I just want to point out two more things, and then I’ll (try to) shut up about this light.
1) Kramer5150 recently got his apart and discovered that there are only two, not three 18650 inside the light. The built in charger has balance leads and so at least charges the cells properly. I’d still have preferred if Stanley used larger and safer chem cells and made the damn thing waterproof, but for $50, I’ve little right to complain. Oh, drive current appears to be ~2.7A based on 1.34A draw from a fully charged 7.4V nominal pack (9.916W consumed). That assumes very little sag under load and 10% driver loss. (9.916 * 90% = 8.92 and CREE XM-L pulls 2.7A @ 3.3Vf = 8.91W to LED)
2) I’m afraid that my 5-way whitewall comparison might have caused some folks to cool their heels on this light ’cause it doesn’t seem to be all that compared to the others in that shot, which is why I’m compelled to point out… The HD2010 which is regarded as a super thrower that beats most, compares directly to the DIMMEST light in that photo (#5) (as demonstrated here) Compared to the vast majority of XML lights, the Stanley FatMax XML tanks ’em all for throw, including the HD2010. Maybe I’ll do another shootout with this light and a broad range of single XML lights, as I had here: