Review: ThruNite Saber 1A (updated T10)

The Archer out throws it, the Saber is more flood.
For performance the lumens are 169 for the Saber and 178 for the Archer, but the Archer appears a lot brighter outside due to the throw.

Thank you for the reply. I already ordered the Archer before this, so was torn on ordering this as well, or holding off.

I’m new to Thrunite and multi-mode twisty lights. How does the UI work? I just got a Ti and have it with me at all times on my keychain. That UI is simple since it’s only dual-mode and wouldn’t need memory. I can understand the Archer which is multi-mode memory but has a tail switch and twist for mode changes. The Saber is multi-mode with memory and only a twist UI.

If it's like other twisty flashlights with modes;

1. Twist it to turn on. It will turn on in high or low (most small lights start on high).

2. Quick twist off and back on will switch it into the next mode in the sequence. (For example if you start in high, it will most likely switch to medium, do it again, and you have low.)

3. Once you have a mode selected, and twist the light off for a longer time, it should come back to the the same mode it was in before you shut it off.

Depending on the driver, some lights will come back to the same preset mode even after you swap batteries, others will default to the original high or low mode.

I finally got around to working on this toad. It had not one, not two, but three… yes, count’em three problems that kept it from working.

First one of the emitter wires was not properly soldered to the star. Blob of solder, but no continuity to the star. I originally tested the head by clipping a battery directly to the head and got no light so I assumed the driver was DOA.

Second the spring in the base was not making contact to the tube. No amount of futzing could get it to make contact. The dreaded WOAF (wad of aluminum foil) hack got that kludged around… crammed a big wad of foil under the spring.

Third was the driver was sitting slightly below the edge of the pill. It would not make contact to the tube when the head was screwed in. I ran a bead of solder around the outer driver ring to get it working.

Tossed it into the Sphere ’o Many Mysteries:
Moon: 0.15 lumens
Low: 12.8 lumens
High: 115 lumens (what a T10 should be. Saber should be 169 lumens)
CCT: 6400K

I think that I’ll try a Nichia 219 in it…

Got the Nichia 219 in it:

Moon: .05 lumens
Low: 9.5 lumens
High: 86 lumens
CCT: 4200K
CRI: oh my!

I just occurred to me that the “Saber 1A” is sold as “Spirit” by Fasttech, for $22.00.

I wonder who really makes those things?

Mine, too (BLF “special”). I finally took some 400 grit sandpaper and roughed up the bottom of the tube. Seems to have helped.

[quote=texaspyro]

:open_mouth:

Look familiar?

I wish the spirit was an xpg2.

despite all of the ‘issues’ with TN and the BLF 1A, I have to say that my copy (from fleabay, $25 bo) has been great! On 14500 it is a great little light… keeps moonlight mode as well…

Hope those who are having issues get the details sorted…

i assume that is easily fixed

I tried a couple of NiMH cells. They would not fit in the tube. Tube is 14.3mm ID. NoMem 2500 mAh cell is 14.3 mm, goes in half way. Imedion 2200 mAh is 14.28 mm, goes in about 3/4 way and then seems like air pressure is keeping it from going in the rest of the way. I’m not going to force the issue…

I got around to testing my Fasttech Spirit light ($20). It did 115/12/.06 lumens… actually more than advertised and more than the Thrunite Saber.

Then I put a Nichia ’219 in it. It gives the same output as the stock XPG R5 (and around 15% more than the mod’ed Thrunite Saber).

Does the spirit support a 14500? and for how long on high

It should, it is identical to the Thrunite (down to tooling marks on the LED centering ring). Nowhere does either say that it supports lithium rechargeables, but people say they do.

Hadn’t seen the spirit until now, it looks indeed identical.
Here a link if someone else want to take a look http://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10003046/1227900

The spirit appears to come with a lithium battery. Does that mean the circuit officially supports lithium?

Appears with a primary lithium battery (Lithium NICE), only 1.8V (soon drops to 1.5-1.6V)

It’s an alkaline battery…