Review: Trustfire Mini-01

[MattSPL]

Yeah not sure to be honest. Have you any other cells to try?

[Suncoaster]

I get
.08 and .85 on the original Trustfire CR123A
.11 and .98 on SOshine RCR-123 protected.

But my cheap DMM leads read low compared with better wire…
I need to make up some better leads.

[MattSPL]

@Suncoaster

I get
.08 and .85 on the original Trustfire CR123A
.11 and .98 on SOshine RCR-123 protected.

But my cheap DMM leads read low compared with better wire…
I need to make up some better leads.

Thanks for testing your Mini-01.
Hopefully some other people can test theirs too.

[alex21]

@mags

Nice! Any way of posting some beam shots or perhaps a video?

Thanks man. Unfortunately the only camera I got is the one on my phone… tried last night but it came out too crappy

[alex21]

@MattSPL

Here’s my current draw results for the Mini-01

Trustfire primary - Low 0.08A, High 0.8A

Surefire primary - Low 0.06A, High 0.75A

Ultracell 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.1A, High 1A

AW 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.13A, High 1.09A

Yezl 3.7v 16340 - Low 0.25A, High 2.4A

This explains the brightness and hand burning heat when using the Yezl cell :bigsmile:

Nice… got to get me some of that hand burning goodness for these winter nights

[mags]

Glad I picked up the Yetzl cells…

[MattSPL]

@alex21

@MattSPL

Here’s my current draw results for the Mini-01

Trustfire primary - Low 0.08A, High 0.8A

Surefire primary - Low 0.06A, High 0.75A

Ultracell 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.1A, High 1A

AW 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.13A, High 1.09A

Yezl 3.7v 16340 - Low 0.25A, High 2.4A

This explains the brightness and hand burning heat when using the Yezl cell :bigsmile:

Nice… got to get me some of that hand burning goodness for these winter nights

Now i just need to get hold of an AW IMR 16340. That should be really fun :bigsmile:

[alex21]

@MattSPL

Now i just need to get hold of an AW IMR 16340. That should be really fun :bigsmile:

Good one. Should be interesting J)

[mags]

@MattSPL

@alex21

@MattSPL

Here’s my current draw results for the Mini-01

Trustfire primary - Low 0.08A, High 0.8A

Surefire primary - Low 0.06A, High 0.75A

Ultracell 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.1A, High 1A

AW 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.13A, High 1.09A

Yezl 3.7v 16340 - Low 0.25A, High 2.4A

This explains the brightness and hand burning heat when using the Yezl cell :bigsmile:

Nice… got to get me some of that hand burning goodness for these winter nights

Now i just need to get hold of an AW IMR 16340. That should be really fun :bigsmile:

Is the AW IMR better than the Yetzl? By how much?

[MattSPL]

@mags

@MattSPL

@alex21

@MattSPL

Here’s my current draw results for the Mini-01

Trustfire primary - Low 0.08A, High 0.8A

Surefire primary - Low 0.06A, High 0.75A

Ultracell 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.1A, High 1A

AW 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.13A, High 1.09A

Yezl 3.7v 16340 - Low 0.25A, High 2.4A

This explains the brightness and hand burning heat when using the Yezl cell :bigsmile:

Nice… got to get me some of that hand burning goodness for these winter nights

Now i just need to get hold of an AW IMR 16340. That should be really fun :bigsmile:

Is the AW IMR better than the Yetzl? By how much?

I don’t know enough about flashlights and batteries to give a definite answer, but this is what i think: I bought the Yezl 16340 because it has the highest tested capacity ive seen, and it is rated to handle upto 3.2A discharge, which, from what i can tell, is very good for a 16340 cell.
The AW IMR 16340 is capable of 4.4A max discharge, but will also have a much lower internal resistance due to design and lack of any protection circuit. This means it will perform better in a light that needs high current delivery, especially a direct drive light like the Mini-01 seems to be.
So in theory, the AW IMR 16340 should make the Mini-01 even brighter. You would just have to take care not to let the IMR discharge below 2.5v(as it has no protection circuit), or it will shorten cell life.

