I have just did night test and can say that I like it how it feels in hand and how it light.
Only the clips make some discomfort, but it is OK.
Because of XPL HI it has impressive throw for such small reflector. The tint is 3A which is rather cool than neutral. Personally prefer 3C or warmer.
Definitely will buy another one.
When you plug in the charger you have to turn on the rear switch, then click the side switch once or twice to turn the main beam off.
Driver and tail cap retainers do sometimes loosen in shipping with all flashlights. It’s good to always check that.
The reflector is very light orange peel. You can see the hotspot pretty well. It’s a deeper than normal reflector as well so you get pretty good distance with it. Did someone say it was smooth?
Does holding the side switch make the strobe come on?
Do you know the main company store on Aliexpress? It’s Shenzhen Jin Lang Electronics. Ask them about a replacement driver for your light. It should be pretty cheap.
Oh yeah, complain to gearbest. You might have to make a video to show them, but it’s easy.
The site is Everbuying.net, not Gearbest. I told to my friend to order from Gearbest, but he decided to order to Everbuying and he told me just after I wrote here.
I can change driver but my X5R works and even it has only high mode it is OK. So when new one arrived I will give this one as a gift.
The reflector as you sad is deep and I notice that. Also as you said it is light orange peel. But both sites write in description: Aluminum Smooth Reflector. http://www.everbuying.net/product1159016.html http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_345598.html?wid=21
Side switch do not work at all. No strobe, nothing.
Anyway, I will order another one.
My question is:
Should I choose model without USB, because on X5R side switch and USB port are not well water proof.
Does X5 has better waterproof side switch?
Both sites DO say smooth reflector, I guess I saw so many pictures of the textured reflector I forgot what the sales page said.
It’s a shame your side switch isn’t working, but I would not give it away like that. Not being able to turn off the main beam when usb recharging means it will take forever to charge up.
I’ve got the free Aliexpress app on my phone which makes it easy to send messages to Jin Lang Electronics. Is it too difficult for you to buy from them? If not, you could get another light, plus another driver for your current light all in one order.
You don’t think the usb cover is waterproof? It seems like it is.
I don’t have the X5, but I would assume it has the exact same side switch.
Without the usb, the X5 is just another light. Well, the forward clicky is a nice bonus. I stopped using my fully programable Convoy S2+ with guppydrv and 3 amp turbo mode for the X5R at work, just because of the nice usb recharge function.
Driver is changed with new one.
My X5R XPL HI 3A now works fine. I comapare to Thrunite TC12 NW and Nitecore P12W.
X5R actualy performs very well compare to more expencive similar light.
The things I do not like in X5R are:
side switch cover - you can remove even with hands.
short tube - can not work with protected cell;
soft aluminium - already drop it and made big scratches.
I’ve had no issues with the side switch cover. I’ve never tried to pull it off and it’s never come off. Do you mean the rubber usb cover?
I run Evva brand protected cells. I’ve never heard anyone say that a protected cell doesn’t fit.
Soft aluminum? I think all flashlights are made from the same basic aircraft aluminum. I dropped mine on concrete from about 5 feet and it did scratch and slightly pit the aluminum. I think that’s normal.
The finish doesnt appear to be real hard like type 3. Is that what you mean? I’ve scratched mine getting the clip on and off so I’d say it’s a type 2 finish. That’s my guess.
Side switch cover can be removed easy with toothpick without unscrew anything.
The tube is shorter than TC12 and P12W so protected battery are problem for X5R.
The finish is good. Actually from my 3 tube lights: X5R, TC12 and P12W, Thrunite TC12 has best finish.
Here is pictures of my X5R after repairing:
I ordered another one, this time from AliExpess and with 4500K tint.
What I like in this budget tube flashlight is:
- momentary on;
- steel bezel;
- quite bright in turbo mode;
- good throw thanks to XPL HI and slightly rugged reflector;
Do you mean the silver cap on the rubber boot? Don’t pick at it with a toothpick! Lol. Mine is fine. Maybe they have a dab of glue to hold it on and your glue broke loose when you removed the rubber boot. I would add another drop to male sure it stays in place.
Are you determining what length battery fits by measuring the battery tube legnth? That’s incorrect method. There are many variables. Compression height of springs, how deeply inset the driver is, how deeply inset the rear switch pcb is, etc…
I would measure by taking the rear cap off and sliding in a battery of known length. Then compress until you feel the driver spring bottom out. Now measure how deep that battery goes above or below the battery tube end. Now fully compress the tail switch spring and see how far above or below the retaining ring it goes. This should tell you the max battery length.
Are any of your protected batteries too long to fit? If so, what length are they?
The threaded bezel around the silicone boot is supposed to compress the bottom lip of the boot in order to make a water tight seal.
I checked mine and the silicone lip is locked into place. I’m assuming you threaded the bezel all the way down, right?
It seems to thread down until the top bezel lip comes into contact with the metal flashlight body. This is supposed to slightly compress the boot lip without crushing or damaging it.
Its possible that your tolerances are not right. Your bezel height may be a few thousands too short or your silicone boot lip might be a few thousands too thin and they are not pressing hard enough to hold it in place.
You could add a thin washer to get more pressure squishing down on the boot lip if you are bothered about water getting in there.
It’s obviously not a perfect light, but very good overall.
My KeepPower 3500 is right at that. My Evva 3400 is 69.5 and you can feel it gets squished when you do that last turn on the tail cap. The springs are bottomed and the button top is slightly depressed. Not good.
I didn’t gain very much space at all. Maybe 0.5mm. I guess the tiny driver spring is not a problem.
I then swapped the switch spring and gained about 1.5mm of extra room. It now compresses all the way down to the retaining ring. Now I have room to spare. :partying_face:
My advice for anyone who has a battery over 69mm is to swap the rear switch spring out for one that compresses more. Then it should be able to take up to a 70.5mm battery.
I’m gonna contact Eagle Eye and let them know that if they can switch to a different rear spring, they can get much better battery compatibility.
Where did you purchased this XPL HI 4C – 4500K variant or did you meant XPL HI 5A 4500K?? Can you took a photo comparing it with the XM-L2 U2-3C on the X5R or X2R?