UltraFire RL-168 HA-III OSRAM 3 mode

  • Brand: UltraFire
  • Model: RL-168
  • Color BIN: White
  • Emitters: LUW-W5AM
  • Battery Configurations: 1 x AA/1 x 14500 Ii-on battery(not included)
  • Switch Type: Clicky (Clickie)
  • Switch Location: Tailcap
  • Modes: 3
  • Mode Memory: Circuitry Features Mode Memory
  • Mode Arrangement: Hi > Middle > Low
  • Runtime: 50 minutes (manufactuer rated)
  • Lumen: 150 lumens maximum brightness (manufactuer rated)
  • Lens: Coated Glass Lens
  • Reflector: Aluminum Smooth/SMO Reflector
  • Carrying Clip: Clip Included

I just received the Ultrafire RL - 168 in the post . I have been interested in one of these ever since seeing one on ****** , and the opportunity to buy a 3 mode [ Hi - med - lo ] version came and I just didnt hesitate to spend the $25 USD to have it shipped to me . Got mine here .

Now its rated for AA and 14500 , so let me get to the AA first . If you dont use a fresh cell the light just about wont work , basically once the battery is used a little and the voltage drops , the RL-168 , just does not utilize all of the battery , in fact mine was shutting down @ 1.4v and then some , so dont expect much in the way of run time with AA's , not if this one is typical of the breed .

Moving onto the 14500 , and this little light comes alive , the beam is a little ringy with a very small hotspot , but still has good spill , in fact I'm not sure this light should be anything but a 14500 light . I dare say that I have found another battery vampire , this little sucker draws up to some 1.5A current on high , and only returns a little over 200Lumen output for the current drawn . Lets have a look at the performance figures , and see how we are going ...

AA PERFORMANCE [ or lack there of ]

AA Alkaline 1.54v = Low / 0.12A - 4Lumen , Medium / 0.59A - 18Lumen , High / 2A - 64Lumen

14500 PERFORMANCE

Low / 0.09A - 14Lumen , Medium / 0.41A - 72Lumen , High / 1.5A - 220Lumen and sagged to about 205 after 1 minute

Besides being a bit of a battery vampire , I have no real complaints , in fact this little light was surprisingly good , Nice threads , nice anodizing , good solid clicky , and the clip is like alligator jaws , very firm and solid . The light does appear to be better than your usual Ultrafires , and as long as you dont want to run AA's , is a very nice little light . I took it for a walk and the clip really did the job well [ hanging onto my belt ] , and never gave me the slightest hint of being anything but securely attached . I was hopping for AA compatibility , unfortunately AA's are just going to be a waste in this light , and one really needs to break out the 14500's to do the light any justice at all ...

Beamshots tonight !

Some beamshots !!!

First we will go with Low mode ...

Next medium mode ....

And then high mode ......

Thank you for the review. Ive had my eye on this one for about a year or so. It is a handsome light. Have you gotten around to seeing how difficult an emitter and driver transplant would be?

Emitter might be ab easy swap , driver ?? , Im thinking , maybe a Cree Q5 ... But I can live with it , the way it is ..... [ For how long ? ]

AA Alkaline 1.54v = Low / 0.12A - 4Lumen , Medium / 0.59A - 18Lumen , High / 2A - 64Lumen

Whoa, driver efficiency is abysmal if true. Have you tested w/ nimh?

KD are selling this light with a Q5 for $29.11, save yourself the time.

http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=10933

The driver seems to have at least a voltage issue ... with 1.5v batteries , I tried a rechargeable , but it only ran about 10 seconds then turned off

But yeah ... Disappointing .. Might be better on a Lithium , but there expensive ... Id call it a 14500 light ...

KD sells RL-198 II (which accept 18650 ), this one is AA version. I have an old Osram version, modded with XP-G R4 neutral white and 2 mode driver. Very nice and quality made flashlight.

Hrvoje

Hi there Matt,

Thanks for the review, you saved me $25 on this light. Looks great, has some nice features, but I can't accept that NiMH performance. I wonder if it's defective?

Seems to be running fine on the 14500 though , I thought maybe a faulty driver ? But Im not buying any more , so , unless some one else can verify ?

Though I do like it as is with the 14500 , I was looking for AA compatibility , which this does not really offer , not realistically .

Perhaps in the future a driver swap ...

I put in a SSC P4 emitter , and the beam is much nicer now , I just couldn't stand the ringy beam with the osram emitter ..

Output is down , but so is current draw , the beam is so smooth now ...

Huh, that surprises me. I would have blamed the ringy beam on an alignment or reflector issue.

I messed around with the reflector , and nothing helped , so I popped in a SSC P4 , very nice ...

Havent fully checked it yet , but seems to run better on AA's now ??? I will have to check that more fully ...

You could have waited and got the big brother for the same price?

That's got XP-G R5

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-rl198-r5-3mode-memory-led-flashlight-p-4353?osCsid=r98n3t10ff5pbu14o33otu09d4

Darn it !!!!!!!!! Another light he needs to buy now !!!!! Looks real nice with the XP-G R5 ..... Damn , goes on the must have list .....

Naaaa , Love the 168 , especially as its SSC P4 now , its a fantastic little 14500 light , not much chop on AA's , but just fantastic on 14500 ..

It is a viable option to CR123A powered lights ... I think I need to buy some more 14500's [ batteries ] , as I dont have enough to go around .