Sorry to hear that. Hope that the turbo output makes up for it. I must have lucked out on the Thrunite TH20 and chose a different LED (if there was a choice) as It isn’t bad. Anything else that you don’t like?
(Brainsick)“…Yeah it blows, might get the SST20 Version…”
I’m unsure that the SST20 version is any big deal to the budget community at large given little to no LED specific video that I can find describing that light in detail to date. There must be a good number of single AA higher CRI/throwy headlamps out there with infinitely adjustable current generation LEDs fitting protected batteries from a well known manufacturer for $30 delivered.
I enjoyed your review, and subscribed to your channel. Thanks for the frank assessment about the XP-L HD tint.
I must say that the 4000K tint on the H40 with SST-20 LED is pretty good. It is warm and appealing but not quite as rosy as the Enogear SS AA/14500 IMO. However, the H40 does not have the same level of obvious PWM as the SS AA/14500. (My method of measuring PWM is rather primitive - I just wave the flashlight in front of my eyes. I noticed no PWM with the H40 using this method, but it is obvious with the SS AA/14500.) Edit. My PWM assessments were done using the lowest available flashlight modes.
The OP lens on the H40 offers a surprising amount of throw in Turbo mode. The beam has a tight spot with a large area of spill. In UltraLow and Low modes the beam with the H40 is more homogeneous without spill. So far I have only used a 14500 battery, but will eventually try a Ni-MH.
I very much appreciate the video along with the commentary from both of you. If the output is impressive when the XPL-HD is tested outdoors and Al’s assessment is agreeable to most then these seem to be 2 of the 3 lights to beat in a fairly broad and admittedly undefined category of higher output/throw AA/14500/NiMH protected cell headlamps/EDC torches at $30 (whew).
I enjoyed your review, and subscribed to your channel. Thanks for the frank assessment about the XP-L HD tint.
I must say that the 4000K tint on the H40 with SST-20 LED is pretty good. It is warm and appealing but not quite as rosy as the Enogear SS AA/14500 IMO. However, the H40 does not have the same level of obvious PWM as the SS AA/14500. (My method of measuring PWM is rather primitive - I just wave the flashlight in front of my eyes. I noticed no PWM with the H40 using this method, but it is obvious with the SS AA/14500.) Edit. My PWM assessments were done using the lowest available flashlight modes.
The OP lens on the H40 offers a surprising amount of throw in Turbo mode. The beam has a tight spot with a large area of spill. In UltraLow and Low modes the beam with the H40 is more homogeneous without spill. So far I have only used a 14500 battery, but will eventually try a Ni-MH.
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Thanks so much for watching/ and subscribing…i didnt notice PWM, I do the same test as you do…i will test when i get home.
I’m hoping that it’s a winner too. If it’s easy to mod as has been apparently done with the TH20 (never have but should be able to with the help here) then the H40 might satisfy for quite a while. I’ve been blessed with (4) protected cell 14500 lights or headlamps that put out 500 lumens or better in various tints/CRIs (ZL SC52, UT01, TH20 and soon this H40 in SST40). Only the ZL was relatively expensive and all seem to reach out farther and perform far better than I would have ever expected not that long ago.
In other words, I’m pretty satisfied with where the smaller cell format has stalled…and that may be a good thing until protected 21700 lights (if ever) start to become more popular…and the problem starts up again.
Illumn has them in the US. Nkon has them in the EU. This reddit post has a teardown - emitter swaps look very easy. LH351D would make a lot of sense here, I think.
Thanks, zak.
I would be interested as well in why the LH351D might be as good or better a substitution here given the overall construction. Not educated enough to flesh out the reasoning myself.
Just popped both a protected 840mah and a std. Eneloop in to a SST-40 that just arrived.
Obviously small and very light, much more pocketable (no headband) than the TH20.
Very throwy with usable spill.
Low is high enough (unfortunately) to light a whole barn up and make out anything in the rafters.
Excellent color rendition to my eyes.
Bonus ‘turbo’ mode using eneloops (no idea how long it lasts or if i’m seeing things but 2 clicks past the high ramp seems to be brighter).
Turbo seems to last a long time (no idea how long) and gets just as hot as expected. Good hand warmer this time of year.
For $30 it’s probably as good a light or better than I’m blessed with currently yet that’s not saying much.