Manafont XM-L drop-in - only 750mA on high?

Today I received Manafont's XM-L drop-in (http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-cree-t6-3mode-memory-led-dropin-module-42v-max-p-5178).

I checked it with my multimeter and an Ultrafire 2400mAh @ 4.1V (that's what my XTAR WP2 is giving it at the moment), and it gave:

750 mA @ high

220 mA @ med

50 mA @ low

Is this reasonable?

The reviews on Manafont and here talk about 2.5-3.2A...

Mine is over 3A, it should be a lot more than 750mA. Just measured it at 3.153A with a 4.18V 18650.

My KD T6 dropin pulls 2.285A

Your multimeter is fault, or rather the leads.

The dropin has definitely more than 3A @ High.

I measure mA with very short and very thick wires:

and nevertheless...more pushing = better contact = more mA

I don't think it's really the leads (although obviously they have a part in the low reading).

I took your advice and made leads from 16AWG wire, about 5cm long. I even enlarged the contact area by making a loop at the wire ends. These should be able to pass through enough current, I think.

They gave:

1.1A @ high

250mA @ med

50mA @ low

Not very good either.

Ok, just to confirm the readings how does the output brightness do?

I don't have a lux meter, but comparing to a Q5 drop-in from tMart which draws about 700mA @ high - it is brighter (but not by a great deal).

The Q5 is brighter than my C30 from DX, drawing about 600mA.

All tested with the 16AWG leads I made.

Here are some comparison shots (at 60cm from the wall, 1/250th sec exposure):

From left to right: Manafont XM-L @ high, tMart Q5 @ high, DX C30 (P4) full flood, GoingGear iTP A3 R5 @ high

All with fresh batteries from charger: XM-L, Q5 - Ultrafire 2400mAh @ 4.10V; C30 - 3xGP Recyko @ 1.40V each; iTP - GP Recyko @ 1.40V

(the tint is much greener than what I see)

1/1000th sec:

1/4000th sec:

Crap cell I guess…where you got it ?

From the tMart deal - http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/1228

I got two of them, both exhibit the same behaviour.

How can I test the cells without a hobby charger?

Maybe I should also test with a 3xAAA configuration. Should be interesting.

btw, I made some tests outdoor, and the XM-L is far superior to the Q5 and the others.

I'll take some shots tomorrow, when it's dark again. (I don't have my camera with me right now)

Give it a go with 3AAA. If it is about the same brightness then you almost certainly have a bad cell. If you have a light meter - a photographic one will do fine for this - take a note of the exposure or brightness with each. The 3AAA configuration should give quite a lot less than the 18650.

I ordered one of the same dropins from monafont late Jan and I still haven’t had it arrive. I’ve emailed them and so far no response. Hopefully it arrives this week as it’s well overdue. Reading this thread it also worries me a bit that possibly the new batch have a poor driver. In any case I just want the drop in I ordered :frowning:

How much current draw do your other lights draw from those cells Haggai?

I will be seriously annoyed if they have changed the driver, I only ordered one of these Manafont drop-ins 2 weeks ago.

After everything I've read about the Manafont XM-L (sku 5720) I'm anxious for some low-price-high-output goodness. (ordered a week ago) Oh well; if a driver change is necessary, I may have to see how rusty my soldering skills have become.

Foy

Looks like the tmart deal involved subpar cells. Try a decent one.

If you have a chance try 3XAA eneloops!

Unfortunately, I don't have any other 18650s, and I doubt any new order would be here in time for a return from Manafont.

I don't think I can take the pill apart, to take a look at the driver - the back plate is soldered to the pill and the emitter has some protective plastic disc that seems to be glued to the pill.

Some photos, anyway. The emitter is not centered properly and is not soldered straight on its base.

I only have the two Q5s from tMart (my other lights are AA/AAA), and they both draw 500mA with my multimeter test leads, or 700mA with the 16AWG leads I made.

Well you can try a different battery when you have the chance. If happens that the dropin is faulty contact manafont. They have replaced a burnt R5 to me quite over the paypal protection limit. Actually i would be surprised if you ever need to resort to paypal. Perhaps inform them of the annoyance now and after testing is done ask them how can it be solved if needed at all. Looks like lowly cell to me. I have yet to get something not up to spec from them but might happen one day.

Ok, I tested with the 3xAAA, and it gave me about 300-400mA @ high.

But I'm really not sure I tested it well, I could barely attach the battery pack to the drop-in, and I used just the thin test leads and some thin wire crocodiles.

I also tried the 3xAAA with the 16AWG wire I have, and it gave me 1.5A, but the LED didn't turn on.

I later tested the drop-in again with the 18650, and it gave the same readings as before - ~700mA with the multimeter test leads. (and ~ 300-400mA with the crocodiles, the same setup as I used with the 3xAAA, so I guess the crocodiles really limit the current flow).

I wish my magnets would arrive already, and I can make some more reliable measurements.

While I still suspect of the cells, I have one UF 3000ma which not delivered more than 1.3A, these drop-in is faulty, the bad position of the emitter compromise his ability to spread the heat since the central path is misaligned

Could be reflowed but is not a task for a newie, probably you would ruin it...contact the seller , with the pic is enough...

I contacted Manafont, told them about the situation and asked how much time would they be willing to wait, still waiting for the answer.

I'll probably order the batteries from them, so which ones should I choose: http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/protected-trustfire-18650-37v-2400mah-rechargeable-batteries-flame-2pcsset-p-5560 or http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-icr-18650-37v-2500mah-rechargeable-batteries-protected-pair-pack-p-5120 ?

btw, according to http://lux.yi.org/batt/ , the Ultrafire LC 2400mAh (which I have) "Doesn't handle higher currents well".

This may explain the situation I'm experiencing...

arenat, thanks, I'll include the photo of the misaligned emitter when they respond.

The first trustfires (flame ones) are generally well accepted and i would go for those.