I know that this light has at least on review here, but as found out, depending on where you buy them, they can be different. I bought this light from Tmart.com
TrustFire TR-3T6
Advertised output: 3,800LM
Actual output: 1,500 – 1,700LM
Link to the Light: Link
I’m truly impressed by this light. It uses 3 XML-T6 LED’s powered by 2 × 18650 batteries. Approximate run time on high is 30-45min. It pulls from my freshly charged batteries totaling 8.3 Volts 2.6 Amps totaling 21.58 Watts. Driver Modes are High 2.6Amps > Medium 1.6Amps > Low 0.3 Amps > Strobe >SOS. The driver does have mode memory.
Pros:
1.) Good O-Rings
2.) Arrived with grease on threads
3.) Great Heat Sinking
4.) Very Bright
5.) Driver has Mode Memory
6.) Good Anodizing
7.) Great Threads
8.) Stays very bright up to the point of the batteries death.
9.) Stays cool enough to hold on to it even after 30 min on high.
10.) Very Floody Light with a big hot spot
11.) Small for it’s output
12.) Very well made and assembled
13.) Arrived in 4 days. (Shipped from the USA)
Cons:
1.) High current draw requires high quality batteries
2.) Not all threaded areas have double o-rings, but you can put additional o-rings on.
So, the question remains…is this the original or not. It doesn’t have a TR or Trustfire logo on the driver. It is currently the brightest flashlight I own, so I really don’t care if it’s fake or not. My only concern is for when I do the resistor mod to it.
Pictures (More Pictures available at request)
Seems that all newer purchases are different clones so I appreciate an additional review of a newer version of this great flashlight.
So now you need to disassemble the pill too…so we can see the driver and LED wiring…
The Trustfire flashlights do also have a sticker in the tube with a red battery symbol which has the manufacturing year and -+ label to indicate correct battery orientation.
Nice review DMW and welcome to the forum. Great way to start out. That's still one of my favorite lights.
I have an original I purchased over 2 years ago from Manifont. I see yours has more heatsink fins than mine. BTW, mine still works beautifully. No issues what so ever. I forget what I paid, but I know I paid a lot more than you.. Edit: I think I paid around $55
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I will tear further into it…likely tomorrow and post more pictures. Thanks for the additional information!
I can’t complain about more fins. Better heat dissipation. It is interesting how much it’s changed though.
I have the same as glenn, purchased 22 October 2011 for 57,80$+taxes from Manafont including the tube for 3 cell operation.
If I remember correctly it was cheaper elsewhere but someone here suggested it to be a decent quality, he was right.
Never recognised the number of fins, nice find. So from now on I have to call mine a 7fin 3T6
Love mine!
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh571/ajones1051/Curio%20Cabinet/437...
Fasttech seems to have both versions. The SS bezel version has 7 and the other has 8.
What Is A Hobby/RC Charger? Lux Or Candela? <a href="http://lux.yi.org/thr
Sorry guys. Been busy. I’ll get to the driver pictures soon….likely not this weekend though.
Can’t it run one, two or three 18650s depending how you screw together the various tubes that make the handle?
No, the base section is too long for one 18650 and at least on the knockoffs, minimum activation voltage is 4.0V
Nope. Wrong. Sorry. two or three. Not one.
Yeah I was looking at a picture all wrong (too tired!)
You can run 2×18500 in the super-shorty configuration though. And if 4 AA’s will fit, 4 18500 will also fit. J) Would that blow the driver though?
It works on 3 cr123 as well if I remember correctly, would make sense if there is 100mm space then 3*34mm must fit also.
I read it with the 18500 just this week here, I guess it were unprotected ones
That is no option for me in this light as it empties batteries to fast…
Any tips for 18500 cells? Sadly the libretto laptop packs are not available for my country(eBay lists them for 235€)
I use 2 × 18650 batteries in it. It didn’t come with the extension tube….so I really don’t know if it can handle 3.
Pictures of the driver will come soon. Sorry for the wait, I’ve been very busy.
