Review - Nitecore EC20 - From Banggood

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

My rating is 4.5 Stars of a possible 5 Stars

This light was sent to me by Banggood, for the purpose of review and giveaway.

Cost at BG - $44.95 USD

Visual Quality - It's a Nitecore and as such, the visual quality is expected to be very good. It does not fail. Not a mark anywhere and the light just looks good overall. Clean lines, good looking knurling, well placed fins, etc. Great AR lens too.

Quality of Construction - Again, it's expected to be a well made light and it does not fail. The fit and finish is very good. Smooth pre-lubed threads, smooth surfaces, no rough mill or lathe marks. Just a well made light with one minor niggle which I will discuss when we get to the photos of the switch cover.

Mode Function - This light is meant to be yet another all in one EDC, for use by most everyone. To me, it doesn't fit the bill, but then again, no light does. The modes spacing is fine, but the method of changing modes is a little different and I don't know if I like it. It's using a momentary side switch and just a touch turns it on, (last mode memory). That's fine and normal, but to change modes, you have to press and hold till the next mode comes on, then let off quickly, or you go to the next and the next. If you were to just hold, you would see it continue to cycle from low to turbo. I don't know if I like changing modes by having to press and hold and wait for the mode to change, while remembering that I have to let off right when it changes or it goes to another mode. I do like the double click to get to the strobe modes and I do like the beacon mode. I think it's a true beacon and could be well used. I could not ever get it to go to the ultra low mode. It just kept going to regular low mode. Don't know if it's the programming or the operator.

Usefulness - It might be good for illuminating small rooms, or for walking. It's got a lanyard, but no belt clip, so it's EDC use is limited. The side switch is my preferred method, so I feel it's useful for many types of people because of that, but it would not be great for people who are used to Tactical use.

Overall, the light was surprisingly nice, but with the mode change method and the switch cover niggle, I just can't give it a 5 star rating. I also do not believe in the 960 lumens rating. I can't measure, but after so many years of looking at lights, I would rate it more like 650-750 lumens OTF.

Specification:

Product name: NITECORE EC20 Outdoor Adventure LED Flashlight
Brand: NITECORE
Model: EC20
Emitter Brand CREE
Emitter Type: XM-L2 T6
Material: Constructed from aero grade aluminum alloy w
Mode: High960lm, middle210lm,low50lm, lower1LM

Strobe,sos,location beacon
Runtime: 1h(high),5h15min(mid),28h(low),520h(lower)
Battery Configurations: 1 x 18650/2 x CR123A(NOT INCLUDED)
Working voltage: 3.7v 18650 battery
Switch Type: clicky
Switch Location: body side of the flashlight
Impact Resistant 1.5 meters
Brightness: Maximum output of up to 960 lumens
Range: up to 222 meters
Peak beam intensity: 12450cd
Lens: Toughened ultra-clear mineral glass
with anti-reflective coating
Carrying Strap: included
Waterproof: IPX-8 waterproof
Color: black
Weight: 76g without battery
Size: 128mm x 25.4mm(length x body diameter)

Light, manual, lanyard, warranty card.

Square threads for everyone and well lubed. Probably too much lube. It gets all over when you take it apart, but at least it's there.

I did not take the head apart. It seems like it's another one that is glued together and I'm just not going to tear it down.

The switch cover was sticking out quite a ways and it was cocked to one side a little. I pushed and wiggled and pressed and got it to go back down where it should be. Just one of those assembly glitches, but the cover went back where it should.

Amps on high with an 18650 were 2.8

Amps on High with 2x18350 was 1.48

I did not have any cr123, so I used 18350s and it worked fine.

That's all folks...

Thanks to Banggood and the giveaway will be up in a day or so.

2

thanks for your opinion on that light! :beer:

3

Looks like it’s a P12 without the tailcap switch.

4

Yes, and P12 is a great flashlight. I like this EC20, perfect tailstand, ready battery voltaje, interesting interface and good power on max.
I have one on the way.

5

My PD31 bit the dust, this might be a nice replacement.

Thanks O-L for the review.

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Thank you for the review O-L.

Seems to me they screwed the modes up. I am thinking if O-L can not get the lowest mode because it changes past it before he can select it who can? You have handled more lights than many of us added together.

A shame really. But anyway I would much prefer to also have a tailswitch for lock out. I can only think of one time I had my light on by accident and that was because I put it in my pocket turned on because I was thinking I'd need it again in a second. But I did not. So it was on an hour later when I did need it. With side switches and rotary magnetic switches it is another story.

7

thanks for the review!

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A swing and a miss for me, innovative button design is an amusing statement and showing there warranty made me laugh out loud.

Much prefer the PD35 or TN12 and there duel switch setup with forward clicky.

Thank you for your time and effort you put into the review.

9

Take a look at the PD35 or TN12 2014 both excellent flashlights, if tailstanding is important choose the TN12

PD35
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?381867
TN12 2014
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?381869

I have acouple of the 850 Lm version of the PD35 and it can be troublesome with panasonic 3400 protected cells due to there length takes abit of jiggling to sort, the TN12 2014 has no problems with panasonic 3400 protected cells at all. But both are great EDC’s backed up by there makers.

10

Looks like my E35UE

11

Nice review. Thank you O-L. Sure is a good looking light.

12

Nice review Old seems like a nice EDC . Wish it was about $30 then I would have bought it.

13

its kinda weird the little pic below there shows a clip attached on yet it comes without one

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I believe Nitecore do this intentionally ！！！ :bigsmile:

To tell everyone that it can use the clip J)

15

960 lumens should be real………like the p12. it is the same flashlight…witout the rear click tailcap.
but it is cheaper …… so i prefer :slight_smile: E20

however i have a tn12 2014 that i love so much…………

16

Aside from the iffy output judgment (you can only judge lumens at that level with either a lightbox or an integrated sphere, human perception doesn’t cut it since it follows a power-relation curve that flattens out the farther you go), good review. Strange that you couldn’t access the 1lm mode.

17

Quite an old thread. I have an EC20 which appears to be stuck on low(1 lumen) mode. I hope some experts here can help me. Tried every combo of button pushes and several known/tested good batteries, and can only get that very low mode and off.

Any “bright” ideas? anyone else have same problem and used the 5 year warranty(doubt it!)