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#Post#: 525--------------------------------------------------
Small Sun ZY-T08
By: JohnnyMac Date: April 12, 2013, 1:09 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[html]<p class="auto-style2" style="text-align: center;"><span
style="font-size: large;"><strong>Small Sun
ZY-T08</strong></span></p><p class="auto-style1"
style="text-align: center;">*The light in this review was kindly
provided courtesy of <a
href="
HTML http://dx.com/p/small-sun-zy-t08-cree-xm-l-t6-800lm-5-mode-white-light-flashlight-black-2-x-18650-150860"<br
/>target="_blank" class="auto-style3"> Deal Extreme</a></p><p><i
mg
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TpJcVaNOnnE/ULPdyom-ENI/AAAAAAAAFiw/d_DR_E0P84U/s800/IMG_20121126_122001.jpg"<br
/>width="75%" style="display: block; margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span
style="font-size: large;"><strong>Short & Quick:</strong>
</span></p><p class="auto-style4"><strong>J-Mac
Approved!</strong> This light is a diamond in the rough,
especially for the price. Read on to find out why.</p><p><span
style="font-size: large;"><strong>Specs from Deal Extreme's
page:</strong></span></p><p class="auto-style4"
style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Brand
</strong>Small Sun<strong><br> Model
</strong>ZY-T08<strong><br> Quantity
</strong>1<strong><br> Color
</strong>Black<strong><br> Material
</strong>Aluminum alloy<strong><br> Emitter Brand
</strong>CREE<strong><br> Number of Emitters
</strong>1<strong><br> Color BIN
</strong>White<strong><br> Emitter Type
</strong>XM-L<strong><br> Emitter BIN
</strong>T6<strong><br> Voltage Input</strong>
3.7~7.4 V<strong><br> Battery Configuration </strong>2 x
18650 (not included)<strong><br> Circuitry
</strong>1800mA<strong><br> Brightness
</strong>635 lm<strong><br> Runtime
</strong>1~2 hour<strong><br> Number of Modes
</strong>5<strong><br> Mode Arrangement </strong>Hi >
Mid > Low > Fast strobe > SOS<strong><br> Mode Memory
</strong>No<strong><br> Switch Type
</strong>Reverse clicky<strong><br> Switch Location
</strong>Tailcap<strong><br> Lens
</strong>Glass<strong><br> Reflector
</strong>Aluminum Smooth<strong><br> Strap Included
</strong>Yes<strong><br> Clip Included
</strong>No<strong><br> Packing List
</strong>1 x Flashlight<strong> </strong>1 x Strap</p><p><span
style="font-size: large;"><strong>My Additional/Corrected
Specs</strong></span></p><p class="auto-style4"
style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Battery Configuration:
</strong> 1 x 18650 or 2 x 18650 Li-Ion in parallel<br>
<strong>OTF Lumens - High:</strong> 648<br>
<strong>OTF Lumens - Medium:</strong> 317.5<br> <strong>OTF
Lumens - Low:</strong> 151.8<br> <strong>Throw/Lux @
1m:</strong> 42,800<br> <strong>Emitter
MCPCB:</strong> 25mm<br> <strong>Driver Diameter:
</strong> 30mm (29.77mm)<br> <strong>Pill Top
Diameter:</strong> 30mm <br>
<strong>Base Diameter:</strong> 33.96mm<br>
<strong>Outer Height: </strong> 32.09mm<br>
<strong>Inside Diameter:</strong> 27.88mm<br>
<strong>Inside Depth: </strong> 24.55<strong><br>
Reflector material: </strong>Plastic<br>
<strong>Reflector (width*depth):</strong> 57.73mm x
38.92mm<br> <strong>Lens (diam*thickness):</strong> 57.51mm
x 3.01mm<br> <strong>Head Diameter:</strong>
62.57mm<br> <strong>Body Diameter: </strong>
42.06mm<br> <strong>Overall Length:</strong>
174.34mm<br> <strong>Price:
</strong>$29.30 USD<br> <strong>Product Page:</strong>
<a
href="
HTML http://dx.com/p/small-sun-zy-t08-cree-xm-l-t6-800lm-5-mode-white-light-flashlight-black-2-x-18650-150860"<br
/>target="_blank"> DX.com</a></p><p class="auto-style4"><a
href="
HTML http://dx.com/p/small-sun-zy-t08-cree-xm-l-t6-800lm-5-mode-white-light-flashlight-black-2-x-18650-150860"<br
/>target="_blank"></a><span style="font-size:
large;"><strong>PROS</strong></span></p><ul><li>Extremely great
throw especially with only 648 lumens.</li><li>Great reflector
design.</li><li>Thick lens.</li><li>Good machining on
head.</li><li>Square, anodized threads on body/head
joint.</li><li>Clean threading on bezel and pill.</li><li>Lots
of threads on pill for decent heat conduction to
head.</li><li>Solid base for emitter MCPCB.</li><li>Excellent
finning for maximum thermal transfer to air.</li><li>Able to run
on one cell in a pinch.</li><li>Very even spill in the beam with
few faint thin rings.</li><li>All openings sealed well with
properlyu fitting o-rings and gaskets.</li><li>No threads for
the screws were stripped.</li><li>Nice switch feel and thick,
supple switch cap.</li><li>Body arrived in great shape and with
even anodizing.</li><li>Tail stands very well.</li><li>Lanyard
