LighTake Small Sun ZY-T621
Reviewer's Overall Rating:
★★
Summary:
Battery: | 2 x 18650 Unprotected |
Switch: | Reverse Clicky |
Modes: | 5 |
LED Type: | XM-LT6 |
Lens: | 3mm Glass |
Tailstands: | Yes |
Price Payed: | Supplied Free For Review. $50.69 |
From: | LighTake |
Date Ordered: | 30.11.12 |
Pros:
- Very nice color
- Attractive styling
- Crisp easy to push reverse clicky switch
- Large reflector
- 3mm lens
- Plastic lens retainer
Cons:
- Hollow pill
- Battery tube to short for protected batteries
- Torn o'ring on the lens
Features / Value:
★★
Up front this light was supplied free of charge by LighTake. For this I thank them.
This is a 2 x 18650 battery light. The light itself is a really attractive grey unlike any other light that I have. It offers 5 modes 2 off which are flashy modes. The driver modes are the same as the HD-2010 in which after being left off for a few seconds will switch on high mode irrelevant of what mode the light was switched off. Styling wise I found it to be very attractive with just enough grooves, scallaps and cutouts to add to the good looks. The lens is a very thick 3mm which should be able to take a fair amount of abuse. The reflector is interchangeable with the HD-2010. They are almost identical.
There were two main problems with this flashlight. The first being the hollow pill. Even though it is mildly driven it deserves a solid pill. Secondly the battery tube is about 8mm to short for protected batteries.
3mm thick lens.
Hollow pill. Edit, LED PCB measures 24.81mm in diameter and is 2.08mm in thickness. It is very meaty.
The LED is centrally located and insulated from the reflector by a large plastic ring.
If this was solid it would be impressive.
The driver was pressed in and was not removed.
As mentioned I love the styling.
The cigar grip with the short extension retainer. If this was 8mm longer protected batteries would fit no problems. I know, I made one.
Design / Build Quality:
★★★
Build quality was your usual cheap flashlight quality. The threads were average without being to bad. All o'rings were ok with the exception of the lens o'ring which had been assembled incorrectly causing it to break on disassembling the light. Anodizing as mentioned was a very attractive grey with a good finish. The tailcap had a silver band on the very end. The cigar grip worked as expected with no problems. The rubber switch button was a bright green operating a very smooth acting switch. It would be one of the smoothest switches that I have used with very positive clicks. The lens has a very sturdy hard plastic retainer that I have not seen before. The tailcap spring has a plunger over the spring. With this removed protected batteries would still not fit.
Notice the plastic lens locator and broken o'ring.
The battery tube, cigar grip and short ext to retain the cigar grip.
Battery Life:
★★★★★
Battery life is excellent due to the low current that the driver operates at. High is 2.15 amps, medium 1.1 amps and low is .3 amps. With extended running on high the light got warm without being overly hot. The cooling fins are 2.5mm in depth and 2mm thick. I don't believe the driver has low voltage protection.
Light Output:
★★★★
For a light just running at just over 2 amps the light output is very good. Testing alongside a stock HD-2010 throw was only a little less.
Summary:
★★
This flashlight promises a lot but is sadly let down by a couple of bad design points as mentioned above. After reading other reviews on Small Sun flashlights I was looking forward to reviewing this light. It appears that this light is along the same lines as other models in that they are a very good light let down by silly design issues. If it were not for the hollow pill and short battery tube this would be an excellent light.
Again I would like to thank LighTake for supplying the flashlight for review.
Just a quick update.
The LED PCB is a lot larger than usual. Its measurements are, diameter 24.81 mm and the thickness is 2.08mm thick. This should help cool the LED and wick the heat away to the aluminium housing.