Hello to everyone 
Thanking them for the trust, today we will review the EC30 which was kindly provided by Nitecore itself.
CLICK HERE to go to the official product page on the Nitecore website.
I want to clarify that my reviews are made at an amateur level, so without the aid of science fiction tools or tests in secret laboratories and cutting edge. Therefore, among the lines that follow, there will be my humble observations and even my humble opinions.
Official features:
- extreme performance ultra compact flashlight
- utilizes a CREE XHP35 HD LED with a max output of up to 1.800 lumens
- max beam intensity of up to 12.100cd and max distance of up to 220 meters
- an optical system combined with crystal coating and “Precision Digital Optics Technology” (PDOT)
- max runtime of up to 310 hours
- side switch controls 5 brightness levels and 3 special modes
- a power indicator beneath the side switch indicates the remaining battery power (Patent No. ZL201220057767.4)
- the power indicator can also display the battery voltage (±0.1V)
- high efficient constant current circuit board provides constant illumination
- incorporated Advanced Temperature Regulation (ATR) module (Patent No. ZL201510534543.6)
- reverse polarity protection
- optical lenses with double-sided scratch resistant coating
- magnetic tail cap with stand capability
- constructed from aero grade aluminum alloy with HAIII military grade hard-anodized finish
- waterproof in accordance to IPX8 (two meters submersible)
- impact resistant to 1 meter
Where to buy it
The Nitecore EC30 could be purchased from NitecoreStore.com
The package and the accessories
I received the EC30 as a preview, so it was not provided with the package.
I've received:
- the EC30
- 2 spare O-rings
- the wrist strap
- the metal clip (attached to the flashlight)
The in the package that is for sale there are a scabbard, the manual and also the card for the warranty
NW No battery is supplied
Even if it has not been supplied to me, here is the manual. You can view it (and / or download it) by clicking HERE .
The flashlight
The EC30 is the new compact cigar-shaped flashlight from Nitecore, an almost twin sister of the Concept1, which can be powered by 1x18650, 2xCR123A or 2x16340 and can easily emit 1,800 lumens.
As we had seen for Concept1, its anodized aluminum alloy body has very clean lines. In fact the upper half, a little more bombed than the lower one, is completely smooth and has no sharp edges. The remaining part has a rhomboidal knurling that also continues on the edge of the tailcap.
The shape of the body is mainly round and on one side there are the Nitecore logo, its website, the name of the flashlight and the CE and RoHS certifications
while on the other there are the metal clip, which provides a firm grip on the clothes, riveted to the flashlight body and the usual triangle that warns us that it can become very hot.
Between the two there is the electronic switch together with the serial number of the flashlight. All the writings are free of smudges.
Returning to the clip, it has holes that can be used to hook the wrist lanyard.
As I said before, the flashlight switch (the only one present) is electronic and the whole UI is controlled by it. It has a very short stroke and an almost silent enough click. The center of it is transparent and make pass the light of a green indicator LED.
Looking at the flashlight on the side we can see how the switch protrudes from the body itself. The body flashlight around it also has a recess that makes the switch easily detectable in the dark.
At the top there is a CREE XHP35 HD CW LED (which has a slight yellowish dominance at low levels but it disappears at high levels) surrounded by a SMO dish.
The lens, which has an anti-glare treatment (which I was unable to photograph), is protected by a smooth and not too protruding bezel.
The tail of this EC30 is flat and inside it is hidden a magnet that allows it to be attached to metal surfaces.
NW In the tail there is no hole for the lanyard.
It is possible to divide the flashlight into three sections: the head, the body and the tail. Head and tail are obviously not interchangeable and the threads on the end of the body are anodized and arrive well greased and with 2 O-rings that protect it from liquids according to the IPX8 standard .
The battery next to the flashlight was not put there by chance. In fact, in order to take advantage of the maximum power that this flashlight can provide, you need to feed it with a battery like the Nitecore NL183HP . Any other unprotected high performance battery (≥ 8A) will do the same, but remember that, using less powerful batteries, the flashlight may not work properly.
In any case, I continue to say that the positive pole of the flashlight consists of this protruding contact (the circuitry is not in sight).
while the negative one consists of this wide golden spring.
How does it work
The Nitecore EC30 has eight selectable levels, three of which are special levels (Strobo, Beacon, SOS).
According to official Nitecore data, normal levels have the following characteristics:
- Turbo -> 1800 lumens for 30 minutes *
- High -> 810 lumens for 1 hour and 45 minutes *
- Mid -> 300 lumens for 5 hours and 30 minutes
- Low -> 80 lumens for 18 hours
- Ultralow -> 1 lumen for 310 hours
Each special level (Strobo, Beacon, SOS) will use all 1800 lumens available to operate.
NW The declared runtime have been recorded in the laboratory by Nitecore with an IMR battery of 3500 mAh (obviously) charged.
* this duration was reached by adding the runtime of the level in question before the intervention of the ATR.
Before reading how to operate with the flashlight it is good to know that this EC30 has two modes: the Daily Mode ( DM ) and the Tactical Mode ( TM ). The operation of the flashlight remains similar for almost all its functions but, having the flashlight in standby and taking advantage of the appropriate command, in DM you will have a quick access to the Turbo while in TM you will immediately access the Strobo.
Switch from DM to TM and vice versa
When the light is off, the tailcap must be slightly unscrewed. You must then press and hold the switch while you are rescrewing the tailcap to enable either mode.
By screwing the tail, the LED will flash once to let you know that DM has been enabled and 2 times for TM .
