Seeking more info on DX80

dchomak · 2018-05-03T01:39:12.000Z

DBSAR, I have one too and baby mine also. Much, much to much power to not respect.

Your suggestions on how to use the light perfectly describes how the light should be treated. And so what if it can’t be run at 32,000 indefinitely. It’s a physical impossibility, people should just get used to it.

Electromagnetic · 2018-05-03T02:23:38.000Z

yuhsin91123, what kind of run time are you getting on full output? Light output looks very impressive...

Still, interesting to find out that most of the problems with the DX80 are thermal related. That is avoidable with careful use, and the higher output over the modded light is tempting. Still, I don't really know if I want a light that will die after 30 seconds on turbo. To be honest, I don't know if I can trust myself not to keep it on longer.

yuhsin91123 · 2018-05-03T03:18:27.000Z

Electromagnetic_beam:

yuhsin91123, what kind of run time are you getting on full output? Light output looks very impressive…

Still, interesting to find out that most of the problems with the DX80 are thermal related. That is avoidable with careful use, and the higher output over the modded light is tempting. Still, I don’t really know if I want a light that will die after 30 seconds on turbo. To be honest, I don’t know if I can trust myself not to keep it on longer.

Max run time? I never really test the max run time on it since it would step down or simply too hot to hold. But So far I have no problem blasting it at 22k lumens when I need it.

This is got the ramping function like the BLF Q8, so it has all the usable output you want. So the run time on the lower levels you’re looking at hours and hours on a single charge…

The light I have is the HaikeLite MT03, modded with TA Driver, emitter upgrade and spring bypass doing 22k lumens at max. This is a pure flood light which I really like. MT09R can also be modded with a bit less cost since the stock LED emitters are doing pretty good just with a Driver and spring bypass mod.

sb56637 · 2018-05-03T03:23:07.000Z

neo71665:

I won a dx80 so I can’t comment on dropping that much on a light (I would have never been able to justify it).

Mine has been running like a workhorse since I got it. I do wish it was a bit more throwy but it is what it is.

I also received one as a gift. Had it for about a week. So far so good. I also wish it was more throwy. Also the strobe mode (which I actually do use) is quite dim compared to the higher sustained modes that it has, feels like only about 5000 lumens thereabouts, and the strobe frequency makes it feel like it’s more off than on. Apart from that it sure is a powerhouse, and I love the integrated charging.

DBSAR · 2018-05-03T03:28:51.000Z

Electromagnetic_beam:

yuhsin91123, what kind of run time are you getting on full output? Light output looks very impressive…

Still, interesting to find out that most of the problems with the DX80 are thermal related. That is avoidable with careful use, and the higher output over the modded light is tempting. Still, I don’t really know if I want a light that will die after 30 seconds on turbo. To be honest, I don’t know if I can trust myself not to keep it on longer.

It is, with careful use. Its a light that requires respect & understanding. 32000 “measured” lumens from a hand-held medium sized light in stock for like the DX80 is very impressive. I don’t think any other manufacturer can make it any better really for the size & output without having the same complications with heat dissipation, other than the programming & heat detection. Its the only flashlight i have that can turn off street-light sensors so easily.

DBSAR · 2018-05-03T03:32:02.000Z

sb56637:

neo71665:

I won a dx80 so I can’t comment on dropping that much on a light (I would have never been able to justify it).

Mine has been running like a workhorse since I got it. I do wish it was a bit more throwy but it is what it is.

I also received one as a gift. Had it for about a week. So far so good. I also wish it was more throwy. Also the strobe mode (which I actually do use) is quite dim compared to the higher sustained modes that it has, feels like only about 5000 lumens thereabouts, and the strobe frequency makes it feel like it’s more off than on. Apart from that it sure is a powerhouse, and I love the integrated charging.

I think it was more designed to be a “wall of light” than a thrower. So far in the hundreds of powerful flashlights i have/had, its the most powerful flooder by far, ( with the BLF GT being the most powerful thrower) A agree that the strobe seems to be using a lower mode output too, but for when i need a blast of photons this monster delivers in stock form.

