Review LED8RW from Princess Auto

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

Hi

This is a light i just purchased from Princess Auto for $29.99Cdn. It is a 1x18650 light, 3 mode, rated 8 watts, and comes with a battery and charger. The 18650 (1200mah) has no name but says it is protected. The charger is Model # SW-042060 rated output 4.2v 650ma. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to fully charge a depleted battery

It is brighter then any other light i have, though i dont have a lot. The package says it is made by H.B. Smith Tools, but i could not find it on their web site. It looks similar to a Palight C8 reviewed here on BLF, but with a different Cree LED.... i think it is an RE but i could be wrong. It has a smooth alluminum reflector. The ends have O-rings, and it generally seems to be of good quality, but as the pictures show, there is some left over debris in the pill.

Here is the driver board (marked CX 152) and schematic i drew.

The Mode chip, is a CX 280 and the regulator (or perhaps just a MOSFET) is marked A1sHB (the "s" has a dash over it). i could not find any info on the driver or chips . The chips are 3pin. Beside the main output to the LED, there is also an "opitional" +output through 4 paralled 1ohm resistors ..... possibily for use if a less powerfull LED were used with the driver. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable knows who makes the driver and chips. Oh, the driver is about the size of a dime... i did not have a ruller handy.

With a full charge, it starts out on high at 1.22 amps, is very bright, and will opperate for about an hour without to much loss of brightness, until it just dies.

Low power draws 192ma, and is still fairly bright compared to other small lights i have.

Strobe, is a fast strobe at full power... i measured 65ma, but because of the strobing, i would guess that reading is not accurate.

Other shots ..... i would appreciate it if someone could tell me what Cree LED they think this is. My GUESS is an RE

Lead soldering to the driver and Cree seems to be quite very poor quality.



2

It's poor quality. For that amount you could have got this. Total cost $28.19. Much better quality and the led is a cree xml 600Lm minimun

Trustfire 3.7V 2500mAh 18650 Lithium Battery with AC Charger Pack $9.30

High Power 860Lumens 5-Mode Cree XML T6 LED Flashlights(1 x 18650 Battery) for $18.89

3

Its a good introduction into LED flashlights, although its a 3 year old technology. Your LED is a Cree XR-E. The flashlight How2 mentioned is 3-4 times brighter.

4

LEt's not forget to mention the cheesy pill and that is painted.

5

Its a great first LED flashlight. It will only get better form there if he decides to buy others. Welcome to the club Starman.

6

That is a great starter light, you guys need to know the prices for products in that part of Canada can be quite high.

DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR AND MAKE SURE WHEN THAT BATTERY COMES OFF THE CHARGER FULLY CHARGED IT IS NOT OVER 4.25 VOLTS OR YOU COULD START A FIRE AND DON'T LEAVE IT CHARGING UNATTENDED.

Now get yourself over to DX, Manafont or KD and start getting some real power lights.

http://www.dealextreme.com/c/18650-cree-flashlights-940?page=1&pagesize=52&pagesort=relevence

http://www.manafont.com/index.php/led-c-29

7

Thanks for the comments. The pill is not painted, it is bare aluminum. I plan to drill and tap a couple holes to secure the star for better thermal conductivity. I will also clean up the emitter and driver leads.

I would still like to know if anyone knows what company makes the driver or the chips.

Thanks for letting me know it is a XRE emitter FlashPilot.

8

Definitely a C8 type host, but with cheaper guts compared to what you get with the C8's that have flooded the market today. However, not a bad introduction into high powered flashlights, like already stated :)

9

I had the Princess auto light and bought the Ultrafire C8-T6 flashlight, it is only 1/2 as bright !