I’ve seen a lot of misinformation on what won’t work in a trustfire tr-3t6. Mine is the 8 fin all black model with extension tubes from FastTech, stock except for some heat sink compound on the head. Mine will run:
1×18650 w/ dummy cell or spacer -There a noticeable hum/buzz on low and medium, but it will work in a pinch
2×18650 w/ shorter extension
3×18650 w/ both extensions
1×18500 same buzz as 1×18650
2×18500 super shorty mode, this is how I usually carry mine when I’m not on SAR missions
3×18500 w/ spacer and extension
I haven’t been brave enough to turn on 4×18500, but I can confirm that it seems to fit
2xAA only works in two modes, appear to be only mid and low
3xAA either with a dummy cell or with the extension tube not fully screwed down
4xAA w/ both extensions
3xcr123a I can’t confirm since I don’t have any, but others on here suggested it would. I would also bet 1 or 2 or 4 cr123a cells would put out the right amount of power with the right spacers and extensions.
AAAs don’t seem to work, haven’t really messed with them much though, ymmv
This is for my flashlight, yours might vary slightly. I tend to stick to 2 or 3 18650s for when I really need the hours or 2×18500s when I carry it around at home or whenever I don’t plan on using it much. Its nice to actually be able to fit this beast in a pocket whenever I go out at night.
Anyone run theirs on something else?
That is so cool about the 2×18500 super shorty mode CyrusAM. I will definitely be doing that.
DMWalking may not have the same driver as you. His appears to have no markings on the cell side. Does yours?
My driver is green and has "TF" stamped on bottom and some numbers on the top (Bottom and Top of the cell side of the driver). I have the original TR-3T6 with less fins than DMWalking's light above.
Mine is marked “2011-1216” above the spring and “TF” below on a green pcb. I ordered mine from fasttech only about 2 months ago. Just make sure your 18500 cells are short enough, mine are unprotected and the springs seem to be close to their maximum limits.
Thanks Cyrus. I'm using Sanyo unprotected 18500's. I'll watch the pressure when screwing on the end cap.
Thanks for the review. It was nice to see what the ACTUAL lumens are.
After this,I think my comments will be done on this light! I don’t want to offend the op and the people that like it.
Mine looks like Glens,,7 fins. Got two of them last November.
I got mine[Two] from T-Mart for $35 U.S.Dollars each. For that price I should not complain but I will!
It is NOT 3800 Lumens as T mart advertizes!! It also does NOT throw 1000 meters as they advertize!! I do NOT buy any more products from that company! Phony Batteries, Distorted and deceptive specs…………….you get what you pay for! :_(
I am probably not too popular!
Every time I see that light or hear that companies name it reminds me of my Freshman year of mistakes in the Flashlight world!
However, even though I was MISLED, for $35.00 it is a bright light and a good weapon for my Girlfriend! I gave her the other one!
Solitude breeds contemplation which creates clarity.
Environment molds a person. Perseverance changes them.
WOLFDOG
I use 6 cr123’s in my 3t6 with extension tube. Works phenomenally!
Wow, that is a variation I never tested because I was afraid of the high voltage but if it works it’s fabulous.
Wow, stock 3t6 works with 6×4.2V in series???
Well, it’s actually 6×3 volts in series.
Ah OK, you can see how many cr123’s I use (zero). I assumed the rechargeable ones were 4.2V lithium. 6 in series is kinda dangerous too…
That’s still something though, that means you can add another 18650 to the chain if you wanted with extension or use 4×18500 maybe… Is it perceptibly brighter in stock form with 6xcr123 than it is with 3×18650 or 4xcr123?
I received mine from Fasttech (SS bezel, sticker on the reflector, seems genuine to me) a couple of days ago and measured it:
with 3× 18650 it draws 1.4A
with 2× 18650 : 3A
with 1× 18650 : 0,8A
In the voltage-window with 2 to 3 18650 the driver seems to be designed to draw less power with more voltage. The interesting benefit is that the lifetime at high nearly doubles by adding only one additional 18650 and not much loss of light (my 3T6 really does seem brighter with 2 18650, but it’s hard to distinguish by the naked eye).
What the driver does with any additional voltage above that is hard to tell and depends on the programming, but even brighter with 4 18650 would be really nice.
Supplemental:
4 AA Eneloops: 3.4A
Everybody seems to forget that the TR 3T6 has an additional advantage; with its 29 cm length ( extensor tube included) and heavy, crenelated, reflector house it is an excellent baton for self defence .