Review NITECORE TM9K

richbuff · 2019-12-13T20:35:09.000Z

Single cell 21700, 9,500 lumens, 268 meters throw, 40mm/1.57 in. head diameter, 218 gms/7.68 oz: Omg! I ordered one, and if I like it half as much as I am so very excited about these specs, I will get some more of them.

Of course, very high max lumen spec from a single cell will equate to short burst max mode runtime. I can anytime select a normal mode for normal runtime; nice to know the brief massive burst is available.

My guess is soldered battery is better for high amp draw. The battery will last longer than the wait for the lights' successor.

Thank you for you valuable and timely review of this little screamer!

Bearbreeder · 2019-12-13T21:20:31.000Z

A good light should easily last 3-5 years … probably much longer

A li-on bat will degrade significantly in 500 cycles or less generally

Not to mention is is a light youll want to run quite a bit at the higher levels, else you would just have gotten a s2+ …

So basically yr spending $$$$ for a light that only last around 3 years with constant high powered use …

Valynor · 2019-12-14T14:57:50.000Z

It won't even make 2-3 years if you use Turbo a lot. ~20A discharge followed by a Quickcharge is about the worst you can do to a LiIon cell, it will be dead long before it reaches 500 cycles.

Mark2 · 2019-12-15T13:22:54.000Z

Non-replaceable battery is a deal-breaker for lights at this level. I could just about accept it for the TM10K and the Concept 2, where size and shape are pushed to the limit, but the design of this light suggests that it could easily use a replaceable battery. Will have to pass on this one. Throwing a light like this out because the battery is bad is just too depressing, and keeping a dead light in the collection isn’t much better.

As for the notion that this light will last longer than it takes Nitecore to introduce its successor: I’ve thrown out less than 10 lights in 20+ years of using/collecting/modding flashlights, all of which were broken/modded beyond repair. When lights are a couple of years old and not the latest tech anymore, I give them to colleagues, friends and family who will use them for years to come. The world is full of people with age-old plastic flashlights and cell-phone lights for whom a 3 year old high-end light is a huge step up.

richbuff · 2019-12-15T17:33:49.000Z

The question then becomes: Why do manufacturers market lights with built in batteries, when they know that a segment of the flashlight world will be alienated by that?

Is it a marketing or technical reason? The masses who want to charge in-light, without having to handle the battery? Or maybe to have less electrical resistance at the battery contact points? Or a combination of these two reasons?

Maybe they can offer the product both ways, similar to how the Smith and Wesson Shield is available both with or without thumb safety.

Mark2 · 2019-12-15T19:19:46.000Z

richbuff:

The question then becomes: Why do manufacturers market lights with built in batteries, when they know that a segment of the flashlight world will be alienated by that?

Is it a marketing or technical reason? The masses who want to charge in-light, without having to handle the battery? Or maybe to have less electrical resistance at the battery contact points? Or a combination of these two reasons?

Maybe they can offer the product both ways, similar to how the Smith and Wesson Shield is available both with or without thumb safety.

With a fixed cell, the electrical connection can definitely be better if done right, which is very likely in this case if the TM10K and the Concept 2 are any indication. I’m sure it’s an awesome light, wouldn’t mind having one.

bmengineer · 2019-12-16T04:56:34.000Z

richbuff:

The question then becomes: Why do manufacturers market lights with built in batteries, when they know that a segment of the flashlight world will be alienated by that?

Is it a marketing or technical reason? The masses who want to charge in-light, without having to handle the battery? Or maybe to have less electrical resistance at the battery contact points? Or a combination of these two reasons?

Maybe they can offer the product both ways, similar to how the Smith and Wesson Shield is available both with or without thumb safety.

I strongly prefer lights with replaceable cells, but I get why manufacturers do this. It’s weekly if not more that someone posts on reddit about their shiny new D4 not working with some sort of “it flashes once then turns off” or “the battery is too big”, even though it’s an enthusiast light only orderable from two speciality stores and says all over the place what cell to use. Can you imagine a more mainstream brand sold through multiple venues and Amazon? I bet more than half of them would be returned. The alternative would be to at least include a cell - but still. I think sealed cells are awful, but I understand why it’s done on hot rods like this that are just for showing off anyways.

Bearbreeder · 2019-12-16T05:31:39.000Z

Note that the warranty on lights with fixed bats is 2 years instead of the usual 5 with nitecore

richbuff · 2019-12-17T21:48:34.000Z

Thanks guys, for replies to the question about non-replaceable batteries.

This just in from Nitecore: Quote: "Yes, of course when the specifications first came to us in the marketing department, naturally our first question was, why did they not make the battery replaceable/removable for alternative charging methods? The reasoning behind it was that after lots of test, the only way to achieve the >9000 lumen mark with a single 21700 is to basically solder the battery ends to the leads of the flashlight. (No flimsy spring connectors in the TM9K) This way you have a thick enough/strong enough connection that can basically handle the high current draw required to power the >9000 turbo."

