Just purchased a brand new noname XM-L focusable flashlight...

This: AU 2000 Lumen Zoomable CREE XML T6 LED for 26650/18650/AAA Flashlight Torch Zoom

Checked the forum, but found no information about that torch; I asked the seller if the flashlight had a name or model number, but received no response.
I was wondering if someone has had any kind of experience with that kind of torch. Feedback is welcome.

Cheers

I never sen one like that yet before. Its interesting that it has a wide range of battery options to run it.

Well, my only concern with my purchase is the lack of information about the driver the flashlight uses. Don’t know how will it behave with 2 cells VS 1 cell, and the driving currents used for each mode. Hope the XM-L is well “seated” over a good chunk of aluminum. Also hope the driver puts enough current through the led to obtain near 1000 lumen figures on high.

Cheers

Sooo, the seller answered my question. Brand/model of the flashlight is “no name”. LOL :bigsmile:

Cheers

It's unusual to see a 2X 26650 zoom light, but they are around. I'd assume it's got (or should have) a driver than can support 8.4v, otherwise no point. Lots of no-names out there, specially on eBay and Alibaba, but also in some of the so called big online stores too from China or HK, so very common. These things are always a gamble of course, but at least the vendor seems to have some history (?) and won't want to kill his ratings by selling you junk and then not supporting you.

You’ll have to wait to receive it to examine the pill structure. But we can always help you from that point on.

1,000 lumens is a stretch for any zoomie light - the lens/optics loose a lot of the output of the LED, plus you will only see the highest lumens in full flood mode - zoom in is even worse. Zoomies are pretty bad for lumens - I've measured a lot of zoomies and reflector lights at known amps and sepcific emitters, etc. -- it's always the same pattern. I still like to functionality though of zoomies though, and like the even light they put out in full flood.

Interesting. You might get 600 lumens out of it if all is good and in full flood (zoom out), but more likely 350 to 450. XM-L zoomies lose far too much of their light for my taste.

Looks quite nice. I am usually not disappointed with no brand flashlights.

My first zoomie was a Saik SA-9 (Cree XRE Q5) and got impressed with the light output and the ability to focus the light beam (so you can read signs far in the distance at night… for example). Since that… focusing is a must for me!
I am rarely dissapointed with what I purchase through eBay, seriously.

Cheers

I still have a couple, but focusing an XM-L in a zoomie isn’t as nice as focusing an XR-E or XP-E. Still, you may really enjoy it. And you should have unsurpassed runtime.

I bought one of them… it’s only work for about 5 seconds… then the LED goes dim, swapped another LED ( btw the pill is hollow ) and it works again for about 5 secs then same thing happened, it goes dim as in moonlight mode.
whatever it is, it seems kept on frying the LED, was going to ship it back to the seller, but the cost of shipping is almost the same as the price of the light itself :expressionless:

So… took it as a lost and used the extension for other 26650 light :slight_smile:

when you get it, let us know what you think

What if we were to apply chrome plating to the flashlight’s head? That should result in mirror like surfaces inside and dramatically improved exploitation of the LED’s light… Just had this stupid idea!

Cheers

Hope your particular unit was defective and it’s not a generalized issue… I just don’t want to regret this purchase.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Cheers

I hope so too… I hate to see newbie get burned on their first few lights… :slight_smile:

I am interested in how this light does too. Keep us informed and let us know when you recieve it.

Still waaay to go before I receive the torch!
Once I get it I’ll do a few cheap fotos (and maybe dissassemble it to check on the inside).

Cheers :slight_smile:

I’ll throw out some sobering wisdom for ya; budget lights, especially in the bracket we are discussing, are really budget lights. And that means build quality will vary drastically from sample to sample; some lights will work as good as something Fenix puts out while most others will not work at all or will annoy the heck out of you (i.e. have “next mode” memory, not be well driven, be damaged on arrival, suffer from bad heat protection or other design flaw, etc). It’s a crap-shoot much of the time unless you know the seller and company and have built up rapport with them and know they will back you in the event of a defect. In general, have low expectations (you can always jump for joy later!)

For this reason, many switch and pay more for name-brand lights (even though they, too, can have problems) because they get tired of playing the budget game. And I admit, I’ve been tempted myself from time to time—and fallen, even recently. And even with all the “will this light have the right driver” questions to be asked, the minimalist/cheapskate in me demands that I not overpay for something. So I truck on with higher quality and time-tested budget lights. As long as one will make the sacrifices, there is hope! That’s why, before making a purchase, it is solid advice to research a light if at all possible. I’ll say that most of my impulse purchases came back to bite me. I know (like you in this case) that you can’t always go in armed with knowledge, which is when that “I’m feeling lucky!” part of your brain takes over. Just depends if you want to gamble.

In time, you’ll likely experiment with both budget and upper brands and find that you can have your cake and eat it too with budget brands. I have gotten rid of most of the junk I had from China, but I still sometimes surrender and look for that awesomely unlikely deal to come along. As with anything, you get better at it the more you invest.

If it happens to not work, fun little light to set aside for when you inevitably start modding. :slight_smile: