Nitecore EA11 CREE XM-L2(U2) 900lm

I’m curious, as well, how long the EA11 can maintain 900 lumen output, before stepping down; but I’m with you. The output is amazing, even if it only for a few minutes. 9000 candela and 190 meter throw out of a single 14500 (IMR) light is staggering.

Can anyone here think of a single other light, comparably sized and priced, that can deliver the same, for any amount of time?

Truly, this is a niche light. It’s not going to be for everyone. Moonlight mode enthusiasts are going to hate this light, because of the low run time at 1 lumen. There are plenty of lights that produce moonlight mode, in this form factor, but not too many that have this kind of output, as well.

If such a light exists, point me the way. I’ll buy it, without hesitation.

I still haven’t figured out how to post pictures here. In other forums, I merely copy the image link from photobucket and paste it into the post, and the images shows up, automatically resized to 800 x 600 (to conform with picture size limits on most forums.

Agreed. My EA11 holster sits right next to my iPhone 5S and is practically invisible there (blends right in with the phone), and is extremely easy to access.

I’m also EDCing a ThruNite T10 (cool white) and T10 2014 edition - neutral (both running on 14500 lithim ions. Have to be careful not to run them for a few minutes at at time, because of the heat, but they work beautifully, but don’t come anywhere close to the output of the EA11.

I like the instant turbo, or instant low mode access, as well. Not sure how useful that flashing red light would be, but I didn’t’ buy if for that anyway lol. Mode memory is great - very handy :slight_smile:

Saw it on GB. Got interested but a combination of 2 factors drove me away on 2nd reading of the specs…

- As OP said, the driver sucks goat. AA performance is retarded. I’d personally take the Neutron 2A V2 for the price.

  • Got to buy a LION charger :smiley:

BUT it sure does look lovely. I love the looks of it.

I would say, to those of you who are not happy about the performance of this light, using a AA (alkaline or NiMh) battery, it’s not worth wasting time or money, buying this light.

If, on the other hand, you are already running lights that use the 14500 battery, you already own a charger for these batteries, and you would like to have a super compact, super high output light, with many features, you may actually end up loving this light.

As I mentioned previously, this is not a super performer, when it comes to run times - but the output it’s capable of is pretty impressive.

If you love moonlight modes that can run for hundreds of hours,continuously, this is definitely not the light for you. The light is not touted as an AA performer; but a high output light (for which a 14500 IMR is recommended); but that is capable of running on AA batteries. Nitecore don’t make any false claims about overly-optimistic run times. In fact, their specs are pretty accurate. They tell you how it really is. I wish more light companies did this.

Edit - 04-12-15 - please see post #, in response to
(I tried to strike through all of what was written here, but it didn’t take, when I clicked on Save. Not sure why. Anyay, my initial (and incorrect) assessment can be found in MountainKing’s quote in post #20.

First 6 minutes. ceilling Bounce, reference 100% is NiMH Eneloop Max. value. The 14500 Nitecore NL147 ok, best for IMR AW.
from ” banggood Not aff”:http://www.banggood.com/es/Nitecore-EA11-CREE-XM-L2U2-900lm-Compact-EDC-Flashlight-p-961636.html

I’m testing with NiMH complete runtime, and 20 minutes with NL147 Nitecore and IMR AW.

:evil:

God, you have to read actual reviews before commenting…

It outputs 810 lumens on a 14500….Is extendable to 2AA, the 1AA does 480 lumens and the other high to moonlight modes runs forever.

SB full review:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?389222

I feel badly. Thank you for bringing Selfbuilt’s review to my attention, MountainKing.

In looking through Thrunite’s website, I found no mention of the Neutron 2A’s ability to run on a 14500 battery, or (naturally) the increased output that would be afforded, through the use of that battery.

Selfbuilt’s reviews are always top drawer. He’s thorough, honest, and without a doubt, a first rate, credible reviewer, who’s been around for a while. I love reading/watching his light reviews, and trust his judgment implicitly.

Selfbuilt pointed out that, using the 14500 battery, according to his tests, the Neutron 2A V2 is capable of 810 lumens, with 9,600 candela, and a 196 meter beam range. That is amazing, and definitely makes it a viable contender for the EA11, with three added bonuses:

  1. If you don’t happen to have 14500 batteries available, but still need the high output, you can attach the included extender, just use 2 regular AA batteries, and not lose the high output. This could be considerably convenient, in a pinch.
  2. the moonlight (and low settings) run times on this V2 are superior to that of the EA11.
  3. the light is available in a neutral white version! ThruNite use a wonderful neutral white emitter (I use that version in my T10 2014 Edition, and my T20 - excellent tint!).

I tried to strike through my incorrect assumptions I made in Post #18 (since I hadn’t yet read the selfbuilt review), but they didn’t take, so I deleted them. I wish I had done my due diligence and read this review, first.

Hindsight…

Sorry, MountainKing (tail between legs).

Now, what I’d like to know is - why hasn’t ThruNite mentioned that the 14500 can be used in the Neutron 2A V2 successfully, and that the additional power would be gained, using this single 14500? That would certainly be a tremendous selling point with high performance battery users who wanted that output with just one battery, wouldn’t it? True, they do mention the working voltage range with a high end of 5 volts, but nothing else about the possibility of using the much superior 14500 battery in their light.

Whyyyy?