holes should accomodate paracord.</li><li>Came with decent
lanyard and split ring.</li><li>Price!</li></ul><p><span
style="font-size:
large;"><strong>CONS</strong></span></p><ul><li>Lots of
machining marks on flat surfaces of the battery tube and tail
cap under certain light.</li><li>While the plastic reflector is
a con to some, it's performance says otherwise.</li><li>Some
battery rattle.</li><li>Button top cells recommended. My
Panasonic unprotected flat tops work but others may
not.</li><li>Threads were not lubricated but that's easily
resolved.<!--break--></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:
large;"><strong>PICTURES</strong></span></p><p>As usual,
pictures say more than words can. They don't lie and they are
unbiased. I'll provide a little commentary as we go through
them.</p><p>The light arrived having been drop shipped by one of
DX's suppliers. Looking up the tracking number on the label
shows that it only took 10 days to arrive. It shipped out on
the 16th and arrived on the 26th. Nothing special with
packaging. Just a padded manilla envelope barely large enough
to hold the box inside.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-D8Bsmp6XKNs/ULQzQDQzClI/AAAAAAAAFkY/jBg09NUy_nM/s800/IMG_20121126_121756.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Inside the
envelope was the usual white box and inside of that was a bubble
bag containing the torch and lanyard.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EjsTOhBVWeU/ULPdvpmsahI/AAAAAAAAFio/MVdVfDK4kLs/s800/IMG_20121126_121849.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Here is th
e
torch and lanyard. No spare o-rings. Fortunately all were in
place and intact and no spares were needed. With only one
o-ring in it's design it probably wouldn't have been needed.
The lanyard is not bad. It's good to see better lanyards being
included with the more recent torch offerings.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZJk-RkGhMA8/ULPepP6-jrI/AAAAAAAAFh0/9JftWJU6dB8/s800/IMG_20121126_134823.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>The well
designed reflector surrounding the perfectly centered
emitter.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T7Ps-MdwiVI/ULPdzm3NwPI/AAAAAAAAFi4/W2ij2qhxEvo/s800/IMG_20121126_122032.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>The emitte
r
is centered with a nylon centering bushing.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LhC4frAv5p0/ULPeg8zJsfI/AAAAAAAAFiI/hnCrmQfRI1U/s800/IMG_20121126_132810.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>The
machining on the head is actually very nice. No machining
marks, clean finning, great threads, and nice anodizing.<br>
<img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F9_8PIdK3B8/ULPeVRr72aI/AAAAAAAAFkE/V9ufeTiJuNA/s800/IMG_20121126_132603.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Plenty of
fins mean lots of surface area to help wick away the heat
produced by the XM-L emitter.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wFFHs0MxjeM/ULPeahZcSDI/AAAAAAAAFkM/Lv1pLhNMm58/s800/IMG_20121126_132656.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Another sh
ot
at the fins surrounding the pill. Deep fins and plenty of space
for air to flow through them.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yLwZZ5KL0uA/ULPeUXcvMhI/AAAAAAAAFj8/RTLiypuY22g/s800/IMG_20121126_132534.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Once we hi
t
the body/battery tube things change in the quality of the
machining. It's almost as if the head and body were machined by
two different suppliers. They well may have been. It's not
that the body is bad, it isn't, it's just cosmetic flaws in the
flat areas due to tooling marks as you will see in the next few
pics.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oWqnKLUPBn4/ULPeUV9rKjI/AAAAAAAAFkA/W4ihQk2OOwo/s800/IMG_20121126_132554.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Laser
etching is bold and clean. You can see the machining marks
easily in this pic. FOrtunately they are only visible under
close scrutiny and propper lighting but they are still
there.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KOupDnW2orc/ULPeXnF_AOI/AAAAAAAAFkI/o7i_0W_siok/s800/IMG_20121126_132617.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Machining
on
the curved area of the body are nice. Here you can see the grip
ridges along the curved sides on the body.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1D-t2cHIOjA/ULPecHpuLMI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/gKOpCsUihNY/s800/IMG_20121126_132720.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>On either
side of the body at the rear are the lanyard attachment points.
