I felt compelled to post this general overview of the Nage 3 x XM-L in case anyone has been looking at it. Let me start by stating that there are two versions on the market. There are Nage and an Ultrafire 3 x XM-L and 1 x XM-L. They are the same lights with different branding. I have already posted my build of the 1 x XM-L version under the Ultrafire JS-8054 brand. I will not be getting around to modding this one for a bit, so if you want to have a look at the driver, you can refer my Ultrafire post. !
Another piece of the head unscrews, but it seems to be glued on the Nage. I didn’t really try to twist it very hard, so it might just need a bit of elbow grease. Removing it isn’t necessary as it is only a separate component in order to convert it to the 1 x XM-L version. This is a truly ruggedly built light. Nothing is thin in its construction. Heavy walls and pill. I was surprised at how thick it was when I had to drill through the top of the pill on my Ultrafire. I believe these hosts can absorb all the heat you can throw at them. Here is a comparison with the 1 x XM-L version (under the Ultrafire logo). I’ve had this light sitting on my table for a week and never noticed that it is shorter than single emitter version. It’s just a matter of a lower profile head component that accommodates the triple reflector. !
This is one roomy light. Whether it’s the tailcap, or the pill, there is just a ton of room work with. I think you could fit any driver on the market inside the pill.
The driver is like a giant NANJG split into three sectors in parallel with the emitters. Each sector has spots for six AMC7135 chips. I haven’t wrestled the driver out to see if all the spots are occupied, but judging by my tail readings I believe they are. If you want, you can stack another level of chips for increased current. Because of the size of the board you are not as constricted as when stacking on a 17mm driver.
My single emitter version only had seven chips. That left empty slots for eleven more chips and link all three sectors with a short bridge. I’m expecting a Nage 1 x XM-L in the mail tomorrow, so I’m curious to see how many chips Nage uses as compared to the Ultrafire. I’ll post some photos of all three together when it arrives.
These are fast becoming my favorite hosts for modding, as you can pretty well do anything you want with them. I have plans for MT-G2 build, and want to convert one to 4 x 18650 in series just so I can say I did it. Perhaps I’ll become a Nage specialist the way OL is a MagLite specialist.
While its on my mind I just want to mention that I’m not sure if the lens is plastic or glass. When I removed it to take photos it felt kind of plasticky to me. I didn’t want to do a lot of tapping on it in case of scratches, but when I dropped it on some metal tools, it had made that glass clicky sound. I think I might have an AR coated lens here from CNQG that might fit.
Also you might have noticed a charging port beside the handle. I didn’t want to mention it, because it isn’t mentioned in any of the specs at any store. There is no charging circuitry on the driver, and it doesn’t come with any charging cables. I wouldn’t mess with it, it could lead to a big kaboom. I removed it entirely from my other build to make room for extra heat sinking. The plug that seals it has its own o-ring and I wouldn’t worry about water getting in. In a future build, I’d like to put a second switch there that would send it into DD or something. I’m going to have to send a close up to OldLumens to see if he knows what would fit there.
Seeing as the triple reflector isn’t really a reflector at all, but three small cups set into a rubber gasket. I was surprised at how bright this light is. A nice even flood. Actually, it is pretty close to my MT-G2 builds In its output and beam profile. I wonder how it will be after I stack a bunch of extra chips. But then again, I’m waiting on a 5 x XM-L reflector to see if it fits. Hell, I may have to order another host.
I guess I should mention the UI of this triple version. There are seven modes on this thing, non of them hidden. Kind of unique, or a pain, depending on how you feel about it.
Low=1xXML
Med.=2xXML
High=3xXML
Sequence=123-123-123
Med.=3xXML
Low =3xXML
SOS……………
I like the idea of the 1-2-3 emitter start up as it would be great to start in low with a single warm hi CRI emitter, then add a neutral on med. and a cool white on high.
The bad part is it seems to have next mode memory…well…kind of. I found if I count to ten, it will go back to the single emitter low mode.
The slow rotating sequence of 1-2-3 is kind of neat. Just to please those people that don’t like the one emitter at a time Low-Med-Hi, the added another Med and Low that utilize all three. The SOS is very slow and spaced out. At least there’s no strobe!
I shot this little YouTube video for your viewing pleasure. If it seems that the output is not that bright, it’s because bright light shining into it just turns my iPad screen into a white hole. To compensate, I had to shine two MT-G2 flashlights directly at the front of the Nage in order to obtain balance.
Tail current readings with 4 x UR18650FM
Low(1xXML) - 1.52A
Med(2xXML) - 3.05A
High(3xXML) - 4.60A
Sequence - 1.53 - 1.53 - 1.53A
Med(3xXML) - 1.35A
Low(3xXML) - 0.44A
SOS - … —…—
These are great hosts to work on. Happy modding.