Review: APEX 5T6 (5 x Cree XM-L T6 | 4 x 18650)

Ric, for what it’s worth I’d suggest a total re-visit of this light.

Big heatsink behind the emitters.
Drive these out to about 2.8-3 amps each.

The reason I say this is that this light is obviously a good design, well built and has the size/build to cope with higher output.
Except the guts obviously need some serious tuning to allow that.
At the moment it’s a great lloking beefly light that doesn’t compare to some of it’s compititon (King, Dry, TJ12).
It should really be a light putting out between 2700-3300 lumens of the face.

Totally understand the dollars would skip up, but it would be worth it. You could let us know the price and we’d get numbers,
but as she is, there just isn’t enough performance difference to justify pulling the trigger. Build, looks and function do.

I had an opportunity to take quick beamshots. All of them are 2.0s, f/5.0, ISO80, WB Daylight

APEX NW:

King NW:

APEX vs. King (mouse over for King)

Apex looks like more flood than King.

Brightness looks about the same to me with the Apex looking more floody than the King. The tint in the King also looks a bit cooler.

As of today this flashlight is available on DX for $86.40 - 5 mode version

Can someone tell me which is the sense resistor for the driver and how to calculate for the output current, I’m thinking of modding it.
Thanks

You can ask Ric for the updated driver, at 8.5amps

So when this was originally released, how high was it driven?

I’ve got the original DRY triple (non boosted Turbo, just the H/M/ L strobe settings) and I’m now looking for something a tad bit brighter and I think that this maybe it.

edit: got my settings wrong.

It’s floodier but not as bright as the DRY or the King from what I’ve read.

Im not sure if Ric formally released the 2nd driver. As per Ric the driver will output 8.5 amps
When i do get the new driver i’ll test it on my bench before soldering it up. Makes it much easier
to test the output

Im still waiting for mine hopefully soon.

I take it the handle is removable?

Yes it is. (But trust me: You don't want to remove it. It's very nice and handy!) :)

Hello,

It is possible to dive with this flashlight (i have open water licence, 18M under water maximum)?

Is it possible? Yes. Is it a good idea? No. While this flashlight is waterproof it is not going to be a reliable diving light.

think the king have abit more throw. whose gonna take these 2 lights to see some coral ? :slight_smile:

Like a few members have mentioned the tacticool handle is a pretty nice feature. Although
in pics its seems like it can get in the way. Great snug grip and serves as a hook so you can drop the light outside of your pocket and the handle hooks well in your pocket…

Waterproof? I would go to Ric for answer. I have taken it apart, and with very good tolerances my guess is no

Ok, i said this i have read on seller page on allibaba said: Perfect for, campign, diving, etc…
So i now know. it’s false and she’s not waterproof, thank you for making me econnomy XD

id rather buy another king :money_mouth_face:

It seems most flashlight builders (cloning ??) build their flashlights for increase sales / fight with another product other than practical possibilities of usability, durability.

Real world result show it underperformed than King which is more thermally enhanced.

Increase number of emitters doesn’t make noticeable improvement. but more buyers interested it because 5 emitters :stuck_out_tongue:

Also im wondering why those manufacturers doesn’t put 0.1$ or even less worth thermal compound between emitter board and pill. checked few C8 clones, zoomies all without thermal compound.

i tore apart all 5 of my sipik clones just to put thermal compound :slight_smile: . it was bugging me so much