Warsun CT9T
Overall Rating:
★★★★
Summary:
| Battery: | 1x18650 |
| Switch: | Side switch Tailcap switch, clicky |
| Modes: | Turbo, High, Med, Low, Strobe, SOS |
| LED Types: | Cree XM-L2 cool white |
| Lens: | No anti-reflective coating |
| Tailstands: | Yes |
| Price: | 33.99 USD (22.99 for flashlight only) |
| From: | Banggood |
Pros
- Good throw
- Firm side button
- Low battery warning indicator
- Tailcap lockout possible
Cons
- Sharp tailcap and bezel crenelations
- PWM (most noticeable on Med and Low viewed through my camera)
- Warsun 18650 cell is not 2800mAh
- Charger wiring a concern
- Turbo mode only lasts a minute
Contents include one power supply, Warsun 18650 cell and lanyard. According to the product page there should also be two spare orange o-rings:
Top of box is written "German Schott optical lenses":
Warsun "ICR18650 2800mAh"
Construction
Anodizing is nicer than many of my budget lights but there was a couple of bare spots, possibly factory wear.
The sharp crenelations remind me most of UltraOK ZS-2s and for me spoil what would be a really likeable light.
On weight alone I can see myself taking this instead of the XinTD X3.
Emitter is well centered:
Side switch:
Tail switch with Warsun stylized silicone boot:
Silicone power socket cover:
Since I opened the power socket cover I have not been able to get it to close again. I would suggest, if you don't ever intend to use this socket to leave it closed. (Update -- I did get it to close by pressing on it in a circular fashion)
CT9T beside C8 for size comparison:
Large orange o-rings:
Bezel:
Bezel, reflector and top part of head. Reflector is aluminium, 40.5mm long and 39mm inner diameter. Head is 48mm diameter.
Nice machining of reflector:
Aluminium star in lower part of head:
Where the battery tube joins the head threads are not anodized. There are two black o-rings to seal:
Positive terminal has an orange silicone insulating sleeve isolating it from brass retaining ring. Even with ring removed it is quite tricky to get the driver out.
Driver underneath:
Tailcap:
To remove the driver one must desolder the star and unscrew the side switch bezel. The side switch has a thick clear silicone o-ring surrounding the button which makes it harder to press (it still has click action).
This is good for users that want a switch that won't turn on easily.
Warsun driver, Atmel 24C02BN (click for hi-res):
Above the switch (right) is a red SMD LED. I tested it and it does not seem to be bi/tri-colour. Maybe this CT9T driver is an earlier version. Silicone wires are used to connect star to driver.
With driver removed (there is no centre hole, only two smaller holes for wires):
Under the star is a non-anodized area, polished and with thermal paste applied, for the best heat transfer:
This substrate is approx 2.5mm thick. A star up to 21mm can fit:
Max diameter for driver board:
Operation
The side button cycles through modes H-M-L-Strobe-SOS and the tailcap switch controls power, and with brief presses also cycles modes. Turbo mode is activated from any mode by a quick double press of the side button.
Unfortunately the CT9T cannot be turned on by the side button unless it has already been turned on first by the tail switch, then turned off by the side switch.
To turn off by the side switch one must press and hold the button for three seconds. Release a little too soon and it will change to the next mode.
Holding the side button for one second turns the light back on in the last mode, so it is possible to store a strobe and recall it, for example.
The addition of side switch does make the light a little more flexible. I do find the side button quite stiff and my thumb is a little sore from repeated pressing, but this is only from testing and in normal use shouldn't be a problem.
Also, the sharp tailcap presses into my palm a little due to the grip. This may or may not be an issue for you depending on hand size and grip.
The side switch starts flashing red when cell has reached low voltage.
Beamshots
White wall beam shots taken at 100 ISO, with auto white balance.
High mode:
Medium (approx. 33%):
Low (approx. 6%):
XinTD X3 (left) with 1A XM-L2 looks greenish next to the CT9T (right):
.<" style="width: 100%;">I find the X3 1A tint is more yellowish than green around the hotspot to the non-adapted eye.
There is PWM on High mode but it is not as noticed by my camera as Med and Low modes.
For these outdoor shots I am using evaluative white balance and 400 ISO which seems a little more accurate reflection of the diverse range of lighting as it appears. Mouse-over for control shot.
Control:
Outdoors, it has impressive throw, and tight beam. The tree it is pointing at is 133 metres (146 yards) away:
For comparison, a XinTD X3 with XM-L2, 1A tint:
CT9T Light saber 
Measurements
I tested high mode with both included Warsun cell and Sanyo UR18650FM. Capacity test of Warsun cell is 2126mAh, using 1A discharge, noteably less than the stated 2800mAh. A peek under the Warsun label reveals a blue wrapper with "1800mAh", but nothing that indicates manufacturer.
The Warsun "ICR18650 2800mAh" cell delivers slightly more current than Sanyo UR18650FM in the beginning (faint orange trace). Blue trace is infrared temperature of hottest part of the head.
Weight of CT9T with Sanyo 18650 cell inside was just under 300 grams.
Charger disassembly
I have not tested the included YH-003 charger.
Though the label says it's rated 100-240V operation the two thin leads connecting PCB to mains pins look like they can barely handle 2A and there is not enough of a gap on the PCB layout in case of a surge.
充电器 is not the maker, it means "charger".
Solder side:
Closer view of component side:
I did test the charging socket with 4.2V supplied from a Miller ML-102. It seems there is no circuit inside the CT9T to handle charging; the socket on the side connects straight to positive and negative of the flashlight/cell.
I expected the ring around the side switch to light green but there was no light during charging. An unexpected feature: the light can still be used whilst charging. In fact, I had to turn off the light when I plugged even though it was already off.
Conclusion
Despite the PWM and sharp crenelations and other quirks I find this light very likeable, thanks to internal construction, reflector shape and weight (let's forget that charger!). Next to a generic C8 it feels like a more serious flashlight, one I wouldn't feel bad about carrying (now that I've filed down the edges).
Thank you Banggood for providing the light for review! And thank you for reading! ^_^
