[Review] DQG Tiny18650 v2 (XM-L2 T6 NW or U2 CW, 1x 18650)


DQG Tiny18650 v2
LED: XM-L2 T6 NW
Battery: 1x 18650
Modes: 3 ( Low, Medium , High) with no memory
Switch: Twisty
Date: January 2014
Links :
CNQG / Wallbuys / RdL / Thread in ForoLinternas

INTRODUCTION:
Some time ago we saw the first DQG Tiny18650 at detail , a revolutionary flashlight combining acclaimed miniaturization of all creations of DQG with extra power and extended runtime at a really compact package.
DQG has released version 2 of this model , which consists of an almost complete reconstruction of the flashlight to rectify and improve some aspects of the first version.

Flashlight presentation does not change, coming in the same box with the URL of BTUlight , finding inside the flashlight accompanied by a complete set of O-rings and an instruction manual in two languages (English and Chinese). As in the previous version, the box has a cut-out in its protective foam to accommodate an optional 18650 battery and thus make this package suitable for gifts.

EXTERIOR FINISH :
Although the appearance is quite similar to its predecessor, this Tiny18650 version 2 hides some very interesting details in its construction, all implemented to strengthen and improve its use and performance. And thanks to the new configuration of the flashlight parts measures have declined significantly , with this new version being 5.5mm shorter.


Outwardly , there is little advertibles changes. The finish is very similar to the old version, with uniform matte black anodizing , accurate and free of machining marks and a ateel bezel clutching the TIR lens. Now, if you look more closely, you’ll notice some subtle details which I will detail below:

The flashlight head is about 1mm larger in diameter , and loses the beveled area under dissipating fins . Maintains the track with aggressive knurling that both facilitates one-handed operation of its twisty operation, and the fins (now 3 instead of two in the previous version ) are now something deeper. The head length is lengthened by about 2 mm, and its weight increases to 18.6g versus the prior 17.0g, so it has now more mass for heatsinking. The TIR lens seems to be the same , but what changes is the system in which the LED is mounted , because in this new version when removing the bezel you extract what appears to be a complete module that contains all the electronics of the light.

The driver now features a foam coating that prevents the battery ranting when the flashlight is off, and works in conjunction with the new negative contact tailcap system, to be discussed later .

The threads on the head are now unanodized , raw aluminum. This detail is a major improvement as we allow you to use 18650 batteries of all types and lengths , and now the contact point that actually closes the circuit is in the tailcap .

The tube is now composed of two parts, with a separate tailcap . The design is very similar, with a large center swath of knurling with the same rough feel than its predecessor. The clip has changed , it is now thicker and with a much higher tension . As in the previous version is hold in place by pressure, but now in a smooth track within the knurled area, so we can mount the clip in both directions .

Finally , the new independent tailcap hides which in my view is the best model updates . This part hidden inside a simple but surprisingly effective system in just a few tenths of a millimeter acts spring , allowing the reduction in the total measurement of the light, and removing at a stroke the problems of imprecise selection of modes we saw in the previous version , especially if the length of the battery was at the limit.

We have a hole in the center , which houses a kind of foam button like the one that covers the driver , and this in surrounded by a relief in the machining of the part without anodizing . When you insert a battery, this is completely isolated from both poles by the action of the foam, which acts as a cushion while also preventing the battery rantle when moving the flashlight turned off. When tightening the head, thanks to not anodized and fine pitch threads, the battery will be becoming increasingly tight in its housing until the pressure of the head thrust enough for the negative contact with aluminum and current flow through the body. Tailcap threads are anodized. As in the previous version, the tailcap hosts a discreet engraved with initials and DQG model, this time fully visible.

USER INTERFACE :

Modes and operation remain intact over the previous version , with 3 modes in ascending order with no memory as usual :

  • Turn ON and mode selection: Simply tighten the head to close the circuit and turn on the flashlight in low mode . If you turn off and on again quickly modes will switch in ascending order.
  • Mechanical Block-out : With the new design with separate tailcap with anodized threads we can now mechanically block-out the light and prevent inadvertent activation with just slightly unscrew the tail threads. For the type of switch of this flashlight , there is of course no parasitic consumption .
  • One hand operation: It is not only possible, but is now very accurate. The rough stretch of knurling head allows us to rotate the head without any effort , and without the spring now makes it much more precise handling.


