Infinitely Variable Brightness 1 x AA Headlamp 1050Lumens

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. :person_facepalming:

Where can it be purchased?

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.

“LH351D would make a lot of sense here, I think.”

Why would this LED make a lot of sense?

Thank you

In the US, both version of the Acebeam HC40 can be purchased from Amazon for $29.80, with free shipping.

Zak, what is illumn? Can you provide a link? Thanks.

illumn

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. :slight_smile:

I have no need for a AA headlamp but I keep checking in every time this thread is updated.

I currently don’t own any AA headlamps. There must be some rule I am breaking.

Anyone care to take a photo of it next to a H03 or some other known light.

I’m not tech savvy but it’s 3/4 the size/length of my ZL SC52 with a negligible bulge difference in the middle. I’ll probably start carrying it full time as it is just that smaller, lighter, a better LED (imo) and probably more versatile with the right clip or headband.
Tried it on some basketry that we have and it just does a good job of lighting things up ‘better’ to my eyes.
Pretty smitten with it so far probably because of the former, the throw, the turbo, the size and I suppose the price given what headlamps with these features usually demand.

Thank you . I have owned a SC52 so your info is helpful.

I am from Spain (Europe)

I will wait if it will be available on any chinese vendor such as banggood gearbest or ebay

Thanks

It’s an interesting LED to me yet I’m not very versed in the subject other than having owned various versions dating back to say the Cree Q5(?) and the first GBs on CPF. I’m sure that others will debate the warmness, color rendering and throw not to mention the tint yet this SST-40 (Edit: SST-20) seems to have made me a convert given what I’ve read and experienced to date.
Not sure what the tint/reel lottery and/or fakes will bring in the future yet I hope that yours there in Spain arrives as mine did yesterday.
And with old man eyes I even like the little square orange button… :wink:

…just to give you an idea of the hotspot and how throwy it is:
If you’re in pitch dark and the lowest mode, the hot spot 2 feet away or so is probably 6-7” in diameter on a wall using an Eneloop (YMMV).
Even though the bezel sits fairly fat to the tube it looks like there’s enough material for a simple diffuser to slip on fairly easily if it was of the correct size and flexible silicon type material (suggestions welcome).

it’s available at eu.nkon.nl for a reasonable price… sadly right now shipping is a bit too much, maybe i should order some batteries with it

Please don't say sst 40 if you're just trying to say acebeam H40 with the high cri sst 20 option

http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=60_130

sst40 will just confuse people who are already confused .

I think having a decent lightweight AA or cr123 headlamp has it's place ..when you have to wear one on your head .

Normally I just wear a headlamp loose around the neck for comfort …..and joy.

The H40 can be purchased from Nikon based out of the Neitherlands for Eur € 18.90. . They ship to Spain my friend, and this seems like a pretty good deal (Eur € 18.90 ≈ US $21.45). But shipping will probably be extra.

What is your objection to purchasing from Nikon?

Edit: OK, I now see from a previous post that shipping may be too expensive.

Thank you guys.

No problem at all for me with nkon…

The problem is the shipping costs.

I will wait… and see… what happens with the typical chinese vendors who offer free shipping ……

Got my SST-20 H40 today. Here are a few observations and comparisons to my previous favorite AA high-cri headlamp, my Manker E03H with Nichia emitter:

The AceBeam has a larger flat back to the silicone holder on the headband. Combine that with the over-the-head strap (Manker’s strap just goes around), and it feels much more stable than the Manker. I never really noticed a problem with the E03 until I tried the H40. But, that extra strap also makes it worse for wearing under a bike helmet. And since it doesn’t have beacon (E03 does), and its only strobe mode is SOS, I probably won’t even bother trying it out for biking. The final reason for that is that the switch button is really hard to find with gloves on. The E03 is pretty easy with gloves.

Just since I got home from work tonight, I’ve had the H40 in my back pocket. I carry my E03 like that a lot. The H40 already turned itself on twice. My E03 has never done that, IIRC. In my experience, the H40 will need to be locked out to carry in a back pocket.

But the H40 looks to be brighter with a NiMh. My E03’s battery could be low, I didn’t check it. The H40 has a nice beam, and it does seem throwier than the E03. I think I prefer the floodier E03. Both have great color. I suspect the H40 will easily win the lumens/candela contest with a lithium 14500, but I haven’t compared that yet.

With the easier switch, beacon, and strobe, the smaller head strap, and no lock-out required, the E03 wins for a winter biking “be seen” headlamp in my book. The AceBeam will probably steal some of the working-around-the-house duty from the Manker, though. It is tiny, bright, stable, feels high quality, and is easy to use. No long-press for off, yay! And even if it does get switched on in my pocket, with a AA NiMh in it, it doesn’t seem likely to start a fire.

I like the AceBeam. But the switch is disappointing. And since I didn’t even check the strobe modes before I bought it, I have nobody to blame but myself. The Manker’s strobe modes are very well hidden, but I use them on my bike just about every day, at least this time of year.

I just ordered the H40 with SST-20 , I don’t know why I have three headlamps already, my wife will be pissed…
Andrew-Amanda has it in the US.
I used this code president25 I added on the Nitecore 14500 cell to get “free” shipping.
From time to time Andrew Amanda offer special deals, This past holiday (Presidents Day) I couldn’t pass up for this headlamp