[Review] Folomov Key Charger: I love it already

Note: This charger and battery was kindly provided by Folomov http://www.folomov.com/en/about/?24.html for me to review.

Introduction

I received the Folomov Key Charger in a beautiful packaging, plain and simple. Folomov took special care to wrap the plastic case in bubble wrap to protect it from damage during shipping, which was admittedly a nice touch.
I must admit that I had my doubts about a charger the size of a wireless car remote. I’ve always used Nitecore chargers to charge my lithium ion batteries and recently changed to a Liitokala dual bay. However, these chargers are typically more bulky, and I looked forward to having a small charger that could still do the job, especially when I need to travel light – this Folomov Key Charger proved its worth, and I must say I haven’t left home without it in the past month that I’ve been testing it for!

What do I love about it?

• Small
• Light
• Batteries don’t get warm
• Clear indication of battery level via the 4 bright LEDs
• Can be used to charge/power other appliances i.e. powerbank (see use case below)

Folomov also kindly provided a 3400mAh battery for me to test this on.

This is how it looks like, with all its cable unraveled. The docking bay takes the positive end of the battery while the circular removable bit takes the negative end. Both are magnetic, which helps the battery stay in place while charging. Without the battery, the negative end snaps right in, flush with the body of the charger.

For size comparison, from left: 14500 battery, Folomov Key Charger, Olight S1A baton. Small and lightweight, perfect for charging on the go.

Specs

These specs are provided by the manufacturer, and can be found here: http://www.folomov.com/en/content/?136.html

Dimensions:
Weight: 31g / 1.09oz
Length: 66mm / 2.60in
Width: 37mm / 1.46in
Thickness: 17mm / 0.67in

MSRP
$16.99 USD on Amazon

Compatible Batteries
Compatible with 3.6V/3.7V Li-ion rechargeable batteries above 2000mAh in capacity (18650, 20700, 21700

Current
Max charge current: 2A
Max discharge current: 2A

Other features

• Automatically activate 0V batteries
• Overcharge and over-discharge protection
• Short circuit protection
• Reverse polarity protection
• Battery level indicator

Charging Indicator & battery capacity
1 blinking LED: below 25%
1 solid LED, 1 blinking: 25% – 49%
2 solid LEDs, 1 blinking: 50% – 74%
3 solid LEDs,1 blinking: 74% – 99%
4 solid LEDs: 100%

Keyring Attachment
Yes
Charging it up using my powerbank. As this had 1 solid LED and 1 blinking, the battery capacity was between 25% – 49%.

Since this battery had built in charging capabilities, you can also charge it up using any Micro USB cable. Sweet!

How I’ve been carrying and using it

I attach it to a keyring, which then hangs together with my keys and pill fobs. It’s so compact I sometimes forget I have it with me.

I’ve also used it to charge up my sister’s iPhone 8. It went from 85% to full charge in about 20 minutes. Nifty little gadget.

 

Attached my cute little USB flood light, and I get a floody light source, ready for outdoor picnics.

 

 

What I think can be improved on

• Would be nice if it can charge more battery types
• A way for us to select the charging current (so we can select a lower current, thereby extending the battery life)
• The charging head (the one that plugs into the power source) should align with the body of the charger, and not jut out
• Change orientation of keyring attachment hole so the keyring can lie flat (or even better, provide the keyring) 

Conclusion

Since I’m not a fan of buying lights that are MicroUSB rechargeable (because I think it affects its waterproofing capability), I need a charger that I can bring with me on the road or for trips. This tiny little Key Charger fits my needs, and will be part of my EDC. The powerbank feature is a nice bonus and that means I don’t have to carry that bulky Uber powerbank anymore.

If you’d like to read a more technical review of the battery complete with charts and graphs, HKJ has done a fantastic job of that here: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/62687

 

[Review] Olight S1A Baton (1xAA/14500, 600 Lumens, TIR)

Note: I received this light from Fstoplights https://www.fstoplights.com/ to review. They have a great catalogue of lights and outdoor gear, with international shipping options.

