Using IMRs, i noticed that the J12 dims when voltage gets low instead of flickering/going down a mode when I use protected 18650s.
Anyone else notice that?
It's ment to dim, not sure about the flickering could be the pcbs on the batteries.
Hey 2100 can you buy these and test them against the TR-J12 please.
5 x T6
MarsFire 080 Cree T6 4000-Lumen 5-Mode 5-LED Flashlight - Black (3*26650)
6 x T6
MarsFire 088 Cree T6 4500-Lumen 5-Mode 6-LED Flashlight - Black (3*26650)
7 x T6
MarsFire B Cree T6 5000-Lumen 5-Mode 7-LED Flashlight - Black (3*26650/2*26650)
Another contender 5 x T6 $69.99 shipped
I'm running mine with 4 NiMH cells and it's visually brighter than 3 TF 18650s or 2 26650s (Lighthound, 3.5aH). Verified with my meter just to make sure my eye's weren't deceiving me, and sho nuf brighter. Tried it with 4 cheapo 10 year old C Energizer 2.2aH rechargeables just to see how it would preform. Bright and steady for ~30-35mins with the cheapos. Then got some quality Cs, 4 LSD Accu 4.5aH cells and I'm not going back to Li for this light!
Special thanks to 2100 for the voltage graph that convinced me to go with NiMHs. I have many lights, but this is my new fav all purpose now. Brighter than my factory X6, second only to my Torch. Best bang for the buck right now IMO.
To 2100 "You will not be able to use this for more than 30 seconds in a tropical country unless you want to risk the driver electronics. You could use medium, but then it'd be let down by the PWM. It could survive if it is a 900g light like the XTAR S1.
" Thanks for all the infos 2100 ! But are you saying that TJ12 should not stay on high mode over 30sec in tropical places? Still suggest this as a budget light ? Since I been looking for this light for the OTF and price and I live in a tropical country Thanks!
I live in Australia a warm hot dry country during summer and the TR-J12 can be use flat out on high till the batteries give up ! Just like the TR-3T6. But I would search for the TR-J16 and TR-J18 on this forum the same brand around the same price with more LEDs or the same amount of LEDs for cheaper.
Thanks Benckie,
I seen your post of TR-J16 as well…and still I am thinking
I'm kinda like you Bennie. I like my 3T6, but I'd be reluctant to choose it over this J12 now, haha. Not sure what I'd do with that J18!
Yeah I hear you but I hate to say it the TR-J12 is on the to bright side
Hey Benckie,
If you get to pick one J12 - J16 - J18 which one would you take?
Welcome to the madness, drd!
:)
My understanding is (correct me if I'm wrong):
J12 and J16 = both 5 LED, J18 = 7 LED
So for brightness, J18 would give a better flood (throw would be about the same?) BUT less runtime then the other two.
J16 doesn't support 26650 (so that sucks) BUT has a stainless steel head.
My J12 runs for pretty long, so if I have a choice I would get the J18 (compromise on runtime to get a better flood).
Thanks Shopbot
I hope you guys didn't miss the point of my post. My J12 is discernibly brighter with four NiMH C cells than with two 18650s.
Based on Mitro's excellent data, and 2100's assertion that 2 Li cells were brighter than 3, I hypothesized that a voltage of around 6.5-7.5 might be ideal. That means 2 undercharged Li cells, or perhaps 6 NiMH sub-Cs. I could not find sub-Cs that would give a desirable enough run time or fit more than 5 in the tube, so I tried some old rechargeable C's I had laying around. It worked great! Mitro's graph is missing data in the relevant range of my experiment, so I did a linear regression based on the other data points and it makes perfect sense now. You're still getting more watts with 4 NiMH C cells than you are with 1, 2 or 3 Li cells. Significantly more watts than 1 Li cell, and moderately more than 2 or 3. Plus 21.6 wH instead of 19.2 (so about 12.3% longer run-time) and no worry about ruining or popping your unprotected Li cells.
It depends realy, if I did not have 26650 cells I would go the TR-J16 for looks, for brightness the TR-J12 & TR-J16 are to bright so not sure about the TR-J18 being to bright on high for general use, but I still want one. But even the TR-3T6 is hard to beat for performance and long runs
Thanks Benckie,
It’s hard to pick between them sice they not much differences .
Woah. That is news here. I am shocked! I will give it a go tomorrow. See how it is with a naked eye since I don't have a lux meter.
I've been migrating back to NiMH cells lately. They're just so versatile and forgiving. My infatuation with Lithium is starting to cool down since 2 of my brand new 26650's started leaking for no apparent reason. That's what got me rethinking older chemistry whenever possible. Especially now that the USPS has turned on Li, it's probably time to buy Lithium stocks and NiMH cells.