NOTE: Written review in progress, please check out in-depth vid for now...
[video:http://youtube.com/watch?v=f_9UelY0pRo]
INTRO
At the heart of a well-made flashlight sits the driver that provides the UI that controls the output levels and modes. More often than not, it plays a huge role in one's purchase decision and subsequently whether it's retained in the collection or flipped. Output matters little if the UI is clunky or difficult to use. To draw an analogy, you can have a V6 engine pumping out gobs of HP but if the transmission creates abrupt shifts or the ratios are not well spaced, it can totally ruin the driving experience.
One of the exciting features of Manker's latest release, the E14, is that it boasts four emitters (XP-G2 or Nichia 219B), however, just as equally (if not more) exciting is that it utilizes the well regarded A17DD-L FET+1 driver (AKA BLF A6). It's an advanced driver but easily mastered once one becomes familiar with it. It's also the first driver (in a non-ring control light) that I'm aware of that allows one to transition the output up or down obviating the need to cycle through all output levels.
Couple all this in a package that's sized on par with most 1 x CR123 lights and touting a minimum output of 1400 lms for the 219B or 1600 lms for the XP-G2 (albeit for limited duration) and it beckons to be a shoe-in for the "Just buy it now!" category but might there be anything that could tarnish that recommendation? Let's see shall we?
PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES
The E14 arrived nestled in ample cushioning within a cardboard box with a slip-off sleeve:
Accessories include: 1 x O-Ring, clip, wrist strap and the manual / specs sheet
MFG SPECS
DESIGN & FEATURES
The business end features a TIR optic that is internally-formed like the 4-cell stage of embryonic development:
It hides the quad emitters that comes in two flavors and corresponding tint;
L: Nichia 219B (5000K NW) | R: XP-G2 (6500K CW):
The bezel is flat with no crenelations and features the company name and model that is laser engraved around the circumference. There is nothing to denote the version of the E14 so if you own both, you'll either need to turn each on or find some other way to distinguish them.
Aft of the bezel is the all-copper "throat" with two fins which provides much needed heat-shedding abilities:
The outer surface seems to have a non-conductive coating applied as I get an OPEN reading when testing with my DMM but the inside of the fin isn't and I'm able to get a SHORT.
The tube features mild knurling and a groove for the clip. Springs on either end allow it to accommodate a good range of batteries:
I had no issues using a long UltraFire 18350 w/PCB (L: 37.4mm) or the shortest cell, AW IMR 16340 (R: 33.8mm).
The threads on either end are fully anodized allowing the light to be locked out:
Though the threads aren't square-cut, they came greased and operate smoothly. However, as is the norm in the industry, the underside of the o-ring wasn't greased (if you don't understand the significance of this, speak to me after class… ;o))
The tube is NOT reversible since the head side (side away from the groove for the clip) has about one less rung of thread and won't be able to make contact w/the internal mating surface of the tailcap:
[2 PICS showing reversed and non-reversed]
There is no spacer included to prevent R/CR123 batteries from rattling, however, I had to shake the E14 quite vigorously in order to induce any rattles. Furthermore, given the current the E14 can achieve, I wouldn't recommend using them anyways. You could go with an IMR 16340 but the runtime would be drastically short on the higher output levels.
The optional 18650 tube features 5 evenly spaced grooves carved on the side that are not found on the shorter tube:
It too can accommodate a good range of cells w/the shortest 18650 being my AW IMR (64.9mm) and longest being an ThorFire 3100 (69.6mm).
However, I feel the E14 loses its charm in this form factor and short of this review, I doubt I'll be using it much:
As with the short tube, you can NOT reverse mount it as the head side also has one less rung of threading:
[2 PICS showing reversed and non-reversed]
Finishing off the light is the tailcap that features two guards that help prevent accidental activation of the forward-clicky switch and also allows the E14 to tailstand and be used in candlelight mode:
[PIC: TAILCAP FLARE ]
There are two holes that one can attach the included wrist strap to.
The clip allows deep pocket carry and is reversible so one can attach it to the bill of cap for use as a makeshift headlamp:
It provides decent tension force so should reduce chances of slipping off.
NOTE: Written review in progress, please check out in-depth vid above for now...
=======
Disclosure: 219B version provided by Manker for review, XP-G2 version purchased for personal use.