Introduction

The Olight S1A came in a nice packaging – clean and professional. You’d just know you’re getting a quality flashlight. It’s a handy 1xAA light that puts out a whopping 600 lumens when paired with a 14500. It comes with an Olight branded non-rechargeable Lithium AA battery so you can have fun right away! I own a Foursevens Quark Pro 2xAA, and I’m definitely replacing it with this Olight.

What do I love about it?
For this brightness levels in this form factor, the Olight S1A would be a fantastic light for your pocket, bag, or your vehicle. I never had a flashlight with a magnetic tailcap but now that I’ve tried one, I realised how usable it is in so many situations. While this light does not throw very well, its TIR lens provides a large and even floody beam.

In short,

• Very portable/pocketable
• Uses an easily-found battery type
• Broad, floody beam
• Fantastic UI
• Magnetic tailcap!

 

The Olight came in a very nice, clear plastic packaging with key information printed around it. You get a manual, the light, and a well-made lanyard.

 

Clear and concise instructions, available in multiple languages. I applaud Olight for being transparent about their stepdown timings. It doesn’t leave you wondering about lumens and runtimes.

 

Very nice size, perfect for leaving it in your car or a bag, even for your pants pockets.

Specs

These specs are provided by the manufacturer, and can be found here: https://olightworld.com/olight-s1a-baton

 

Dimensions:

Weight: 37.5g / 1.32oz
Length: 79.5mm / 3.12in
Head Diameter: 21mm / 0.82in
Body Diameter: 18.4mm / 0.72in

Material
AL6061-T6 aluminum alloy, Type III hard anodising, blue PVD stainless steel ring around the switch and bezel

MSRP
$39.95 USD/ $55 SGD from Fstoplights in Singapore
https://www.fstoplights.com/olight-s1a-baton-600-lumens-xm-l2-ultra-compact-magnetic-aa-flashlight-cool-white/

LED
CREE XM-L2 LED (CW)

Reflector
TIR lens

Battery
1 x AA/14500 battery (You need a 14500 for the Turbo mode putting out 600 lumens)

Modes/Output
[Alkaline AA] 4 Modes
Moonlight: 0.5 lumens (20 days)
Low: 5 lumens (75 hours)
Medium: 50 lumens (4.5 hours)
High: 220 lumens → 100 lumens (12 mins + 80 mins)

[Included Lithium Iron AA] 4 Modes
Moonlight: 0.5 lumens (25 days)
Low: 5 lumens (80 hours)
Medium: 50 lumens (10.5 hours)
High: 220 lumens → 100 lumens (110 mins + 30 mins)

[14500] 5 Modes
Moonlight: 0.5 lumens (15 days)
Low: 5 lumens (60 hours)
Medium: 50 lumens (6.5 hours)
High: 220 lumens → 100 lumens (100 mins + 10 mins)
Turbo: 600 lumens → 300 lumens (1 mins + 60 mins)

Max Range/Throw
High mode: 71m
Turbo mode: 118m (3480cd)

Mode Memory
Yes (other than Strobe)

Waterproof
IPX8 (waterproof up till 2m, for 30 mins)

Lockout
Untwist tailcap for lockout

Tailstand
Yes

Lanyard Attachment
Yes

Reversible Pocket Clip
No

 

From left: Quark Pro QP2A-X with 1xAA battery tube, Olight S1A Baton, Lumintop Tool AAA, AA Eneloop, AW 14500 LiON, Efest 10440 LiON

 

From left: Quark Pro QP2A-X with 1xAA battery tube, Olight S1A Baton, Lumintop Tool AAA, AW 14500 LiON, AA Eneloop, Efest 10440 LiON

Quality

As with most Olights, you know you are getting a flashlight with overall top notch quality. Right out of the box, the light has:

• Responsive side switch that protrudes slightly but isn’t susceptible to accidental turn-ons
• Strong clip
• Clear, legible printing on the light in crisp white (possibly laser engraved)

I love the side switch. It’s great for single-handed operation, and requires a substantial amount of force to depress despite it protruding out slightly. The raised switch is easier to find in the dark, in my opinion.

The strong clip allows it to be clipped to a cap for hands-free use. Nifty!