While they do stick out a fair bit, they are sturdy and should
accomodate thicker split rings and paracord lanyards.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xX706WMv2tg/ULPeh2b-guI/AAAAAAAAFiE/lvj0lUXZIK0/s800/IMG_20121126_132826.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Another lo
ok
at the machining and tooling marks. The tail base is stainless
steel.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-urB8ZVdJvdg/ULPej-BRqZI/AAAAAAAAFiA/smAI9U06lxc/s800/IMG_20121126_132838.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>The driver
PCB is 30mm across and is press fit. My example was extremely
tight and had to be pried out with a pic. From what I hear,
recent examples from other dealers have poorly fitting drivers
and the assemblers actually used pieces of paper as wedges to
shim out the dirver for a snug fit. My example from DX needed
no such shims and had to be firmly pressed back into the pill
after being pried out with a pick. More on the pill in a
bit.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Ysz1a1s95M/ULPdz0pk0KI/AAAAAAAAFi8/DGW1muNKmrU/s800/IMG_20121126_122121.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>For now,
lets take a quick look at what is in the head.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LiSQKF7wKMA/ULPd44NxW4I/AAAAAAAAFjI/g3lTlxwjBk0/s800/IMG_20121126_122646.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Clean
anodized threads for the lightly crenelated aluminum bezel.
Clean, nearly square threads for the pill at the base of the
head. The lens and lens gasket (not an o-ring) fit snugly in
the hit with zero rattle.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AXYjXw51pvk/ULPd_ciiUYI/AAAAAAAAFjM/zp40ppYAoeA/s800/IMG_20121126_122658.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Huge but
very lightweight pill. Lots of threads for lots of surface
contact with the head to help wick away the heat produced by the
emitter. Emitter mounting area is solid and there is thermal
grease between it and the MCPCB.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XDBSfBpKMO8/ULPeAbdt04I/AAAAAAAAFjU/NWd3uIOsX-w/s800/IMG_20121126_122712.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Lots of
clean threads on the pill. The pill is 32mm tall...it's huge.
The wide rim at the base sits against a matching recessed area
in the base of the head.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VbaaMGhdxUY/ULPeFMiEHgI/AAAAAAAAFjY/r0T3JpxnzSI/s800/IMG_20121126_122720.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>The inside
of the pill is cavernous and can accomodate just about any
driver you should want to use should the need arise to replace
the stock driver. It's 24.5mm deep and 27.88mm across. You
could always use it to smuggle arms or even mexicans across the
border. :p<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-os2pl2yGy3o/ULVvh1HHBLI/AAAAAAAAFms/am7C-CXd37M/s800/IMG_20121127_201253.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>A close lo
ok
at the driver components. There is PWM but it's some of the
fastest I've seen in a budget light. Much better than most
budget offerings.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JoEuG6SvEo4/ULVviJFPIII/AAAAAAAAFmo/6nV6iU6K6pQ/s800/IMG_20121127_201247.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>The lens i
s
3mm thick. The silicone gasket fits snugly around the lens
sealing it on both the outer edge and against the flat where it
mates against the reflector. Water tight, snug and rattle
free.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-66d_m0SMuQA/ULPeF5en8EI/AAAAAAAAFjc/OILeniShvlc/s800/IMG_20121126_122729.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>The
reflector is plastic, not aluminum as advertised, but is well
chromed, smooth and blemish free.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yQMlz-o4hdI/ULPeJa2p1yI/AAAAAAAAFjg/w9ahmI9vlfY/s800/IMG_20121126_122756.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Moving dow
n
to the base of the head we can see the clean, nearly square
threads that the body screws onto. The o-ring here is the only
o-ring on the light and is the proper diameter and thickness to
provide a decent seal against casual water intrusion.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OzvlJBJhwFE/ULPlHjSTeBI/AAAAAAAAFhs/17yk-uJ9ZEU/s720/IMG_20121126_164505.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 734px;"></p><p> </p><p>Super clea
n
threads on the body match those on the head where they join
together.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L269lgHNSWA/ULPlJ3Qa03I/AAAAAAAAFgo/km5LXWegFd8/s800/IMG_20121126_164729.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>My
unprotected Panasonics with flat anodes actually work but not
all flat-headed cells will. Button top cells are
recommended.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kHh6g8ywFlQ/ULPeKLz74sI/AAAAAAAAFjs/LuhsILKjCz4/s800/IMG_20121126_131406.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Laser
