Mini Review... Budget 18650 thrower only $11.18

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

Hey everyone.

EDIT... ebay link here http://www.ebay.com/itm/250602401774?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2558wt_812

Anytime you get a 18650 Flashlight for $11.18 you shouldn't expect much. But I was surprised by this light in a couple ways. First off the build quality is bad! but the throw on this thing is incredible for the price. Good Long run times, see below tail cap readings. The switch is pressed in plastic but has a good feel and seems durable.

You cant tell from the pictures but the emitter is not square in the pill. The pill is very puny. I ended up filling the pill with some silicone thermal compound to hopefully aid in heat transfer. I also cleaned the grease off the threads (yes it had grease on the threads!!) and used some copper anti size, to aid in thermal transfer and electrical conductivity.

Cons.....

The lens and reflector are plastic. The threads are poor, some of the threads wanted to cross if not greased. The pill was very loose in the flashlight. There are machine marks on the head. You can see from the picture the negative lead is not soldered to anything, just a press fit.

Pro's, Made in the USA nly $11.18, huge throw. I really like the size of this light. Its kinda big for a pocket light but not bad. The head is a little smaller than the XML version see the below picture. It works with every battery I have tried. From unprotected IMR's to the long xtar 18700's. Record fast shipping time! I ordered this light on Aug 25th and received it on Sept 1st!!!! This was with the free shipping from China!

Overall I cant say I would recommend this light because of all the issues. If your looking for a CHEAP 18650 thrower and are willing to spend some time giving it a good tune up then I think its a pretty good deal. I have put about 5 fully charged 3100 and 2250 IMR batteries through it and it seems to be doing fine.

Tailcap readings...
Panasonic 3100 HI 1.25A lo .215A
Panasonic 2250IMR 1.41A lo .223A

2

Because the word usa is on the light means it was made in the usa ?

3

Its the same as the 8,99USD worth of ultrafire c8 or commonly called also (but better version, pill and refelctor decent) skyray 1jc8.

I suggest getting the 8,99 verison from ebay as is as good as this one but cheaper.

The pill equally sux, the driver is decent, and the reflector is plastic and the beam is greatly affected. If someone can find alu reflectors for really cheap and potting the pills it might be an excellent budget light. I really do believe so.

4

:D

I think he was kidding...

5

Budgeteer, thanks for the heads up the Ultrafire C8 does looks to be put together much better.

6

The thing that sux in this 1jc8 clone is the plastic reflector. Does anyone know of a alu version replacement around?

Must be something along the lines of 39mm diameter or so. Can't find any.

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The pill actually doesn't look that bad but you add 4 bucks for a Nanjg 2.8 amp driver and 7 bucks for an XML emitter and you are in KDC8 price range.

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Indeed yo uare but that light definitely like to stay an XR-E based and perhaps single mode. The pilll actually is worse than you might think. A simple beating makes the emitter and driver fell off.