This is how it looks like in my EDC pouch.

UI

The flashlight has 5 modes (excluding Turbo if you don’t use a 14500).
Single click to turn it on/off. Since it has mode memory, it will come on in whichever mode you left it on (unless you left it at Strobe). With the light on, hold down the switch to cycle through Low → Medium → High → Turbo and release the switch to select the mode.

From Off:

• Hold down the switch (>1 second) for Moonlight mode
• Double click for Turbo mode (high mode if using a non rechargeable Lithium battery)
• Triple click for Strobe mode

To exit these modes, Hold to cycle through the modes or Click to switch off.

Timer (for the light to be automatically turned off):
3 mins: When the light is turned on, double click and the light will blink once. The flashlight will turn off after 3 mins
9 mins: When the light is turned on, double click and the light will blink twice. The flashlight will turn off after 9 mins

 

Beamshots

This time round, I tried to get some outdoor beamshots for you guys for a more realistic view of the illumination levels.
Taken on a Samsung Galaxy S8 set to manual mode: ISO 800, 1/15. Building was 8 to 10 metres away.

Low

Medium mode

High Mode

Turbo Mode

Use Cases

Left in the car: When caught in an emergency situation, the magnetic tailcap really stands out because you can ‘stick’ it to your car.

In an EDC pouch: Like the photos above, this is how I will carry the light – as a secondary light when I need more output than my Lumintop Tool AAA.

In my pocket: While it is shorter than the Lumintop Tool AAA and perfectly ok to EDC in your pockets (especially cargo pants), it is slightly fatter and hence, I choose not to pocket carry it.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Small form factor
• 600 lumens on 14500!
• Fantastic finish and strong material
• Responsive switch
• Strong clip
• Love the magnetic tailcap

Cons

• The beam pattern is not perfect due to the TIR lens (but only when you view it up close)
• Non-reversible clip
• Rubber switch might wear out faster than a metal/plastic one
• The grease on the threads were a little thin, but all good once I slathered some silicon grease over it

 

The light stuck on the fridge due to the strong magnet.

Some beam artefacts that you see in the hotspot, but only when viewed up close and on a wall.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Olight has my badge of approval with its form factor, top notch quality and the overall usability of this light. The UI is straightforward, and the ability to go into Turbo or Strobe with double and triple clicks respectively is a well thought out feature.

If possible, I would do comparisons with the CR123 and 18650 versions of the Olight Baton series.

[This light was kindly provided by https://www.fstoplights.com/ for me to review, with no other remunerations.]

Lumintop Tool 1xAAA Clicky Flashlight Review (3 years use)

Introduction

What was I looking for?
This is almost the perfect EDC AAA clicky flashlight around. I was looking for a flashlight I can bring with me everywhere, everyday. And it needs to have a tailcap clicky because I was sick of twisty heads. I bought this in August 2015 and it’s been clipped in my pocket almost everyday, which explains the nicks in the coating.

What do I love about it?
I love it for its brightness, form factor, and top notch quality. I used to have the Olight i3s EOS AAA twisty keychain flashlight but I have sold that because it just doesn’t get enough use as compared to my Lumintop Tool. This is not a sponsored post – I just want to share my love for this little pocket rocket!

[Note: the tiny little clip at the tailend of the flashlight does not come with it. I attached it there so I can clip it to my pants pocket]

Clear tiny carrying case for the Lumintop Tool flashlight, perfect for a gift.

This was the packaging of the light – not fancy, entirely functional. My version came with just 2 spare O rings but the newer models come with that AND an interchangeable magnetic tailcap.

Look at how well it fits in my palm.

