I have concluded that me and magnetic rings do not get along

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

I really like lights with magnetic rings for controlling the modes or power. I own a handful of them:

Thrunite TN31 XM-L2
Thrunite TN30 XM-L2
Sunwayman V11R Mirage set
Jetbeam RRT-01 XM-L
Jetbeam RRT-01 XM-L2
Niteye 15
Niwalker Vostro BK-FA01
Niwalker Vostro BK-FA02
Niwalker NWK600N1

I am now on my 4th light with a magnetic ring that I have had to RMA:
Thrunite TN31 XM-L2 - Modes 4 and 5 are not working at all. The other modes are working, but sometimes will not turn intermittently.
Thrunite TN30 XM-L2 - When in mode 6, the light is flickering. This problem is intermittent, but easily reproducible. Mode 5 is also intermittently not turning on.
Sunwayman V11R Mirage set - I recorded a video of me twisting the control ring on the light. Please keep in mind this light has infinitely variable output, controlled by the ring. It should be smoothly transitioning from high to low as I twist the ring. As you can see in the video, it flickers and turns on and off randomly. When twisting the ring, sometimes it feels like it is no longer connected.
Niteye 15 - On modes 1 and 2, the LED will not turn on. It will turn on when switched to mode 3, but then it will not decrease the brightness when moved back down to mode 2. It will turn back off when switched to mode 1. I have tried 4 different batteries (Fasttech protected Sanyo UR18650FM, Fasttech protected Sanyo UR18650ZT, Fasttech protected Panasonic NCR18650B, and AW IMR 18350 with a Jetbeam RRT-01 body) to verify this is not a battery problem. The same issue happens with all 4 batteries.

Fasttech was great about RMA’ing the V11R. The were quick to respond, reimbursed me for return shipping, and sent me a new light once they received the old one.

Thrunite has been somewhat of a nightmare to deal with because I bought my lights through an authorized reseller, rather than through their website. After calls to disconnected numbers, unreturned emails, emails to the owner of Thrunite, emails to the NA distributor, and PM’s with the authorized seller (who was very helpful), I shipped the lights back to Thrunite’s NA distribution warehouse in California and as of tomorrow (Monday), they will have been with them for a week with no response.

I just put in a RMA for the Niteye 15 with Fasttech. I expect the same response as with the V11R, but it sucks that I have to be without the light for probably 3 weeks during the RMA process.

Has anybody else had this much trouble with magnetic ring lights? I am super gentle with my lights and baby the hell out of them. I haven’t even carried the Niteye 15 head, because I bought it so I could use the 18650 body with my Jetbeam RRT-01 head because I like the RRT-01 head more and they are compatible. It’s like the flashlight gods do not smile upon me :frowning:

Video of the Sunwayman V11R Mirage:

Video of the Niteye 15:

2

Wow, that’s crappy, sorry to hear that. I’ve got an RRT01 and it DOES spoil you, right? All those modes and groups and things seem ridiculous after owning a ring-type light.

3

Indeed it does spoil me. It inspired me to sell off a lot of EDC lights because after getting the RRT-01, I rarely carry anything else. The only other lights I carry are my Sunwayman V11R Mirage and my Zebralight SC52w.

4

how do you like the mirage? thats one i would like to have

5

It’s a nice light. As this post has shown, the magnetic ring may have some quality issues, but my replacement has worked fine. There are a couple of issues I have with the Mirage when compared to the Jetbeam RRT-01. The Mirage cannot fit all 16340’s. I prefer Solarforce 16340’s because they test at about 760mAh when discharged to 2.8v at .2C. They are a little fat, and do not fit in all lights, though. They will not fit in the Mirage and I am forced to user some lower capacity 16340’s or protected Sanyo UR14500P like the Zebralight ZL584 cell. The RRT-01 can be had with an XM-L2 T6, whereas the Mirage can only be had with an XM-L U3. The difference in output is not really noticeable to the naked eye, but for as much as the Mirage costs, it should be XM-L2. I also prefer the RRT-01 because it can use an 18350 cell like the AW IMR 18350 or with the Niteye 15 body, a protected 18650. With the 18350 or 18650, it actually draws 2.6A-2.7A at full blast, rather than 2A off of a 16340, so it is actually a little brighter with these cells. The RRT-01 is also truly infinitely variable. You can make the LED put out the tiniest amount of light, versus the Mirage, where it starts out at a minimum of 1 lumen. I also prefer the pocket clip on the RRT-01 because it is a screw on type, rather than a tension type that the V11R has. I also prefer the RRT-01’s interface. I think the forward clicky tailcap on the V11R is pointless when it has a magnetic ring. There is no reason to have the tailcap switch, unless you are worried about parasitic drain, which is so minimal, it isn’t even a legitimate concern. The tailcap switch just adds unnecessary length to the light.

They are both fine lights, but the RRT-01 is just better in a lot of small, but important ways (in my opinion).