Review: Lumintop EDC05C (sample)

Firelight2 · 2019-06-22T22:28:29.000Z

teacher:

While the tailcap is not typical, I have no trouble changing batteries anywhere I am or need to. Almost anything can be use to fit in the nail nick & open the tailcap. Keys, knife, a dime, etc., etc.

While not impossible to change the battery in the field, it’s certainly not practical.

If most other lights die in the field, you can fairly easily change the battery just by feel while in pitch dark, no tools needed. I suspect if you tried that with the EDC05C, it would either be almost impossible, or would take a ridiculous amount of time (maybe 15 minutes).

It would have been so easy for Lumintop to make the tailcap unscrewable by hand, without changing any of the dimensions of the light.

LightObsession · 2019-06-23T02:17:15.000Z

Tom E:

BG and Neal’s listings say no battery included so from either of those sources, it should be clear.

I’m pretty sure that I ordered from one of them, so it looks like I’ll be needing to source two or more batteries. I wasn’t planning on that extra expense. Not really a better deal than the other options at the time. The ads were rather confusing at that time and so were discussions, so I guess I chose a less convenient option, since I don’t already have appropriate batteries.

Oh, well, live and hopefully learn.

Tom_E · 2019-06-23T13:04:49.000Z

Yea, I recall it was unclear. Not sure, maybe they changed the listings.

teacher · 2019-06-23T22:42:10.000Z

Firelight2:

teacher:

While the tailcap is not typical, I have no trouble changing batteries anywhere I am or need to. Almost anything can be use to fit in the nail nick & open the tailcap. Keys, knife, a dime, etc., etc.

While not impossible to change the battery in the field, it’s certainly not practical.

If most other lights die in the field, you can fairly easily change the battery just by feel while in pitch dark, no tools needed. I suspect if you tried that with the EDC05C, it would either be almost impossible, or would take a ridiculous amount of time (maybe 15 minutes).

It would have been so easy for Lumintop to make the tailcap unscrewable by hand, without changing any of the dimensions of the light.

I think whether it is “practical” or not depends on the person doing it. This certainly varies from person to person. One ‘size’ does not fit all.

For me, and I suspect some others; while certainly not as easy as a conventional tailcap: it is not a big deal.

I took your challenge & tried it in a totally dark closet. :+1:

First time was 90 seconds (+ or - a couple). Used the end of a fingernail file on a pair of cheap nail clippers.

Second time was 74 seconds (+ or - a couple) using a spoon.
practice makes perfect

So the practicality question is not an issue for me at all. For some it would/might be.

In addition I doubt I’ll ever use this light in a situation where I have to change batteries in the dark. But… if I do, I find it easy enough to do.

ymmv

Siftah · 2019-07-14T00:36:21.000Z

Added one of these to my basket whilst buying some stuff in the current BangGood sale - not that I need another light, but I have a spare 14500 battery, so I figured why not

Does look like a nice little light and I really like the idea of the Nichia LED’s on the side, they look kind of handy!

bansuri · 2019-07-14T01:50:26.000Z

Siftah, I’d love to see your thoughts on this light after you’ve got it.
I’m still on the fence.

Siftah · 2019-07-14T11:20:24.000Z

bansuri:

Siftah, I’d love to see your thoughts on this light after you’ve got it.
I’m still on the fence.

I certainly will - the price reduction in the sale isn’t huge, so I wouldn’t bother pulling the trigger if you’re not decided as you won’t save too much!

e1000 · 2019-08-08T03:13:31.000Z

Anyone have any ideas on how to get to the LED/MCPCB on this thing? Looks like a press fit front bezel.

Siftah · 2019-08-20T08:43:19.000Z

Siftah:

bansuri:

Siftah, I’d love to see your thoughts on this light after you’ve got it.
I’m still on the fence.

I certainly will - the price reduction in the sale isn’t huge, so I wouldn’t bother pulling the trigger if you’re not decided as you won’t save too much!

My bad, realised I didn’t update this thread!

I took this away camping with me for the weekend and was suitably impressed. I really like the size, especially in summer when I’m wearing shorts and want something tiny that hides away in a pocket.

I loved the strength of the magnet on the tailcap, it was perfect for putting under a table (attached to the metal leg) and providing some ambient light.

I didn’t like the battery life (but that’s kind of a known entity, right?)

It’s got a nice usable amount of lumens on the front emitter and the side emitters are also perfect, I mostly used it in the lowest modes for close-up work around the campsite.

It’s going to be staying in my pocket quite a lot, that’s for sure

Picture: https://imgur.com/rlabtxr

bts · 2019-08-11T12:16:32.000Z

I just got mine but the runtime isnt impressive. They claim the Moonlight mode is 15days. But I just charge my batt(~4.15v) and test it for 10hrs or so and the voltage drop to 3.907v.

Tom_E · 2019-08-11T18:56:28.000Z

bts:

I just got mine but the runtime isnt impressive. They claim the Moonlight mode is 15days. But I just charge my batt(~4.15v) and test it for 10hrs or so and the voltage drop to 3.907v.

Obviously it depends on the cell you are using. I didnt' do any runtime tests though.

Even this review didn't test moon mode - takes too long, rare to find in a review: https://zeroair.org/2019/04/03/lumintop-edc05c-flashlight-review/

Siftah · 2019-08-20T08:45:23.000Z

It just ocurred to me why the battery needs a “tool” to remove it - it’s probably because they intended to supply it with a cell inside and it helps them get around the postage issues. Having a “non removable battery” means they can ship it through the post more easily I think?

Omega_17 · 2019-12-13T20:08:53.000Z

They are working on a model?” This one is discontinued.

mortuus · 2019-12-13T20:31:38.000Z

Omega_17:

They are working on a model?” This one is discontinued.

says who ? was this light ever released ?

LightObsession · 2019-12-13T20:36:23.000Z

mortuus:

Omega_17:

They are working on a model?” This one is discontinued.

says who ? was this light ever released ?

I’ve been carrying one for a couple months. I like it.

I think that it’s just out of stock at some sellers - not discontinued.

Tom_E · 2019-12-13T22:10:30.000Z

I wish I would get the full story, but of course, no one ever does. Yea, it was out/available for a while on the market, little pricey, but has some nice LED's and features in it. I suspect competing against similar form factor lights in the $3-$10 range was a tuff sell. The usual sourcing like at BG and Amazon is out of stock, unavailable.

It's still a sweet light for me.

LightObsession · 2019-12-13T23:24:26.000Z

There’s some on ebay.

Siftah · 2019-12-16T13:04:25.000Z

~~Seems to be available here; https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32849494879.html~~

Edited: This is not the same light!

d_t_a · 2019-12-16T10:14:20.000Z

Siftah:

Seems to be available here; Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

That link is for the EDC05, which is a different model.

The EDC05C is this link, which shows it’s sold-out:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33008858964.html

side comment on the EDC05 (programming mode):

BTW, regarding the EDC05, I have an older batch EDC05, which has the programming mode (similar to Manker E11 and UTorch UT01, allows user-selected 3 brightness sub-levels for each of the 4 main brightness levels).

Someone showed me a new batch EDC05 and when I mentioned it has programming mode, but I tried to program but it does not appear to have programming mode. The new batch appears to be fixed at the 800 lumens max (formerly, the EDC05’s max brightness level can be set to “400”, “600” and “800” lumens. Now it is fixed at the highest brightness only). No programming mode, but other functions seems to be similar.

Siftah · 2019-12-16T13:04:04.000Z

Oops, my bad, sorry!