Review: Ultra Fire UF-980L

AsusualanothergreatreviewbyFoy.

66.11° at head

61.67° at top of knurling

60.00° at tail cap (side)

All in celsius

Foy how hot was the battery?

Has anyone modified one of these to tailstand and could then recommend the parts to buy (I assume a different switch mechanism or silicone tailcap)?

Mine tail stands, I simply added an o-ring to the rubber boot on the switch it gives just enough clearance. I would also like to add that the driver on mine failed and I am currently waiting on Manafont for a replacement.

Bravo! Nice review.

All we need now is for someone to accurately measure the lumen output of this bad boy to see how much extra light vs heat it is pumping out. Everyone has always said that over 3.0A the XM-L only puts out more heat and not much more light. Your 980 seems to slap that theory in the face.

4.5 amps... I wonder how far this will affect premature aging and possible failure of the emitter.

Considering that you’d be unlikely to use it in high mode except for show and only for short periods I don’t think it would burn out the emitter too prematurely. What I’d worry about more is the emitter desoldering itself from it’s base. Considering how the temps Foy recorded only vary 10 degrees from the head to the tail cap I’d say this torch is VERY well heat sinked…rather amazingly, really. What I’d like to know is how many minutes until the temp stabilizes on high. If it ramps up to 150 in 5 minutes and is still there after 15 minutes then I’d not worry too much about it dying too quickly from heat.

Well if standard life of XML is about 50000 hours (over 5,5 years) and because of overdriving it is reduced to lets say fifth, it would still be 10000 hours, which is over one year. I'd say it's enough for most.

I would want a light like this but I'm far too deep in the DIY madness to buy a ready-made light. No. I must try to build one myself, fail, get 1st degree burn trauma in the process, start a mild fire, breathe toxic fumes from bursting Li-ion cells, blind my other eye by looking directly at it and spend hundreds of euros doing so. Before ordering this light from a vendor. That's how I roll.

LOL!

I'd like to see how beamshots from this light stack up to some of the lower-wattage HID lights.

Dammit Foy, now I had to buy one, though I just got myself a TK35...

At least I can compare them then :)

I ordered one too and can't wait to compare it to my tk35 ;D

I'm just saying...!

I hoping they stand behind the warranty and send me a new driver.

I didn't measure how hot the battery got but when I took it out it seemed only slightly less hot than the flashlight - probably over a buck-twenty fahrenheit. When you consider it's drawing 1.25 amps on medium, LED life can be preserved by simply using medium most the time.

Planing some throw beam shots . . .

Foy

Can you note the reflector size/depth for comparison to other lights, or did I miss it?

I'm also trying to determine whether to pony up for this or just get the trustfire f15 for like half the cost.

it looks great!

Wow, this thing sounds barely street legal! Watch out for your eyes at that temperature, and try to dodge the flying aluminum shrapnel. At the same time, it does sound like an incredibly fun light...

Great review as usual Foy! Incredible photography and teardown. Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.

I'm gonna get shot... just had to order one now! Can't wait!

Rich

agenthex - Here ya go . . .

Should have included it - will update

Foy