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Klarus P2A - Review

fran82

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Joined
Aug 24, 2010
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BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIGHT

Here we have a very efficient flashlight powered with normal AA batteries, which is, for me, a must on emergency situations. A light that can give a lot of light output and powered with easily available AA batteries.


The light was purchased at DealExtreme KLARUS P2A Cree XP-G R5 20~240lm 2-Mode White Flashlight - Black (2 x AA) - Worldwide Free Shipping - DX


This is the third Klarus P2A that I own or that I have had on my hands. Is a rock solid, very efficient and good quality one to have more than one or to gift to people who don´t like Li-ion powered lights.

It is made by the same people or the same factory that makes the JetBeam/Nitecore. So we will get a high quality item. In fact, it is almost the same light than the JetBeam BA20 with some minor differences in the body machining. Both lights seems to give the same light output and runtime/performance...

It was designed to compete with the Fenix LD20. It is very similar in "desing" and seems to be in the same segment than the LD20.

However, it has less functions than the LD20, but of course, for less price. It is about 12 dollar less than the Fenix and the only "things" missing are the very low, high, SOS and strobe modes.

As positive aspect, is that it delivers more output than the Fenix (245 ANSI lumens vs 180 ANSI lumens), with a bit less runtime obviously (half an hour less, but more lumens output)

As negative aspect, is 5mm longer and 3mm wider than the LD20, plus it weights a bit more. Also has not strike bezel.

One last thing: the user interface is very simple. Low (30 lumens) and High (245 lumen).




DESIGN OF THE FLASHLIGHT


The light is received in a cardboard box, having inside, the flashlight (with clip already installed), the user manual, warranty card, lanyard and 2 spare o-rings.

dsc01163us.jpg


The first thing you will notice is how robust it feels/seems, without being too heavy. Similar to the JetBeam BA20, perhaps better.

dsc01173x.jpg


The light is made from 3 parts: head, body and tailcap.

The switch is replaceable (just unscrew it, put a new one, screw again). The body is a tube with thick walls. The head has a "battery contact" with polarity protection.

dsc01175ty.jpg


The clip can not be reversed, and must to be installed near to the tailcap. The clip is very robust, and a bit difficult to remove and install again. When installing or un-installing the clip, no "marks" are left in the surface of the light, meaning it should be really HAIII as claimed.

It measures about 15,5 cm lenght and 2,3 cm width. The clip acts as "anti roll". It can tailstand, but sometimes it is a bit unstable.

It has a XP-G R5 LED, and the reflector is orange peel. Led perfectly centered.

dsc01174y.jpg


The switch is a "forward" type, allowing signaling. The travel is long and very smooth.

The head is completely smooth, and has not "strike bezel".

The threads in the tail, are anodized and they are veeery smooth. Due to the fact thaat they are anodized, if you unscrew the tailcap 1/4 turn the light will not work (it becomes a twist switch light!). Good, at least for me. Let me say again, that the threads are square and are silk smooth. I removed the vaseline, and lubed it with silicone oil... veeery veeery nice now!

dsc01181yz.jpg


dsc01182wd.jpg


Let me say something more about the threads: the earlier units of the P2A were being manufactured with non-square threads (do they are called "triangular" threads?). The latests are manufactured with square threads.

The threads are longer and much smoother than in the JetBeam BA20.

The threads in the head, are not anodized because of the "change mode" funtion.


O-rings present in both ends of the battery tube. The battery tube is very thick.


The light has polarity protection as you can see in the photos. Also there is a difference from the earlier and the latests versions of the P2A. The earlier, apart from having "normal-triangular" threads, they had a polarity protection similar than the one you can see in most of Fenix lights: A central round contact with 2 "arrows" pointing one to the left the other to the right. The latests units have a completely round positive contact surrounded with another round contact taller than the other making impossible to contact with the battery if you insert it in the wrong way.

dsc01184yh.jpg


And another difference from the earlier versions: the switch assembly is different. On earlier ones, the used the same assembly that you can see in the photos of my review of the BA20, which I consider that is OK but maybe a bit fragile. Now, the latests ones, come with a new, more robust switch, in were you see less plastic parts on it but more metal... good!

dsc01180fd.jpg


Let me finish talking about the manufacturing quality: it arrived perfectly clean, no dirt/dust/machinning debris on the threads/lens/reflector. Very very nice!





RUNTIME TESTS


When I received the BA20 about 2 years ago or so, I was impressed by the fact that it gave a constant high lumens output during all the life of the batteries, I mean, the output remains constant until the battery voltage goes too low (about 0,9v for each battery or so).

To maintain a constant brightness, the circuitry increases the current draw as the battery voltage decreases. It is a full regulated circuit.


Both the Klarus P2A and the JetBeam BA20 give about the same runtime. Measured by me on High mode, using 2500mAh batteries, I got 1 hour 45 minutes from the start to automatic switch to low mode. Not much difference from the two.


I consider very good the chance to have 245 lumens during 1 hour and 45 minutes on High, and 30 lumens during 33 hours on Low.

That is what manufacturer claims (talking about lumens)

I still have not done runtime tests on low. But I have measured the current draw:


Fresh charged BTone 2500mAh batteries:

High 1.15A

Low 180mA



Not fresh/depleted batteries:

High 2.3A

Low 190mA


Measured runtime on HIGH (2500mAh batts used) = 1hour 45 minutes until out of regulation (switch to low)

Measured runtime on LOW: NOT MEASURED!!!! (estimated to about 30 hours by manufacturer)




LIGHT OUTPUT


Klarus claims to give 245 lumens... The JetBeam BA20 is claim to give 270 lumens.... Without measuring equipment, is difficult to give a clear judgement. But, "eyeballing" I have the conclusion that both lights give the same lumen output. Only difference is the tint, the BA20 is a bit warmer than the P2A.

As I have said, I am impressed by the fact that just with 2xAA you get more light than, i.e. a TrustFire F20 (Q5) with 14500. Imprehesive. That was what I was searching, a light which can produce the maximun amount of light with easy available AA batteries.

Manufacturer claims 245 Ansi lumens on high and 30 Ansi lumens on low. I trust that. Is imprehesive.

It has a big hotspot, not very well defined, and the flood and throw is more than adecuate for the size of the reflector.

The tint is CW.


Beamshot, 1 meter from white wall, LOW MODE:

dsc01176j.jpg


Beamshot 3 meters from white wall, LOW MODE:

dsc01177x.jpg


Beamshot, 1 meter from white wall, HIGH MODE:

dsc01178on.jpg


Beamshot 3 meters from white wall, HIGH MODE:

dsc01179sm.jpg


If you want mid range shots (15-20 meters) you can see the photos on my review of the BA20, which produces the same results than this P2A.





CONCLUSION


This is a well-known-"old" light produced possibly by the same people/factory who make the Jetbeam BA20. It has been discussed in the forums that it is almost the same light with the same led, pill, reflector, electronics and switch, but with a different shape/machining of the body.

This is a 5 stars flashlight. It has the best regulated circuit I have had (identical to BA20) with about the same performance in light output and runtime. Only difference, as said, is the tint of the light output and the shape/machining of the body.

I can say that this light is one of the best 2xAA flashlights with a very good constant light output + a good runtime that has a very nice and robust body, plus one of the most perfect threads I have had before (square cut threads)



Perhaps I will consider the P2A better than the JetBeam Ba20, becasue of its square threads.
 
Last edited:





Joined
Apr 3, 2013
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the flashlight is great, and i like the pics of beam shots, thanks for sharing
 




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