Review: Lumintop EDC05C (sample)

Nice djozz! Ohh, funny, I don't think I even searched BLF for the E17A. I would think the 4 E17A's in series, and the 12V main LED was done for a reason - both can be driven at the same voltage level. At the low amps this driver puts out (1.0 amp), guess a boost driver is reasonable.

Updated the OP with the E17A name and link to your review.

Got my EDC05c this week.

My impressions:

  • Great shape for EDC. Narrow body with grippy rubber from the switch, side LED, and USB cover. Feels good in the pocket and great in the hand.
  • Good job on the USB cover - it holds securely in place. Not like some other lights where the cover falls out and flops around.
  • Side LED is a nice touch.
  • Front LED is adequate but not great, but at only around 400 lumens is a bit dimmer than I’d like. I wish this light had a turbo mode capable of 800 or 1000 lumens. Also, I’m not a fan of cool white. Front LED would be better with a warmer tint.
  • This light uses a boost driver, but is so low powered I’m not sure it’s gaining any benefit. Wouldn’t it have been better to just use a linear driver and an XPL HI?
  • I don’t like the “built-in” battery. Would have taken pretty much zero design or manufacturing effort to give this light an endcap that could be unscrewed by hand without the tool that came in the box. And that would have been much more convenient for those who like to swap in a spare cell.
  • my Efest 650 mAh 14500 flat tops work fine. But my flat top 1000 mAh Vapcells do not work. The positive contact at the driver isn’t tall enough to clear the retaining ring for a completely flat top.

Nice thorough review Tom, thanks.

Too many fails for me, it’s a no go. Neat design efforts, cute light, the boosted 35 and ornage peel reflector were, to me, bad choices. So I’ll take the pass and wait for a more reasonable LH351D offering.

Ooops, thanx! Missed these 2 last posts. Yes, some quirky issues, agree, but didn't expect much honestly. Definite Lumintop quality though, but better choices could get the price down too.

It is selling well!!!

I just got mine and I’m very impressed. I’m considering the Lumintop FW3A and it’s available in a few different color temps. So, I’ve been trying to figure out what the different temps look like. On this light, the side LEDs are Nichia NCSLE17. From Nichas’s site: product data page the color temp is listed as 3000k. If this is correct, it would place the side LED’s in the WW warm white range, rather than neutral. Is what a warm white LED would look like, similar to the Cree XP-L HI 7A?

Yes similar to Cree 7A tint, just like a halogen bulb light.

Be careful here... The optics/diffusers/etc. makes some big differences. 2700K or 3000K I love for house indoor lighting. 2700K in a flashlight looks dramatically different to me, all depending.

To me there's dramatic differences in LED bulbs and other indoor lighting fixtures vs. our flashlights. In fact I think CREE and others are designing the new LED's more for their fixtures than our flashlights.

Maybe I missed it but are the nichia’s high CRI >90?
Except for the low output it is a decent light no? I can understand that if you’re a lumen junky this light under performs but for me out put is secondary. I’d rather have a stable lightsource and longer runtimes then a lumen monster. I’m kinda on the fence with this one. I’m looking for a nice lantern when backpacking/hammocking and I would only very occasionally use the front light as I mostly use a headlamp when camping.
Any idea about runtimes on the side leds and is the charging circuit decent?

Lumintop calls the side LED's "high CRI", but not sure exactly what - maybe check the datasheet?

It's a real nice light that I'd call high quality, but I consider almost all Lumintops higher quality.

Boy, I didn't check draw on the battery from the side LED's, but they are using a boost driver which should give you decent efficiency across all modes.

I didn't check the charging as well, but Lumintop USB charging in general is done well.

I don’t think there is a single LED especially designed for flashlight use. They are all made for indoor and outdoor lightning, flashlights are a small niche market.

I checked the data sheet (mentioned a few posts above) but 3 leds are listed: 1.7×1.7×0.27 1.7×1.7×0.3 1.7×1.7×0.35 with 4 different Ra listed ranging from 70 to 90 and R9 ranging from not mentionend to 0 to 80. I don’t trust manufactors rating or claims and it’s pretty obvious why not. ( I got high cri nitecore LA 30 that I want to replace with maybe this light. The LA30 cri must be one of the worst lights I have when it comes to color reproduction and color temp, it’s absolutly horrible)

I don’t want to sound like an A-hole but your answer has too many assumptions for me to pull the trigger on a light this expensive, but it is very much apreciated, thank you.

Sorry, I don't have the sort of equipment to measure CRI or analyze the charging circuit.

Well, the XPL HI's look great, and the old XM-L2's and XPL's look wayyyy better than the more modern XP-L2's, for example. Clearly they used to be better in flashlights then they are now.

I think I'll stop answering questions... Thanx!

I’d forgotten about this light. I find it quite appealing.

I think I’ll have to find funds to purchase one.

Any discount codes available?

Martin ran the original deal on it here on BLF, and here, Neal's listing here is pre-order, but the Banggood listing here says out of stock, so I don't know what's going on with it.

For reference, here's another more comprehensive review: https://zeroair.org/2019/04/03/lumintop-edc05c-flashlight-review/

Lumintop’s website says 14500 is included. The pictures on Banggood also say same.

hm zeroair review says,

Could be fantastic if the cell was included!

so which is it ? also its says sold out on banggood whats up ?

I also thought that a battery came with it.
Edit: Neal’s review says battery not included.

From Lumintop website

The Alli Express ad also says built in battery.