etching inside the battery cutouts shows the proper way to
insert the cells.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-McAgiZwijwg/ULPeLUzPnoI/AAAAAAAAFjw/v8W9-4ZDFmE/s800/IMG_20121126_131433.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Gold-plate
d
spring in the base provide contact for negative current. All
65-70mm long cells should fit just fine.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w_DXMwK3Vio/ULPd2bt54QI/AAAAAAAAFjE/FzsiDiUrYbU/s800/IMG_20121126_122216.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>A look at
the stainless steel base for the switch components. You can see
all the machining marks. Purely cosmetic but it would be nice
if the tooling marks were not there. The switch feel is very
nice - light yet firm. The switch boot is thick but supple. It
feels very durable. 4 allen head screws hold the tail piece
securely to the body.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KH06mVRCIHE/ULPeP2hDAcI/AAAAAAAAFj0/0CAKCe5sk8E/s800/IMG_20121126_132408.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>With the 4
screws removed you can see there is a soft rubber gasket between
the tail cap and the body. This should provide plenty of water
resistance and a small bit of shock protection if the light is
dropped on it's tail. The switch cap is held tightly by a
thick, threaded ring.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-scNspXJ6e6I/ULVvHUzIoKI/AAAAAAAAFmA/FRJAzXlqmVg/s800/IMG_20121127_204029.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Tail secti
on
completely broken down.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Kz-b_d7pzLg/ULVvH8Z4xYI/AAAAAAAAFmE/nT52tUMAfQo/s800/IMG_20121127_204117.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Here is th
e
switch inside the rear of the body. The mounting board is held
with two screws.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GoORMNWyVSk/ULVvLs6cwVI/AAAAAAAAFmU/6BUgNFCRBno/s800/IMG_20121127_204252.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>Here is th
e
switch PCB removed from the body.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IeQsNCi9-Kw/ULVvMO3fXdI/AAAAAAAAFmY/uBGtYuijXfs/s800/IMG_20121127_204348.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>And a look
at the battery side. All of it is easily accessed for repairs
or upgrades.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dZ-72mVxk7k/ULVvMz1HJ3I/AAAAAAAAFmc/IVrftfxjmnk/s800/IMG_20121127_204358.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>This is th
e
tail of the body showing all of the mating surfaces for the
switch plate and tail piece. All surfaces here are cleanly
machined and perfectly smooth. Thank goodness. Also, none of
the screw holes were stripped and all the screws fit perfectly
into their assigned holes.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6GrdW9cXXCs/ULVvObADLdI/AAAAAAAAFmk/vlkjfCR6pog/s800/IMG_20121127_204407.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>It
tailstands perfectly, BTW.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b6Hh0p3AtTo/ULPemNV4bwI/AAAAAAAAFh8/aaJspV3TJqE/s800/IMG_20121126_132853.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p>A final lo
ok
at the whole light wiht the lanyard attached.<br> <img
src="
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p3WsOYsAJYY/ULPeqf3ElSI/AAAAAAAAFhw/hoGGQIo78l0/s800/IMG_20121126_135236.jpg"<br
/>style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></p><p> </p><p><span
style="font-size:
large;"><strong>CONCLUSION</strong></span></p><p>Parts of the
light excel while other areas leave me wanting. Fortunately the
parts that leave me wanting are only cosmetic. For performance
everything hits all the sweet spots and works just like you want
in a light. For the price, the performance, and for overall
build quality I have to give this light a strong recommendation.
</p><p>I'd been delaying purchasing one of these lights after
hearing about issues with the examples received by members from
other suppliers. When DX offered to send me one for review I
jumped at the chance and with all honesty I can say that I would
buy another one to replace this one if this was ever lost or
destroyed. Until others get problematic examples from DX, and
hopefully they won't, I have to thank them for sending this
light for review and encourage anyone who hasn't purchased this
light yet or was worried about quality issues to <a
href="
HTML http://dx.com/p/small-sun-zy-t08-cree-xm-l-t6-800lm-5-mode-white-light-flashlight-black-2-x-18650-150860"<br
/>target="_blank"> buy it from DX</a>. It's a few dollars more
at
this time than it can be had from other dealers but the build
quality and performance of my example is outstanding and worth
the extra coin.</p><p>As always, your comments are encouraged
and welcome.</p><p>Johnny</p>[/html]
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