NiteCore is a flashlight brand used by Sysmax. This light is the CR light in the sens series. The light is has 3 fixed brightness settings and a new innovative method to select brightness. The light is made of aluminum with hard-anodized (Type 3) finish.
My review copy did not include anything, but the light.
The light has a TIR optic, behind a glass lens.
The battery uses a brass insert with the circuit in. The foam provide anti rattle function and mechanical polarity protection.
Both the head and body has some knurling but without any bite in it.
The spring in the tail is a special type, without much movement.
The tail has holes for an O-ring and the light can also stand on the tail.
The user interface uses a tilt sensor, this is used to select between the 3 brightness settings when turning the light on. Holding it horizontal when turning on will give maximum brightness. Pointing slightly down or straight down will select the two other brightness levels. Pointing the light up will enable auto mode, where the light will adjust brightness when direction is changed between vertical and horizontal.
The light uses a slow turn on, i.e. it fades slowly up to the selected level and slowly up/down in auto. Horizontal position does always reach full brightness fast.
Here is all the part the light can be disassembled in without tools.
The new user interface is a interesting innovation, it makes it possible to turn a twisty light on in any brightness setting, turning on/off multiple times is not needed. But the interface is not intuitive, I tried the light on a couple of people and none could figure it out, without help.
Using the light I am not so happy about the slow turn on, except for that the sens interface works fine.
Technical specification and measurements
The light can be used with a CR123 or 16340 LiIon battery. The LiIon battery must be protected and not too long.
Measured size and weight:
Length: 66 mm
Diameter: 18.5 mm to 19.7 mm
Weight: 40.2 gram with a CR123 battery
The light uses a Cree XP-G R5 led.
In the above table I have collected all modes, measured at 2.5 volt. All the estimated runtimes are with 1400mAh CR123 battery.
Because my test bench requires the light to be locked in a fixed position, I could not compare the different brightness’s, this is also the reason I only did one voltage sweep.
A voltage sweep at high shows a good stabilization in the voltage range of a CR123 battery (1.5 volt to 3 volt), but not on a LiIon battery.
On CR123 the light has good stabilization, this can also be seen on the voltage sweeps.
There are no flashing modes and the light does not contain any pwm or noise.
Comparison to other Flashlights
4Sevens Qmini AA, NiteCore EZ AA, NiteCore SensAA:
Fenix E15, 4Sevens Qmini 123, NiteCore SensCR:
For the full comparison to other lights with graphs and beamshots see here
I just got my SENS CR today. I absolutely love my SENS AA. The first thing I did was pop in a 16340 (it’s supported). I tried three different ones and it wouldn’t ramp up or down. I could select modes, but the accelerometer function wouldn’t work. It just ran on direct drive and got smoking hot real fast.
I popped in a 3.2v LiFePo4 and it worked perfectly. Maybe tonight I’ll play around and wipe it all down with alcohol and see if there is any change. My SENS AA runs perfectly on a 14500. It ramps up and down perfectly and starts getting warm after a while like most small lights running Li Ion .
@Ouchyfoot:
I want to use the SensCR to store a spare battery for my primary.
I only use AW 16340 Li-on. Could you try these? I think, they have the same measures than the CR123s.
It must be waterproof and all the functions must work.
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “store”, but Aw16340 is what I use. It fits perfectly. As I said before, my Sens cr didn’t ramp properly on 16340 and got really hot, really fast. It ran correctly on primary cr123 and with 3.2v LiFePo4. In Selfbuilts review, other members had the same issues with the Sens CR. My Sens AA runs nicely on 14500 with no issues.
Glas is much harder than plastic, i.e. you will get less scratches on a glass less, but here it is probably to cover the hole in the center of the TIR lens.
Thanks HKJ. I have just used my first TIR and yes it is very easily scratched. I don't think I will put a glass lens over it though. I will have to see how it wears. Its got me beat how small they can make these flashlights. With the battery tube having to be bigger than the battery and then putting a thread on it, it must have a very thin wall thickness in this area.
I have a high expensive Surefire (made from 3 different lights) that I carry most of the time. If the battery will ever run dead I need a spare battery.
I was thinking of getting the Delrin captules … but they cost about 1/3 of the SensCR … so I think it would be nice to carry a backup light that keeps a fresh battery.
I also be able to use the Sens, if I need a low brightness (because my Surefire produces 200 lumens).
Therefore I need a light which is waterproof.
What do you mean with “ramp properly”? And how fast gets it hot with the AWs?
I checked for this post as I wanted to comment about how hot this gets.
I’m using AW cells and a Spider Fire cell. It ramps up and down as it should but when you put it on high it REALLY gets warm.
I ended up having it flicker on and off after about five minutes of use just left on my desk and when I picked it up it was very very warm. Almost uncomfortably warm to pick up.
Seriously bright little light so it’s got to be expected but I was amazed by how warm it got!
What’s the UI on these actually like to use day to day? I like the concept but am concerned it would be a bit fiddly to get the right mode when I want it.
