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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Review: GearBest - Kinfire K40x (4x XML2, 1 - 4x 18650)

Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
21
Points
0
Kinfire K40X

Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆​




Summary:

Battery: 4 x 18650
Switch: Electronic side switch
Modes: 3: High, Low + hidden strobe
LED Type: 4 x XM-L2 (Cool White)
Lens: Glass
Tailstands: Yes
Price: $43.63 Shipped
Provided by: GearBest for Review
Product Link: Ce Certification K40X 4 x Cree XM-L2 4000-Lumen 3 Modes Torch Flashlight-43.63 and Free Shipping| GearBest.com

Pros:

A bit more compact compared to my SRK sample.
Versatility in Battery options (1 - 4)
Very bright, I would estimate around 2500lm.
XML2 emitters, cool white.
Great Run-time with 4x 18650 in parallel.
Electronic side switch with hidden strobe.
Exterior/machining/thread quality is good.
The extra machining work makes it more comfortable in your hand.


Cons:

No substantial heatsinking, just a thin quad-LED MCPCB/star resting on a small ledge. More on this later.
Defect in one of the reflector wells.
Very tiny wires utilized (Could be a good thing considering the lack of heatsinking)
Incompatible with flat top batteries (Laptop pulls need solder mound added to positive terminal)
Slight audible whine in Low mode.
Longer protected batteries are a very tight squeeze, so much so that I would only recommend using flattop cells.
Positive terminal of batteries rub against the driver contact board when tightening the battery tube (This could be an issue in the long run, and is a much greater issue in the K40X vs my SRK)... more on this later.
A bit on the heavy side loaded with 4x 18650.
Came bundled with 4x Kinfire BRC 1500mAh cells, all measuring below 1v. Didn't bother taking the risk to charge them.


Incorrect specifications:

The glass lens does not have AR coating.
The Flashlight received is Silver, but listed as brown, black, or gold (I like the silver, but requested brown).
The throw is not 300-400m, reasonable estimate would be a usable brightness around 75-100 yards.



Pictures:


This box arrived in a reasonably padded bubble mailer.

IMG_0583_zps9b35a360.jpg




Inside the box, loose accessories. :(

IMG_0584_zps43734478.jpg




Here are the contents of the box. The cells measured less than 1v each. I decided it was not worth the risk to attempt to charge them, even in a controlled safe area.

IMG_0585_zpse2b7c66b.jpg




Despite the packaging, the light arrived unharmed.

IMG_0588_zps89027ba2.jpg




The bezel is aluminum, poorly coated. The inner area of the bezel has splash marks and some slight machining marks. They can be seen better in the emitter picture.

IMG_0591_zps2da27ecb.jpg




Here are the 4 beautiful XML2 emitters. A few are slightly off center, this doesn't seem to effect the beam pattern in a noticeable way.

You can see the machining marks and coating defect on top of the bezel.

IMG_0595_zpsc17f2ba6.jpg




Size Comparison:


From left to right: K40X, SRK, Solarforce L2, Tangsfire C8

IMG_0604_zps18d7e35f.jpg




Comparison with SRK:

(Kinfire is always on the left, SRK is always on the right)


Tailstand

IMG_0603_zps53e4f4ce.jpg




Headstand

IMG_0600_zpsf4dc3555.jpg




A peek at the bottoms

IMG_0601_zps97b7549e.jpg




Emitters (XML2 in the kinfire, XML in the SRK)

IMG_0602_zps232fbe6a.jpg




One of the big differences is the battery tube length.

IMG_0606_zps8f280ab6.jpg




This reduced length in the Kinfire K40X causes a problem with longer (protected) cells.

Cells from left to right in the Kinfire battery tube: 2x Laptop pull w/ brass nut, laptop pull with small solder mound, Panasonic protected NCR18650B 3400mAh

(This mix and match cell configuration is for visual demonstration purposes only... DO NOT mix and match cells for usage)

IMG_0607_zps7a482a7a.jpg




View from above

Cells from left to right in the Kinfire battery tube: 2x Laptop pull w/ brass nut, laptop pull with small solder mound, Panasonic protected NCR18650B 3400mAh

(This mix and match cell configuration is for visual demonstration purposes only... DO NOT mix and match cells for usage)

IMG_0608_zps64f61f4f.jpg




The picture below is regular use, laptop-pull cells.

IMG_0610_zps7cf30171.jpg






Disassembly:


IMG_0605_zpsaf38dac3.jpg



Top of the battery tube threads. Nice, Smooth and lubricated.

IMG_0610a_zps2e711b82.jpg




Bottom of the battery tube, 2 of the screw holes are bare and not drilled.

IMG_0611_zps548e278f.jpg




Underside of the head, backside of the driver.

IMG_0617_zpsfb937a4d.jpg




Plain glass lens, aluminum bezel, switch retainer, switch button, thick O-ring, aluminum reflector.

IMG_0615_zps8388a7a0.jpg




Small defect in the reflector (Upper left hand well)

IMG_0616_zpsa229e40a.jpg




Quad emittter MCPCB

IMG_0613_zpsa66857c6.jpg




Nothing underneath. :(

IMG_0614_zps7dc6b454.jpg




A look at the driver and the extremely thin wires.

IMG_0612_zps42455e45.jpg




Beams:

Left is Kinfire K40X (4 xml2).

Right is SRK (3 xml).



Low:

13e103d4-e35e-440b-87e5-358edc5254b6_zps44251d73.jpg
598f4f9e-bad1-40fc-81e7-dd9a1a9b6913_zps72929117.jpg




High:

57535041-d2ac-4cb0-bc8c-4cd61c83bc13_zps3b7b4789.jpg
9fd294e2-cc33-4796-9424-b3ea3e0c6329_zps1054484f.jpg




Conclusion:

I rate the Kinfire K40X at 3/5. The major deductions mostly come from the lack of heatsinking, less than optimal driver, and the short battery tube. It does still output a decent amount of light, but the lack of heatsinking is going to be a problem if one wanted to mod and could be problematic for the LEDs in the long run.
 
Last edited:





Joined
May 4, 2009
Messages
5,443
Points
113
Re: Review: Kinfire K40x (4x XML2, 1 - 4x 18650)

Very nice review, a job well done with plenty of pictures to get the point across.

If you want a heat sink for the LED's I could probably help you please give me a PM if your interested.
 




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