Eagletac TX25C2 (XM-L2 1x18650 2xCR123A/RCR) Review: RUNTIMES, VIDEO, BEAMSHOTS+

[Torchguy]

Have you tried using cool white to check your meat on a barbeque

 

[SCEMan]

Have you tried using cool white to check your meat on a barbeque

Which is why my Weber BBQ handle light uses warm LEDs...:thumbsup:

 

[Ryp]

How long is the light with each of the extenders?

 

[ozzie_c_cobblepot]

The only thing this light is missing is a ~100 lumen "third" level, like the new T25C2.

 

[phantom23]

That's exactly what I'm saying since it came out.

 

[ozzie_c_cobblepot]

Question: what happens if you single click repeatedly quickly? Does it just go on-off-on-off-etc?

 

[selfbuilt]

Question: what happens if you single click repeatedly quickly? Does it just go on-off-on-off-etc?

Yes.

 

[Viperbart]

Anybody know the internal dimensions of the reflector?

 

[ozzie_c_cobblepot]

So I want either a 4-mode TX25C2, or a GX25C2 (a G25C2 Mkii with a side switch)

 

[mikemild13]

I've had this light for about 6 months and recently encountered an issue where the light will no longer go into turbo mode. I contacted Eagletac and through email discussions it was determined that one of the pins in the head are defective. There are two small grooves in the control ring which the rep at Eagletac said it not normal and said they must have been caused by the defective pin(s). Now I have the pleasure of shipping it to Hong Kong for repairs. Hopefully it won't cost to much.

Checking the G25C2 MKII, the pins contacting the control ring are very different. The TX25C2 has very small, ball point pen looking pins. The G25C2 has flat pins which seem to be a much better design.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

Shipping from the US will be $40-$45 tracked and insured. Do not sent without tracking!

Always better to purchase from reputable dealers here who can deal with these kinds of issues for you. You pay a premium at first, but it works out much better in the long run.

Selfbuilt, do you have any plans for testing an XPG2 Vinh modded version? I started using one recently and the throw is phenomenal for the size, over 50kcd if I had to guess, but it would be nice to know the real number.

 

[selfbuilt]

Selfbuilt, do you have any plans for testing an XPG2 Vinh modded version? I started using one recently and the throw is phenomenal for the size, over 50kcd if I had to guess, but it would be nice to know the real number.

No, that one is not on my radar at the moment ... but there will be a few other new lights come from Vinh.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

Any teaser information?

 

[mikemild13]

Shipping from the US will be $40-$45 tracked and insured. Do not sent without tracking!

Always better to purchase from reputable dealers here who can deal with these kinds of issues for you. You pay a premium at first, but it works out much better in the long run.

Thanks for the info. I may have to live with a 2 stage light for a bit while I decide if it's worth the trouble. Learning a lesson with this light, that's for sure. Your advice is well received.


Update... after a long wait I finally heard back from the company I purchased the light from. US company and the warranty is covered.

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

So do I understand correctly that with an 18650 at the highest brightness mode (965 lumens), after 200 seconds the light automatically shuts down to 965 x 75% = 724 lumens and that's all you get?

I was thinking of getting this for a bike light but that's a real bummer. If you go for a half-hour bike ride, the light is really only good for 724 lumens. So IO guess there no way to may it stay on 965 lumens continuously?

 

[ozzie_c_cobblepot]

@JohnnyGalaga you have to turn it off then on to reset the timer, which may be a pain every 200 seconds.

One recommendation is the ZL SC600, and keep H2 on either the 670 or 356 level, where you can flip over to the 1100 H1 as your hi-beams, so to speak. The side switch probably is a better UI for the bicycle light as well. The runtimes are great too.

 

[GordoJones88]

So do I understand correctly that with an 18650 at the highest brightness mode (965 lumens), after 200 seconds the light automatically shuts down to 965 x 75% = 724 lumens and that's all you get?

You have to turn it off then on to reset the timer, which may be a pain every 200 seconds.

No that is incorrect.
You only need to the press the button to reset the 200 second timer.
The light will continue to stay in Turbo without turning off.
You do not have to turn it off and then on.


However, you can disable the step-down from 25% to 10%.

"Enabled by default, this feature reduces output by 25% or 10% when disabled after 200 seconds at turbo mode."

Also:

"Low dropout voltage, enable circuit to current regulate even with a single 18650 for most of the runtime at turbo output."

http://www.eagletac.com/html/tx25c2/specs.html

I was thinking of getting this for a bike light but that's a real bummer. If you go for a half-hour bike ride, the light is really only good for 724 lumens. So IO guess there no way to may it stay on 965 lumens continuously?

The TX25C2 is a very compact thrower.
It is small enough to fit in you pocket.
It is not intended to stay in Turbo for an extended period of time.
But without the extra mass to wick away the heat from the LED,
it cannot stay very bright without getting the LED too hot.

If you want a light to stay at 1000 lumens for 30 minutes,
the light will need to be much bigger mass in order to handle all the extra heat.
It will also need to have several 18650 batteries to maintain that much brightness.
This would be a fairly large bike light.
The Nitecore Tiny Monster series comes to mind.


The very idea of Turbo is a brief temporary extra burst of brightness.
Turbo is not meant to run continuously.
Hi mode is meant to be run continuously.
So you are look for a light that can do 1000 lumens for 30 minutes on Hi mode.


See the dotted purple line of the TX25C2 Turbo 'No Step".
It only stays at 965 lumens for a few minutes.
The battery cannot maintain that much brightness for very long.
It will continue to dim as the battery is drained.
Most 1x18650 lights have this same type of diminishing runtime curve at Turbo.

 

[Ryp]

How long is the light with each of the extenders?

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

Finally made a decision and ordered this light. Just got it yesterday with a pair of Eagle Tac 3400 18650s and the 4-cell extender. Is there an easy way to tell which energy saving mode you're on? 10% or 25%? I've toggled it back and forth a few times and forgot which one it's on. After waiting the 200 seconds it's hard to notice the difference.

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

How long is the light with each of the extenders?

I got the 4-cell extender for $10 by itself without having to buy the more expensive kit. They call it a "4-cell extender" but it allows for 2 x 18650s if you'd rather not use 4 CR123As. Here's a few photos of what I got:

It looks about 8 inches long in the photo because of the angle (or lens distortion?), but it's really 7.5 inches.

.