[video:http://youtube.com/watch?v=f_9UelY0pRo]
INTRO
At the heart of a well-made flashlight sits the driver that provides the UI that controls the output levels and modes. More often than not, it plays a huge role in one's purchase decision and subsequently whether it's retained in the collection or flipped. Output matters little if the UI is clunky or difficult to use. To draw an analogy, you can have a V6 engine pumping out gobs of HP but if the transmission creates abrupt shifts or the ratios are not well spaced, it can totally ruin the driving experience.
One of the exciting features of Manker's latest release, the E14, is that it boasts four emitters (XP-G2 or Nichia 219B), however, just as equally (if not more) exciting is that it utilizes the well regarded A17DD-L FET+1 driver (AKA BLF A6). It's an advanced driver but easily mastered once one becomes familiar with it. It's also the first driver (in a non-ring control light) that I'm aware of that allows one to transition the output up or down obviating the need to cycle through all output levels.
Couple all this in a package that's sized on par with most 1 x CR123 lights and touting a minimum output of 1400 lms for the 219B or 1600 lms for the XP-G2 (albeit for limited duration) and it beckons to be a shoe-in for the "Just buy it now!" category but might there be anything that could tarnish that recommendation? Let's see shall we?
PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES
The E14 arrived nestled in ample cushioning within a cardboard box with a slip-off sleeve:
Accessories include: 1 x O-Ring, clip, wrist strap and the manual / specs sheet
MFG SPECS
DESIGN & FEATURES
The business end features a TIR optic that is internally-formed like the 4-cell stage of embryonic development:
It hides the quad emitters that comes in two flavors and corresponding tint;
L: Nichia 219B (5000K NW) | R: XP-G2 (6500K CW):
The bezel is flat with no crenelations and features the company name and model that is laser engraved around the circumference. There is nothing to denote the version of the E14 so if you own both, you'll either need to turn each on or find some other way to distinguish them.
Aft of the bezel is the all-copper "throat" with two fins which provides much needed heat-shedding abilities:
The outer surface seems to have a non-conductive coating applied as I get an OPEN reading when testing with my DMM but the inside of the fin isn't and I'm able to get a SHORT.
The tube features mild knurling and a groove for the clip. Springs on either end allow it to accommodate a good range of batteries:
I had no issues using a long UltraFire 18350 w/PCB (L: 37.4mm) or the shortest cell, AW IMR 16340 (R: 33.8mm).
The threads on either end are fully anodized allowing the light to be locked out:
Though the threads aren't square-cut, they came greased and operate smoothly. However, as is the norm in the industry, the underside of the o-ring wasn't greased (if you don't understand the significance of this, speak to me after class… ;o))
The tube is NOT reversible since the head side (side away from the groove for the clip) has about one less rung of thread and won't be able to make contact w/the internal mating surface of the tailcap:
[2 PICS showing reversed and non-reversed]
There is no spacer included to prevent R/CR123 batteries from rattling, however, I had to shake the E14 quite vigorously in order to induce any rattles. Furthermore, given the current the E14 can achieve, I wouldn't recommend using them anyways. You could go with an IMR 16340 but the runtime would be drastically short on the higher output levels.
The optional 18650 tube features 5 evenly spaced grooves carved on the side that are not found on the shorter tube:
It too can accommodate a good range of cells w/the shortest 18650 being my AW IMR (64.9mm) and longest being an ThorFire 3100 (69.6mm).
However, I feel the E14 loses its charm in this form factor and short of this review, I doubt I'll be using it much:
As with the short tube, you can NOT reverse mount it as the head side also has one less rung of threading:
[2 PICS showing reversed and non-reversed]
Finishing off the light is the tailcap that features two guards that help prevent accidental activation of the forward-clicky switch and also allows the E14 to tailstand and be used in candlelight mode:
[PIC: TAILCAP FLARE ]
There are two holes that one can attach the included wrist strap to.
The clip allows deep pocket carry and is reversible so one can attach it to the bill of cap for use as a makeshift headlamp:
It provides decent tension force so should reduce chances of slipping off.
NOTE: Written review in progress, please check out in-depth vid above for now...
=======
Disclosure: 219B version provided by Manker for review, XP-G2 version purchased for personal use.
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