KD XM-L T6 4 mode 2*18650 (TK35 Clone )

KD XM-L T6 4 mode 2*18650 (TK35 clone) Price paid $35.92


http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S020017 Link to product page !

http://www.fenixlight.com/viewproduct.asp?id=138 Fenix TK-35 ! Just in case you were wondering how clone !


KD description :

Brand: -
Model: S020017
Emitter Brand/Type: Cree
Emitter BIN: XML T6
Color BIN: White
Total Emitters: 1
Battery Configurations: 2 x 18650 rechargeable Ii-on batteries
Voltage Input: 7.2~8.4V, 8.4V max
Switch Type: Twist/Twisty
Switch Location: Tail twist
Modes: 4
Mode Memory: -
Mode Arrangement: Hi > Mid > Low>Strobe
Circuitry: Digital Regulated 1800mA Current Output
Brightness: 1200lumens maximum brightness (manufactuer rated)
Runtime: 3.5 Hours (manufactuer rated)
Lens: Coated Glass Lens
Reflector: Aluminum Textured/SMO Reflector
Body color: Black
Carrying Strap: -
Other Features: -
Accessories Included:



First Impressions :


First off , took all of about 2 weeks to get the light from kaidomain.com , which is not to bad . On opening the package , I thought the light lacked a little heft for something that looks so boxy , now don't get me wrong , I was pleasantly surprised that the light didn't weigh so much . Over all I'm very pleased with the light , its a very nice concept , fits in the hands well . I also like the modes (all 4 of them) , and there spaced out really well , and the light seems to be very well regulated (very nice) . The fit and finish is very nice for a light in this price range , and the only complaint is a noisy mode switch (2 switches in the tail , on and off = forward clicky, and mode switch), seems there is just enough slop so that when the light is shaken there is a bit of a plastic sounding rattle (not a deal breaker) .


Performance :


This light seems to be both voltage and current regulated (that's something new?) . The batteries are in series (2*18650 = 8.4v) , which should mean the light is extremely well regulated (appears that way from the limited testing so far) , so lets check out the performance figures ...

Low = 20Lumen - 0.368V - 0.061A (0.022Watts) Power drawn from battery (Not related to output)

Medium = 70L - 0.999v - 0.213A (0.212Watts) Power drawn from battery

High = 310L - 3.97v - 0.995A (3.95Watts) Power drawn from battery

Turbo? = 625L - 8v - 2.116A (16.9Watts) Power drawn from battery

Test batteries were 4v each or 8v Total .

Now you have to take the Watt figures with a pinch of salt , as the voltage measurement comes from the battery carrier . So what we need to understand is , that as we change modes the voltage goes up , but (and it might be a big butt) the question is how does the driver behave ? So the Watt figures are going to be most likely out (way out man!) , so you may want to just look at the output and the Amps . And sticking to the Lumen's and Current , we can see that the light is very efficient in the lower modes , but in high mode , the light seems some what inefficient .

Now I had to test with fully charged batteries , and the output stayed the same , but there was a slight current drop (8.4v) to 2A ...

Beamshots :

Tonight ..... To be updated

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/718/12641428.jpg/ [ Full size ]







Conclusion:



I have to admit to being some what keen for the sun to set so I can take this light out into the dark , and take those beamshots . Oh and to play obviously . I really like this light , it has a forward clicky (very nice switch) , also changing modes is easy with the mode switch . There is no mode memory , and the light always starts in low mode , but with 20L , for most occasions , that might be all the light you need , and as its only drawing 0.061A , we are talking about some serious run time .

Now on high , the light delivers some 20,700Lux @ 1Meter , this is rather good throw , not the best , but still very good throw .

So far Im impressed with the KD (?) Clone of the TK35 .. you cant run 16340 or CR123A as the light is limited to 8.4v , and the usual warnings about running two batteries is series goes , make sure you run well matched batteries and monitor them so as to avoid any potential problems . Now aside from the batteries , this is a very nice light (still not dark enough to play outside) , the only real disappointing thing was the minor damage to the head (pictured) , and I would have liked mode memory , and what would have made this light just so sweet , would have been a really nice clip . Now you can tailstand this light , but due to the shape of the tail , it rocks a little and may not be overly stable on anything but a flat surface .

