Mini Review FandyFire C8 CREE XM-LT6 3-Mode

Hey everyone,

I'm going to attempt a mini review of of the FandyFire C8 CREE XM-LT6 3-Mode I bought at DX for only $21.90 http://www.dealextreme.com/p/fandyfire-c8-cree-xm-lt6-3-mode-750-lumen-white-led-flashlight-w-strap-1-x-17670-1-x-18650-90606

I was looking for a cheap regulated XM-L light and it looked like this fit the bill. To be completely honest I'm really new to the flashlight scene so feel free to add your input or tell me if I'm wrong.

Overall Fit and finish I would rate this about a 3 star light, everything seemed to be ok but nothing great. The threads are ok, the finish and knurling are also just ok. As you can see from the pic, kind of a sloppy solder on the + lead but again its ok.

The pill is pretty puny and made out of aluminum. This flashlight is suposed to be regulated at 2800mah so it may not be too big of a deal. I took off the o-ring and replaced it with some thermal compound on the flat part of the pill to hopefully give it a better life. After this the flashlight did seem to heat up more but no tests where done to confirm the better heat sinking.

Now this is by far the brightest light I have so I decided to take some tail cap readings and they didn't make much seance to me. I got anywhere from 2.35-2.91A, all fully charged batteries and all of these batteries are capable of pulling 5A.

It seemed like too much variation so I tested the same batteries on a cheap O Zoomie I have and they pulled 1.9-2.15A maybe it has to do with how the Fandyfire is regulated? Because this light is way way brighter!

Won't take short batteries! I was pretty surprised about this. So I couldn't see if IMR's where any brighter than standard Lithium-Ion's. If you try and use unprotected batteries it wont turn on or wants to switch modes without clicking the button.

Overall I would rate it a solid 3 stars. I do like this light a lot and for the money I may even give it a 4 star rating. A HI-MED-LOW model would be great but you know how that goes. I would say the beam pattern is about perfect IMO it looks just like it does in the pictures at DX. Hopefully it won't burn it self up like some of these cheap xm-l's are known to do.

Edit, as soon as it heats up from being on for 5-10 minutes it wont change modes till it cools down. Along with the other problems I have to give it a thumbs down.

Thanks for the nice review. So this is a regulated light? Now you are hook on xlm light, xxllmm4.



All of the cheapo one cell XML claim to be "2800mA digitally regulated", but none of them are, which is why xxllmm4 is seeing the wide variation in current draw.

Wow! You have ALL cheapo one cell xml´s

I'm very thorough. :bigsmile:

and rich, to be able to buy all those lights. I wonder though why you buy them

if they are all that bad (non regulated)?

I give them to the poor, because I hate poor people.

Fits baseless statements nicely.

removed...

You're all a bunch of sick illumination freaks. I, on the other hand, am perfect!

With so many lumens and descent batteries, we dont need no stinking regulation!

What am I missing? I figured if they where unregulated the would draw in the 4-5A range?

Thanks for the info Be-seen.

After playing around with it for awhile now I would have to give it a thumbs down. It seems that after it heats up it won't switch modes. Let it cool down and it works again.



If you find one, then please let us know.



If they were regulated in any meaningful way (ie. "2800ma digitally regulated"), they wouldn't draw an arbitrary current dependent on emitter and the battery you happen to be using.



I suppose if you apply the words liberally enough, a crappy tailcap switch is considered "regulation". However, that tends to make words meaningless which is why I wouldn't recommend it that way.

Thanks again! I'll be looking for a NANJG 105 does anyone have them cheap in a HI-MED-LOW version? I might pick up a couple, I have another cheap xm-l on the way. I see this one... http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=10995 but don't see the 3 mode version

It's this http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-132/3-dsh-Mode-Regulated-Circuit-Board/Detail

Here is how you set the mode group on the NANJG 105 driver from KD

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/1022