Discussion of compact size production throwers 700m+ under $60

Hmmm, UT01 and D1S are the same price.
I have to consider then,

  • UT02 bigger - longer and fatter head.
  • 26650 makes it feel less compact in size, but provide a lot more runtime.
  • USB charging I don’t need, but could come in handy on camping trip for instance, to charge from vehicle.
  • Batt level indicator switch is nice too, at least D1S blinks, but only shortly before shutdown:
    “The light blinks and drops brightness at 3V to warn users of impending darkness. There is low voltage protection at 2.8V when the light turns off”
  • I need to know why XHP35 HI is better than XP-L HI? Lumen output is the same on UT02 and D1S both 1300lm, does it have more spill beam?
  • It’s okay to have extra settings in the firmware, once you get it set up how you like, then you just use the flashlight :slight_smile:

Kicking myself though now for not getting UT02 when it was (I think) $29.99 :person_facepalming:

Yes good points, thanks.

Well you could build one, convoy c8 host 11 dollars, fet driver 7 dollars. Xpg2 dedomed 6 dollars all from rmm. Add a couple dollars shipping for around 30 dollarsish you have a 700+m pocket thrower that won’t step down unless you want it to.

Do you have BLF GT? All flashlights are featherweight nowadays if you ever hold a BLF GT, just kidding :sunglasses:

At least UT02 is not overdriving XHP35 HI to get that output, I think I measure about 12.6V of Vled for its Turbo mode. I don’t have D1S, I am not sure its output is sustainable to drive XP-L HI for that output.

Smaller die. Smaller die with equal lumens will result in higher lux, which is what matters with throw

Yes I’m going to have some fun doing that eventually, I already have most of those parts. :slight_smile:
But right now I want to try a compact side switch thrower - stock off the shelf.

Here’s the tail switch throwers I have on the shelf to mod/build:
(Some from long ago and some newer)

  • Convoy C8
  • UltraFire HD2010
  • SupWildFire
  • LuckySun D80 BLF

Planning on XP-L HI w/FET driver and XHP35 HI w/boost driver for these.
I already have a few FET/DD drivers w/Dr. Jones guppydrv.

I think Xpg2 dedomed beam is thin? (don’t want a pencil beam, I’d like some decent useable spill)

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I also might try to do something with my long 2-cell side-switch thrower: Small Sun ZY-T13

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D1S does seem compact though, this photo makes it hard to resist:

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I’d love to see a photo of the D1S along side a UT02, looked around a while but haven’t found one yet.

I bought UT-02 last December and the quality was way lower than my first, half year earlier.

  • Very dusty inside reflector
  • battery tube would have too long thread, leading to large gap between it and the head. There’s a lot of mess gathering there, I need to file it down eventually
  • USB cover is very flimsy. Once I dropped it on gravel when twisting the light to mechanically lock it.

The first and the second are easily repairable. The last one is actually the most severe and I don’t have a fix for it.
And after complaining to GB it turned out I paid $14 for it. Try to beat it for that price…

Overall I still love this light. My first was stolen and decided to buy another rather than Emisar. But considering the quality drop and the price hike (it’s roughly as much as Emisar now), I would probably trade USB charging, constant-current driver and better battery capacity for better host quality, better UI (I actually like that of UT-02 but Emisar is better) and lighter / more compact body.

There is a photo where you can see both flashlights. In the Ma02 test for MF02:
LINK

The head sizes are fairly similar for UT02 and D1S. What benefit is there in having thinner 18650 tube behind such a wide head? Neither are particularly pocketable. I would much rather have extra run time of 26650 in a light with that form factor.

The UT02 form is my favorite modded, I have put just about every emitter you could put in the UT02 from MT-G2 XHP70.2 XHP50.2 XP-L HI XP-L W2 (domed/de-domed) and an old school de-domed XP-G2 pulling 6.3amps. With Lexels T/A 30mm drivers and Narsil UI and lighted switch. I run 2x26350’s for the XHP’s and run 26650 26700’s 21700’s and 20700’s in the other 3v emitter lights. I was never happy with the stock UT02/XHP35HI but with Lexels 1S boost driver at 3amps, I have one stock UT02 sitting here waiting on this driver.

To me the D1s is not attractive at all… :confounded:

Good find, thanks!

The D1S might look shorter though since it’s position is in front of UT02, but that does give an idea of the size difference.

Maybe have a look at the Haikelite SC01 .I don’t have one but 2000lm turbo from XHP35 Hi,with thermal regulation,26650 with usb charging,135mm long,40mm head,under. $35.Anyone know more about it?

Similar but quite some difference, (measurements in the OP) out of the four lights UT02 has the widest head (59mm) and D1S has the smallest (50mm)

Also the same with the length (UT02 longest, D1S shortest)

I do realize these are not quite pants pocket sized lights, was thinking more of jacket/vest side pocket. So basically which of the lights fits smaller in the hand for that. The D1S seems to be a good bit smaller overall.

True about the battery capacity for extended run-time, and the D1S does kind of look odd or unbalanced, the short thin tube with the large 50mm head.

I’m going to have to look to some reviews to find actual kcd measurements, what benefit for a nearly a 10mm wider head if the throw distance is slightly less, not more?

I agree the UT02 is looks nice and the DS1 is kind of ugly :slight_smile:
And real good point about the upcoming Lexel 1S boost driver.

That is interesting, throw distance less but not to shabby:

“Throws measured @92160cd / 607m (600m Claimed)”

Quote from this review: Review: Haikelite SC01

So now I need to find some actual measurements of the others too.
Not that it matters a lot but I find it to be unappealing in looks, uglier than D1S I think. :confounded:

I’ve got them both with same emitter option. 4000k I like them both. I haven’t had the time of late to run the numbers and do my comparison shots but when I had them both out to the lake a very cold night not long ago, it looked like the D1S out threw the M8 slightly. However the M8 did not get nearly as hot like the D1S did which was nice. If that’s due to a weaker thermal path, or simply the larger mass of the M8 we’ll see. I like the 26650 size and cell options for run times vs the D1S. The UI of the D1S seems more polished than the UI of the M8 also, but I have plans on doing some stuff to the M8 to make it more to my liking.
Just throwing my 2cents in the mix regarding my feelings towards both of those options.

The Maeerxu M8 is nice. Neutral tint, lighted side switch, on board usb, high quality machining. Some think the Maeerxu might be made in the same factory as the Emisar lights. I don’t doubt it for a minute. Materials are virtually the same, build, and anodizing is very similar. Even the thread shape and pitch is identical.

I do not have ut02 but I have u21 and I never want this flashlight again. the driver and switch quality is very poor, ut02 probably has the same components