Nitecore MH20
(provided by GearBest)
Today I received Nitecore MH20, very nice flashlight, very nice indeed, and here are my impressions of it.
(Click the image to see details)
After receiving and short use of Nitecore new addition to their Multitask Hybrid Series I am really not
surprised that this flashlight attracts so much attention.
MH20 arrived in usual yellow-black Nitecore box with just basic info giving only a glimpse what's hidden inside.
What's included:
- Nitecore MH20 flashlight
- basic nylon holster,
- USB cable for recharging,
- lanyard,
- 2 spare O-rings (different sizes)
- spare USB port cover
- User manual and
- Warranty card
Holster is the part that I am not impressed by, I guess it will provide a means of carrying this flashlight on your belt instead in the pocket but that is it not much to say about it, i've seen better ones. It would be very nice if Nitecore would look up at Eagletac heavy duty rigid nylon holsters and start making same thing for their smaller lights.
USB charging cable is just standard, USB-A on one end to Micro USB on other end, type that you probably already have for charging your android phone or connecting some other common device like photo camera etc. This is good because even if you forget to bring your charging cable (or lost it) to work or camping or on a trip you will likely find someone (like co worker) that has the same cable or you can buy one in virtually any computer/phone store.
Excellent fit and finish is like a middle name for Nitecore, you won't be disappointed there, almost every light born at Nitecore manufacturing facilities is a textbook example how it should be done. Dynamic design, flawless anodisation and packed specs are just what you expected from this monster :)
There are a lot of surface ridges ensuring excellent grip in hand but also making sure that flashlight will not roll off easily.
Bottom side of the tailcap is flat allowing comfort tail standing even on slightly angled surfaces. Inside the tailcap is just regular, slightly thicker spring that can pack very tightly (as: it take very little space when compressed) because if you wish to use long protected cell like Panasonic NCR18650B is, it may look it will not fit but flashlight works just fine with it, and you don't even have to apply excessive force when screwing down the tailcap.
Looking at the driver you may notice that there is no retaining ring or anything similar that would hold the driver which means that it is most likely glued down discouraging unauthorised poking inside the driver's guts.
Square cut threads on both ends of battery tube and generously applied lube is something you already used to see on Nitecore lights. Also, as you can see, threads are anodised so you can lock out the light either on head side or tailcap side if you wish so, avoiding any possibility of accidental activation in your pocket or backpack...
I bet this light would look awesome with stainless steel bezel :D
anyway the front glass is AR coated, can't see that on the picture below but trust me, it is.
Let's mention some overall dimensions while we are here:
- Length: 106mm
- Bezel diameter: 32mm
- Diameter at widest spot: 34.8mm
- Diameter at narrowest spot: 22.6mm (this is where you mount the clip)
- Weight (without the battery): 86 grams
For testing purposes I used this 3 types of cells (pictured below): CR123, protected NCR18650B, unprotected NCR18650B (not much difference between this two) also I tested unprotected flat top NCR18650PF cell and, although I thought they will not work, to my suprise they work just fine but it mostly depends on cell because my unprotected flat top Samsung ICR18650-26FU cells are not working.
I did quick current draw testing using primary CR123 cells and rechargeable NCR18650PF cell (testing was done using very short 18 AWG wire connected to my multimeter) here are the results:
| Mode | CR123 @ 6.3V | NCR_PF @ 4.1V |
| Moonlight - 1 lumen |
N/A | N/A |
| 50 lumens | 0.13A | 0.17A |
| 230 lumens | 0.45A | 0.60A |
| 410 lumens | 0.92A | 1.15A |
| 1000 lumens | 3.3A | 3.22A |
Dual stage switch and UI talk
MH20 is equipped with dual stage switch that also serves as a battery level indicator and a location indicator (helps you find the flashlight in complete darkness). Similar switch is used on P25 Smilodon also, it's much like shutter button on a photo camera and "recognizes" light (halfway) press and full press.
This allows implementation of quite interesting user interface with direct access to lowest moonlight mode from off as well as direct access to turbo mode from off.
So, here is how it works: from off halfway press for more than 1 second and you will activate moonlight mode, from off full press for more than 1 second and you will activate Turbo mode. Once the flashlight is ON you can use halfway press to change modes in ascending order. If you want to get one of the special modes (strobe/location beacon and SOS) first you have to power ON the flashlight and then press and hold the switch all the way down for more than one second to enter strobe mode. Once in strobe you can use halfway presses to circle thru SOS , Location Beacon and strobe modes. Exit by pressing the switch all the way down.
Two blue leds under the switch are utilized as a battery level indicators, when you insert battery and establish electric circle blue leds will blink that many times who much volts there is in the battery. For example if the battery is at 4.08V blue leds will blink 4 times then make slight pause and then blink one more time (rounding to 4.1V)... This voltmeter is actually quite precise, 6.34V will be rounded to 6.3V (6 blinks, pause, 3 blinks) while 4.06V will be rounded to 4,1V
I think that Nitecore did an excellent job with this flashlight especially when we talk about the UI. If the price was a bit lower this could be one of their most successful models so I can only give them compliments on this flashlight, and if you forced me to be picky, only thing that I could comment is that the rubber cover for USB port is really tight and you have to push it firmly and all the way down otherwise it will, over time, push (because it is squeezed too tightly) itself out.
Overall this is one 5 stars flashlight :) if you are thinking on buyng it go ahead, you will not be sorry.
hahahaha