Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/929822
When it comes to activating and deactivating – the main switch in its rear part hidden under the rubber cap operates very reliably and efficiently. Even when you press it deeper, it activates luminous beam and deactivates immediately when released (momentary switch). When it's pressed sufficiently strong, an interlock is activated and the flashlight remains turned on for constant. This assuredly perfectly known operating mode of the switch enables to illuminate quickly a suspected area and a return to a safe darkness more comfortably and in a significantly shorter time than in the case of using of constant-only switch Unfortunately, the Turbo mode that offers 1000 lumens successfully penetrating each darkness, SUCKS! Not in a metaphorical meaning of this word – as I have mentioned above, it is very efficient, but it sucks energy from the battery. The 3.6V 2900 mAh battery cell (provided by the manufacturer) allows for approximately throughout one and a half hour of Turbo mode. Decreasing output to 300, and then to 150 lumens, the operating time will extend up to 4 hours and more than 10 hours, respectively. If energy must be conserved, the Low Mode will be your friend. With 10 lumens, which are sufficient to illuminate the enclosed spaces, the flashlight should have run-time of even up to 135 hours. As I have mentioned, instead of the battery supplied with TK20R you can run two CR123A with a total capacity of 3500 mAh, what will extend run-time in each mode by approximately 5%. You can have even a half of ton of 123's on you, but in the times, when everybody has a smartphone, laptop and two power banks on him it would be much easier and comfortable, simply, to recharge the flashlight. It is plain simple: take any micro- USB smartphone charger, take of an end cap from the rear socket located next to the switch and insert the plug. Regrettably, charging is not particularly fast, so you must consider that it may last even for 4-5 hours. Use of industry standard micro-USB plug of the connector is a perfect idea. Most of us usually has a smartphone charger and/or a power bank on hand so you can recharge the flashlight at any time when it is necessary. A certain threat for our comfort can be a USB-C successfully launched in the phone market, nevertheless, it will take few years as it actually begins to dominate. I liked it very much that each time I activated the flashlight, a diode located under the mode switch comes on for approx. 3 seconds, signalizing with color the energy consumption. As long as it is activated in green everything is O.K. When its red, it is time to think about charging. When it flashed in red, be aware that you will not shine the flashlight – charge or stay in the darkness. www.fragoutmag.com