Review: Uniquefire 3900 triple XM-L from lightmalls, possible groupbuy inside.

Bill Zeng of lightmalls told me that he can lower the price by a bit if more people can get it. I don't know how much....but anyway the price is inclusive of registered shipping. I ordered on 17th, it got sent out on the 18th and reached me on 24th, 7 days or 5 working days shipping from China. (it went out via Singapore post from Shanghai so that's why it's so fast for me, not sure how that's different from China Post)

http://www.lightmalls.com/uniquefire-3900-3t6-3xcree-xml-t6-3800-lumens-5-modes-stainless-steel-led-flashlight-2-18650

Think you can email him about this on any special BLF pricing esp if more expresses interest.

Hey thanks 2100.

Always posting about the newest lights with useful comparisons.

No problem at all. This light is easily the most beautiful one amongst all my 2 x 18650, single XM-L or triple. As beautiful as the Balder BD-4 (in another way, and IMO of course) but of course built quality is better in the Balder.

The GITD rubber cap needs to go though, change with a black one.

Not sure if the driver is the same as the TF-3T6. Same PWM freq of 124Hz, same drive levels measured at the tail end.

Thanks a lot for the detailed review 2100. Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.

Yes, this is by far the best looking 3 * XM-L light so far.

But, what about brightness compared to the TF-3T6? The TF-3T6 reportedly pulls around 2.7A whereas this one only does 2.29.

Thanks for the nice review.

This is the only 3x XML light I would consider.

I think it's the best in terms of design, build quality and price.

2100 can you post some pic of the Trustfire and Uniquefire side by side please.

Id definitely grab one of these for 45$ shipped if they’d go that low…how’s the throw with this light?

Current draw depends on too many factors which must be stated. Anyway that is why i also provide reflected ceiling bounce test.

Reflected ceiling bounce lux = 132 lux for Uniquefire 3900.

Trustfire TF-3T6 = 130

Sky Ray 3800 = 160

DRY = 250 (capable of doing 270-300 in cold to extremely cold countries)

Standard, just decently ok. If i remember correctly it is about 14k cd.

Will not reach $45, it's a very high quality good-built by budgetlights standards....but i guess if many order it he could do $50. Why not someone email Bill and see what he can do, and then start another thread about this. Need to get the ball rolling. Though the heat disspation to host is not as good as the Trustfire, it is still decent.

So here's the million dollar question for 2100: If you could only buy one, which would it be? Skyray, Trustfire, or Uniquefire? (I personally don't like the styling or the price of the DRY, so that one's already out. :-) )

It would be the uniquefire 3900. But personally i dig the Sky Ray 850's colour and looks, just that it's too expensive at $70 shipped with registered shipping. I wouldn't mind spending $85 for the 5 x XM-L, so i'll wait and see when will the others come out and drive the price down (plus driven harder).

Can this thing tailstand? Probably a bit too top-heavy even if the switch is recessed.

Yes, this thing can tailstand.

Thanks for the info 2100!

Well, I took the plunge. I just ordered a 3900 from Manafont...

Any idea yet if the driver might be the same as the Trustfire 3T6? Any relative strengths/weaknesses of the driver compared to other triple XM-Ls?

Thanks!

Don't really know if the drivers are the same. The PWM freq and output are like the same though. I don't have a stock Sky Ray to measure the PWM freq also.

When I have time i'll try to measure the current with the same batteries and see if they are the same.

We are going to have discussion about some prommising driver in this thread soon. Stay tuned....

2100 so do you think this will soak up the heat as well as the TR-3T6 for long constant runs, im not sure a few alloy threads into stainless will soak up the heat well and the TR-3T6 has about an inch of threads on the middle and 3 contact points of the head for heat soak.

I think this is a nice looking, i like it and priced well but im not conviced it will handle the heat for long night time bush walks as well as the TR-3T6 due to less contact area with the screw in, its the same as my TR-1200 in the way the 3900 screw-in contacts the head but the TR-1200 bezel is alloy not stainless steel so one would thing the alloy bezel would soak the heat up quicker and thats why alloy is used in electrical items not stainless.

the TR-1200 screw-in at 1.7 amps gets hotter then my TR-3T6 screw-in at 2.7 amps when you run them for the same amount of time, since this 3900 is the same style of scew in it makes my wonder if it would handle the heat for long runs, remember i live in australia not ice country.

nice torch nice review as always, please dont take my question the wrong way.

I did a measurement run, with the drop-in wrapped with foil and so lends a helping hand to the threads. It just lags a wee bit behind my TF-3T6 which is also aided by thermal compound on the threads. The results are in the first thread. (its 4.7% drop in out[ut versus 3.4% for the TF-3T6)

The run was only 6 mins though. But i am already past those full 1hr runs, coz i killed my SR3800 that way. Dead short in the mostfet, if i were using unprotected cells it would have vented or rather exploded, no doubt about that. Well maybe not, coz i was using the NCR18650 2900s, maybe still stand a chance of not venting. The NCR18650CH (Callie Kustoms 2100s) can do dead shorts and not vent and so would the NCR18650A 3100s.

i would be intrested in the same test around 30 mins i think the TR-3T6 would hold up better with or with out thermal past as i dont use thermal past on mine, i do have artic silver past for my cpu,s and gpu,s but ive been testing the torch in stock forum, i think your test would of been better with out the foil to give an true idea of how it runs out of the box.

you can realy compare the fry ray to the TR-3T6 as the sky rays where poorly driven and scaled way to high with use hence the burn out,s, ive proven the TR-3T6 will not do this and will stay with in its regulation till it drops out and dimm,s once the batteries are to low, so i dont think there is a problem with venting or death if you use the TR-3T6 past 6 mins to 60 mins.

maybe i think diffrent to you about torches as i use mine for bush walking and camping and so on they need to be able to run so i think it is improtant to be able to run for extented use as to me its a waste of money if i cant actualy use it, this is why i have not brought a dry, its like having a 6 speed transmision in your car but never getting out of 3rd gear to me.

the reason behind this thoughts and questions is my usage of the torches my location australia its a hot place for people who do not know and my old man wants me to buy another 3 x xm-l for him, i see all the cheaper copies and i like the look of this one but i think the best option is the TR-3T6 imo.