I am recently interested in LED flash lights again after inactive in this area for many years. I used to get these flash lights from DX and had good experience. However, recently, I got a couple of them feel very unhappy. To get to the point, I would like to get a W-878 ULTRAFIRE XML-T6 but have a few questions hope somebody here can help.
There are so many of them in difference stores and on Ebay. They all claim to be 1600 lm, 1800 lm and 2000 lm. Are these number true?
Is there a reputable store I can by the real thing, not a knock-off?
There are different types of them. What are the differences between them, specially between E17 and E26?
Appreciate your advice.
I won this LightsCastle E17:
It retails for USD $9.95.
I haven't used it much, but I do like it.
If I remember correctly, it has proper memory, which is crucial (for me).
It's nowhere near 2000 lumens, but it is fairly bright and I believe it really has an xm-l emitter.
Overall, it's pretty good for the price, if you're looking for an xm-l zoomie. :)
Thanks. Sounds good.
If it is not 2000 lm. Do you think it will be at least 800 to 1000 lm?
Do you know the difference between E17 and E26?
Well, I dragged out the flashlight and I was wrong...
...The E17 has no memory, which can be good.
If left off for five seconds, once turned on, it'll be on high.
Which is a million times better than next-mode memory.
On full throw, it's very bright.
Unfortunately, I don't have another XM-L zoomie to compare it to.
It seems to be driven pretty well.
It compares favorably to the hot spot of an UltraFire UF-980L.
I would guess 800 lumens.
[quote=twinclouds] Do you know the difference between E17 and E26? [/quote]
I do not.
Hi there, the E17 is slimmer and use a 18650 (with the supplier sleeve) or 3 x AAA batteries.
The E26 has a thicker body and can use a 26650, 18650, or 3 x AAA batteries.
Overall they are pretty similar. However if you don’t mind the extra heft, to me the E26 somehow feels much more solid.
The ones I got from ebay both had hollow pills (of course) and no memory.
I modded my E17 and put in a XM-L2 on a Noctigon with a 12 chip Qlite. It’s a rather nice light and I like the slimmer form factor to the E26.
tristanxoxo： Thanks for the explanations.
Where to you get XM-L2 from? BTW, the the flashlight, which ebay venders you feel more reliable.
I got mine from here
Can’t help you on the light though; I don’t remember which ebay seller I got it from. It was “Aleto” branded.
Why? It’s an old LED, and the eBay “lottery” prices look to be way higher than you can pay elsewhere.
And they never know what they’re selling and you likely won’t get the same thing someone else did, nor the same thing if you buy twice.
I’ll suggest just one option that I have; others will probably have suggestions too. At least look around a bit if you have time.
You can spend $7.99 including postage and get a ZeusRay zoomie — 18650, XML2, solid pill: https://www.dealmetic.com/product.asp?ID=FL05518
Put “zeusray” in the search box (upper left corner) if you want the long, long history — they started with a hollow pill XML cheapie, someone there listened to people at BLF and improved on that
DealMetic had some iffy batches with cheap bad parts, but when BLF folks complained and documented a problem, someone at DealMetic replaced those bad lights at no extra cost and each time so far they’ve seemed to fix the problem.
(P.S., if you look at the page for that ZeusRay, down at the bottom, you’ll see three or four suggested cheaper T6 lights if that’s really what you want — around $5 plus shipping cost.
“Pre-Order” means they will have it soon, they seem to have only a few dozen at most of anything in stock at a time — I’m sure they have “lottery” problems with their suppliers too. It does appear they’ve started checking what they sell, which is good)
Tmart has these on sale (for 1 more day)
http://www.tmart.com/UniqueFire-S2-CREE-T6-10W-1200LM-500m-Focusing-White-Strong-Light-LED-Flashlight-Black-1-18650_p263084.html
Tristan, look down the page at that T-mart “sale” light you just posted about.
See this?
If that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get. Think hard about it.
I mean, that’s an image I’d expect came from NASA’s Cassini probe, not a flashlight (grin)
If you can wait, I’d get the BLF A6 or BLF LuckySun D80, they will be around $20, produce a lot more light and have nice modes, nicer tint and be a smaller lighter light. But the version W-878 ULTRAFIRE XML-T6 that can take 26650s is definitely the better of these two if you want one.
Hank, Thanks!
Zeusray has two versions, EDC100 and EDC120 at the same price. Do you think the new one (120) will be better?
Edit: The old one is free shipping the new one charges >$5 shipping. But the new one is rated as 2000 lm. I am wondering if it is true or not, i.e. 2000lm.
I’m not looking to buy one, the OP is. And a little flat black paint on the retaining ring does wonders to remove those artifacts.
I can’t think of any reason the newer DealMetic light could be any brighter than the older one, other than exaggeration for marketing purposes.
Again, look up ZeusRay in the search box, you’ll find lots of discussion. Or search for “EDC120” — that will find you that part of the same huge topic about ZeusRay stuff. Long history.
If you want a better light, buy an inexpensive one and replace the emitter and driver — that always works, if you’re comfortable soldering wires.
Tmart, it’s purple, even if the black paint fixes the rings. Dunno, I’m a big fan of neutral white myself. The ZeusRay 100 was improved by people here pushing DealMetic to do better.
And if you can wait, I agree, there are several group buys organizing right now for better lights in the $20 range built to specs pushed by people at BLF who know more about flashlight design than the people pushing cheap stuff on Ebay.
Thanks.
I agree with you. There are some cosmetic changes such as better brass based hardware and etc, but nothing substantial. I also a fan of neutral white but I may wait a little bit to see what’s coming.
BTW, I did soldering for many years (from high school) and still keep some equipment. Maybe it better to buy one and to the mod.
This board is great! Thanks to everybody helped.
this is an effort to get together an improved “version 2” of an already very popular group-organized design.
Some reading required (grin)
Aren’t the Zeusrays using the crap drivers now? Also, I thought I read somewhere that the current Zuesrays have artifacts.
Best bet is to find and read the most recent comments in the threads about the light you’re interested in.
That was more of a question to you if you know of any different. From what I’ve read, the current Zeusray’s are clearly inferior to the original solid pill one. RIP original Zuesray…it was good while it lasted.
> ZeusRay
Last I saw was this: trying to consolidate all ZeusRay posts
As of then, a while ago, they’d tracked down the problem and were putting the light back to its original specification.
Nobody has complained or commented since then. So either nobody’s bought one, or they’re OK — watch there for updates.
Others earlier in that consolidated thread mention alternatives and compare them, worth reading through.
Or, of course, one can always email the supplier and ASK exactly what’s what.
Then, if you get a lemon, you’ve got a record to show — and they’ve got a reminder to check what they’re putting in the mail too.