I believe they were talking about the XinTD because it is the only one I know that has the screw in reflector. I tried it myself before and did not notice much difference either.
OK following some questions about the PMW results i achieved here are some more (on low). As you can see the results match others now but also it has shown me how easy it is to get differing results. The PWM is complicated and contains different frequencies/amplitudes thus differing sample rates give different results, perhaps a cheaper meter is easier as shown by the 179 results?
Note the zoomed in waveform on the 123 on the last pic, it is mainly out of shot and i forgot to get a pic of it but at that sample rate the Hz was recorded as different dispite being exactly the same, bar the sample rate. I think it measures the frequency of the content of the 'chunks' (want of a better word lol) in the top pic.
My XIN TD C8 appears to be perfect in fit and finish; no flaws noted. Still the best $32 I have spent on a flashlight. If it would only run on 2 x Cr123 as well as 1 X 18650, it might be the best light on the market up to $50.
Can't say about Xin TD. but my C8 and UF-2100 with Nanjg 105C AMC7135*8, 2.8A installed run on 2xCR123a 3.0V very good, even Uf-2100 runs on Hi (but very! hot). Effeciency of the driver is only about 65-70% (30% is converted to heat of the driver :( ) with high voltage, but AMC7135 is rated to work up to 7V peak. None died yet.
How how many hours have you run 2xCR123A in the C8 and the UF-2100? And could you estimate how much time the flashlights were on at a time on High mode.
Your efficiency estimations look very good compared to other which have tested 56-70%.
Need to make a run test :) Not done yet.
Efficiency is not my own measurements. Once I saw an AMC7135 specs table or something like that and just remembered that it is most efficient at 3.9V - 90% and worst at 6V - about 65%.
btw, XinTD C8 is marked SOLD OUT in intl-outdoor... :(
The 1A driver is 56%, the 1.4A driver is 63% and one chip is 50%. Results are from from this thread on CPF.
UF-2100 is so small and works with 2.8A with 6V, should be a lot of heat, many around the forum get scared of lower watts in bigger lights.
i got my light a few weeks ago. i love it. there was a small speck or nick on the dome of the LED but Hank is taking care of me. he rocks.
i also had a small issue with the reverse spring on the driver and my AW batteries so i had make a mod for that. i just silver soldered a piece of copper tubing in its place with a little silver solder blob where it contacts the battery.... like .140" long overall. i would think the short, stiff spring that comes with the nanjg drivers would have worked perfectly for me so i dont know the reason for the reverse spring.
the fit and finish of my light is flawless. threads are real smooth. love that big brass pill too.
NW is real nice too.
everyone at work is trying to steal it lol.
i too noticed that it is out of stock cause i was showing a friend where to get it.
Brian
A little trick I use the reverse spring trick on my drop ins.
If you are having problems with the reverse spring not making contact with the small nubs on your batteries take a needle nose pliers and bend the last coil across the middle of the opening like so.
could a 20mm-star fit instead of the built-in 16mm-star? it looks like there would be enough room for it
To XinTD C8 users: What was the longest time you ran it on high? Was it too hot to touch?
probably 15 min. it was not too hot to touch.it definitely pulls the heat to the body of the light quick though.
Brian
Oh nice! I suppose yours is also stock, no mods? I guess it's going to be a pretty reliable light then. Thanks!
Sorry for the delay, just under 1 hour to low voltage cutoff. Rises to approx 60dC at head. This was tail standing, no airflow at a ~20dC ambient. Details will follow at some point when I have time
Updated original post under 'Battery Life & Heat managment' to show you my recent test. 54min runtime on full with Sanyo 18650, max temp of 62dC (143F).
Wow! Thanks for adding the timer on the pictures. Very nice review! So how was the emitter after the runtime test?
No problems at all, will prob do another run with a Panasonic cell to see runtime difference. I think outdoors with minimal breeze and with body contact to conduct heat away it would be noticeably cooler. So no problems running on full until low volts and then just stick another cell in :)
This was my first C8 buy (didn't know what that meant a month ago), so looking forward to getting it soon. I'm getting ambitious - also ordered a L2 with the Manafont drop in. "Drop in" - listen to me! What next? Not the soldering iron - I remember the damage I used to do with my brother's one years ago.