.

Interesting. I really like 26650 form factor, but I sounds like ramping usage would be frustrating. Keep it in stepped mode.

Thanks :wink:
Yup, I do prefer to use it with the regular modes instead the “ramping”!
It is a pitty as this is a very nice little, that with a slightly improvement in the UI would be a complete winner! Still it is a solid and good working light :wink:

I assume it is an E-Switch. Can you measure the parasitic drain in standby?

Yup, it is an e-switch, but I have no instruments to measure parasitic drain :frowning:
Sorry :frowning:

The camo appears to be powder coated, or some sort of spray painted coating, on my T70 camo. It spilled on the inside of the battery tube, and suspicious colored soft fragments around the tube to head threads. I pulled the driver out of mine - oh boy, 3 PCB's, 2 of which are populated with SMD's on both sides. LED wires are tiny - 24 AWG.

To remove the driver, you must de-solder the LED wires, unthread the retaining ring on the switch, and feed the switch into the cavity because the switch wires are too short - knowing that trick it's then easy for the driver assembly to come out.

TomE, I know that a while has passed since your post, but did you take any photo of the driver and the structure of the head?
Would a “normal” driver (lets assume with a different UI) be suitable for this light?

Also, how should I measure the parasitic drain? I have a small multimeter now, but don’t know how to meausure that…

Here are some extra photos of this light :blush:

Yes. Pics to follow in a couple mins - updated now. Guess I didn't post these before, I'll post all I took:

Tail springs:

Driver springs:

I swapped the thin 24 AWG with heavier (think 20 AWG?)

Stock MCPCB all clean:

It's chunkie for sure:

Can't get to my notes right now, but might have gotten a bump from the wire mods - pretty sure that's all I did, plus cleaning up any issues with the MCPCB, MX-4 grease, etc.

A 3 board boost driver - lot of electronics. Notice the R050 and big cap are there twice? Interesting...

For parasitic drain, I have 2 meters capable of doing it. Typical DMM's have a mA or uA setting - for mine you must move the probe connectors - as marked on the DMM. Remove the tailcap and bridge the batt- end to the tube. Be careful though - don't turn the light ON while connected this way - it may blow a fuse, because the low amp measuring mode in the DMM is sensitive to high amps. With my NarsilM lights, I blink the main LED twice on turn ON - that can fry some DMM's. Forgot details but pretty sure it only risks the low amp measuring mode. Some are fixable as well.

Least this is the way I do it - might be other methods.

For the driver, it sure is do-able. The switch is connected off the base board which might work better. A piggyback driver running NarsilM or Anduril could work, but, (big but) you can't run an XHP70 or any 6V LED on the one cell. Maybe a 3V XHP50.2 but LED positioning would have to be worked out, as well as LED height.

TomE, thank you very very much for the detailed photos and the explanations as well! Awesome :wink:
That surely is a different driver architecture, but it also seems to show the reliability that Wuben wanted to give to this flashlight! I am no good in electronics, but I noticed the R050 there!

I will check if I can measure the drain, as I am also learning this. But maybe I will try it first in another light with more or less the same specs ( just to check if I know how to do it)!

Hum, about the driver…well, I start to see too many things I don’t know if would be able to do … :person_facepalming:
I thought I’d be able to change the driver only, without piggyback, but that and the LED swap…I may incur into a delicate path for my knowledge.

I need to re-think what I was thinking as this light is “precious” and is serving me well, so I don’t want to ruin it…

Thank you very very much once again for taking the time to post the photos and the explanation! :beer: :face_with_monocle:

And…that MCPCB is WOW :open_mouth:

Hey there. I was wondering what you would expect the benefits of a second 26650 would be. I’m trying to decide between this and the Wuben A21, and if a second battery option would equate to significantly better runtimes it might be enough to tip the scales. If it increases brightness but doesn’t significantly increase runtime then it probably wouldn’t be worth it.

What do you think?

This looks very cool. Would love to see a side by side with this and a classic 2 D cell maglite.

The 2 x 26650 will of course give you more runtime, even on high! I see me charging it less since I started using the flashlight with the 2 cells.
I am not sure it if will give higher output and I don’t have and exact way to measure it. But runtime will be longer with it :wink:

I don’t have that flashlight, maybe some of our other members has and can help with that :wink:

Sounds like this might be the direction I should go. I’m getting a little sidetracked by Olight having a Xmas sale tomorrow, but the T70 seems like the direction to go if I want brightness AND runtime. How did you get your extension tube? I don’t see it for sale anywhere. How much did it cost?

Thanks!

This is, at least, a good flaslight if you want some “sustainable lumens” for a while. Currently I am using it with the “stepless dimming” mode activated do that I can turn it ON/OFF with just one click.

About the tube + extra cell , it was sent to me by Jelina from Wuben for review purposes. Maybe you can contact her through the user profile: http://budgetlightforum.com/user/20745

Check if they still have those tubes. BG and GB don’t seem to have it and AliExpress doesn’t have it too as far as I know!

About the UI…Olight will win over this, I am sure! Still the T70 is a great light that I can rely on if I go to the “wilderness” :smiling_imp: