Review: POPPAS W-878 Flood-To-Throw From Manafont

See the review posted on Manafont's product page - it says it pulls 2.5A from a TF 26650. I'm going ahead and ordering one. Would like to have it in my hands before June 3rd (my upcoming camping trip).

-Garry

Some one else on here said they got 2.8 amps

I posted that manafont review. With the varying results reported here, I thought I should do a retest. Here's what I found:

- TF 26650 after what seemed like light use: 1.8-2.0 A (I decided to recharge the battery and test again.)

- TF 26650 hot off the charger: 2.5-2.8A

I tried some 18650s that I had around and they were all in the 1.8-2.0 range. I'm topping off a TF "flame" 2400 now to see how it does fresh off the charger. UPDATE: 2.1A fresh from the charger.

Results are with a Craftsman 82345 Multimeter with the stock leads.

I was who had 2.8A, here was the review: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/7687

I don't find it ugly, maybe because I am uglier? Haha.

For the price it is a good light, I replaced the retaining metal ring by a rubber o-ring and feel much better now for cents.

Thanks for the confirmation & update ronparr. I'm still ok with it driven at 2A. Once I receive mine I'll try and remember to update this thread with my results (don't hold your breathe though!). I'm even ok with a driver swap if deemed necessary.

Thanks yavi. I remember now reading that review, but forgot about it until just now.

-Garry

Just now received my Poppas W-878 26650 - order placed 4/26/12, shipped 4/27/12, received today 5/7/12 - just 11 days. Haven't tried a battery in it yet. I just received my King Kong INR26650, and it needs charged up.

First impressions: kinda rough on quality - rough threads that seem like they would easily cross-thread. Missing o-rings (at bezel and on main body to head connection). Slider is stiff, but does feel like it's scraping metal as it slides. +B spring at backside of the driver is off-center. The 3AAA & the 18650 spacer are much narrower than the body of the light so they will rattle significantly - need wrapped with something to make them fit better. Not too bad for the price.

-Garry

I thought it was good for the price, i use a 18650 spacer from IO

Ok, finally got my King Kong INR26650 charged up and tested the light (only in a well lit office so far). Wow! Huge flood when zoomed out, and bright! Low doesn't look much different than Medium, but I can't say much about that until I see it in the dark.

Tailcap currents (measured with my low resistance modified test leads which yield 3A+ on my KDC8):

King Kong INR26650:

High - 4.16A (up to 4.55A if I press down hard to compress the +battery spring on the driver)
Med - 2.10A
Low - 1.06A

With 3 fresh new Duracell Alkalines:

High - 2.0A
Med - 1.08A
Low - 0.56A

My only AAA NiMh cells were not charged up to test at this time (my single channel NiMh charger is out on loan right now). Hmm . . . seems to be direct drive on high. Seems to be a 100% - 50% - 25% mode spacing. 4A is a bit too high, but I bet I would see a little lower result with a protected 18650 (I don't have any on me to test at the moment). I would say benckie needs to quit using his cheap DMM and find his Fluke! He's going to be leading people astray! (benckie, feel free to update your O.P. with my measurements if you want.)

benckie, did yours have thermal grease under the LED? From your photos it looks like it didn't (or at least not much). I haven't disassembled mine yet, but I'm thinking I'll need to add thermal grease under the LED and at the pill threads.

Now I just have to find a PVC sleeve which adapts the 18650 and 3AAA carrier for a better fit. Perhaps I should ask around for where to get a better sized 18650 to 26650 adaptor. My King Kong 26650 fits well, not too loose. The 3AAA carrier seems to be better than expected; the plastic is more solid than other ones I've seen.

-Garry

I suspected mine is around 3 amps the same as my Trustfire A8 that I'm in love with right now. I don't trust my DDM to be honest and as i mentioned in my OP.

I sold a light to some one who got 4.89 amp at the tail when i was getting 2 amps but the light was a monster for light out put for what it was.....

I will not change the amp draws of the OP just yet, as i rather be under they say 3 amps and others get lower result's, plus if 10 people do current draw test's you will get 10 different results IMO, due to batteries, charge voltage, DMM, DDM leads, how hard you press (i didn't not press hard either) and the torch its self.

I put some Arctic silver thermal past under the LED, i use it for CPU's it is not to bad.

I have been using these for 18650 to 26650 battery spacers, it works well in this light but is a bit tight with redilast 2600 mAh cells.

18650 to 26650 battery converter case sleeve

I like the 3 x AAA battery holder it is solid, but is smaller then the battery tube, but is is spring loaded for good contact with the torch and batteries with solid bras contact,s. I use mine for charging.

If you find the zoom in and zoom out a bit ruff put some silicone grease on the rubber o-ring around the the pill and there is a alloy c-clip that ad's slight pressure when zooming a bit of grease on this helps it feel smoother with out loosing stiffness.

All in for a cheap zoomible 26650/18650 flash light that can be used with 3 x AAA in a emergency and a battery holder you can use for charging i found it good for the price.

Has anyone actualy measured the width of the beam at wide? If is so wide then the measurment from 1m distance would be the best. Also interested in flood more than throw because of taking caving pictures....

How about led tint?

Tint is a typical cool white T6, I would say around 1A. After my daughter is in bed I'll do a 1m measure.

benckie, have you managed to do 1m beam measurement? Pictures would be fine too ;-) Thanks!

Last night I was able to get some measurements and some quick beamshots. I measured the flood size at 10 feet away to be 11.5 feet wide and the throw to be 13 inches wide. Really impressive flood! Much wider than any lights I currently have. Here are the quick rough beamshots. These are with my King Kong INR26650 and on high mode. The shed is about 150 to 200 feet away. (Same location I take many other beamshots.)

Photo fairly well focused, but branch hanging in the way (notice the shed is faintly seen):

Same shot, but with branch moved (and slightly out of focus):

Zoomed for throw:

-Garry

Nice, photos seems to tell me this is what i need to use it as flood light!

Benckie,

1)Do u think this light can be switched on at high all the way till battery dead?
*things like >>is the heat desipating good? read that led scare heat, afraid it spoil on 1st time if i buy & gunned it on high long hours - will be using it like home light, the only time it will be shut down is when battery are flat & need changing - bout 8 hours run at a go>> maybe 3 hours on high, 5 hours low)

2)The medium mode is it like 50% brightness like other lights? (Think is safer for xml when using it as home light? also maybe 3 hours on high, 5 hours low)

3) Do u think this POPPAS W-878 is the best bang floody light for every buck/cents? Is there other lights capable of same/better flood with floodyness/intensity cheaper that you know of? (Cos have to get 4-6 piece Frown)

Sorry for my english sentence structure, seems weired.

Reason for using 8 hours run on this is because i cannot bear to part with money to buy real floodlight or generator for electricity.

Thanks.

EDITED: Not running it every day 8 hour, is about twice or thrice every week - 8 hours run that is, rest of the time will be OFF.

Not sure how to answer this one.

It is good at dissipating heat, but there is no cooling fins so i would not use it on high till the battery runs flat, generally with most high powered lights you need active cooling like walking or moving around, i use fans to do this for my if i do run time test's or i go for long walks at night.

To run it on high for 8 hours you would need 4 to 7 batteries for each light and to get the Maxim run time like that you would need to spend around $13 usd on each battery then need a charger to suit if you don't have one and i don't think many XML torches could do that at all.

I think 3 hours on high and 5 hours on low is to much for most XML lights you would need a pile of batteries and you run the risk of cooking the led or driver, to replace the driver is under $5 usd and to replace the led is under $9 usd and then you need equipment for the repair.

Medium mode is around 60 to 50 % at a guess as i have not measured it, maybe others can chime in here.

I think the POPPAS W-878 has huge flood and is good for the price i payed, every one Ive showed it to has been impressed by it.

There is other lights, there is 2 that i have personally used that can run from 2 to 3 hours on high or run 8 + hours on medium or low and still give out good light to light up a room, but they cost $35 to $55 usd each and they both need 3 x 18650 batteries each to do this and they would need electric fans to blow air on them to help keep cool or be run in very very cold temptress, like a refrigerator or ice box not like Singapore, i could buy a generator cheaper here then i could buy 4 to 6 torches, batteries, chargers and run them 2 or 3 times a week.

Maybe make a post on in the forum asking for suggestions, i know there are lights are there that can run for days on low mode but will not put out much light or heat and use cheaper batteries but i have no experience with them, so i have no idea.

If i was you i would be looking at lanterns, big candles, gas or kero lights or a generator as using XML LEDs to do this job is going to cost to much and not give you what you need.

I wish you all the best with your lighting issues i hope it works out.

Thanks for ur valueble insight.

This is hard for me...decent big lantern are quite expensive over my side (rechargeble 8 Ds inside, florensent tube, coming USD$ 200/-).-[i rather forgo the lantern & get HID torch, haha] **generator size [bringing in & out of country is a hassle-dunno will there be thief if i leave the generator at the house with flimsy door], kero lights are just like 1 candle. Real commercial floodlights running 24v/36v cost slightly over usd$1k to reach me..

I read many reviews of "flood to throw torch" but your photos say a thousands words, am very much impressed with Poppas w878 too.Tongue Out

Poppas w878 seems to be the cheapest way for me, but having to use so many battery also dun seems any bang for buck.
Also do not know can it handle car battery 12v like tf-3t6, hmmmmmm......how should i wire them? LOL

May i know if the "head & body" (do not know the exact term) O-ring is sufficent for watertight/submissible?

Dennis i have an idea ill post it in your orginal thread asking about this subject.

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/8324#comment-177107

Here is what i did with my POPPAS W-878. I used my gift box, holster, charger and a protected trustfire 26650 battery From my Trustfire A8 kit and made a nice gift set for my old man.

Sorry crap pictures.

My old man now uses it every day for for and he is really happy with it.

good review
bare lens diameter and thickness please
thanks

Ive gifted mine, so maybe garry can let you know.