501

I am so excited with the first EC03 that I received on July 9th, that I just ordered two more, to make three.

I am super happy with the price: Practically free. I am very happy with the build quality: very, very nice. I am very happy with the appearance: Ample stainless steel bezel, and smooth wells and minimal body prints make for attractive appearance. I like the feel: Not too heavy, and it does not feel too light. The head diameter is ample enough to provide nice quantity of throw for host size classification, replete with mostly non overlapping, ample diameter wells. Also, the ample head diameter equates to ample mass to handle heat better than smaller head diameter lights in this power class.

I am amazed that to me, and also to others, the beam performance significantly outperforms factory throw and lumen specs. I humbly think the throw is not less than 400 meters, and the lumens are close to 9,000. This, after subjectively visually comparing with several other lights in its performance class.

This light is a must have, and it is highway robbery at the current BG price, and interstate highway robbery at the still current freeme group buy code price.

The beam performance is ultra high for body size, and the beam profile is the perfect combination of throw and flood: Not too much or too little of either.

I almost forgot to mention that it also has normal modes for normal runtime, too.

502

Yeah, but how do you like it?

Output is very much dependent on the battery. On the charged up 40T, mine did about 6500 lumens. Maybe you got a good one there, or I got a bad one.

503

I haven't seen deviations that much, not yet anyways, but I do see the output creep up initially which is odd behavior. In the past there's been something wrong, like a bad connection somewhere. Hhmmm. Really have to attempt a tear down on this light.

504

Is the 5000k Version going to be out soon? I could buy a few

505

Same here, I got 6586lm with new 40T (8.4Ω) without any mod. Output is just 1.7% lower than claim value.

506

I was able to do a partial tear down so far.

Here's the EC03 next to my other favorite XHP50.2 triple, the X9:

Got a surprise here - no screw inside the pill as I thought there would be. Don't think I've seen a multi-LED reflector setup like this before, but I like it. No screw inside the pill like a Q8, one screw holding it down and 2 alignment holes for pins on the reflector. So the MCPCB is kept down tight (should anyways), and no problem twisting the reflector. Also I like the machined cutouts for the screw head and wiring connections - I used to do that machining myself on Shocker reflectors.

So the LED wires are short which is good, but probably a little too thin for all those amps. Think they are 22 AWG, might be 20, but figure 1 step up should help.

I removed the side switch easily (no glue) and loosened the driver, so just gotta de-solder the LED wires on the MCPCB and the driver should come out.

It's all pretty nice quality on the inside, so far. Hopefully can examine the driver closely and take pics.

507

They were a little short on the grease, could be better, probably doesn't have much effect:

The LED wires are 20 AWG, MCPCB is 1.5 mm thick - wish they would make them thicker - lot of amps and heat here:

Standard FET+1 components, not sure what FET this is:

I'd upgrade the wires to 18 AWG, and may add some solder to the driver ring, where it makes contact to the battery tube - not sure if it's making good contact there. Should upgrade Anduril while I got it open.

Also I'll sand the MCPCB and shelf surfaces, use MX4.

508

I thought about it and figured i could of went into ramp config by mistake and changed it… YEP.
Back to the very low moon light. I guess the lack of proper thermal throttling shouldn’t matter as long as it’s being held.
Thanks for the tear down and pics. Nice to see the SP-36 switch board :smiley: . I guess theres not much to improve on without total tare down?
Also curious do you know what the reflector is made of?

509

Found the datasheet on the QN3109 FET here: http://j5d2v7d7.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/QN3109.pdf

My preferred FET, the SIRA20DP, datasheet here: https://www.vishay.com/docs/76212/sira20dp.pdf

There are 2 primary things I look at: Continuous/Pulsed drain current (bigger is better) and RDSON (smaller is better). The QN3109 isn't bad but still think the SIRA20DP is better. The SIRA20DP, I feel, is either the best or one of the best of that family of FET's. We started with the SIR800DP a few years back, then discovered the better SIR404DP, and experimented with a couple others.

The Infineon bsc009ne2ls5atma1 is also up there: https://www.infineon.com/dgdl/Infineon-BSC009NE2LS5-DS-v02_00-EN.pdf?fileId=5546d4624bcaebcf014c096c7c152310

Still, my overall preference is the SIRA20DP.

I would do a tailcap spring bypass, maybe add light layer of NO-OX-ID on the battery tube to driver contact.

Reflector is standard block of alum with typical coating - nothing different here.

510

@freeme

I did’t receive any code

511

Thank you freeme! I just ordered one. Flashaholics review and Tom E’s partial teardown clinched the deal.

512

Interested freeme, will buy 2! Thanks! Anyone recommend a good place to buy 21700 batteries, maybe the Samsung 40T? Cheers!

513

since u are from usa i would say try illumn

514

Performed my first spring bypass yesterday, didn’t have solder wick and not sure how good of a job i did but it held together and still works.
I will re-do when i buy some and also re-test without. I found my wife has a light meter on her phone so i did some tests/comparisons last night.

Output numbers from the ap:
SP36-BLF - 5k : 1639
D4V2 - ST20- 5k: 1124
EC03 - xhp50 - 6.5k: 2466

Doing some creative math to approximate actual lumens would mean the output on the EC03 is around 8400lumens
Using the manufacture lumen ratings from the D4V2 (4200) & SP36 (5650) and comparing it to the output numbers from the AP (roughly matches manufacturer stated specs of SP36 having 50%ish more lumens)
Then used those figures to approximate 50% more lumens than the SP36 as tested.
Better than my eyeballs at least, as the output on the EC03 starts to drop after 20 seconds or so and i didn’t pick up on that untill staring at the AP

515

Sent.

Thank you for your support!

516

Hey freeme. May I get a code? Thanks!

517

Would like to order 3 of them. A nice price would be appreciated! :+1:

518

Hi Freeme, Please send a code before they are all gone… THX

519

I’ve had great service from Liion Wholesale out of Phoenixville, PA. Their prices are very competitive. Wholesale Li-ion Batteries | Liion Wholesale – Tagged "21700" – Liion Wholesale Batteries

520

You still have coupons? Would like to get me two of these.