groupbuy (ALIVE) NEW Lumintop Tool AA

[djozz]

@FreeMagenta

@djozz

@benz

My Tool AAA has terribly obvious PWM on med and low modes. Could it actually be a fake/clone? I bought it from HKEquipment on ebay.

No, there have been more versions of the Tool, if I remember well there was first a two-mode version without AR-coated lens that had no (visible) PWM, and then a new (current) version with 3 modes and ~1000Hz PWM.

My Tool AAA has 3 modes, AR coated lens and no visible PWM…

Hmmm, that adds a third version then, I remembered the 2 versions well, it is in my review from 3 years ago: fast review of the Lumintop Tool AAA

[benz]

@DrDevil

…There is a huge difference between 1,2V eneloop and 3,7V 14500…

What are the safest/highest quality 14500’s available at the moment that would suit this?

[patmurris]

Sanyo UR14500P 840mAh unprotected flat top
Keeppower 14500 800mAh protected raised top

[benz]

@patmurris

Sanyo UR14500P 840mAh unprotected flat top
Keeppower 14500 800mAh protected raised top

Thank you!

[MascaratumB]

Just received my pack today! Nice one!

Thought the flashlight was bigger (glad it’s not!), and is super light weight, at least comparing with the others I have (Manker E11, Amutorch S3, and Sofirn SF10!
The fluorescent head cap is a bonus

I’m not sure about the twist feature, as it is my first flashlight with it; I have to try it further. The nice thing is that it works twisting the head, twisting the flat tailcap, or even twisting the head with the clicky tail cap :sunglasses:

The Sanyo UR14500P (flat top, unprotected) works well! I’ll probably use it with it or a Ni-MH Panasonic Evolta, depending on the output needed.

About the tint…yeah, it’s not the greatest. A warmer tint would be preferable! But it ain’t the worst ever.
PWM on Low and Medium settings (through camera).

I have the Sofirn SP10A and SF14 on the way, gonna compare them at arrival! Let’s see how companies are doing these AA/14500 lights with different budgets/prices. :+1:

[Mp0wer]

@patmurris

Sanyo UR14500P 840mAh unprotected flat top
Keeppower 14500 800mAh protected raised top

Do you know if the Keeppower protected fits in this light ?

[patmurris]

@Mp0wer

@patmurris

Sanyo UR14500P 840mAh unprotected flat top
Keeppower 14500 800mAh protected raised top

Do you know if the Keeppower protected fits in this light ?

Mine does fine in all modes. Haven’t measured output though.
KP 800mAh protected black w silver label. The top is more of a ‘half raised top’ then a button top.

[patmurris]

@MascaratumB

Just received my pack today! Nice one!

I’m not sure about the twist feature, as it is my first flashlight with it; I have to try it further. The nice thing is that it works twisting the head, twisting the flat tailcap, or even twisting the head with the clicky tail cap :sunglasses:

Thanks for mentioning that. I didn’t like much twisting the tail cap as it’s not very convenient one handed. With the flat tail cap screwed all the way, the head acts as the switch and works well that way. It makes for a shorter light. I like it better like that. :+1:

[MascaratumB]

@patmurris

@MascaratumB

Just received my pack today! Nice one!

I’m not sure about the twist feature, as it is my first flashlight with it; I have to try it further. The nice thing is that it works twisting the head, twisting the flat tailcap, or even twisting the head with the clicky tail cap :sunglasses:

Thanks for mentioning that. I didn’t like much twisting the tail cap as it’s not very convenient one handed. With the flat tail cap screwed all the way, the head acts as the switch and works well that way. It makes for a shorter light. I like it better like that. :+1:

Yeah, I think is a nice feature too!
But so far, using the clicky tailcap and twisting the head if needed has been my favourite setting, as it allows to switch modes both ways (twisting head, clicking tail)! I just don’t know (and can’t test that :person_facepalming: ) if turning it ON through the clicky tail and twisting the head until it is OFF (while switching modes), has any drain.

Despite the things I mentioned before, I’m liking this light! Just wish there was a lowest level (firefly). I would make it my EDC “pronto”!

[patmurris]

Twisting the head breaks contact between the battery tube and the driver outer part or head ground thus opening the circuit so there’s no drain even if the switch is engaged. It’s basically two switch in a serial configuration. Both have to be closed for the light to work.

Nevertheless, if LT would offer the Tool AA without the switch tail cap - only the short one, at a cheaper price, i’d rather buy that one.

[jon_slider]

@djozz

Tja….

Today I received the Tool AA, and quite unfortunately (for Lumintop) today I also received a Utorch UT01 (my first), both lights have a Cree XP-L led and both are suitable for use with NiMh and alkalines. I got them for a comparable price.

Let me start with this: nowadays the only reason for me to buy a AA format flashlight is for use with Eneloops, since the Aspire 18350 has become available I hardly see rationality for 14500 lights anymore unless the capacity will at least double. In that perspective here’s my impression:

So I placed an Eneloop Pro cell in both flashlights, both were at 1.33 V. Here’s how they look side-by-side on a white wall, ToolAA on the right:

That output difference is so huge!!! the ToolAA is roasted by the Utorch, nothing can make up for that anymore, mind that the Tool AA is a brand new light with a Cree XP-L, how hard can it be?! In numbers, with these reasonably charged up Eneloops, at 30s: 248lm for the UT01 (flat regulated. Very nice!), 84lm for the ToolAA (slowly dropping). Swapping the batteries did not change anything. Btw, the tint of the Utorch is quite a bit better (plain white with a hint of rose) than the tint of the Tool (slightly greenish yellow).

Waving the two lights in front of my phone camera shows the low frequency PWM (<1000Hz) of the ToolAA, while no PWM can be seen with the UT01.

Conclusion: Lumintop listen, I really like the form factor of the ToolAA but your boost drivers are lightyears behind the competition, the ToolAA is a nice upgrade for an ancient Ultrafire C3, but even with its XP-L it has nothing to do with a modern flashlight.

Left to right: Utorch UT01, JaxmanE2L (my EDC, 1200lm of 97CRI), Lumintop ToolAA, Ultrafire C3

thanks for the PWM report on the Tool, and the beam shot…

[somnambulism]

@djozz

@FreeMagenta

@djozz

@benz

My Tool AAA has terribly obvious PWM on med and low modes. Could it actually be a fake/clone? I bought it from HKEquipment on ebay.

No, there have been more versions of the Tool, if I remember well there was first a two-mode version without AR-coated lens that had no (visible) PWM, and then a new (current) version with 3 modes and ~1000Hz PWM.

My Tool AAA has 3 modes, AR coated lens and no visible PWM…

Hmmm, that adds a third version then, I remembered the 2 versions well, it is in my review from 3 years ago: fast review of the Lumintop Tool AAA

Tool AAA on the left, Tool AA on the right:

[jon_slider]

the AAA Tool changed to No PWM around December of 2015, with the introduction of the Nichia option. You can recognize older AAA tools that used PWM by the lack of centering ring around the LED, and also the Knurling has dimples in the middle of each peak, and none came w Nichia LED.

The NoPWM AAA Tools don’t have dimples and do have a silver ring around the led. Same is true for AAA Maratacs. All AAA Maratacs and Tools that came w Nichia LEDs are NoPWM models, the CuReyLight was the first to offer Nichia in a Tool.

On the AA Tool there is no centering ring, and it has YesPWM. There is no AA Tool with NoPWM, nor w Nichia. The AA Maratac does offer Nichia, but also has YesPWM.

[benz]

Good info, thanks jon_slider!