Review: Klarus P2A - compared to JetBeam BA20

Klarus P2A

Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Summary:

Battery: 2xAA (alkaline, Ni-Mh)
Switch: Forward clickie (tailcap)
Modes: 2 (High, Low)
LED Type: Cree XP-G R5
Lens: Coated glass lens
Tailstands: Yes
Price Paid: 36.55$
From: Aura Buy
Date Ordered: Feb 2013

Pros:

  • Very efficient electronics
  • Imprehesive output with just 2xAA
  • Quality finish, robust
  • Full regulated output (constant output)
  • Good switch
  • Super-smooth, quality and robust SQUARE threads!!!

Cons:

  • No holster included
  • Lubed with vaseline
  • Clip not reversible

Features / Value: ★★★★★

This will be a review of the Klarus P2A and a comparison to it´s brother/sister JetBeam BA20.

Many people already know that this light seems to be made in the same factory or by the same people who make the JetBeam BA20. In fact, we can say that it is the same flashlight, using the same LED, reflector, pill, electronics and switch but with a different machining/shape of the body and the cilp.

Both lights seems to give the same light output and runtime/performance...

This light seems to be designed to compete with the Fenix LD20. It is very similar in "desing" and seems to be in the same segment than the LD20.

However, it has less functions than the LD20, but of course, for less price. It is about 12 dollar less than the Fenix and the only "things" missing are the very low, high, SOS and strobe modes.

As positive aspect, is that it delivers more output than the Fenix (245 ANSI lumens vs 180 ANSI lumens), with a bit less runtime obviously (half an hour less, but more lumens output)

As negative aspect, is 5mm longer and 3mm wider than the LD20, plus it weights a bit more. Also has not strike bezel.

One last thing: the user interface is very simple. Low (30 lumens) and High (245 lumen).

Design / Build Quality: ★★★★★

The light is received in a cardboard box, having inside, the flashlight (with clip already installed), the user manual, warranty card, lanyard and 2 spare o-rings.

The first thing you will notice is how robust it feels/seems, without being too heavy. Similar to the JetBeam BA20, perhaps better.

The light is made from 3 parts: head, body and tailcap.

The switch is replaceable (just unscrew it, put a new one, screw again). The body is a tube with thick walls. The head has a "battery contact" with polarity protection.

The clip can not be reversed, and must to be installed near to the tailcap. The clip is very robust, and a bit difficult to remove and install again. When installing or un-installing the clip, no "marks" are left in the surface of the light, meaning it should be really HAIII as claimed.

It measures about 15,5 cm lenght and 2,3 cm width. The clip acts as "anti roll". It can tailstand, but sometimes it is a bit unstable.

It has a XP-G R5 LED, and the reflector is orange peel. Led perfectly centered.

The switch is a "forward" type, allowing signaling. The travel is long and very smooth.

The head is completely smooth, and has not "strike bezel".

The threads in the tail, are anodized and they are veeery smooth. Due to the fact thaat they are anodized, if you unscrew the tailcap 1/4 turn the light will not work (it becomes a twist switch light!). Good, at least for me. Let me say again, that the threads are square and are silk smooth. I removed the vaseline, and lubed it with silicone oil... veeery veeery nice now!

Let me say something more about the threads: the earlier units of the P2A were being manufactured with non-square threads (do they are called "triangular" threads?). The latests are manufactured with square threads.

The threads are longer and much smoother than in the JetBeam BA20.

The threads in the head, are not anodized because of the "change mode" funtion.

O-rings present in both ends of the battery tube. The battery tube is very thick.

The light has polarity protection as you can see in the photos. Also there is a difference from the earlier and the latests versions of the P2A. The earlier, apart from having "normal-triangular" threads, they had a polarity protection similar than the one you can see in most of Fenix lights: A central round contact with 2 "arrows" pointing one to the left the other to the right. The latests units have a completely round positive contact surrounded with another round contact taller than the other making impossible to contact with the battery if you insert it in the wrong way.

And another difference from the earlier versions: the switch assembly is different. On earlier ones, the used the same assembly that you can see in the photos of my review of the BA20, which I consider that is OK but maybe a bit fragile. Now, the latests ones, come with a new, more robust switch, in were you see less plastic parts on it but more metal... good!

Let me finish talking about the manufacturing quality: it arrived perfectly clean, no dirt/dust/machinning debris on the threads/lens/reflector. Very very nice!

Some (bad quality) photos comparing it to the JetBeam BA20:

Up: JetBeam

Down: Klarus

Left: Klarus rear threads

Right: JetBeam rear threads

Left: Klarus front threads

Right: JetBeam front threads

Left: Klarus polarity protection

Right: JetBeam polarity protection

Left: JetBeam switch spring/assembly

Right: Klarus switch spring/assembly

Battery Life: ★★★★★

When I received the BA20 about 2 years ago or so, I was impressed by the fact that it gave a constant high lumens output during all the life of the batteries, I mean, the output remains constant until the battery voltage goes too low (about 0,9v for each battery or so).

To maintain a constant brightness, the circuitry increases the current draw as the battery voltage decreases. It is a full regulated circuit.

Both the Klarus P2A and the JetBeam BA20 give about the same runtime. Measured by me on High mode, using 2500mAh batteries, I got 1 hour 45 minutes from the start to automatic switch to low mode. Not much difference from the two.

