I wanted to make a new thread on this deal while it's still on as I think it deserves one. DD have a few deals on right now which are really good, even if they haven't got their head around how to advertise good deals and distinguish them from the multitude of poor ones on their site.
Klarus P2A for around $31, with the discount code save15direct it makes it less than $27!
Klarus are a really high quality brand, top build quality, they made a number of other high end brands lights as an OEM manufacturer before hitting out on their own.
Their links to Nitecore/Jetbeam mean that the P2A uses the same circuit, reflector and LED etc as the popular (and brilliant) BA20, so this light is equivalently the most efficient 2x AA light on the market not using XM-L (in fact it is still more efficient than the Quark 2x AA 'X' models as they use buck/boost instead of dedicated boost circuits.
Check out selfbuilt's review of the BA20 on CPF for runtime comparisons, they are seriously impressive.
Anyway, even the US RRP of the BA20/P2A is a really good deal imo, they could be sold as high-end $60+ lights if they wanted. For $27 a P2a really is a steal. So, if you like AA format and have $27 to spare on a light, this is the best you can do right now.
Oh, and they're very well regulated even on alkaline cells with the simple twist head high/low UI, so would make great gifts :)
Yes, crazy deal for 26 plus bucks shipped. HA plus it's not a small light (able to heatsink nicely for the 245 lumens), no PWM. I have never liked Solarforce P60s (with HA it gets to $31 shipped, or if you want AA and Type II it's nearly $30) for the fact that it has 200+ Hz PWM.
Good for general use by non flashaholics, it's not going to be floody. Too bad my NiMH are like shot.... and it can't take 2 x 14500.
I can confirm that is made in the same factory than my jetbeam BA20. Incredible light!. You can see my review of the light here at blf
Shares components, including electronics. Very efficient. My Ba20 gives 270 lumens for 1h45m with 2x2500mAh NiMh´s, and gives more light output than a TrustFire F20 (Q5) with 14500 on high!
the price is back down to 34.99$ (before coupon). (a few days ago it was at 45.99$ or 48.99$ lol, cant remember)
there are still 5$ off 30$+ coupons fyi!!
so after the coupon, the price is 29.99$. not bad! then apply your dinopoints, and the giftcard.
the reason why i am looking into this is: the efficiency and runtimes of the P1A is lousy. big current draw (see the P1A review thread) on both Eneloop and 14500's. The only regulated mode is Eneloop on Low-mode.
Eneloop on High-mode is NOT regulated. Not on the P1A!
So you get a different runtime curve on the P1A than on the Jetbeam BA10 ? I would say the runtime is decent for the amount of light it puts out.... far superior to my Xeno E03 on NiMHs. So far I am pleased with mine, but many people seem to dislike the squishy,long-travel switch.... I am not bothered that much by that. The Jetbeam BA20 seems to be "better regulated" indeed. Since I own both Klaruses I can say that I like them both. The P2A is missing a real medium mode more than the P1A imho.
Please, does the P2A head fit on the P1A body? And if yes, what is the behavior of the new custom torch with 1x 14500? Any difference to the original 2 torches (i.e. 2x Eneloop vs. 1x 14500)?
Still don't own 14500s... so can't really say something about that. But heads are interchangeable and the P2A head works on a P1A body powered by 1 AA NiMH... brightness seems comparable...hmm maybe same head? Would explain the not so optimal regulation on 1AA. If you want really good runtimes and high efficiencies on 1AA there is no way around a Zebralight... maybe one of the newer Fenixes (LD12 etc).
The Jetbeam BA10 sister is supposed to but I would assume some thermal issues. This might be why Jetbeam/Klarus/Sysmax doesn't officially advertise this feature. They don't want to have to cover the cooked lights by their warranty. But if you only use it as a turbo it might work, the lack of a medium would be even more painful though.
My olight I 1 doesn’t state lions but I only use 16340 with it and it does fine , I really don’t use high but for short time on any light really ,lol I just have the 14500 already so I wouldn’t want to but it if it won’t work at all?
if the P1A and P2A heads are the same, then maybe i should then get the Jetbeam BA20 and hope that the head is different ;)
at least for the BA20 selfbuilt has proven that the regulation works excellently on both High- and Low-modes. we can tell that the BA20 head is different from the P2A head since it says "Jetbeam" on the driver disc lol. but there is minimal chance that the BA20 head does not fit on the Klarus. ( arent there people who got both the BA20 and the P2A? i think so.. )
The same driver can be good for 2 AA and not so good for 1AA... that's the main problem for every budget driver PCB .... every one of them has a "voltage sweet spot". This why dedicated 1AA drivers are often better (more efficient) than dual mode 1AA/1x14500 drivers.
well, first i have to earn a nice DD giftcard before i can *really* think of placing another (oh no, not again DD!! haha) order with them. i would consider Klarus P2A, Jetbeam BA20, or MiX6 Titanium (they do ship the Titanium version now!!, see the updated OP).
Vectrex, it's time to get some 14500's; i can recommend the ones from DD, flamed Trustfires. they work lovely in my torches (Xeno E03. Romisen RC-29. Klarus P1A. Quark X AA), very safe operation.
My Xeno E03 v3 XML NW is terribly dim with Eneloops and even my AAA torch (Lumintop Worm) is brighter than that and even runs longer on High-mode. That's why i keep good interest in AAA lights.
the head threads of the P1A and the Jetbeam BA20 have different lengths. the BA20's threads are shorter. Since the threads are not 100% identical i will refrain from buying Jetbeam.
Vectrex, do the heads (P1A, P2A) really look identical? 100% identical? (i am sure that they arent identical, internally.)
They do look the same, have the same length, threads and both drivers have the same printing which says "KB150"... I tend to say these are identical.... with one exception.... the P1A reflector seems smoother than the one on the P2A... less stippling.
would it be difficult to tell which one is brighter on the P2A-body? the P2A-head or the P1A-head? when it's pitch dark later today it shouldnt be too difficult to tell if you can notice any brightness difference in High-mode. Please help if you can, thanks so much! (btw, it is safe to operate the P1A with 2x AA, and with 1x 14500. you have my word.)
i am earning a giftcard now (resellerratingsDOTcom) so that i can afford the P2A. will order it with tracking number!! btw, the other night i browsed through bit.ly/greendino and was totally amazed how many Tank E09's, Klarus P2A's and UT61E's were sold in the recent past. Totally amazing. I also saw many other torches (Klarus MiX6, Ultrafire ..) .. it just means that flashlights constitute a considerable portion of DD's business volume and the fact that so many E09's and P2A's are being sold has to be solely attributed to BLF and Summer :) Without our enthusiasm for P2A and E09, DD wouldnt have sold as many copies, no doubt.