Bearbreeder · 2019-12-17T21:58:15.000Z

The nightwatch nsx3 would like a word …

So basically the made a disposable light to hit some arbitrary number that doesnt even matter (so what if it only gives say 8000 lumens)

Oh and this thing has a 2 year warranty instead of the usual nitecore 5 year because of the fixed bat … they know when its going to start dying

Thats marketing for ya

richbuff · 2019-12-27T18:09:49.000Z

Mine, modded with improved heat sinking and including an extended two year modders warranty , is ready to ship to me. I will add my initial impressions to this post when I receive it. I am very excited about this light, but I will try to resist the urge to cross-post in more than a few topic threads about this little screamer. :)

richbuff · 2020-01-07T01:58:14.000Z

I got mine today. The amount of light that comes out of this light of this size is humongous. The effect is indescribable. I thought I was jaded by large lights that have red zoned high modes, but not jaded enough to be wowed and zowed by this light. Lots of lumens derived happiness.

Also, incidentally, this is my first "tactical" light.

dorpmuller · 2020-01-13T01:55:34.000Z

Oh boy... I just had to see this....!

anonymous_user · 2020-01-13T04:44:22.000Z

Can this charge from a USB-C source or does it have to go USB-A to USB-C?

roma58 · 2020-02-04T19:06:25.000Z

anonymous_user:

Can this charge from a USB-C source or does it have to go USB-A to USB-C?

Yes if you have the USB-C to USB-C cable?

anonymous_user · 2020-02-04T20:30:15.000Z

roma58:

anonymous_user:

Can this charge from a USB-C source or does it have to go USB-A to USB-C?

Yes if you have the USB-C to USB-C cable?

Have you tested it yourself?

Not all lights can accept charge using a USB C to C cable hence my question.

Rexlion · 2020-02-05T05:08:32.000Z

Just 7 seconds of turbo before stepdown? Nope, not for me.

richbuff · 2020-02-05T20:08:21.000Z

Rexlion:

Just 7 seconds of turbo before stepdown? Nope, not for me.

I have a list of 30 lights that I bought.

I have a list of 510,204.08 lights that are not for me. When should I start posting in their topic threads all of the obvious reasons why I will never buy them?

I bought a budget light that is listed on Neils' website that is capable of doing what fans of that type of light like a lot. After I received it, I saw for myself that it is capable of melting down from excessive heat generation very, very quickly. I liked that so much, that I ordered three more of them.

Oh, by the way, the light has several normal modes for normal runtime and normal heat generation.

Oh oh, by by the way, so does this one. :)

SKV89 · 2020-03-22T20:59:32.000Z

I tested the Nitecore TM9K using the Texas Ace Lumen Tube calibrated with Maukka lights and a Sekonic C-800-U spectrometer. Output taken at 2s from turn-on.

Nitecore TM9K	Turbo	8,190 lumens	6637K	0.0017 DUV	69.7 CRI	Blue light relative amplitude 1.00	-25.2 R9	44.2 R12	65 Rf	96 Rg	included battery
Nitecore TM9K	M4	1,879 lumens	6247K	0.0057 DUV	69.0 CRI	Blue light relative amplitude 1.00	-34.7 R9	41.2 R12	66 Rf	95 Rg	included battery
Nitecore TM9K	M3	446 lumens	6109K	0.0072 DUV	69.2 CRI	Blue light relative amplitude 1.00	-37.1 R9	40.0 R12	67 Rf	95 Rg	included battery
Nitecore TM9K	M2	124 lumens	6121K	0.0066 DUV	69.1 CRI	Blue light relative amplitude 1.00	-35.9 R9	40.5 R12	67 Rf	95 Rg	included battery
Nitecore TM9K	M1	33 lumens	6543K	0.0025 DUV	70.0 CRI	Blue light relative amplitude 1.00	-26.6 R9	41.7 R12	66 Rf	96 Rg	included battery

Note: the TA lumen tube gives lower readings for mules and extremely floody lights. I think we can add 5-10% to the measured output of this light.

The light looks good and it is extremely floody with a somewhat noticeable hotspot at the center. Makes for a great indoor light especially for large spaces. The output is really limited by the 5000K battery in it. I think it is a 50E or M50T rated at 10A continuous. If they used the brand new Samsung 50G rumored to have 15A continouous, it should be able to hit 10k lumens. I'm sure if it used a high current battery like the P42A or 40T, it can do 12k+. I know this is meant as a tactical light but I just wish it could tail stand. I don't like the CCT and tint though so probably won't ever use it as a tail stand light.

roma58 · 2020-03-27T18:33:02.000Z

Good, thanks for your information.