That's evil propaganda...
Infidels!
There are idiots (and geniouses) in every country, no country has monopoly on idiots (or geniouses) 
Honestly I am not sure yet. The fenix has a smaller tighter hotspot and I think it will throw further. I haven’t even taken them outside because the moon has been so bright and it’s a snowy mess outside so at night a flashlight hasnt even been needed.
Tonight I’ll try some whitewall beam shots to compare the tk35, the KD c8, the manafont XML, my XML swapped tr801 with 2800 ma driver, and just for kicks, my XML swapped mrlite j4:)
Thanks, mizjif ;)
PS: Budgeteer & company - TV Spammers :bigsmile:
mizjif, can you measure the current on the TK-35? Are the cells configured in parallel or series?
I am not sure how to measure the current on the tk35 as the battery pack goes into the body and then the head/driver assembly screws on. If anyone can tell me how to do it, i'll gladly do it for ya :)
I have some wall shots of my xm-l lights taken, i'll hopefully have them up tonight or tomorrow :)
Today I got an Ultrafire X1 from Manafont. Given the current state of Hongkong post and that my L2p from Solarforce-sales has just shown up in the US a month after it was shipped, I think it is amazing that this light, ordered March 6 showed up today, just 2 weeks later.
Anyway, the Ultrafire X1 is an 18650-sized clone of the AKOray, except it has 3 fixed modes: High, Medium (not really Low), and Strobe. It has stupid "memory" where it comes on in the next mode after it has been off for up to a minute, or any longer than that, resets to High. It is actually pretty bright despite being an XR-E Q5. I'll write up a review later. I didn't buy it for the LED or driver, but to use as a host for a neutral XP-G R4 and a 1.4A driver that I have on the way from KD (ordered March 1 and just left Hongkong today; it seems the longer you waited to order the faster things would arrive in this Rabbit year). It will become a budget version of Shiningbeam's S-mini neutral. It has some promise though the reflector and lens are the same size as the AA AKOray K-106. I guess maybe a 20mm reflector and lens wouldn't quite fit so they just made the bezel thicker and used a 18mm lens and reflector.
It may be like my TK-45 which presents both the + and - terminals at the head end of the battery carrier. If that is the case you may need to use an extra wire with alligators to make one connection between the head/driver and the battery pack, and your dmm to make the other. Clear as mud? 
Some cruddy beam shots are up here:
http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/1773
And photon, sorry, I am unclear about how test current still. Clear as mud yup lol. Forgive my lack of knowledge with this stuff. I am still pretty new to this all :)
How does it look? worth the extra few cents? and will the hinge last? Infact, is it good enough to use as a pocket clipped battery pack?
Today I got:
DX:
- R2 one mode dropin (it is now on an L2P clone by skyray with a focus lens and it throooows)
- Uniquefire G10 6 mode black
cnQuality Goods:
- Yezl Z1 XML
Solarforce Sales:
- 2xL2i (AAA) (black and gray)
- 1xL2 black + two extensions
- 1xL2 (1x16340 / 2x16340)
No worries at all - forget I asked. I'm not much beyond the very basics myself.
If you're curious about DMM measurements in the context of flashlights, there is an excellent post by HKJ called "Simple guide to using a DMM for measurements". Despite the many sins of that place, it still has a wealth of information contributed by some very knowledgable people. The very first section of that post deals with measuring current consumption. Be sure not to miss the subsection titled "Other types of light" [sic], where he gives examples of measuring current in lights that do not have a tail cap.
I *finally* got my Solarforce L2p from Solarforce Sales today (ordered Feb 16 and a victim of HK Post). It's definitely a nice piece of work. I have the L2 and like it, but this one definitely seems more rugged. The finish and knurling actually remind me of the Ultrafire 502B which is one of my favorites anywa. Of course the threads are cut better than the 502B, just buttery smooth. I was afraid mine might not have the gold interior, but it does. 
I think my Manafont 3-mode XM-L will go in there.
Also got the $3.60 DMM yesterday from eBay, but it was delivered through the mail slot and my dog chewed it up. He had gotten hold of the package for the Ultrafire X1 earlier in the week, but didn't do any damage to the light (seemed to really enjoy the bubble wrap envelope though). But the plastic DMM was toast. I thought I had a foolproof system for protecting the mail, but he got through. Might order another one, though I already have something similar. With two I could measure current in and current out at the same time.
Lol silly dog. Good thing it wasn't a Fluke!
Need 4 actually!!! haha, one pair for voltage and current at each end of the driver...
I was happy i recieved a notice to pick soemthing form post office but turend out to be "just" neodymium magnets. Still pretty fun to play with. Those are not for me but nonetheless i will play a little with them. Feeling like a 5y old kid.
Getting spoilt with expecting flashlights with each package....
Just arrived, a rather odd light from DX. Apparently it is designed for examining jade and jewellery.
First impression, it's very heavy (178g with a cell)
Second impression is that the beam is pretty good but very, very warm. Review to follow.
Looking very good i must admit.