Well, I do, low mode here is quite useful and I don't need to switch to other flashlight. Besides - forward clicky+mode is useless because you can't really use it because of unintended mode changing.
Tested it against UF-980L and I got to say, it had tough company to start with...
On a shorter distance, say 100 meters, it is easy to notice that STL-V2 has tighter spot and more lux.
Then if you compare an absolute throw in meters, there´s really not THAT astonishingly big difference.
STL-V2 throws further but after 980L it does not make my jaw drop that much. Could the difference be something like 50-60 meters? Hard to say, I don´t have a lux meter to leave up there to test.
It is now 0°C and RH is at 93%, I felt like the beam itself in the air was blinding me.
At this kind if weather, I would say I saw it doing maybe 200m+, can´t say very accurately. Measured only by cars speedometer.
Well I have a Olight M3X which this light here is pretty much a clone of. I have a Crelant 7G5 coming. I'll let you know who the winner is? I say it is going to be close.
No, it won't be brighter, coz it is fully regulated. BTW, can it take such a high voltage? Had the impression that it can only take 2 cells. 1 cell also won't work.
Any real world experience of running STL-V2 on 3x16340/18340 vs. 2x18650? How's the heat generated or runtime - and what about the reliability? What brand/type of cells have you been using?
tried 3x16340s but never looked at runtime. also had 2 18500s without the extender. 2x18650s will give the most runtime due to capacity as it is in series at either 2 or 3 cells.
I've got a STL-V2 ordered from DD in November. Just wondering whether somebody is able to confirm the existence of Low Voltage protection?
I'm asking this because I was running it on unprotected batteries (Trustfire Flames 2400 also from DD) for a while and after checking the remaining voltage of the batteries I had to carry the other one out-of-doors in a hurry because the battery was hot and the voltage was just above 2V. The voltage of the other one was 3,5V at that time. On the other hand I also wonder whether this difference in voltages makes any sense because the batteries are in a series. Could there be e.g. such a huge difference in the internal resistance...
^ OK, thanks. So it seems that if the other cell is not good the LV protection did not kick in even the total voltage was less than 2x2,99V at least in this case.
I was actually running STL-V2 for a total of 120 minutes on high (12x10min, 5min break in between) and it was still going quite strong:
BTW. What budget (un?)protected 18650 cells would you recommend when taking into account the STL-V2 stock driver i.e. quite low current and the existing low voltage cut-off feature?
For my copy, yes. I was testing some 18500 IMRs this way.
BTW, having LV protection does not mean it is safe. The driver (budget driver to be exact) can still go POOF and give you a dead short. Probably IMRs would just fry something, but regular Li Cos have a high chance of venting. Not all batteries will vent of course. And that is still a persistent risk. I know you din't mean it that way, but just to say it out loud. :)