Review of the FandyFire/UniqueFire C108 from LightsCastle

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

UniqueFire C108

Overall Rating:

Summary:

Battery: 18650
Switch: Clicky
Modes: High > Mid > Low > Fast Strobe > SOS
LED Type: Cree XM-L T6
Lens: Glass - Coated
Tailstands: NO
Price Paid: Retail shows $23.50
From: LightsCastle Link
Date Ordered: 07-15-13

Specs from LightsCastle

Weight: 152.00 g
Dimensions: 5.87 in x 1.77 in x 1.77 in (14.9 cm x 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm)

Brand FandyFire
Modes 5
Battery Configuration 1 x 18650
Brightness 1000

Model: C108
Emitter Brand/Type: Cree
Emitter BIN: XM-LT6
Color BIN: White
Total Emitters: 1
Battery Configurations: 1 x 18650
Rechargeable: No
Battery included: No
Voltage Input: 3.6~4.2V
Circuitry (mA): 2800
Brightness (lumen): 1000
Runtime(at high mode) minute: 50
Modes: 5
Mode Memory: Yes
Mode Arrangement: High > Mid > Low > Fast Strobe > SOS
Switch Type: Clicky
Switch Location: Tail-cap
Lens: Coated Glass Lens
Reflector: Aluminum Smooth/SMO


Pros:

  • glass lens, aluminum reflector, finned head for cooling, nice finish, high amp draw on high setting makes it bright as heck.

Cons:

  • Will not tail stand

From here on, I will just discuss a few things with photos:

I like the color of this light. Fit and finish is good and it just looks appealing.

The Clicky boot sticks up above the tail cap, so the light cannot tail stand.

Glass lens and Aluminum reflector. The led is centered with a plastic centering ring.

There were only a couple small niggles on this light. These are damage marks before Anodizing.

The clicky assembly will come out by turning the retaining ring out with a pair of needle nosed pliers. The spring is housed in the brass button. To me, that looks nice, but it means more resistance.

The tail cap threads were lubed well. The head to body threads were dry. They are so close to each other in length and appearance that you could easily put it together backward before figuring out it's wrong.

The lens is coated glass.

The Aluminum reflector is very nice. One of the best I have seen in an inexpensive light.

The XM-L is perfectly centered in the head with the plastic centering ring and it even protects the wiring. There is thermal paste in there and it's a little thick, but at least it's there. The pill can be removed by using a pair of needle nosed pliers.

The driver is grounded a little too well in my opinion. All that solder means you will need a button top battery or a magnet to get the positive to make contact, because the solder stands up too tall.

All the threads on the light are "OK", not bad and not fantastic, just average. The fins are where they need to be, to help take heat out of the pill area.

Beam Shots:

Overall, I like this light. With an XM-L in it the hot spot is fairly large and it's plenty bright enough. It feels goon in the hand and looks good too.

The Amp draw was SHOCKING! H 4.95 Amps / M 2.5 Amps / L .65 Amps. I was shocked at the 4.95 Amps, but I tested with two different batteries several times. It's correct.

Thanks to LightsCastle for the light. The only mod I would do with this light, will be a little cosmetics on the exterior.

2

Thanks for the review OL. 4.95 amps!Holy smokes batman…that almost beats my HD2010 with an IMR! :open_mouth: -Rick

3

I was kinda thinkin it was a dead short (going to ground), but if so, why would the other modes come out "normal" and if it was a short, it wouldn't light up the led like normal. It would probably just go poof? I tested it with a couple different batteries and I added a magnet to the battery, so it would not sit down low and possibly touch the huge solder spots on the driver, but it was still the same. I think it's way too much power, but it sure is bright as Heck. It might be DD on high, but that is still too many amps for DD with one 18650.

4

It probably won’t last long at that high of a current w/o a direct to copper heat sink…but it sure will be fun while it does!I wonder what an A/W 18650 IMR would pull? J) -Rick

5

Thanks for the review, this light got my my attention now , it is nice.

6

Thanks for the review O-L! That’s a nice light. Looks like a decent alternative to the C8, for those looking for different styling.

7

Nice review and nice light. Thank you O-L.

8

Looks like a nice light .

9

Thanks for the review OL. I stand to be corrected but I believe you may off started a sell out on this light once your review gets out to the masses.

10

Good review. It must get quite warm/hot quickly on high with those Amps its drawing.

11

Thanks a lot for the review! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.