I consider very good the chance to have 245 lumens during 1 hour and 45 minutes on High, and 30 lumens during 33 hours on Low.

That is what manufacturer claims (talking about lumens)

I still have not done runtime tests on low. But I have measured the current draw:

Fresh charged BTone 2500mAh batteries:

High 1.15A

Low 180mA

Not fresh/depleted batteries:

High 2.3A

Low 190mA

Measured runtime on HIGH (2500mAh batts used) = 1hour 45 minutes until out of regulation (switch to low)

Measured runtime on LOW: NOT MEASURED!!!! (estimated to about 30 hours by manufacturer)

Light Output: ★★★★★

Klarus claims to give 245 lumens... The JetBeam BA20 is claim to give 270 lumens.... Without measuring equipment, is difficult to give a clear judgement. But, "eyeballing" I have the conclusion that both lights give the same lumen output. Only difference is the tint, the BA20 is a bit warmer than the P2A.

As I have said, I am impressed by the fact that just with 2xAA you get more light than, i.e. a TrustFire F20 (Q5) with 14500. Imprehesive. That was what I was searching, a light which can produce the maximun amount of light with easy available AA batteries.

Manufacturer claims 245 Ansi lumens on high and 30 Ansi lumens on low. I trust that. Is imprehesive.

It has a big hotspot, not very well defined, and the flood and throw is more than adecuate for the size of the reflector.

The tint is CW.

Beamshot, 1 meter from white wall, LOW MODE:

Beamshot 3 meters from white wall, LOW MODE:

Beamshot, 1 meter from white wall, HIGH MODE:

Beamshot 3 meters from white wall, HIGH MODE:

If you want mid range shots (15-20 meters) you can see the photos on my review of the BA20, which produces the same results than this P2A.

Summary: ★★★★★

This is a well-known-"old" light produced possibly by the same people/factory who make the Jetbeam BA20. It has been discussed in the forums that it is almost the same light with the same led, pill, reflector, electronics and switch, but with a different shape/machining of the body.

5 stars for this light. It has the best regulated circuit I have had (identical to BA20) with about the same performance in light output and runtime. Only difference, as said, is the tint of the light output and the shape/machining of the body.

I can say that this light is one of the best 2xAA flashlights with a very good constant light output + a good runtime that has a very nice and robust body, plus one of the most perfect threads I have had before (square cut threads)

Perhaps I will consider the P2A better than the JetBeam Ba20, becasue of its square threads.

DISCLAIMER: This review may appear identical or almost identical to the review of the JetBeam BA20 I made here https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/4860 , ok, both lights are almost the same, making my opinions/thoughts almost identical among them.

Whoo hooo,

A review in latin. :wink: I will of course remove my post when the review is finished. As I will look rather silly.

Marc.

The P2A is a forward clicky not reverse. At least mine is and I assume they all are.

I’m looking forward to this review because I own the Klarus P2A, 4 Jetbeam BA10s and a Klarus P1A. The P1A and BA10 are just single AA versions of the P2A and BA20.

Yes forward clicky. It is also a very good light. I too am looking forward to this review. :slight_smile:

Marc.

Sorry, is forward, exactly the same as the ba20.

Hi Fran, just let me know when this is done and I’ll make it Frontpage and Sticky. Thanks!

ok, I will do. In this moment I have no time to take the photos, upload them, and link them. Will be finish before the week-end, sorry

Review finished. If anyone has any question or petition… :wink:

fran is this a FREE review sample provided by aurabuy?

they offered me a free review light by Klarus too but i declined.

xp-g r5?? sorry i cant be bothered. the P1A, P2A, P1C stuffz is 2011 stuffz!!

no thanks.

Thanks for the review fran.
Klarus P2A is my best 2xAA, it always goes in the car.
The P1A is a good EDC. Maybe I should try a Jetbeam of this series?
question : There are differences between the convenience of use of the clips?

I believe the caption for your polarity pictures is backwards unless I don’t know my right from my left LOL.

No, the free sample is the tank. They offered a Klarus to you?. So they offered a klarus to you? omg!

No entiendo lo de los clips. No sé a qué te refieres.

I think you are talking about the “reversibility”, I mean, about the ability to allow the clip to be installed near the head or near the tail, maybe?

Sorry, corrected now…

Sorry, It is hard for me, explains the question :_(
About the anatomy of clips. in the clip Klarus P1A lengthening toward the tail, Jetbeam not. Does this affect the comfort when placed in a pocket?.

hmm……

I prefer the “placement” of the jetbeam clip, making the light to be “facing up” when carrying in a pocket. That way you “see” if the light is accidentally switched on.

Also, the clip on the Klarus, is extreeeeeemely strong, and sometimes it will make very difficult to place it in a pocket.

But, finally, I think that is “personal opinion”… maybe you will prefer the light “facing down” into your pocket…

but it is easy to remove ;)

I love this AA flashlights.

I hove both these lights. Hardly any difference. I like the Klarus slightly more simply because the clicky feels a little more solid on my light. Other than that, they are pretty much the same light.

Pretty much the same light and so are the P1A and BA-10. On the P1A the clip placement is more important and more useful. The BA 10 clip is silly. It is in the middle of the light with the lens up. Makes no sense.

I love my PA2 but my PA1 has lost favor since it is not as bright and is slightly greenish tint. I have not put a 14500 in it yet but have in the Jetbeam BA10 and it changes everything. I’m not sure if it is safe for the Klarus or not.