Specs

These specs are provided by the manufacturer, and can be found here: http://www.lumintop.com/tool-aaa.html

Dimensions:
Length: 3.16” / 8.02cm
Body Diameter: 0.56” / 1.42cm
Weight: 0.53oz / 15.02g (without battery)

Material
Aircraft-grade aluminium alloy with hard anodization

MSRP
~$18 USD (I bought it for SGD $35 from Fstoplights in Singapore)

LED
CREE XP-G2 R5 LED (CW)

Battery
1 x AAA battery (they don’t recommend using a 10440 in it but I have always used that and my light is still working fine. I never ever let it overheat)

Operating Voltage
0.9~1.5V

Modes/Output
[NiMH AAA] 3 Modes M-L-H:
32 lumens (4 Hours) / 5 lumens (60 Hours) / 110 lumens (30 Minutes)

[LiON 10440] 3 Modes M-L-H:
235 lumens / 59 lumens / 390 lumens

[Note: I did not measure these output levels myself as I do not have a light meter. I obtained these numbers from this thread: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?426720-Lumintop-tool-10440-or-not Post #7]

Max Range/Throw
~ 47m (using NiMH AAA, more if you are using 10440)

PWM or CC
Constant current circuit (however, I do hear a whining sound on Medium and Low mode, but only when I put the light right beside my ear)

Waterproof
IPX8 (waterproof up till 2m, for 30 mins)

Lockout
Tailcap/mechanical Lock-out

Tailstand
No (due to the protruding tailcap clicky)

Lanyard Attachment
Yes, 2 attachment points but lanyard not provided

 

Quality

Right out of the box, I remember getting a good quality flashlight with

• Well-greased threads
• Responsive, tactile tailcap clicky
• Strong, reversible clip
• Clear, legible printing on the light in crisp white

3 years on, I still have difficulty removing the clip with ease because it has retained its ‘grip’ so well. Also, I have never had the need to replace the tailcap rubber and O rings. The light is still waterproof (I tested it when I dunked it in a fountain to look for something that I dropped inside). It fits so well in my palms and the clicky response has never failed me in any occasions I have used it over the past 3 years.

Well-centred LED with orange peel reflector

 

 

UI

The flashlight has 3 modes. From off, hard press the tailcap once to turn it on. It will come on in Medium. Soft press to cycle to Low, then High then Medium again.
Medium → Low → High
Hard press to switch off the light. There is no mode memory, but if you turn on again within 3 seconds, it will go back to the next mode after the mode you left it at. E.g. switch off in Medium, turn on in Low.

This light has no strobe, beacon, SOS or moonlight mode as it was made to be an easy to use 3 mode light. I do wish that there is a moonlight mode (<1 lumen) so I can use it in total darkness without lighting up the entire room. Some of you might want a hidden Strobe/SOS mode for emergencies but I’ve never had the need for it and I do wish you have a larger secondary light for those emergency situations.

When I first used the light, I hated that it came on in Medium but then I realised that Lumintop made it such that it came on with a very usable amount of light. When I passed the light to my friends (non flashlight enthusiasts), they didn’t realise there were other modes so Medium was just right.

Beamshots

Taken on a Samsung Galaxy S8 set to manual mode: ISO 800, 1/15. Curtains were about 5m away. Level of brightness in the photos are very similar to what I saw with my eyes.

Medium mode

Low mode

High mode

Photo of the beam profile to show you the hotspot and the flood

I found that the cover of an old chapstick fits perfectly on the head as a diffuser, creating a nice beam, perfect for tent or bedside illumination.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Small light which makes it great for EDC
• Insane output on 10440
• Fantastic finish and strong material
• Responsive tactical clicky
• Strong clip
• Great price

Cons

• No moonlight mode
• Cannot tailstand
• No lanyard provided
• No diffuser provided
• L-M-H mode cycle would be better for some users

Conclusion

In conclusion, I am still in awe of this light that I’ve EDC-ed for 3 years. I did not imagine how much I would enjoy it when I was searching for a AAA clicky that could take a 10440. Lumintop was a brand that was fairly unheard of back then but I can now attest to its durability, performance and awesome price points (not just for this light, but for all their lights in general). There are definitely areas to improve on, as pointed out in the ‘Cons’ section above but these are minor issues that I am nitpicking on. However, if they can come out with a new version that addresses whatever I’ve mentioned, I would gladly pick one up since it will be the perfect AAA clicky EDC!

 

[This light was not provided for me to review. I bought it, loved it, and wanted to share about it. This is also my first flashlight review so I welcome feedback!]