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PERFORMANCE:

Another important change is the driver, capable now of providing more light for longer time using the same battery. A step forward in efficiency and a very good performance with no stepdown for the high mode. Increasing the mass of the head and probably the best heat transfer make this lil miracle possible.


All modes , as in the previous version , are achieved by regulated current with no PWM.

BEAM PROFILE:
Being the same lens , the projection is identical to the previous Tiny18650 :
The TIR lens was not only selected for their ability to significantly reduce the final size of the package, but also provides a clean and free of any chromatic aberration beam. The lens creates a good compromise between throw and flood with a medium sized hotspot, accompanied by a pleasant and smooth spill free of any ring.

You can see how, compared to other floody flashlights that use reflectors , color is pretty uniform in the beam without the typical corona green / beige gradient surrounding the hotspot that usually produce the XM-L with mirror reflectors.

PERSONAL CONCLUSION :
Negatives: No objection here , except that the new clip has a perhaps too hard tension, and partially supported on an area of knurling is perhaps too aggressive with clothes and can tear the fabric of our pocket.
Positives: Fixed the main problems of the first version , with bright ideas. Being capable to work with batteries over 70mm long is undoubtedly the main improvement. It would have been very easy to extend the tube a few millimeters, but DQG has done what nobody expected: Allow longer cells by shortening the flashlight itself. Thanks to the non-anodized head threads and the independent tailcap we can now put any battery, protected or not , button or flat top . The twisty is now smooth as butter and mode selection is highly accurated. Simply BRILLIANT .

Thanks for the nice review! Again!

Thank you for reading, and please forgive my poor english! :bigsmile:

Excellent review!

I’ve held off buying the v2 because I couldn’t tell what was different between it and the very disappointing v1. Your review clearly shows us what was changed.

Looks like they’ve fixed the main problems with the original light.

Thank you very much.
I’ve focused this review into a comparision post and performance analysis, because the v1 is well know by now.
Glad you liked the format.

Tbh, mine flickers each and every time i twist it. Sometimes it wont even turn on :frowning: worst light i have had

is it V1 or V2?
Are your head threads clean?
One of the units I got had excesive thread lube in the head and it flickered till I cleaned it with alcohol. Now works like a charm.

nice review………
does the light come in another color ?

AFAIK, only black ano this time.

It is v2. Will try to clean it, thanks.

UPz, how does the mode spacing feel to you ? Is the 265 lumens too much for middle mode ?

I miss a lower low, ie 2~5LM, but I’m not sure I’ll like losing the 24LM lumen instead.
For my usage, 265LM is OK. This is 100% subjective, but I’ve found that I usually stick to lights that have a 250~300LM mode for my work daily usage.

Regards!

nice review really): bought right now:)
my question-is possible to change the driver??

  • This is an old model light that is a twisty. The current model DQG 18650 is the Tiny IV. It uses an electronic sideswitch and is much superior.
  • Changing the driver in the DQG series is difficult, but not impossible. To make for the smallest possible light, the DQG series all use an integrated board that contains both the driver and LED (similar to the latest Zebralights). There is no separate star. You can’t simply swap the stock driver for an off-the-shelf one because most drivers don’t contain the LED. And since the light is so short, there probably isn’t room for you to add a separate star on top of a new driver.
  • However, it is possible to make the DQG 18650 series lights into small triples. A standard 20mm Carclo triple TIR optic is 7mm shorter than the stock single-emitter TIR that comes with DQG. This 7mm is enough room to add a small copper heatsink and a 20mm Noctigon triple star. So far, I’ve converted two DQG 18650 Tiny IIIs into triples this way. (the Tiny III is also an electronic side clicky similar to the Tiny IV). One of them puts out around 3000 lumens at turn-on, but gets hot very fast.

Modding the DQG 18650 is a fairly advanced mod. Definitely not for beginners to modding.

hallo.firelight,thanks for simply and clear aonswer.i undesratnd it.never did a modding before,so…i will rather use it as it comes.but,800 lumens from one flashlite to 18650 is too little for me…i dotn need tripple firestarter,but this one with Astrolux output will be my new nightmare.ho to do that:))))yes,i know,its hard to open,hard to change driver.but ok.thanks