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Review was kindly made possible by Manafont.com
Product page link = HERE!
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Model: SMALL SUN ZY-T08
LED: XM-L T6
Color BIN: White
Total Emitters: 1
Battery Configurations: 2 × 18650 rechargeable batteries (not included)
Voltage: 7.2-9V
Lumen: 1200
Switch Type: Clicky/Clickie
Switch Location: Tail-cap
Modes: 5
Mode Arrangement: Hi > Mid > Lo > Strobe > SOS
Carrying strap is included
Price at time of review = $26.26 With Free Shipping !
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Now this light is in deed 2 × 18650 , but I would not recommend pushing voltage over 4.2v as the light uses the 18650’s in parallel [ not series ] , now this does mean that the light will run on a single 18650 [pictured], just in case your in a situation where you have access to only a single 18650 or such . Now this is a rather large light , with a large head , which is not really that bad . Bear with me ! , this was never going to be a EDC light , at best a back pack light . What you get in return is a well built light , that throws well , and puts out a very decent amount of light . And thanks to the parallel batteries , you halve the current drain on the batteries whilst maintaining better safety [ less likely to reverse charge ] and the option to run a single battery .
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Lets check out some performance figures :
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Due to the size of the head I was unable to get a really accurate reading on output , but your looking at 700L on high [ and maybe then some ] , around 330L on medium [ and then some ] and around 150L on low [ and maybe more ] . Current draw had to be measured separately due to the design of the light , but on high with dual 18650’s I measure a high of 3A and a low of 2.6A . Medium returned a steady 0.965A and low returned 0.461A . Next I decided to test throw , well , as best as I can . High @ 1 meter returned some 45,000Lux , Medium gave 15,400Lux and Low returned 10,000Lux . Wow , those figures are nothing to sneeze at , in fact there quite impressive , this light really wants to throw .
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For the asking price of $26.26 this Small Sun has to be one of the best buys out there .
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Ok , The clicky switch is a little soft [ no deal breaker ] , after turning off the light it takes 5 seconds for the light to go to default [ starts on high ] , thanks to the tail design , this light tails stands really well on a flat surface . Lanyard holes look like they will hold your weight , 5 modes – High Med Low – Strobe – SOS [ Please – all flashlight manufacturers – No more Strobe SOS – if you have to – make them hidden modes ] .
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I havent had the light very long , but so far nothing to complain about [ OK modes ] , this light is very well made [ this sample ] , and if there all like this one , you may really want one in your collection , I didnt know I wanted this light until I received it , it might become my No1 house [ home ] light , when needing to check out the things that go bump in the night .
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Well centered emitter
Slightly ringy beam on White walls [ you wont notice anything outside ]
Tint is typical cool XM-L [ White hot spot , and slightly purple corona ]
Tail clicky is a little soft [ just a little – not overly so ]
Tail stands like a brick on a flat surface
5 modes – High – Med – Low – Strobe – Sos [ Starts in high – default – after being turned off for 5 seconds ]
Anodizing – Clean and even
Machining – excellent !
Minimum battery slop
Excellent throw
Comes with a nice lanyard
2 × 18650 parallel – Improved current – longer run time – Maybe safer
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Last word = If you need a thrower , decent output , and dont want to spend to much money , $26.26 , the Small Sun looks to be a great buy , maybe the best thrower for the price point ? Head on over to Manafont and take a look . Hopefully have some beams up after dark ..
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Always remember , the easiest thing in the world to do , is to expel hot air from your lungs and through some vocal chords ..
The resulting sound may , or may not be worth listening too ….
Nice review and great flashlight! I measured 2.4A and 41kcd on mine, so you got a little stronger one.
unique engrish language...
Many thanks for the review. I think you’ve whet a few appetites ‘round here :bigsmile:
Just wondering…How do you think this might compare with the SMALL SUN ZY-T16? The head looks to be the exact same one but the batteries (26650) are in series instead.
Lights out! That's when things get interesting...
Good observation. Personally I’m not fan of 26650 since the cells have hardly more capacity, and less compatible with anything else (incl chargers). The shorter design also have some advantages.
Too bad this light doesn’t have the better tint of the T13. Too many really cool white throwers, but still tempting.
Reading this makes you smarter: http://lesswrong.com/
Great review, thanks for posting! I can't wait for mine to arrive - so far over a week in acceptance mode at HK customs.
Always remember , the easiest thing in the world to do , is to expel hot air from your lungs and through some vocal chords ..
The resulting sound may , or may not be worth listening too ….
Always remember , the easiest thing in the world to do , is to expel hot air from your lungs and through some vocal chords ..
The resulting sound may , or may not be worth listening too ….
Thanks for the review old4570! Can't wait for mine to arrive. So it seems the output current may vary between samples.
viffer750, where did you get yours from?
-Garry
My Bike Lights Thread, Optics (TIR) Comparison Beamshots, Diffusion Techniques
, MTBR’s Lights & Night Riding ForumNOTE: Now hosting my photos from my Google account. Post up if you can’t see them. Older photos hosted on Photobucket or Flickr may disappear (PM me if you want access to them).
Great review!! It is a really nice light. I compared it to the T13 and it was a toss up and then compared it to the HD2010 and the HD edged it out by a little bit.
New Collection / Old Collection
http://budgetlightforum.com/comment/183056#comment-183056
Nice review, Old! Lovely pics of a lovely light. I want one of these badly but have to wait until I have the spare cash.
I'd take this T08 over a T16 any day since I don't care much for the longer lights that run cells in series (end-to-end, not voltage series). Parallel cell lights have truly spoiled me.
