Review: N-Light B2 3 mode AA

For review is the N-Light B2 3 Mode Stainless Steel

Available from CNQ http://www.cnqualitygoods.com

Though as I started this review , I could not find the B2 Listed on the CNQ website .



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Left to Right: Tank007 566 , Akoray AK-16 , N-Light B2 , Jetbeam BK 135A .

For review I have the N-Light B2 3 mode Stainless Steel 1 x AA from CNQ . Im not sure if this light is still available or not , as the listing for it has been removed from the CNQ web site . This B3 is very well made , I dont know what it is about stainless , but Im starting to like it in smaller lights . I was for some reason expecting the B2 to be a little smaller , considering how compact the B3 is , in fact looking at the light , there are several areas where size could be compacted , I was expecting a light a little smaller than the Jetbeam , but never mind .


Aside from my expectations , the light is well made , threads are well cut , knurling is well done , and the fit and finish is also well done . The body is made in 3 parts , tailcap - body - and the head . The body has been machined so as to remove some weight by cutting a step inside , so at the head end there is enough material to guide the battery and hold it in place , while at the back , lots of empty space (picture3).



In this picture you can see the weight saving measures taken my N-Light .


I like this type of modular design , as it makes it easy to work on the light should you need to , now obviously it would be nice if you never had to , but it's good to know that should you need to , that you actually can .


Using the light is easy , it has 3 modes/levels , Low - Medium and High , as well it has mode memory so you can have the light starting at your desired light level . The low on this light is actually low , around 1 to 2 lumen , and pulling some 12mA approximately , is going to offer some decent run time with a good AA battery . Doing the math , 2000mAh battery / 12mA = 166 hours . So anyone looking for really long runtime , seriously , with 24 hours in the day , thats some 6.9 days continuous .

Medium is around 33 to 38 depending on the battery and draws a steady 190 to 200mA , offering some 10 hours on a 2000mAh capacity battery .


High produces some 126 to 146 lumen again depending on the battery [ Nimh ] used , and draws what I consider to be a very low 770 to 850mA , giving the user some 2 hours on high .


Lets look at some performance figures :


Recyko AA Nimh Low - 2L - 0.01A , Medium - 38L - 0.2A , High - 146L faded to 140L - 0.85A [ 1.43v of the charger ]


Duracell AA Nimh Low - 2L - 0.01A , Medium - 37L - 0.2A , High - 138L faded to 135L - 0.83A [ 1.42v of the charger ]


Eneloop AA Nimh Low - 2L - 0.01A , Medium - 33L - 0.19A , High - 126L - 0.77A [ 1.34v of the charger ]


Rayovac 4 Nimh Low - 2L - 0.01A , Medium - 36L - 0.19A , High - 136L faded to 134L - 0.78A [ 1.37v of the charger ]


Some more measurements :

1.31 Volts [resiting voltage] returned 120L

1.29 Volts returned 116L

1.26 Volts returned 105L

1.23 Volts returned 99L

1.19 Volts returned 92L



Well , I like it , so far no issues , the output is not the highest for a AA light , but then neither is it the lowest . What it does offer is very low current draw , possibly the lowest current draw of any AA light . When you take output VS current into consideration , this light is just awesome , it is just so efficient . If you were in need of long run time and decent output then the B2 would need to be at the top of your list of must have AA lights . I am really impressed by the efficiency of this light , but at the same time just a little disappointed it was not trimmed some , and made a little smaller . Now I did take the light for a walk in my trouser pocket , and you never really forget its there as it slaps into you leg as you walk along . The Next day I tried carrying it in the sleeve of a jacket [ in a pen pocket ] and again you could not get away from the weight , you really can feel the heft of the stainless steel , and possibly a holster of some kind would be in order to carry it on your belt .

The B2 really wants a Nitecore style belt clip , I love belt clips , especially good ones [ thats just me ] , and I have to mention the light came with a very nice lanyard , which is very well made , and in no way your usual 10c accessory.




3 Mode - Low - Med - High

Glass Lens

O rings through out

Tail stands - even with lanyard in place [ Very Nice ]

XP-G R5 - I ordered this light a long time ago [ and with the light removed from CNQ ] I think its XP-G R5

Excellent driver efficiency

Came with lanyard - wrist strap [ very nice quality ]

Well machined

Knurling well done

Threads well cut

No battery slop - If you shake the light hard enough , you will notice some , but it wont change modes on you

Perhaps N-Light could make a new model , and trim the size a little , if they could make one a little smaller than the Jetbeam , I would be in for another . [ With a sturdy clip ] But my opinions aside , this is a very nice light , the Stainless Steel makes it a little on the heavy side , but not so that you would not want to use it . The B3 has been my EDC for almost 6 months , and that little AAA has been seriously trouble free , and hopefully that quality extends to the B2 . My only suggestion would be for N-light to make the B2 in Aluminum , as it is just such a wonderful light , and if they could do it for $25 or better , it could be a contender .