Cheers
Matt

[mags]

@MattSPL

@mags

@MattSPL

@alex21

@MattSPL

Here’s my current draw results for the Mini-01

Trustfire primary - Low 0.08A, High 0.8A

Surefire primary - Low 0.06A, High 0.75A

Ultracell 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.1A, High 1A

AW 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.13A, High 1.09A

Yezl 3.7v 16340 - Low 0.25A, High 2.4A

This explains the brightness and hand burning heat when using the Yezl cell :bigsmile:

Nice… got to get me some of that hand burning goodness for these winter nights

Now i just need to get hold of an AW IMR 16340. That should be really fun :bigsmile:

Is the AW IMR better than the Yetzl? By how much?

I don’t know enough about flashlights and batteries to give a definite answer, but this is what i think: I bought the Yezl 16340 because it has the highest tested capacity ive seen, and it is rated to handle upto 3.2A discharge, which, from what i can tell, is very good for a 16340 cell.
The AW IMR 16340 is capable of 4.4A max discharge, but will also have a much lower internal resistance due to design and lack of any protection circuit. This means it will perform better in a light that needs high current delivery, especially a direct drive light like the Mini-01 seems to be.
So in theory, the AW IMR 16340 should make the Mini-01 even brighter. You would just have to take care not to let the IMR discharge below 2.5v(as it has no protection circuit), or it will shorten cell life.

Cheers
Matt

Thanks Matt

http://www.oveready.com/batteries-chargers/aw-imr-16340-rechargeable-battery/prod_113.html

[JohnnyMac]

As soon as mine arrives I will post figures using my TF flames as well as OTF lumens in my IS.

[Tecmo]

Flames work fine in mine. They’re from DX.

[MattSPL]

@JohnnyMac

As soon as mine arrives I will post figures using my TF flames as well as OTF lumens in my IS.

Thanks

[MattSPL]

Yes, the Trustfire flames 880mAh seem to be a good 16340 also. Torchythebatteryboy tested them as having 658mAh capacity at 1A discharge.

[feilox]

So I heard it last 6-8 minutes on high. How much do i get with these AW & Yezl cells?

[MattSPL]

@feilox

So I heard it last 6-8 minutes on high. How much do i get with these AW & Yezl cells?

I haven’t really done run time testing because it gets too hot on high after a minute. After several bursts in high, it gets easier to leave on for a bit longer as the cell runs out because the light doesn’t get as hot.
I’ve also only ran the yezl down to 3.6v.

Using a primary or LifeP04, the light doesn’t get nearly as hot so can be left on for 5 minutes, maybe more, and I got at least 20 minutes run time, but haven’t tested properly.

EDIT: you will have to be careful if using any unprotected cells as the light can drain them quickly and may over discharge. I accidentally ran a LifeP04 down to 0.8v while testing the Mini-01. It seemed ok though and charged back up again.

[MattSPL]

@MattSPL

Here’s my current draw results for the Mini-01

Trustfire primary - Low 0.08A, High 0.8A

Surefire primary - Low 0.06A, High 0.75A

Ultracell 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.1A, High 1A

AW 3.2v LifeP04 - Low 0.13A, High 1.09A

Yezl 3.7v 16340 - Low 0.25A, High 2.4A

This explains the brightness and hand burning heat when using the Yezl cell :bigsmile:

Edit: I have just tested the Mini-01’s current draw on 2 different 18650 cells.

Senybor 3100mAh(Panasonic) protected - Low 0.27A, High 2.55A

Panasonic GCR18650CH - Low 0.30A, High 2.9A

I have just tested edited my previous post above to include 2 more current draw tests using 18650 cells :bigsmile:

[mags]

The Panasonic batts must give out significant light than the Yetzl… Does it make a huge difference?

[MattSPL]

@mags

The Panasonic batts must give out significant light than the Yetzl… Does it make a huge difference?

I didn’t really get to look at the output because of the way i had the head setup(face down) measuring the current. There was serious heat in the head after the little time i spent testing though, and i lifted the edge of the head up slightly to see the output and it was really bright :bigsmile:
I wonder would an IMR 16340 be as bright?

I suppose looking at it realistically, making the Mini-01 any brighter than the Yezl already does will make it too hot to handle in less than a minute or so.