DBSAR · 2018-05-03T03:35:56.000Z

yuhsin91123:

Electromagnetic_beam:

yuhsin91123, what kind of run time are you getting on full output? Light output looks very impressive…

Still, interesting to find out that most of the problems with the DX80 are thermal related. That is avoidable with careful use, and the higher output over the modded light is tempting. Still, I don’t really know if I want a light that will die after 30 seconds on turbo. To be honest, I don’t know if I can trust myself not to keep it on longer.

Max run time? I never really test the max run time on it since it would step down or simply too hot to hold. But So far I have no problem blasting it at 22k lumens when I need it.

This is got the ramping function like the BLF Q8, so it has all the usable output you want. So the run time on the lower levels you’re looking at hours and hours on a single charge…

The light I have is the HaikeLite MT03, modded with TA Driver, emitter upgrade and spring bypass doing 22k lumens at max. This is a pure flood light which I really like. MT09R can also be modded with a bit less cost since the stock LED emitters are doing pretty good just with a Driver and spring bypass mod.

On its 500 LM mode it will run for days continuous. On 32000 lumens i limit it to 5 to 10 seconds maximum just because i respect & understand this light and its output.

DBSAR · 2018-05-03T03:39:48.000Z

CORRECTION!! - I just ran my DX80 for a FULL minute… at 32000 lumen turbo mode… it got hot. the head got really hot, but it handled it like a champ, but i do not recommend going past 25 ~ 30 seconds at that blistering output.

klrman · 2018-05-03T03:41:32.000Z

As some of you probably read, I had a little problem with my DX80 coming with one faulty led only half lit. Someone on the Tashenlampen forum had the same problem so he let it run on turbo until stepdown and the led worked again. Didn't work for me so I purchased another head from Imalent and it also came with a faulty led. I ran it on high until stepdown, not turbo and now it works fine and has ever since. Since the second head works perfectly, I decided to keep it as the backup and constantly use the first head to test what it's made of. I have used it often, running it on turbo every other day until step down which takes about 3 1/2 minutes and no problems at all. I'm beginning to think the DX80 is tougher than I orignally thought it was and since I have the second head, I'm not afraid to run it on max to see the results on a long term basis.

DBSAR · 2018-05-03T03:48:23.000Z

klrman:

As some of you probably read, I had a little problem with my DX80 coming with one faulty led only half lit. Someone on the Tashenlampen forum had the same problem so he let it run on turbo until stepdown and the led worked again. Didn’t work for me so I purchased another head from Imalent and it also came with a faulty led. I ran it on high until stepdown, not turbo and now it works fine and has ever since. Since the second head works perfectly, I decided to keep it as the backup and constantly use the first head to test what it’s made of. I have used it often, running it on turbo every other day until step down which takes about 3 1/2 minutes and no problems at all. I’m beginning to think the DX80 is tougher than I orignally thought it was and since I have the second head, I’m not afraid to run it on max to see the results on a long term basis.

I know of that Imalent had a batch of bad XHP-70s from Cree that they ended up with that ended up failing parts of the dies, (2 of the four) I think that if these “bad” batch of emitters were pushed to hard & to hot they would fail/failed. ( maybe even “unflowed” themselves from the board under the extreme heat) like when i built the 14 + amp Super SRK Kung i have, i pushed it so hard to the point that one of the X-L2 emitters got so hot it un-soldered itself from the star & fell into the reflector after 50 seconds of running.

klrman · 2018-05-03T04:36:04.000Z

Good to know. None of the emitters have detached yet, but I think I'm going to be more careful from now on. I feel I put the DX80 through the ringer and it held up, so I will back off and only use it when I actually need it.

Electromagnetic · 2018-05-03T05:22:28.000Z

Thanks for all the info. So was this bad shipment responsible for most of the cases where half of one emitter failed? Gould to no it is not some driver problem. Definitely leaning towards purchasing this light. Still concerned about the heat though...

neo71665 · 2018-05-03T08:15:30.000Z

sb56637:

I also received one as a gift. Had it for about a week. So far so good. I also wish it was more throwy. Also the strobe mode (which I actually do use) is quite dim compared to the higher sustained modes that it has, feels like only about 5000 lumens thereabouts, and the strobe frequency makes it feel like it’s more off than on. Apart from that it sure is a powerhouse, and I love the integrated charging.

I’ve only used strobe a few times when playing with it. I’m from the school where they can leave the disco’s off and I would be fine.