Beamshots Tonight :


You can get it on http://www.cnqualitygoods.com , but you have to wait some weeks:

Sold out-----Will get back on early July - Shop price:$29.99

There are two products, but I do not notice any differences (maybe the tint):

http://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1044

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Ric made a comment in his promotion thread that he had to suspend sales of the B2S because the latest batch had a switch issue. Old - have you tested with 14500 yet? I would love to see the figures for that.

Very nice review as usual Matt! Thanks a lot for all the great info. Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.

Sounds like a great low mode. And yes, this thing really needs a clip. I probably would have already bought one if it had a clip.

Was charging up the battery ....

But yes , output is insane .. Im not sure anyone is going to believe it ..

I will post some 14500 result tomorrow .

Nice review, I have been interested in this one for a while. As I understand it, this has a regular reverse clicky vs the electronic switch of the B3.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the light is just too heavy for EDC tasks.

Nice review, Matt ;) Waiting that 14500 shots :p

BTW, this is what I calling "excellent driver efficiency" 8)

Very nice review old!

I think it would be unfair to say its too heavy to EDC , I was mearly saying it wont disapear in your pocket ..

When I carry a light , its nice if it does a vanishing act [ you dont feel it in the pocket ]

If you want this one to vanish - go un noticed , it wants belt carry .

Hmmm , interesting ...

Ok , lets see now

14500 @ 3.94v

Low - 40L - 100mA , Medium - 278L - 760mA , High - 411L - 1.28A

14500 @ 4.19v [ Are you ready for this ]

Low - 48L - 110mA , Medium - 321L - 880mA , High - 490L - 1.48A - sags quickly to 450L

Wow , !!!!!

Holy crap, that's kind of insane.

Flashlight, also emergency camping stove.

Its nuts ...

Either the N-light has a very good driver , or I have been using some cheap nasty drivers ... [ I believe the entire statement to be true ]

Or the 3rd option is , there is one seriously good emitter in there .

I have only seen 400+ once before with a XP-G R5 , and that was shortly after they came out , but it simply could not maintain the output and started turning blue and emitting smoke ...

350 - 370 yes ! with fresh batteries , but this is just wow !

The other thing to consider is light blockage , or bezel block . The smaller lights seem to suffer less from blockage ..

And if you take a p60 pill out and hook a battery to it , you may notice some serious gains ..

There is quite a bit of loss , in some hosts ..

Hello... is this on ?? >>> what have i been saying for the last 4 months ..doesn't anyone pay attention to the Boaz ??

I don't think it's heavy at all.. I carry it all the time . it's 90 grams with a 14500. It's lighter than the popular ultrafire stainless steel C3 at 100g . A tank 566 with a nimh is 75g..a trustfire r5-as is about the same 78g... the B9 is also a AA/14500 but ...it's insanely heavy at 145g. (like a solarforce 155g. ) the B9 has the same driver, same emitter ,same output ...An insane output .

Need a clip ? Yes Mr.Admin. It will take a niteecore clip . same clip as the D-10/EX-10 , just needs 2 small holes .

Old4570..I've been waiting for this review ..I knew you were going to be impressed by this light Tongue out it has a pretty nice tint too and no pwm..

it's a great light .. it's the best light cnqualitygoods has . been in my top 5 favorites since the day I got it .

like foy says >>> buy what i tell you to buy

I can't wait until July

I ordered this light for my birthday [ Back in Feb ] , and only just received it , but yes , impresive on a 14500 , seriously so ...

Should have been 4 or 5 mode ...

It does lack a low mode on a 14500...But ...Who cares ...

old4570.. you're right about it's an efficient light .. I've had this light for months now and It doesn't eat batteries at all ,maybe because it's stainless and it does heat up so i shut it down from full bore before it warms up too much ...anyway i like it and will happily await a neutral one.:)

I wanted one of the neutral but seems like it oos till Jul. Looks like an excellent light.

I like this light a lot [B2] , I would love to see it in Aluminum , or a new model in AA-14500 , about the same size as the jetbeam or slightly smaller .

I love my B3 , and N-light needs something in-between the B2 and B3 in size , maybe the B2.5 ?

Well here's how you do that ..go and buy yourself a c-zy-55 small sun and swipe that piece that convertsthe light from a cr123 light to a AA it's about a 3/4ths inch male to female adapter with the same threads as the B2 n-light...and add a cr2 battery and bingo you have a super shorty light

OR if you're feeling really frisky take the head and mate it to just the tail cap and toss in a few watch batteries for a super mini light.. this way it's all stainless shortness:P

If they can make the Jetbeam 135A small , I can see where there is room to go even smaller .

But owning the B3 , shows me that N-light can make a petite light , I would love to see N-light do to the B2 what they did with the B3 [ small ]