review: Shadow JM30 + budget Modding finished

Hello my friends!

i got another cardboardbox sent from china!

within plasic bags and foam sheet

so i removed all that stuff i am not really interested in and endet up with this:

a Shadow JM30 MT-G2 flashligt
a spare lens (non AR coarted), spare O.Rings, tailswitch and rubber boot and also a lanyard

this might be a user manual - but i am not sure ….

here it is: The light i want to tell you a bit about

Specification:

Product name: Shadow JM30 CREE MT-G2 LED Flashlight
Brand: Shadow
Model: JM30
Emitter Brand CREE
Emitter Type: MT-G2
light temperature: MT-G2(5000k)
Material: Aerospace-grade aluminum alloy
Power: MT-G2 :18.5W
Mode: 5–30–100%-strobe
(low,middle,high,strobe)
Battery Configurations: 2 x 26650 (MT-G2)battery (not included)
Switch Type: clicky
Switch Location: tail of the flashlight
Impact Resistant 1.5 meters
Brightness: 1980lumens (mt-g2)
Range: 200meters (max)
Lens: Toughened ultra-clear mineral glass
Reflector: Vacuum plating metal reflective cup
Carrying Strap: included
Waterproof: IPX-4 Waterproof
Color: black,gray
Weight: 200g without battery
Size: 130mm x 55mm x 32mm(length x head x tail diameter)

nice size!

without the extension tube is too short in my opinion…

extension tube?
since you can buy also a XP-L version which needs only one cell the light is manufactured “modular”

the printing is good - tha ano is shiny and not very smooth… - but thats what i expect from a cheap light…

but i have to admit that overall build quaitity is quite good!

lubed threads - nothing rattled - no big dings or dents

the tail switch with some lanyard holes - tailstand is possible

its screwed in from behind wth a massive aluminium “pill”

the switch is a backwards clickie - tap to cycle Modes / full click to stay
after 2-3 seconds in a Mode the light memorizes it until you switch it on again.
a fast double tap gives a fast strobe

the hot end…
nice OP reflector

the head has some big fins with lots of holes (maybe to save weight?)

here you see some “not-so -on-the-edge-manufacturing” and rought (paintlike) ano

the stainless bezel came of with a bit of force (bare hands tough)

there is the reflector

has another Oring which holds it in the head (i had to push it through the holes in the side of the head to get it out)



the LED on a 2mm thick aluminium MCPCB with a thin centering ring and a fat O-ring to secure the reflector

1mm…

screwed down (i like that)

some more marks from manufacturing in here…

enough thermal paste under the MCPCB

the driver spring

the glued Torx screws could not withstand my need of nosiness

the drivers backside

the drivers cavity

whoop - there it is!
29mm diameter

thin…

as are the wires…

i think i will change them :wink:

on the stock driver i measured (at the emitter)
0.08 / 0.8 / 3.0 A
and my BLB (BudgetLightBox) gave me:
85 / 680 / 2250 Lumen
i can hear the PWM (mostly in Mid - nothing on high) but cant see…


sorry - but on the camera the pictures looked better… (

lets compare it a bit !

inbetween two other well known lights…

ookay - time for the beamshots!
again, not my best work (i have to buy me a tripod for the cam )
and it was nowhere dark….

25m

160m

45m

200m to the end of the street

on the bridge to compare the beamshape…

conclusio:
i like that light!
well, the color and anodisation are not top notch - but the price is not also
the head is really small, so it fits into my pocket (which the K40M does not)
it has a nice spill and lightens a wide area
can tailstand, and the switch in the rear is easy enough to press
the MT-G2 has a good colortemperature.

last but not least:
i got mine from banggood - and so can you!

Shadow JM30 (aff)
Code: JM30 gives $7.99 off
works on XP-L and MT-G2 Version (extension tube IS included)


original post:

Hey guys!

unfortunately i am short of time (and a fitting torx) to do the complete review now…

but i played a bit with the light to tease you:

  • draws with cells at 4,1V (26650 Keeppowers are charging up right now)
  • ~ 3A on High / ~ 0,7 at whiney Medium / 0,0something at LOW
  • Strobe is hidden after a fast! double(triple?) tap
  • reverse clicky (tap to cycle Mode + click to keep)
  • Aluminium MCPCB with thin wires
  • nice OP reflector
  • 2300 Lumen in my BLB© (TM06 makes 3600 / K40M mod 4200)

pictures maybe tomorrow!

-> what do you want to be covered in my review?

Cant wait to see those pictures!, maybe some beamshots and pics of the driver please.Do you have any immediate modding in mind?

Can you check if the light have any visible PWM flicker on the lower levels? Thanks!

Is it off-time or on-time memory? How many seconds before it remembers the mode?
What’s the beam like?

Can’t wait for the review :slight_smile:

Beam profile please? Throw distance too!

sorry guys
i can’t finish tonight :frowning:

I made a lot pictures and beamshots - but I can’t make it nice so I take another day or two and try to do it as good as I can for you!

to keep you interested: :wink:

I measured at the emitter :
0.08 / 0.8 / 3.0 A

is the R500 the sense resistor?

For the UI :
it has On time memory!
if you are longer than 2secs in a mode the driver will start in this level next time it is switched on

can’t wait for the complete review,especially the beamshot :slight_smile:

its 23:24 here in Austria…

right now i am uploading the pictures - after that comes text and layout :wink:

my 14ys. daughter was beaten by a boy in shool today, so i spent some of my time in the ER this evening :frowning:

and yes - it is the MT-G2 Version!

“my 14ys. daughter was beaten by a boy in shool today, so i spent some of my time in the ER this evening”

WHAT!!!??? I hope your daughter is ok. Maybe you should spend sometime tomorrow taking care of that “boy” and his father. Bring a 4d maglite.

nothing serious - that piece of hit her with the fist in the back
she had a lot of pain and my wife took her home to get some rest

when I came back from work the pain was still big so I decided to go to the hospital to have it checked…
after a Xray and some doctors checking her we know nothing is broken.

I visit the principal tomorrow morning to get a statement …

btw: I am sitting in my babies room because she sleeps not well :frowning:

I have to ask you for another day of patience…
sorry for that!

Take care what you need first… don’t worry about the pics, I’m sure we can wait few more days.
I would bring that new MT-G2 and shove it in that boy’s eyes and tell him if he ever touch your daughter again… that bright light would be the last thing he’s ever seen J)

Sorry to hear about your daughter. Hope she feels well soon.

Thanks guys!

i will tell her!

i did the review and updated the OP…

if i missed something please tell me and i try to fix it!

now i need to rest a bit (but i am afraid my baby´s teeth think otherwise :wink:

Nice review, M4D Max :smiley:

But seriously, I’ve got to stop reading these reviews… it’s not good for my (thinning) wallet!
I already have the Supbeam K40M and another MT-G2 project ‘in the works’ so I’ve got to be strong
and say… No, not yet :slight_smile:

Thanks for the review.
I have some questions. In the other thread bikenber73 said it has a forward switch, you say it’s a “backwards clickie” (same as reverse, right?). Which is it?
Also, what batteries did you use? Are they protected or not? I don’t have any 26650’s, don’t want to make a mistake of buying ones that wouldn’t fit.

good question…

if you tap / half press the switch the light goes on.
that’s a forward switch I think - you are right!

batteries was protected black keeppower 5200mAh

I know it is not going to help but… Banggood has coupon code for it now, go and grab it FAST!! :bigsmile:

Would be so much nicer with a side switch.

Oh yeah, great job and wonderful pictures!

Really nice review! Would help if the reflector is a wee bit deeper :expressionless:

Beautiful pics and review!