Romisen RC-C6... counterfeit?

i just bought this light... i like the looks of Romisen and their reviews on quality. after some looking around, i believe its a counterfeit... threads are bare, not anodized. its q5 and not q3. and its a slide zoom not twist. and its from yallstore...

im not new to this style lights, i have 3 that im pretty fond of. never bought one online, and pretty p!$$3d its not real.

already have a tracking #, though its not giving any info out yet as it just shipped today. when/if i get it, ill compare it to my 3 i have..

Duracell Daylight 2xcr123 160 lumen, spot to flood (twist)

Energizer Ultimate Lithium 2xAA 110 lumen, variable output

Inova X03 2xcr123 143 lumen version, single mode

see how this ripoff stacks up... any one else f'up and get this light?

I got it when they were labeled as RC-29 (same item, same seller). It's a fake with abysmal output compared to the real RC-29 (0.8A vs 3A and it shows). I complained and was offered 60% back which I took instead of fighting it. Not a bad deal for $4 since it's at least cree.

could it have been a ground issue for such low current? i sent them a message complaining about the counterfeit, waiting to hear back. guess i need to do my homework on this. never thought theyd counterfeit a $14 light to sell for $10

these romisens mod-able?

No, it's just that way. 0.8A isn't low per se, and makes it actually usable on a AA alkaline, but at least for mine they advertised it as something where it's even faking the right item.

I can't figure out how to open the head from a tentative effort, and the tail is glued, so at least not modded by me.

i finally got this light today, about 5 days later than it was supposed to be.

the bad:

  • twisty zoom, not slide. wanted slide
  • twisty head threads feel dry and grindy
  • tail threads not anodized
  • about 90 l not 280 l
  • takes AA not cr123a

the good:

  • threads on tail do feel good, though not many of them
  • VERY crisp image of die when focused
  • smaller than i though

basically, im pretty disappointed... but i still am having fun playing with it. the focused die is neat, its real crisp and clear. it says romisen rc-c6 on the head, BUT IT TAKES AA not cr123a. i wanted a single 123 for carry.

so in the end... if he refunds me atleast half the cost, ill be happy with it

i put a 10440 in this thing (i dont have any 14500s) and seems to do just fine. id say its around 120-150l judging by my other lights. hard to tell with out any real way to measure output, and all their beams are different. ill have to get some 14500s just for this.

light comes apart pretty simple... take out battery, unscrew bezel, take out o ring and lens, unscrew bezel base(?), screw head all the way down toward the bottom until its free and slide off toward tail, unscrew led module

i dont know anything about modding lights yet, but id say its doable.

any ideas?

I would start by swapping the driver with one from Shiningbeam. If the emitter doesn't burn out than leave it as is, if the new driver melts the emitter than you can upgrade that after.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-252/3-dsh-Mode-Regulated-Circuit-Board/Detail

If you don't mind loosing the ability to use AAs this driver will really work good.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-133/3-dsh-Mode-Regulated-Circuit-Board/Detail

Depending on were you are in Maine I might be able to help you out.

Thanks pulsar. I got mine apart; was just a bit tight.

@ agenthex - no problem, im a tinker'r... if it comes apart, ill get it.

@ e1320 - looks like the driver in this is about 15-16mm. have you modded one of these? i think something like the 2nd would be good... but what id really like is infinite adjust, if possible. only thing i can find is QTC, but i dont think that would work good for my idea

an infinate adjust w/zoom would be sweet

can this be moved from cr123a section to single AA section? its supposed to be a 123 light, but the knock off is a AA

and also...

i think im going to use this lens on it, unless you guys dont think it would be good. its got a 23mm lens in it, not sure about the deg of the dome. if its getting modded, plastic lens has gotta go

next, id like to make it a forward clicky, maybe with this?

i think i will go the li-ion route, and replace the driver to a 3 mode. but im not sure if the 17mm would work

also, i ran this on a 10440 for 10-15 mins straight tonight. head got a lil warm, but nothing terrible i dont think

I do not have one so I have not modded one if it is a 15 or 16mm driver the 2nd one won't work.

q5 led test about 1/4 down the page

on a 10440 @ 3.7v, its drawing 0.78a at the tail cap, and with an advanced lithium AA @ 1.5v its also drawing 0.78a. its gotta be some regulation there

using that chart, at 800ma the led gets 75l/w, this is my results

Volts 3.7 1.5
Watts 2.9 1.17
Lumens 217.5 87.75

surprisingly close to my first guess on an AA. but im still not sure about my calculations

IF my calculations are correct, using a li-ion, and a 1.5a driver, it would push it down to 55l/w, pushing out about 305l, minus a margin for optics. could be a fun, promising light i got here

These in general have boost drivers, which are ostensibly "regulated, but run straight up DD above Vf. It's quite likely you'll see that current draw on lithiums drop unless that 10440 has already drooped to <3.6v or so.

ill keep testing it. ill also test regular AAs amp draw too.

im pretty impressed. for the 4.76 i payed after refund cus its a knock off, this light performs good with li-ions in it. its the smallest light i have, and the throw to flood is a huge differance, unlike the duracell daylight 123 i have

i took it apart and measured the driver board again... i must have misread it, its actually about 16.5mm. i should be able to shave down a 17mm board with a file to fit

i was thinking a forward would be easier to change modes from what i have read, but playing, this reverse seems like it would be ideal for me. only thing is if the switch gets bumped while on, the mode will get changed. but if its forward and the switch gets bumped in my pocket, it could get changed. maybe i can recess the switch a little further into the tail cap, and that will make it tail stand a little better too

Ok I live by UNH I was going to say I have a bag full of drivers and other various parts you are welcome to pick through, but it would cost more in gas to get here than the parts are worth. If you get in a bind let me know.

just made a deal with erik, and read his drop in thread and am pretty pumped.

got a 1.7a, 3 mode w/memory on the way... cant wait.

so using that graph, im estimating about 50l/w. with 3.7v at 1.7a it will push 6.29w, thats just over 314l

thanks erik

i agree that this thread should be in the 1x AA forum section..

Great finding this Romisen fake!

How can a manufacturer clone a budget light (worth 13$)? Or maybe it's Romisen himself who does the cloning lol?

From reading this thread i get that your torch cannot tailstand, and that it's twisty too. So there is no benefit if i get it in addition to my real Romisen RC-29 3-Mode 14500 edition by dealextreme.

Woah. i wouldnt have thought that clone manufacturers think that high of the Romisen model!!!

the zoom is twisty, the tailcap it reverse clicky. im pretty sure it tailstands, but the kids got it in his room right now so i cant verify right now.

it has been holding up pretty good with 3yo abuse lol