DBSAR:

CORRECTION!! - I just ran my DX80 for a FULL minute… at 32000 lumen turbo mode… it got hot. the head got really hot, but it handled it like a champ, but i do not recommend going past 25 ~ 30 seconds at that blistering output.

It will get hot enough to smoke paper laied on the head. I didn’t push my luck past that but I would not doubt it will catch fire.

Yes my son and I were acting like a couple of kids playing with it just seeing how hot it was getting. I was trying to show him he needed to pay attention to it :sunglasses:

I’ve been using mine to track hogs we shot at night. Normally keep it on lowest setting and bump it up to 8k when I need a burst. It’s been kicking like a pro and worth the weight of carrying it around. It is funny when you have a guy with 1000’s of dollars in those crappy “good” brand light bars all over their side by side and your little flashlight puts them to shame.

Electromagnetic · 2018-05-05T05:06:58.000Z

Well the price for the Acebeam x70 is now out. As much as I like active cooling, $749 for a light? I don't think so.....

This leaves me with a few options:

1) Wait for the X9 from Olight

I must admit, this light looks pretty sweet. But the fact they decided to omit the active cooling is a shame. Still, the light looks like it will have some pretty decent mass, and I would imagine the quality would be good.

2) get the Haiklite MT09R with a TA driver

I like that this light can be modded unlike the Imalent, but I wonder about the sustainability of 20k lumens coming from only 3 70.2 emitters. The host also looks a little light for all that power.

3) Just go for it and buy the DX80 while the price is good

This is what I am really leaning towards considering that most of the issues seen with the light have an explanation other than poor QC. I would also imagine that 30 seconds of 32k lumens is all that will ever if at all be needed. I am however still concerned with the thermals and lack of serviceability. Seems like more folks have good to say about this light than bad. pretty hilarious how this light easily destroys all those "high performance" off-road light bars. There is no way the ratings on those are ever genuine or regulated.

Given these options, what would you do?

klrman · 2018-05-05T05:56:05.000Z

Even with the issues I had, I would still get the DX80 over the others you mentioned, especially for the coupon price, it's still a steal.

Theodore41 · 2018-05-05T07:11:41.000Z

Electromagnetic_beam:

yuhsin91123, what kind of run time are you getting on full output? Light output looks very impressive…

Still, interesting to find out that most of the problems with the DX80 are thermal related. That is avoidable with careful use, and the higher output over the modded light is tempting. Still, I don’t really know if I want a light that will die after 30 seconds on turbo. To be honest, I don’t know if I can trust myself not to keep it on longer.

Ι used it yesterday in full steam for several minutes, till it dropped to the lower power setting.I was lucky and the light did not destroyed.I will not do it again.

Electromagnetic · 2018-05-06T01:39:28.000Z

klrman:

Even with the issues I had, I would still get the DX80 over the others you mentioned, especially for the coupon price, it's still a steal.

I was about to pull the trigger, only to find that the coupon code for 43% off expired a few days ago

Sometimes I hate Gearbest....

In any event, I am not paying $380 for the light. I guess I'll wait for another code to come out, but who knows how long that will take. Or maybe I will be persuaded to go with a modded light after all.

Newlumen · 2018-05-06T01:43:00.000Z

How about blf gt …? Astrolux mf04 ( soon ).

klrman · 2018-05-06T01:48:37.000Z

Electromagnetic_beam:

klrman:

Even with the issues I had, I would still get the DX80 over the others you mentioned, especially for the coupon price, it's still a steal.

I was about to pull the trigger, only to find that the coupon code for 43% off expired a few days ago

Sometimes I hate Gearbest....

In any event, I am not paying $380 for the light. I guess I'll wait for another code to come out, but who knows how long that will take. Or maybe I will be persuaded to go with a modded light after all.

Martin has a code for Banggood that works still for the DX80.

BlueSwordM · 2018-05-06T02:38:52.000Z

The quality control of the Imalent DX80 is way too shaky on a 200$+ light.

For a regulated light, perhaps going with the MT03 II would be a good bet. Or as the other have suggested, the MT09R would be a good choice if you only want power and the best user interface.

However, I would recommend starting with the Q8 with the coupon code on this page:
https://m4dm4x.com/blf-q8-arrived/

5000 lumens, a very nice user interface, and probably the best starting point for a big lumen light, and the best bang for the buck you can get.