Fully Variable Magnetic Control Ring

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Owning ~ 30 flashlights, all purchased within the past 18 months (stock and customized), I have decided that my favorites, by a bunch, are the Fully Variable Magnetic Control. Must admit, though, that my smaller lights (up to single 18650) don’t have that feature - most have rear/side clickies.

Can you please recommend a few which you have owned and love? Upsides and downsides? Primary + secondary cell capable?

2

Small size with infinitely adjustable control ring, my two favourites are:

  • Niteye EYE10 TiC - It will run on a CR123A, or 16340/18350. I’m using an Efest 18350.
  • Sunwayman V10R Ti+ - It will run on a CR123a or 16340 and if you buy the AA extender you can use a AA or 14500.
3

EYE10 is def one of my ATF’s !
A good 18350 turns it into a relative powerhouse, and better yet— the output is
wonderfully variable from seemingly sub-lumen to kaboom :slight_smile:

4

The market segment for this design seems very limited.
Would love to hear Which control ring lights you currently have.
I’ve been looking at the Explorer E84 & E 83

5

Does anyone know which manufacturer had them first? Sorry for being off topic.

My favorite is the sunwayman V11R

Had the v25c, but didn't like the 360degrees variable..you never knew in what output it is when you pick it up. The other I had was the jetbeam rrt 21, the most beautiful light I ever owned.

Others are not fully variable, lime the swm M30A, 2 of my swm M10A, the acebeam k40m , and a sipik light.

6

I’ve owned the following fully variable lights:

  • Jetbeam RRT-01 - great little light, but mine had the smooth reflector which produced an ugly beam. Tint was yucky cool white, but a quick a emitter swap fixed that.
  • Jetbeam TCR-01 - basically a titanium RRT-01. Beautiful light. Made more beautiful with some modding.
  • Niteye EYE10 - very similar to RRT-01. Ring is fully variable but mechanical detentes artificially limit it. Ring is noisy to operate and lacks knurling on one side. On the upside, it was cheaper than the RRT-01 and driver pulls a bit more current for slightly higher output. Internal parts are interchangeable with the Jetbeam.
  • Sunwayman V10A - (broken). Dropped the head 1 meter onto a wooden floor during a battery change and a random SMD popped off the driver board. Hasn’t worked since.
  • Sunwayman V10R - (broken). Put in the battery wrong way accidentally and turned it on. Was only on for 2 seconds, but that was enough to permanently mess up the driver. Light still works, but now 90% of the ring’s travel is over moonlight, then over approximately 2 degrees it ramps from 1% to 100, then the remaining travel stays at 100. For all practical purposes this light is no longer fully variable.
  • Sunwayman V11R - high CRI edition. Mine came with an 85ish CRI 3000k XML inside. Still works fine and unmodded. Nice light, but I find the tint too orange for indoor use.

My current favorite fully variable control ring light is the Jetbeam TCR-01. This is the original titanium model. It’s by far the prettiest of all my magnetic ring lights. I run it on an IMR 18350.

I modded mine with the following:

  1. Replaced the XML emitter with a triple Nichia 219B on copper Noctigon.
  2. Repaced stock smooth reflector with Carclo 10507 optic.
  3. Solder-braided tailcap spring with 20 gauge wire.

It doesn’t throw as well as stock, but the tint and CRI are MUCH improved…. a great EDC for close-in use. Looks gorgeous with the triple optic in there. Wish I could pump up the current, but no idea how to do that with the stock driver. I don’t the tiny driver wires could support much more anyways.

7

I have the Nitecore SRT-6.
By turning the magnetic ring really slowly, I can detect that there are about
19-20 different levels of brightness. I just wish it had a separate click-stop for moonlight, though…

8

Anyone make something with the magnetic variable ring that is budget price?

9

I wish there was a light like the TX25C2 with a variable control ring instead of the switch, I would buy one in an instant

10

My favorite is Sunwayman V11R. Switched the led to a warmer (XM-L2 T6-4D) and now it´s a perfect indoor EDC.

11

yes, there are budget lights which work with magnetic rings.. but usually are not infinitely variable, but with several modes/outputs.

I had a sipik with 3-5 modes... but its not comparable to a fully variable control ring.

I guess they can be had from about $50+ (once you find a good deal.. there was a GB a long time ago on these Sunwayman V11R)

12

Thanks I am looking for something with infinite variable…like the v11r. Good advice. Anyone else?

13

I’m EDC the EYE10 since I received it on 19-Sept-2012 and feed it with 18350 with additional one 18350 and CR123A as backup.

Also bought another 1 as backup and 1 Eye10 Tic as shelf queen.

My Sunwayman V11R control ring got stuck/jam and cannot be turn. Still thinking how to open it up to fix it.

As you can see from the picture, I stick a GITD sticker to the body (poor workmanship) and non-slip sticker to the control ring so that it can be turn easily. The new version already have the rectangle knurling for easy turning.

I also added 5 blue tritium at the tail end.

I dropped the EYE10 many times on the road, tile floor as you can see the scratches and dent in the picture and it is still going strong (touch wood).

Until today, I still cannot find a better replacement for it.




14

Sorry it’s a little OT, but would anyone be willing to link me to a review they feel adequately demonstrates/discusses the operation of this type of light? I have never owned one.

15

Selfbuilt over on cpf has a really good comparison between the V11R and the RRT01. It is a good intro point to the format, missing a few things, but good enough to act as an intro IMO.

Video here, can’t find cpf link ATM.

16

Wight’s gonna get into designing variable mag control ring drivers next :wink: Can’t wait :slight_smile:

17

I had no luck with the Eye10. Nor the support from the company.

It died on me in less than 6 months.

I never used it roughly. It has some dings but not anything bad.

18

HaHa, that’s exactly what I thought too! Looking forward to what he comes up with, for sure!

19

Mag light with a control ring…been done
Here DYI mag mod with magnetic switch ring