AceBeam TK16 Cu 3x Osram LED -, short introduction, first impressions & a few beamshots

MACS0647 · 2019-05-24T17:25:43.000Z

Once the AceBeam TK16 Copper was announced, it appears still pritty damned clear to me, that if the price for this little super-beauty will be in a quite acceptable range, there is absolutely no chance to escape.

Just because it has all the features, that amy previous Copper EDC‘s (S1A, Maratac, ReyLight etc.) do not, which means a tripple-LED configuration and especially the tail switch.

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The TK16 arrived well packed in a shrink-wrapped vacuum plastic sheet and comes with replacement O-rings and Silicone-tailcap, one rec. 16340 550 mAh batterie and a Chinese and English language user manual.

I choose the version with the Osram KW1.1TG LED, because I didn‘t had any flashlight with an Osram LED yet, and even because it‘s specified with considering nowadays trends reasonable moderate sounding 1300 max. lumens, but therefore with some higher amount of lux, of which the exactly measured rate or number is quite unkown, respectively not mentioned, whereas it seems to be more than obvious that the beam range distance of 338 meters quoted by AceBeam clearly derives from the lands of the myths and fairytales, but couldn‘t have anything in common with reality.

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The overall build quality seems to be very accurate and perfectly well done. No marks, bulges, scretches or any kind of sharp edges, the thread turns nicely smooth. The icing on the cake of the TK16 – i.m.o. - is the recessed tail switch, that has a very clear defined drop point, that makes ungloved operations really comfortable and easy, as well as the UI comes along.

It has a well setted 3 modes (low, mid, high) ramping with memory function, plus seperated directly to trigger turbo, moonlight, strobe and lock-out mode, which in total remains all I need and like to have. Nevertheless the TK16 UI also offers a choice between „power“ & „eco“ basic operation setup.

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The beam profile of the Tripple-Osram version shows a very accentuated and concentrated spot with only just a little bit of spill,

which is really exceptional and quite unusual for this types of small Tripple-EDCs, as I havn't seen it that way before.

The tint of the build in Osram KW1.1TG LED is a really nice cool white with a high turn to an intense simple-white, not as nearly perfect as my Vinz modded Xeno G10 with some sort of specially prepared Luminus SST-40, but at least not that far away.

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Towards the end of part 1, a pic to allow some size comparison with some other full members of the EDC-Copper Gang.

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f. l. Olight S1A, ReyLight Pineapple Mini, Maratac CR123, AceBeam TK16, Klarus M1C While this leads us to the - i.m.o. - biggest issue and substantial reason to mention for criticism on the TK16, which is AceBeams choice of the very poor little energy capacity enabling 16340 / Cr123 battery format, that absolute unnecessarily restricts and limits the allover usability, of an otherwise fantastic beautyful great EDC flashlight, as badly as the time of joy and fun to play around.

I made two decent nonprofessional right hand-helded measurements with full loaded battery.

First in continuous turbo mode, that was stopped after exactly 3 min 48 sec, because the temperature starts to get slightly more and more uncomfortable. Afterwards the remaining battery capacity was measured with 3,8 A.

Second in continuous high mode, that was stopped after exactly 6 min 20 sec, because I decide so. After that time the light was hot but just to hold. The remaining battery capacity was measured with 3,7 A.

In both cases the output of light decreases very slowly by very tiny small steps and not that much at all, so it appears as to be not that easy to recognize to my just human eyes.

Considering the current dimensions, 66.5mm/2.62" length x 23mm/0.91" head x 22mm/0.87" tube diameter, and weight of 72,50 g / 2.56 oz, it seems to be, at least i. m. o., quite a shame and somehow completely unaccountable why AceBeam didn‘t gifted the TK16 that tiny bit more diameter and lenght to run with a 18350 or even better 18500 battery.

In hopeful intention to verify a few of the things that are mentioned above by visualisation, it's time to come up with some beamshots.

The choosen flashlights for this little beam comparison.

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left side: ReyLight 3x XP-G2 ded. (18650), ReyLight 3x XP-G2 nw (18350); right side: Astrolux S41 S 4x Nichia 219c nw.

1. Location – urban surrounding: distance to the buildings wall ca. 28 m.

Camera setup: - manual mode -, - iso 100 -, shutter time 2,0 s -, - shutter aperture 3.5 -.

Dark night

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AceBeam TK16 3x Osram KW1.1TG - turbo mode !!

AceBeam TK16 3x Osram KW1.1TG - high mode

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AceBeam TK16 3x Osram KW1.1TG - mid mode

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For some better overview the 4 pics

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2. Location: The beam track is a ca. 300 m long part of a sidewalk / bikeway on the east bank of Lower Rhine river. (river course 800 km )

Camera setup: - manual mode -, - iso 100 -, shutter time 2,5 s -, - shutter aperture 4.5 -.

First picture shows natural distance , second is with 11 x optical zoom.

Dark night

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AceBeam TK16 3x Osram KW1.1TG - turbo mode

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AceBeam TK16 3x Osram KW1.1TG - high mode

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AceBeam TK16 3x Osram KW1.1TG - mid mode !!

For some better overview the 4 pics highest mode shrinked to 400 pixels formate.