In any case, I will definitely be picking up a Neutron 2A V2, to add to the 14500 collection. Thanks, MountainKing. Your points were well-made, and graciously received :D.

No hard feelings, I hope.

I add runtime for 21 minutes with 3 types of batteries. Surface temperature flashlight with lithium use. Voltage at the the end of the Test of 21min. (of each Lithium battery).

Some very useful information there. Thanks for posting this, Trevi-lux!

@david57strat: No hard feelings bro :smiley: Not that I a thrunite fan or anything but that Neutron V2 is jaw dropping for me to be honest….
As you said the voltage input says up to 5V which is fine for lions. Personally, this means that 1x14500 is fine but with the extender, there could have been cases of people using either to test/or by mistake 2x14500 cell in it thereby frying the driver or something?
This is the only reason I can think of. To limit its liability!
The Neutral version is so awesome as you said! Bought one for my broand I have been fighting the urge to buy one for myself for quite some time. When my quark died, I was happy to get one but 47 repaired it free of charge with the newer XML L2 head :P. So I can’t justify the purchase yet!

I am checking now the 1 Lumen runtime of Ultralow mode with eneloop.
At the moment 12 hours ( on User Manual, say 10 h. and “on”…)

The 1lm for 10 hours on 1 eneloop makes no sense to me, that would mean the EA11 uses 200mA to make 1lm.

ThruNite Archer 1A V2 uses AA and 14500, 180lumen using one Ni-Mh AA battery. $36.95 for the XP-L V6 CW version and $29.95 for the XP-G2 NW version.

Modes & Run-time:
Firefly:0.055lumen(408hours)
Low:17lumen(22hours)
Medium:75lumen(5hours)
High:180lumen(115minutes)
Strobe:180lumen(3.5hours).

Selfbuilts review
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?400041

I have the 2 x AA version of this light and really like it bought 2 of the XP-G2 NW version sofar, may buy one of the XP-L V6 CW versions just so i have one. Then i will buy some Archer 1A V2’s to round out my AA lights for the year.

We really need to give selfbuilt his own sub forum here so we do not have to post CPF links

At the moment 18 hours… and flashlight is “on”.

EDIT:
18;30 min. intensity begins to fall relatively quickly. 18h. 45 minutes flashlight OFF

That’s a reasonable amount of time for one 1.2V cell.

ThruNite Archer 1A V2 NW on Low of 15lumen for 22hours i find much more reasonable than the nitecore, also the Thrunite is much more reasonably priced. For $5 more than the cost of the nitecore i can get 2 of the ThruNite Archer 1A V2 NW’s.

Thank you Trevi_lux for doing the runtime test, i find it strange that the runtime for 1lm was so understated 18hrs is much better than 10hrs. Makes me wonder about the other runtimes they stated.

But as with everything it is personnel choice for me the ThruNite Archer offers far more VFM than the Nitecore in both cost and runtimes. Then there are those that value the burst of 900lm of the Nitecore more highly, to me it looks like they skewed the driver towards the 900lm top end to the detrement of the lower modes, but i am no expert.

There are several options for decents EDCs AA. But the Nitecore offer to me a great Turbo option and one of the best interface that I have used (and red led, and voltage read option). When a flashlight have a great compatibility of chemical and voltage options, we know that the perfomance will not be the best with all of them. NiMH is only acceptable with lithium, the best 1XAA made so far today.

Sorry but I hate Service Customer Thrunite. Open, close the store, never answer the asked questions …. I do not like and I did not want to buy that model.

Nice to see NC conservative on it’s specs, but ~18 lumen-hours of efficiency on an Eneloop is REALLY poor, and I understand this light uses an obvious/noticeable PWM. I’ve output/runtime tested an SC52 over 130 lm-hrs (1.3 lms for 100+hrs) and the Neutron V2 ~180 lms-hrs (6 lms for ~30 hrs) - both about right for an efficient 1xAA Eneloop at those output levels… and current regulated. My NW Neutron tops out at ~700 lms on an IMR 14500 which I suspect is very close to what this NC can do on the US-ANSI scale I use.

I’m all for screaming bright pocket rockets, but when dealing with such a small battery like a 14500/Eneloop, IMHO, it’s not worth sacrificing the low-end efficiency, or mode spacing, for an output that’s really only useful for seconds at a time.

I think, you are ok, poor with NiMH.
But you are wrong, this Nitecore is not closed to thrunite Neutron. This Nitecore produces (with IMR) more lumens that my Nitecore EA4. For efficency, there are many other lights, I have lot of them, but pocket rocket with this interface and the oportunity in case that I need of use with common AA, only this.
Of course for EDC best many others. But for Turbo mode if you see my runtime of first 21 minutes, this is great!!!
(one thing more, for me Neutron is ugly :weary: )

Well, I don’t own any NCs, but using a same scale basis (Selfbuilt) the XML1 EA4 tested at 770 lms, but the new XML2 version was bumped 100 lms so call it 870 lms, and throw in another 100 lms since you find the EA11 “brighter” so even if the EA11 were ~970 lms (SB-scale) that’s still only 20% brighter than the 810 lms SB gets for the Neutron. I personally consider a 20% lumen differential (~10% perceived given the logarithmic thing) to be “close” :slight_smile: - I’d certainly need my lightbox to distinguish that difference.

Agree you can always carry a second light, but one of the primary reasons I like these pocket-rocket 1xAA/14500s, is that…… you don’t have to anymore.

(all JIMHO, of course)