For $36 this does appear to be a very nice light , and if it continues to perform as it has , then I would recommend it to anyone looking at this light .

Two very minor niggles , noise from the mode switch , and the slight damage to the head , but I still give it 9 out of 10 .

PWM - Low = 124 HZ

Med = 137 HZ

High = 132 HZ

Turbo = None (no PWM)

STROBE / SOS = To access strobe - sos , turn on the light and hold down the mode switch , once you have strobe or sos [ starts with sos ] then just quickly click to change between strobe and sos .

Hold the mode switch to get out of strobe / sos mode ...

I took the light for a short walk (beams shortly) , and the light fits into larger pockets (not that its really a pocket light) , and you would not want to walk any distance with it in your pocket , (Wow a belt clip would have been brilliant ) pants pocket that is , might be ok in a jacket pocket . Still a very nice light , was ok in the hand (no P60 host) , but a very nice light never the less .

I wonder why the switch says twisty in the specs. Needs to be driven harder on high but a cheaper alternative than the fenix tk 35

Nice review Old4570 I lie this light, but wish it was under $30.

Seems to be driven not too hard like other lights, therefore it would be better for the LED.

8V sounds strange.... The driver is inside the battery carrier, so if you measure 8V at the carrier, the that would mean 8V to the LED, which can't really be.

I have the CNQG version of that clone, it's performance is about 2/3 of the original TK35 in terms of flux (light output/lumens) and spot intensity.

Related threads: TK35 clone - NotFenix NotTK35 - TheKlone35 (driver mod)

The light is both current and voltage regulated , VIA the battery carrier (voltage regulation) , and current regulation VIA the driver ..

So think of it as a normal 2*18650 light with batteries in series , voltage reaching the driver = 8.4v with fully charged cells (I didn't have any to begin with = hence the 8v)

Only difference is in the lower modes the battery carrier drops voltage , and on Turbo it offers total voltage of the two batteries to the driver .

So the driver is most likely a single mode boost driver , that is regulated by the voltage from the battery carrier .

Reasonably efficient in the lower modes , but not so great on Turbo ..

If you had a pair of Panasonic 3100 , your looking at close to 50 hours run time in low (on paper)

Turbo? = 625L - 8v - 2.116A (16.9Watts)

Isn't it a lot watts and a very few lumens for a XM-L?

yeah , but we have to ignore those figures ... 16.9W is not related to output

16.9W is the Watts going in , what makes it to the emitter ? so efficiency on high ? This is what the 16.9Watt is related too / Energy used from battery ...

This would be part of working out driver efficiency ... once you know what is going to the emitter .

The difference would be energy loss (driver loss) and then you can calculate driver efficiency

But yes , 16.9W is a lot of energy never the less

So I think the performance on turbo is very poor. 16 watts to do 600 lumens and 4 watts to do 300.

Yes , not good ...

3 other levels are fine .. But Turbo is sucking a lot of juice ....

I guess I know what happened:

It's a buck driver, just current regulated. The driver is in the battery carrier, there's no driver in the head. whatever goes to the head contacts, goes directly to the LED.

The buck driver tries to push the specified current through the LED, and the LED defines what voltage is needed for that. You measured the voltage without connected LED, right? Then the driver tries it's best to push the desired current anyway, so it provides the full 8V it has. No current though, thus 0 Watts. With a connected LED, the voltage will be just LED's forward voltage, ~3.2V, thus 2.1A*3.2V= 6.7W

In lower modes the measured voltage goes down because of PWM switching the driver off and on, and you measure the average voltage.

Hmmmmm , interesting theory ..

ill have to test that during the holidays ... I always thought voltage out was fixed to a certain level [ to emitter ]

Me too, now I am confussed with it, I am not very good about it but I do not understand how the driver knows once the led is connected the voltage it needs.

I just checked for PWM from the battery carrier , and I can confirm its there ..

ill have to check the voltage under load ....

It does appear to adjust voltage automatically ...

When testing a circuit with a digital MM it read 5.3v

With a analog-meter it gave about 4.9v [ analog probably has less resistance .. ]

TK35 clone 4 mode turbo, high, medium and low $30.80 usd shipped.

W777 T6 4-Mode LED Flashlight - Black (2*18650)