ITS HERE! SIPIK SK98 - A 18650 based Sipik SK68 with an XML!

how does it compare to the 14500 sipik if you have one? could you take some beamshots?

For 14usd it isn't a bad choice overall.

The bad:

The focus isn't perfect. The focal point (in my sample) isn't reached if you don't unscrew a bit the first section of the head (putting the lens farther).

The lens don't work very good with XM-L angle (I supposed it before purchasing). On full throw you can see light around the proyection.

The pill is very bad dessigned. No aluminium under the star. The 20mm star is just holded by a plastic disc, and only contacts the pill on the edges.

With +3.5A at the tailcap, I don't think this is very safe for the led. Surprisingly, the flashlight gets hot pretty fast.

Threads on tailcap were gritty. Now cleaned & lubbed, feeling better.

The good

Flood area is like bigger, and brighter.

Can take long cells (protected panasonic NCR18650A)

Tailcap is looks serviceable.

More in the review...

P.S: Sorry for the typos and poor english

So are there better 18650 XM-L options. give or take a few dollars? I'm disappointed to hear the focus isn't too good. I was hopeful this would be a decent XM-L zoomie. I'm not as interested in flood. Yes, I understand XM-L isn't ideal for throw, however, it still provides much more output for a potentially over all better package.

call me crazy, but I've come to prefer these pills w/ a hole in the center

I have 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4" copper rod here and I drive that into the hole.

The laborious part is facing the rod. I need a lathe...

This also makes is possible to solder the emitter directly to the copper - which is a bit easier w/ a zoomie (instead of reflector) because it isn't as crucial that the emitter be perfectly centered.

The nice part about this light vs the 'new c55/c56' (aside from the switch) is that the pcb 'holder' and the threads are one piece, so at least there is a good heat path to the body...

Looks like this will be my next purchase, after a visit from the credit fairy

Scratch that for the moment. Looks serviceable. Tried to dissasemble the switch but there's a plastic piece under the alu threaded ring that I can't take off.

So how does it stack up to the other 18650 zoomies?

I have a Yezl T9 Big Head (18650) http://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1107 , the Yezl is larger, has a bigger lens and projects a smaller/brighter hot spot and feels more solid (as well as being bigger/heavier) it also sells at around $27.00 plus shipping compared to $14 inc. I changed the driver in it to get rid of the strobesand get a little more output.

Most of the time I grab for a C8 or a XML P60 but this light will get some use as it is a little smaller and has a novelty factor to it.

Can you compare also wide beams, which is brighter and bigger diameter?

SK98 full flood vs SK68 full flood

Thanks UPz. That's quite a difference, although the SK68's bezel and lens can be easily removed so that it can be used in mule mode to flood a room. Can this also be done with the SK98?

I just got mine today.

HEY, this thing is SMALL for an 18650 light. With the lense set to "flood", it is exactly the length of an S-Mini, almost 3/4 of an inch shorter than a P1, which I consider a small 18650 light.

The headpiece has plenty of friction to keep it from getting loosy-goosey, and my light focuses fine on max throw. My only complaint is that is has a strobe mode instead of a Medium mode.

The light always starts on High, which is good since I might not have to cycle past Strobe.

Tailstands VERY nicely, good machine work, clip is functional, lots of cooling fins, and it looks to be a real Sipik.

Still daylight out, so I can't say much about the beam, but for $14 it is a nice light. It is my only zoomie at this point.

Hey Troop, please give us a report on the outdoor experiments ASAP! :bigsmile:

I'll order one this weekend if I can get your endorsement. I know it's pretty inexpensive and I shouldn't bother so much but I suppose it's more principle since these flood-to-zoom lights are sort of a hit or miss and generally lower quality. I'm just making this hard on myself :p

I'll try to do some beamshots tonight, but there is a really bright moon, not sure if they will be effective.

Here are some beamshots from about 100 feet to the tree.

Flood

Focused

Awesome. Now to dig up some of your other beam shots in that location to compare

My initial observation is that the throw doesn't seem to be focused that tight.

Thanks!

EDIT: Do you have a popular budget thrower you could compare it to? Maybe something like the HD2010?

The throw is not too tight, but it is still nice! I don’t think you can tighten the big XM-L down like you can an XP-G or XR-E

Here is a link to the comparison, see post #61

Thanks for the quick update. So maybe the XR-E is still better for throw in the SK98? I wasn't sure if the XM-L could possibly match it based purely off of the significantly increased power.

I think it gets the job done just fine. No real need for a pencil-thin beam, at least for me.

So how do you figure it fits in to your collection as a practical EDU (Every Day Use) type of light? Is it worth keeping at the top of your rotation? I suppose it's very similar to the SK68 but with more power.

Thank you for those beamshot. It looks like it floods in a very wide angle. That is just what I need from a work light.

Biiig flood for the up close are work. And a strong clip so I can clip it on to my ear protection. And cheap. And 18650 battery runtime. And a really low low - oh well. After driver swap it is still only 20 $ ;-)