UltraFire RL-168 HA-III OSRAM 3 mode

LED Flashlights – General Info 1 x AA / 1 x 14500 Flashlights
1

  • Brand: UltraFire
  • Model: RL-168
  • Color BIN: White
  • Emitters: LUW-W5AM
  • Battery Configurations: 1 x AA/1 x 14500 Ii-on battery(not included)
  • Switch Type: Clicky (Clickie)
  • Switch Location: Tailcap
  • Modes: 3
  • Mode Memory: Circuitry Features Mode Memory
  • Mode Arrangement: Hi > Middle > Low
  • Runtime: 50 minutes (manufactuer rated)
  • Lumen: 150 lumens maximum brightness (manufactuer rated)
  • Lens: Coated Glass Lens
  • Reflector: Aluminum Smooth/SMO Reflector
  • Carrying Clip: Clip Included

I just received the Ultrafire RL - 168 in the post . I have been interested in one of these ever since seeing one on ****** , and the opportunity to buy a 3 mode [ Hi - med - lo ] version came and I just didnt hesitate to spend the $25 USD to have it shipped to me . Got mine here .

Now its rated for AA and 14500 , so let me get to the AA first . If you dont use a fresh cell the light just about wont work , basically once the battery is used a little and the voltage drops , the RL-168 , just does not utilize all of the battery , in fact mine was shutting down @ 1.4v and then some , so dont expect much in the way of run time with AA's , not if this one is typical of the breed .

Moving onto the 14500 , and this little light comes alive , the beam is a little ringy with a very small hotspot , but still has good spill , in fact I'm not sure this light should be anything but a 14500 light . I dare say that I have found another battery vampire , this little sucker draws up to some 1.5A current on high , and only returns a little over 200Lumen output for the current drawn . Lets have a look at the performance figures , and see how we are going ...

AA PERFORMANCE [ or lack there of ]

AA Alkaline 1.54v = Low / 0.12A - 4Lumen , Medium / 0.59A - 18Lumen , High / 2A - 64Lumen

14500 PERFORMANCE

Low / 0.09A - 14Lumen , Medium / 0.41A - 72Lumen , High / 1.5A - 220Lumen and sagged to about 205 after 1 minute

Besides being a bit of a battery vampire , I have no real complaints , in fact this little light was surprisingly good , Nice threads , nice anodizing , good solid clicky , and the clip is like alligator jaws , very firm and solid . The light does appear to be better than your usual Ultrafires , and as long as you dont want to run AA's , is a very nice little light . I took it for a walk and the clip really did the job well [ hanging onto my belt ] , and never gave me the slightest hint of being anything but securely attached . I was hopping for AA compatibility , unfortunately AA's are just going to be a waste in this light , and one really needs to break out the 14500's to do the light any justice at all ...

Beamshots tonight !

Some beamshots !!!

First we will go with Low mode ...

Next medium mode ....

And then high mode ......

2

Thank you for the review. Ive had my eye on this one for about a year or so. It is a handsome light. Have you gotten around to seeing how difficult an emitter and driver transplant would be?

3

Emitter might be ab easy swap , driver ?? , Im thinking , maybe a Cree Q5 ... But I can live with it , the way it is ..... [ For how long ? ]

4

AA Alkaline 1.54v = Low / 0.12A - 4Lumen , Medium / 0.59A - 18Lumen , High / 2A - 64Lumen

Whoa, driver efficiency is abysmal if true. Have you tested w/ nimh?

5

KD are selling this light with a Q5 for $29.11, save yourself the time.

http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=10933

6

The driver seems to have at least a voltage issue ... with 1.5v batteries , I tried a rechargeable , but it only ran about 10 seconds then turned off

But yeah ... Disappointing .. Might be better on a Lithium , but there expensive ... Id call it a 14500 light ...

7

KD sells RL-198 II (which accept 18650 ), this one is AA version. I have an old Osram version, modded with XP-G R4 neutral white and 2 mode driver. Very nice and quality made flashlight.

Hrvoje

8

Hi there Matt,

Thanks for the review, you saved me $25 on this light. Looks great, has some nice features, but I can't accept that NiMH performance. I wonder if it's defective?

9

Seems to be running fine on the 14500 though , I thought maybe a faulty driver ? But Im not buying any more , so , unless some one else can verify ?

Though I do like it as is with the 14500 , I was looking for AA compatibility , which this does not really offer , not realistically .

Perhaps in the future a driver swap ...

10

I put in a SSC P4 emitter , and the beam is much nicer now , I just couldn't stand the ringy beam with the osram emitter ..

Output is down , but so is current draw , the beam is so smooth now ...

11

Huh, that surprises me. I would have blamed the ringy beam on an alignment or reflector issue.

12

I messed around with the reflector , and nothing helped , so I popped in a SSC P4 , very nice ...

Havent fully checked it yet , but seems to run better on AA's now ??? I will have to check that more fully ...

13

You could have waited and got the big brother for the same price?

That's got XP-G R5

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-rl198-r5-3mode-memory-led-flashlight-p-4353?osCsid=r98n3t10ff5pbu14o33otu09d4

14

Darn it !!!!!!!!! Another light he needs to buy now !!!!! Looks real nice with the XP-G R5 ..... Damn , goes on the must have list .....

Naaaa , Love the 168 , especially as its SSC P4 now , its a fantastic little 14500 light , not much chop on AA's , but just fantastic on 14500 ..

It is a viable option to CR123A powered lights ... I think I need to buy some more 14500's [ batteries ] , as I dont have enough to go around .