Power On / Off
With a short pressure on the switch, thanks to the presence of the memory, we will turn on the flashlight to the last level used.
A single press will turn off the LED.
NW Once the flashlight is turned on it will be impossible to change the levels.
Change levels
You can only change the levels while turn on the flashlight. During the classic switch-on, keep the key pressed and it will cycle all the levels in ascending order. Releasing the switch, you will select that level but if you want to return to it again it will be necessary to reset the flashlight and turn it on reminding to keep the switch pressed until we see the desired level.
Access to the Ultralow and the Turbo + momentary-ON
With the flashlight off, with a rapid double pressure. you can call up the Ultralow level. This level, if recalled in this way, will not be remembered from memory.
If you have enabled the DM just run a quick triple pressure to enable the Turbo. Also in this case, the rapid switching on of the level will not be remembered from the memory.
With the flashlight lit on you can recall the Turbo as momentary-ON, the important thing is to have enabled one of the other 4 levels available. With the flashlight on then, just press and hold the switch to find yourself immediately in Turbo. Releasing the switch will immediately return to the starting level.
Special levels
Having set the TM , you can recall the special levels with the flashlight turned off by performing a rapid triple pressure on the switch. The Strobo will light up immediately and to cycle the levels it will be necessary to press and hold the switch for half a second and the Beacon and then the SOS will cycle.
The special levels can be recalled even if you have enabled the DM , it will be enough to have the flashlight lit on and to triple click it in rapid succession.
Lock / Unlock
The EC30 does not have an electronic lock but thanks to the anodized threads it is possible to use the mechanical block simply by unscrewing the tail by a quarter of a turn.
Charge indicator
With the EC30 it is possible to know, in a precise way (with a margin of error of ± 0.1 v), the remaining charge of the battery.
Each time the tailcap is screwed in (and then the circuit is closed ), the blue indicator located under the switch will start to flash and then be followed by other flashes.
For example, if we have a voltage of 4.2V, we will have 4 flashes, pause and then another 2 flashes; with 3.8V, we will have 3 flashes, pause and then another 8 flashes.
As you can see from the examples, the system is as simple as it is ingenious. It's like having a multimeter inside the flashlight.
In addition to starting automatically we can request the "reading" of the voltage even without unscrewing and re-screwing the tailcap. When the flashlight is off, simply press the switch to see the indicator flash.
ATR system
This is the Nitecore system to adjust the light output of the highest level of the flashlight depending on the outside temperature. More the conditions are favorable to the flashlight (low temperatures / cool wind) and higher the higher levels will emit light.
Dimensions: weights and dimensions
The Nitecore EC30 is 11.28 cm long and has a minimum diameter of 2.13 cm and a maximum of 2.54 cm. Empty it weighs 65 gr, while with the Nitecore NL183HP, it weighs 114 gr. The battery alone weighs 49 gr.
Next, here is the dimensional comparison with a big BIC lighter and a 18650 lighter,
with it "sister" Concept1,
with the MH23
and with the S2R Baton II.
Lumens, runtimes, candles and beamshot
NW The tests below are made by the Nitecore NL183HP, which I remember that is not included in the package. Everything was done in a home environment at 20 ° with and without forced ventilation.
The following values have been taken with the battery charged and have to be considered to be peak .
The following values have been taken with the battery charged and are considered to be peak .
NW The discharge curves are obviously indicative, the result could vary in positive or negative depending on the batteries used by the end user or the conditions of use that may vary from mine during my tests.
Any slight discrepancies related to the tests on the same level can be attributed to a different positioning of the measuring equipment in my tests.
The following values have been taken with the battery charged and have to be considered to be peak .
All the following photos were taken with the white balance set to 5200K.
This photo was taken at a distance of 40 cm from the wall.
Beam width
Beamshot at the Turbo, High, Mid and Low levels. The tree line is 25 meters away. The spill, with the spot facing the infinity on the horizontal plane, starts from about 1 meter and 30 cm from my feet.
The house is 70 meters away and I used the Turbo, High and Mid levels.
The trees at the bottom (which you can't seen) are located at about 150 meters. I used the same levels as before.
The presence of the magnet in the tail make possible to attach the flashlight to metallic surfaces. Here is the flashlight attached to the wheel arch (at the Low level) to simulate the replacement of the wheel
and attached to the bonnet, always at the Low level, to fix a possible engine failure.
I also taked this opportunity to attach a short video that makes the idea of the potential of the flashlight better.
www.youtube.com/embed/ySv0hVlyayA
Personal considerations
With this EC30, Nitecore re-proposes the aesthetics of Concept1 but making some nice improvements. The two share almost the same body and we always found a flashlight handy and compact, even more compact than the MH23, while still able to release 1800 lumens. Perhaps the price of having thinner forms is to not have an integrated recharging circuit.
Particular the idea of riveting the clip on the flashlight body, not allowing in any way to be reversed or even removed, and I must say that this clip has perhaps the strongest grip ever seen.
Always appreciated the presence of the magnet in the tail (not removable in this case) and very useful the presence of green LED, indicator of remaining charge, which tells us easily and accurately how much battery wehave in case of need.
What instead makes love or hate the flashlight is perhaps its UI, in fact it is not among the most user friendly but, if you are a user who almost never changes the level or you do not want a UI too complicated, this flashlight could do definitely for you. There is even a shortcut for the Ultralow, the momentary-ON or quick access to the Turbo and, changing modes between the two available, even quick access to the Strobo. What do you want more?
What do you think of this EC30? Would you buy it?
