[Review] YLP Panda 3.

Scientist · 2018-11-25T15:24:51.000Z

Great article. I used to be a caver too and can easily imagine the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach when things go wrong. Since we are on a flashlight forum, how did the lights hold up? Have you changed your opinions?

bmengineer · 2018-11-25T15:52:21.000Z

That price is pretty damn competitive if the 219C is the same. Any idea what shipping is like?

AEDe · 2018-11-25T17:03:39.000Z

Shipping is EMS ~8$. It relatively fast 1-2weeks.

chadvone · 2018-11-25T19:12:13.000Z

I really like the looks of this headlamp. Thank you for doing this review.

mihlit · 2018-11-25T21:40:49.000Z

Looks interesting. I was thinking about Panda 3 for some time. With the charger… I could not resist and ordered one

AEDe · 2018-11-26T03:32:05.000Z

Scientist:

Since we are on a flashlight forum, how did the lights hold up? Have you changed your opinions?

Breakdown for modern flashlights is very rare event.( If we speak not about armytek:)). In our expedition all lights worked fine. Main part of our team uses ZL, H03 is popular among newbies , some “oldschool “ cavers use something like Ignivi or Scurion.(if I understand your question correctly)

xevious · 2019-01-30T07:19:40.000Z

Sorry I’m late to comment here, but those were fantastic subterranean photos, AEDe! Spectacular experience. Like being on an alien world.

AEDe · 2019-01-30T08:56:42.000Z

Thanks, xevious! Take a look at Robbie Shone photos his photography skills much better than my of course)

xevious · 2019-01-30T15:32:02.000Z

AEDe:

Thanks, xevious! Take a look at Robbie Shone photos his photography skills much better than my of course)

Thank you! I wasn’t aware of Robbie Shone. I had heard in Russia you can find some of the deepest caves… but I didn’t know it had the deepest. Are there many different spectacular caving opportunities in Russia? I wonder if one must decompress after going so deep because of nitrogen absorption, sort of like what happens in diving?

AEDe · 2019-02-07T14:44:41.000Z

xevious:

Thank you! I wasn’t aware of Robbie Shone. I had heard in Russia you can find some of the deepest caves… but I didn’t know it had the deepest. Are there many different spectacular caving opportunities in Russia?

Sorry for late reply,
it’s easy to miss the message here.
Abkhazia it is not Russia actually, massif Arabica is located very close to the border )) Mountains there has unique geology. The deepest Russian cave is Throat of Barlog it is only 950m deep it also located in Caucasus.
There are many beautiful caves in Russia , not such deep as Verevkina or such long as Mammoth cave in US, but each has its own peculiarity and unique. You can also take a look at instagram of Perovo caving club it not have many photos but still )

xevious:

I wonder if one must decompress after going so deep because of nitrogen absorption, sort of like what happens in diving?

There is no such large preasure differense in cave. 2km of air creates pressure like 2m of water. So of course there is no need of decompression.

Lightbringer · 2019-02-07T16:25:12.000Z

Wow!

Those huge cavernous caves I could probably get into. They look amazing…

It’s the skinny ones where you’re making like a vole to squeeze yourself through tight passageways that give me the creeps.

Scallywag · 2019-02-07T17:51:59.000Z

AEDe:

YuvalS:

Seems like it is almost the PERFECT caving light, maybe not as a main light but definitely as a backup light.

The only problems I can see is the magnet which is really bad for survey and also too many modes IMHO.

The magnet is removable. Not perfect but I think the best for caving in <100$ price range. Btw I made small mod Now it is most compact 18650 headlamp) https://gifyu.com/image/NK8h

Could you list the lights in that image? I think I'm spotting a Lumzoo GH10 in there...

AEDe · 2019-02-07T18:42:01.000Z

Yes of course. (I think I even already wrote that somewhere…)

From left
1)Jetbeam HR30
2)Panda 3(two long tailcap)
3)Nitecore HC65
4)Panda 1.0
5)Spark ST6 (triple mod)
6)Lumzoo GH10 (tir)
7)Panda 3 (stock)
8)Angryfox Hr06
9)Panda 3 (two short tailcap)

bansuri · 2019-03-25T04:45:08.000Z

I see it has red/green battery indicators for voltage, and in your runtime graphs the output drops off suddenly. Is this an actual Low Voltage Protection or the voltage dropping too low to light the emitters?
Also, does it give any warning as your voltage gets below a lower limit? (besides the red/green indicators)
I ask because I sometimes use them for a long time and taking it off to check the color of an indicator has always seemed counter to the idea behind wearing a headlamp. If not I’ll just get used to it. Nice to have different beams in one headlamp!
Thanks for any info.

AEDe · 2019-03-25T09:04:29.000Z

There are 3 way to understand that battery is low.
1)Red indicator in buttons.
2)Dramatic decrease of lihgt compere to beginning level.
3)Manual battery check (3click from off)

But yes if you use it a lot you may forgot about headlamp at all, and then it can turn off suddenly. But I think it is better than annoying blinks as many others headlamps.

The light turns off at 2.75V so it has protection.

And several points I forot to add to review.
1)Current butch of Panda3 has good termal control not just stepdown.
2) Panda3 actualy has stabilisation usual to linear drivers except for hi modes.
3)Panda 3 is compatible with this optics from Ali

bansuri · 2019-04-07T04:50:12.000Z

Got mine today, very nice.
With both emitters running the beam profile is all you could ask for from a general purpose light.
Buttons are on the small side and stiff. This will keep the light off when stowed and the UI seems to recognize this. No long-press for on or off is perfect.
Headband is too small around and crazy long over the top. I’ll check into a skilhunt H03 strap for this. Definitely worth the small extra expense.
So impressed by the dual output, it’s the best of both worlds and I’m hoping for a handheld with a similar configuration.
Wouldn’t mind a lower low but I have enough headlamps that I can choose the right one for different applications This light goes in the Adventure Light category.
The dual output is so nice I’m looking at clip options for pocket carry!

AEDe · 2019-04-07T06:21:37.000Z

Thanks for the review!
Dual output(real dual not just aux led for 5-20lm)is really good feature.I wonder why other brands still not make such flashlights.

BTW for heanheld use there is sherp s15 with dual output.

chooma · 2019-04-18T21:19:10.000Z

Thanks for the review….

I thought I saw a post with a coupon code for blf members that is good through Aptil, anyone know where it’s at?

bansuri · 2019-04-28T03:24:07.000Z

chooma:

Thanks for the review….

I thought I saw a post with a coupon code for blf members that is good through Aptil, anyone know where it’s at?

Bump for chooma’s request, recommending to a friend….

DavidEF · 2019-05-02T20:29:14.000Z

bansuri:

chooma:

Thanks for the review….

I thought I saw a post with a coupon code for blf members that is good through Aptil, anyone know where it’s at?

Bump for chooma’s request, recommending to a friend….

I saw it the other day. It has been extended to June 1. Here’s the thread. Down at post #23 is where it was mentioned that the coupon is extended. The coupon code is simply BLF-1