I just shined the T16 and the T08 against the wall and they look the same…
New Collection / Old Collection
http://budgetlightforum.com/comment/183056#comment-183056
Thanks old4570. Is it possible to get to the pill and if so any dimensions of the driver and pill diameter would be good. There seems to be a few lights coming out with this form factor and its brother the 26650 in 1 or 2 cell with larger reflectors. Times are looking interesting.
djozz quotes, "it came with chinese lettering that is chinese to me".
"My man mousehole needs one too"
old4570 said "I'm not an expert , so don't suffer from any such technical restrictions".
Old-Lumens. Highly admired and cherished member of Budget Light Forum. 11.5.2011 - 20.12.16. RIP.
from manafont
unique engrish language...
Ok, I was hoping maybe the current variances could be due to where they were bought, but you've disproved that hypothesis. I'll be sure to post my current reading when I get mine. Guess we can't just go with the same value resistor you did since our samples will likely vary.
Wish we knew what current ILF's reads since we've seen his beamshots. Hope his pulls low current! (Meaning if ours pulls more, or we do a resistor mod, the light will be even more impressive!)
-Garry
My Bike Lights Thread, Optics (TIR) Comparison Beamshots, Diffusion Techniques
, MTBR’s Lights & Night Riding ForumNOTE: Now hosting my photos from my Google account. Post up if you can’t see them. Older photos hosted on Photobucket or Flickr may disappear (PM me if you want access to them).
Just like I told you guys this light is a steal. Show me another XM-L thrower that will beat it for the price. I don’t believe there is one.
My flashlight collection
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/10711#comment-183257
http
How about a FandyFire HD2010 @ $27.80? It’s close enough in price. Even $30.64 (which is what I paid for mine) is still essentially the same price range if you ask me.
I think the T08 is a more impressive looking like, that also has the added benefit of taking 2 18650’s in parallel of course, but I’d only pull the trigger on it if it was the superior thrower.
What I’d really like to know is what would happen in a HD2010/ZY-T08 showdown if the emitter in the latter was being driven just as hard as it is in the former.
Does anyone have the approximate PWM frequency?
Also, any insight on the feasibility of driver swap?
Looks like an awesome light – I can’t wait to get mine.
Is anyone else caught in customs hell? I ordered mine on 10/11 and it's been stuck at acceptance status in Hong Kong for 6 days.
That's mines status too. Ordered sunday night and it "shipped" next morning. Tracking stuck at "Acceptance".
-Garry
My Bike Lights Thread, Optics (TIR) Comparison Beamshots, Diffusion Techniques
, MTBR’s Lights & Night Riding ForumNOTE: Now hosting my photos from my Google account. Post up if you can’t see them. Older photos hosted on Photobucket or Flickr may disappear (PM me if you want access to them).
I'm crying in my beer, Garry. TGIF. :bigsmile:
Always remember , the easiest thing in the world to do , is to expel hot air from your lungs and through some vocal chords ..
The resulting sound may , or may not be worth listening too ….
Got the beams up ..
Dont be put of by the tint , the camera picked up a lot more blue/purple than the naked eye sees .. Thats what I get for not owning a decent SLR with good White balance ..Always remember , the easiest thing in the world to do , is to expel hot air from your lungs and through some vocal chords ..
The resulting sound may , or may not be worth listening too ….
I got my other T08 today. It’s quite a bit brighter than my first one.
My flashlight collection
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/10711#comment-183257
http
Please let me help. I got mine from DX couple of days ago and was planning to write a full review, but you were faster. Thanks for your effort! (And for saving my time
PWM is 244Hz on Med and Low.
The contact board is the back side of the driver and it's 30.0mm
There's not much to see at the tail switch...
...but it makes it easy and accurate to measure the current (2.5A, 1.1A & 0.5A on my sample)
The emitter & it's leads are easily accessible for PWM & duty cycle measurements:
..and the results are: 244Hz 49% on Med, 244Hz 24% on Low
For some reason I measured "only" 2150lux @4m (on High, steady after 30s), resulting 34.4kcd (or 370m of ANSI-NEMA FL-1 throw).
=the=
2.5A high, 0.5 low, but only 24% duty cycle?
Reading this makes you smarter: http://lesswrong.com/
High doesn't have PWM, so maybe it has bit higher efficiency?
=the=
Has anyone tried taking out the white centering piece that sits between the LED and the reflector? It made a nice difference with the T13.
How did you get the 24%? Not scope I assume?
If I just use my dmm and got 2.5/0.5 I would just assume it’s 20%.
Reading this makes you smarter: http://lesswrong.com/
2.5, 1.1 & 0.5 A currents were measured by shorting the tail switch with DMM probes. This is the current draw before driver.
244Hz PWM & 49% and 24% duty cycles were measured by connecting the DMM probes to emitter leads => real values given to emitter (= after driver)
Hope this clarifies the measurements.
=the=
Thanks _the_ for those photos and details!
So is the emitter glued down nicely (i.e. well mounted)? Does this flashlight need any attention? Or is it ready to go? (Apart from a possible resistor mod.)
-Garry
My Bike Lights Thread, Optics (TIR) Comparison Beamshots, Diffusion Techniques
, MTBR’s Lights & Night Riding ForumNOTE: Now hosting my photos from my Google account. Post up if you can’t see them. Older photos hosted on Photobucket or Flickr may disappear (PM me if you want access to them).
No problem. The emitter was properly glued in my sample. Tail screws were a bit loose, but everything else was good to go.
=the=
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