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My personal summary, first of all the AceBeam TK16 copper is an absolutely beauty-queen,

secondly a real overall top-notch of EDC-flashlight, that thirdly and lastly certainly should have deserved

a little more of size and mass to gain some energy capacities for highly desirable bits of longer operation times.

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:LOVE: & :BEER:

Macs

MascaratumB · 2019-05-24T17:35:59.000Z

Thanks for the nice review and opinion on this light!
Despite its price, it may become a temptation, in case it is moddable. Did you notice if there is the possibility to a driver change? If so, would it be a 15mm one?

Again, thanks for your review and congrats for your new light!

SKY69 · 2019-05-24T18:25:36.000Z

Where was this light purchased? I have not seen the Osram option at any of the distributors.

zak.wilson · 2019-05-24T18:31:31.000Z

Tail e-switch using nested tubes… that looks familiar.

To be technical, Acebeam has done that before, but only for something that felt and behaved much like a mechanical switch. I’m glad to see this approach taking off, and I’m looking forward to the SST-20 version of this.

MACS0647 · 2019-05-24T21:50:15.000Z

MascaratumB:

Thanks for the nice review and opinion on this light! :+1:
Despite its price, it may become a temptation, in case it is moddable. Did you notice if there is the possibility to a driver change? If so, would it be a 15mm one?
Again, thanks for your review and congrats for your new light!

Thanks Mascaratum.
I’m sorry that I won’t be a really big help to your question about the driver.
I guess its possible to change, but I can’t tell you the exactly size, because its covered by some sort of protective cap.
It could be 15mm or even 17mm. :person_facepalming: :innocent:

SKY69:

Where was this light purchased? I have not seen the Osram option at any of the distributors.

I ordered the light at mid of April for a “special start-up offer” of 62,21 € / 69,90 $ shipped from “Klarus red-listed”

LEDsupermall.com -, and it arrived 3 weeks ago at start of May.

Agro · 2019-05-25T07:45:29.000Z

There is no Osram KW1.1TG LED. They either mangled the name or just fake it.

mortuus · 2019-05-25T11:31:58.000Z

nice review… looks like a olight baton on steroids! I have a questions does the light turn off all of a sudden or does it get dimmer before shutdown ? i know my batons i hate when they suddenly just turn off because battery is drained… no warning before really

what is there to say about osram leds in a light like this with triple optics, whats the advantage with that over sst20 ?

zak.wilson · 2019-05-25T14:28:31.000Z

The White Flat is considerably more throwy than the SST-20, which itself is more throwy than the XP-L HI .

MACS0647 · 2019-05-28T18:01:44.000Z

mortuus:

nice review… looks like a olight baton on steroids! I have a questions does the light turn off all of a sudden or does it get dimmer before shutdown ? i know my batons i hate when they suddenly just turn off because battery is drained… no warning before really

The TK16 starts flickering in time margin shorter intervals for low battery voltage warning.

SKV89 · 2019-05-28T18:57:46.000Z

This light is so beautiful. For a slightly larger size, it could have accommodated 18350, but at least we now have some really good 16340 from Vapcell. I’m waiting for a group buy from Martin or Freeme.

SKY69 · 2019-05-28T22:21:46.000Z

Me Too!

g_damian · 2019-07-10T10:32:45.000Z

Here are some beam comparison pictures, originally posted What you got today - #9928 by g_damian

Three different LEDs (Nichia 5000K, Osram 6500K, Samsung 4000K) under carclo 10507 (different WB):

With white flat 2mm2 in BLF A6 OP reflector:

TK16 alone (in real life artifacts are not so visible):

MascaratumB · 2019-07-10T10:36:37.000Z

Sweet! Thanks for showing it to us
I assume that many of those artifacts would be lost under a 10511 optic!

I’ve been thinking about which to get , the Osram or the SST20. One throws, another floods; one is cool, another maybe too warm.

How hot does it get on Turbo?

Thanks in advance!

Alfred143 · 2019-07-14T00:37:50.000Z

How do you switch back to ECO mode? 10x switch click also?

fluke · 2019-07-24T22:30:15.000Z

Anyone know if these are Carclo optics?

g_damian · 2019-07-25T07:00:57.000Z

Alfred143:

How do you switch back to ECO mode? 10x switch click also?

Yes

fluke · 2019-07-25T09:40:24.000Z

Thank you.

Geuzzz · 2020-05-19T15:34:37.000Z

Quick question.

I just received this light in 4000k sst20. In moonlight mode only 2 emitter are lit. In other modes all three are fine.
Is dit normal behavior maybe?

Probably just different forward voltage, but I never had this in dozens of other triples and quads.

treellama · 2020-05-19T15:45:26.000Z

All three of them light on my alu 4000k SST-20, moonlight. I don’t think it’s normal behavior.

MascaratumB · 2020-05-19T16:12:20.000Z

treellama:

All three of them light on my alu 4000k SST-20, moonlight. I don’t think it’s normal behavior.

I have the Osram version and all 3 emitters light on every mode too. That may be some problem on the contacts, solder, or even driver.
Geuzzz, did you get it from Acebeam? I guess their warranty covers that, it may worth talking to them!
Hope you can solve it