Review: TrustFire Z1 XML-T6 "1600 Lumen" Zoomable (a.k.a. Z5)

This might work for single mode.

Is this true about this MCE? Is it actually 1600 lumens?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1600lumen-CREE-MCE-LED-Zoom-flashlight-torch-/280721816439?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item415c52fb77

It seems to me MCEs and XMLs are about equal in output.

Nice Review !

I wish it was a killer thrower- I don't know much about lights like most on here but have this*idea that lights like these could be great throwers if engineered right.

*usually I'm wrong about this except for a very few.......

When I first got mine, when changed the focus it would change modes. I had seen that about it on other forums, so I knew what to do. I took it apart and used a pencil eraser where the battery + touches and put it back together, put a tiny wipe of silicone lube on the o-rings, and put it back together. After that no more problem. However, by doing that, I created another problem. When I slide to focus, vacuum sucks the slide back to its starting position unless I hold it there and twist the slide a little. LOL! I think it seals a little too good now. However, I do have to say that I am pleased with the light.

PS: I'm a little baffled as to the purpose of the screw-on piece in front of the tail cap. All I can think of is it's a jamb nut for the tail cap.

I would avoid the MC-E as the beam pattern will be awful! An MC-E is actually 4 small emitters stuck on 1 die, so in zoom mode it would appear as 4 squares. This would be very annoying and distracting.

The XM-L if driven the same as an MC-E should give superior output. An SST-50 might be tempting, but only at very very high currents where it can outperform an XM-L.

Any reason why this one from KD wouldnt work to convert it to single mode?

Factory driver - 22mm
manafont driver - 26 mm

I upgraded the driver

6-18V 3000mA 3-Mode Circuit Board for XM-LT60 Emitters

So did I and it went from 1,08A@tail to 1,25A.

But it gets hot as "%"#¤

What throws further and is brighter the yezl t9 or z5?

wow nice shots

In case anyone is still interested, I accidentally found a 1x18650 clone of the Z5 on ebay a while back, and it is easily one of my favorite torches, and by far my favorite zoomie.

See HERE.

Sorry, thought I’d mentioned it before. :slight_smile:

I bought two of those clones and they are great. Build quality is not on par with TF, but on the other hand you can easily mod them with KD 8x7135 v2 and get:

- three modes
- no blinkies
- very high PWM
- 3A high
- very low low, which equals very long runtime (or a bit higher if you want, just select the correct one)

Recommended.

I think the thing that gets me the most about these zoomies is such a small LED print from an XM-L emitter. Like, the travel length for the zoom mechanism seems to have actually been designed for throw. :slight_smile:

The XM-L print from this torch is the same size as the Q5 beam from my SK68 clone. That means throw, and brighter throw.

If you’ve modded one of these to run at 3A, damn. I love mine at 1.5 - 2A. That’s exciting.

I have one of these.

Occasionally it has remembered the last used setting.

But I have not been able to figure out how to make it do that every time. Most of the time it goes into the next setting when switched on.

Anyone know how to activate the built-in memory circuit?

How easily remove driver module from this flashlight ?

I have the single 18650 version of this light. After modding the pill with a copper insert (pill is hollow as standard in the Chinese clones) I fitted a Nangj 105c 2.8 amp driver.

It turned a terrible under driven, LED cooking heathen into a well driven very bright, well heatsinked joyous delight :smiley:

I’m going to try to convert this light to a solid pill. The upper section of the head is 13/16 wide, and I found a nice 12 inch piece of copper round on Amazon with the right width. I’m going to try and cut it down and then thermal epoxy it in to the head. I’m planning on switching out the driver to a different model that might give me slightly more room to fill w/ copper. Worst case scenario, a coin-thick piece of 13/16” copper round will certainly give better heat performance since the LED is practically hanging over open air.

The driver I found is 14mm tall, which would leave approximately 5-6mm of air above it to the top of the head/pill. I could also “extend” the head/pill with a few more mm’s of copper at the full width of the pill, retaining full zooming functionality while increasing heatsink space. Decisions, decisions…

How remove LED driver from flashlight ? Unscrew or how ?

First, Remove the LED emitter. Then, try and remove some of the solder on the bottom holding the driver in place. Then use a small ball pin hammer and gently tap out the driver.

excellent review!