NLIGHTD L2 A Tiny Laser Excited Phosphor Torch Review
NLIGHTD L2⌗
- Specifications
- Introduction
- Torch in use
- Build quality
- LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam
- Size and comparison
- User interface
- Batteries and charging
- Performance
- Beamshots
- Conclusion
- Price
- Product page
Specifications⌗
| Brand/model | NLIGHTD L2 |
|---|---|
| LEP | CT1-Mini Transmissive |
| Maximum lumens | 300 lm |
| Maximum beam intensity | 122,600 cd |
| Maximum throw | 700 m |
| Battery | 1*14500 Li-ion |
| Onboard charging | No |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Modes | 2 |
| Blinkies | |
| Waterproof | IPX8 |
| Review date | June 2024 |
Introduction⌗
The NLIGHTD L2 is a small 14500-sized torch with an 8.4W transmission-type LEP module!
NLIGHTD is a brand by nealsgadgets.com.
The L2 is available in: Aluminium Black, Aluminum White, Copper, Titanium Polished and Titanium Stonewashed.
I am so excited to see this torch being produced!
I saw a small LEP flashlight when I visited a LEP module factory.
Shortly after, Neal announced the NLIGHTD L2! This was a pure coincidence because this L2 was being developed over the past year.
Neal kindly provided this torch for review. I have not been paid for this review nor have I held back my opinions of this torch.
Packaging⌗
The NLIGHTD L2 comes in a box with the NLIGHTD logo on the top. There is foam to protect the torch and the accessories.
The following was included in the box:
- NLIGHTD L2
- Flat top Vapcell H10 14500 3.7V Li-ion 1000mAh
- Pocket clip
- Two spare o-rings
Torch in use⌗
The NLIGHTD L2 is tiny!
The metal forward-clicky tail switch feels nice and it gives a satisfying click.
The torch can tailstand on the metal button but it topples over easily.
There is no lanyard hole.
Build quality⌗
The body of this version of the NLIGHTD L2 is made of aluminium and it has a matte black anodised finish.
The torch feels smooth and there are no sharp edges.
Knurling on the head provide some grip.
The threads came well lubricated and there is an o-ring at each end. That said, the threads will become gritty over time.
The two-way pocket clip fits securely around the tube and it is held in place by the tailcap.
The torch came with some protective film on the lens to remove.
Six tritium vials, or glow sticks, can be added to the tailcap.
Button top cells are a tight squeeze because the positive terminal is a bit long on the driver. I was not able to close the tailcap properly with button top cells.
It would be nice if the positive terminal had a shorter notch so that button top cells fit comfortably.
The torch appears to have reverse polarity protection. I put a flat top 14500 cell in backwards and I tried to turn the torch on. The torch did not turn on. The torch continued to work properly after I put the cell in the correct way.
LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam⌗
The NLIGHTD L2 has an 8.4W transmission-type LEP module. It is the CT1-Mini LEP module from Blue Lake.
I was able to unscrew the head easily.
It has a copper threaded housing. There is an inner lens above the yellow phosphor.
The top of the copper pill has a protective glass lens with a green anti-reflective coating.
A collimating lens sits in the head with a thin o-ring, a flat glow ring and a glass lens sitting on top.
The blue glow ring near the lens looks cool but it does not hold the glow for long.
CCT, CRI, and duv⌗
I have taken Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) and Colour Rendering Index (CRI, RA of R1-R8) measurements with the torch positioned ten metres away from an Opple Light Master Pro III (G3).
The CCT is around 6000K, the CRI is around 56 and the Delta u, v is positive (green) on Low and closer to pure white on High.
The beam produced is narrow and it has a practical hot spot for EDC use.
| Mode | CCT (K) | CRI (Ra) | x | y | Duv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 5833 | 54.6 | 0.3238 | 0.3684 | 0.0171 |
| High | 6228 | 59.0 | 0.3156 | 0.3518 | -0.0054 |
Calculate Duv from CIE 1931 xy coordinates
Dimensions and size comparison⌗
Dimensions⌗
I took the following measurements using a digital caliper.
| Measurement | Unit (mm) |
|---|---|
| Length | 101.1 |
| Head diameter | 22.9 |
| Tail diameter | 23.0 |
| Button diameter | 9.8 |
| Tritium slot | 1.6 * 7.4 |
| Battery length | 49.1 |
Weight⌗
I took the following measurements using a digital scale.
| Weight | Unit (g) |
|---|---|
| NLIGHTD L2 | 85.59 |
| Battery | 22.10 |
| NLIGHTD L2 with battery | 107.69 |
Size comparison with its competition⌗
The L2 is relatively small compared to a Lumintop Petal and an Amutorch BT35.
From left to right: Lumintop Petal, NLIGHTD L2, Amutorch BT35
From left to right: Lumintop Petal, NLIGHTD L2, Amutorch BT35
From left to right: NLIGHTD L2, Lumintop Petal
From left to right: NLIGHTD L2, Lumintop Petal
User interface⌗
The NLIGHTD L2 has a forward-clicky tail switch.
There are two main modes: Low and High.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Half press | Momentary on (mode memory) |
| Off | Half press within 1 second | Cycle (Low, High) |
| Off | Click | On (mode memory) |
| On | Click | Off |
Mode memory⌗
There is mode memory.
The torch will use the last used mode when turning the torch back on.
Strobe⌗
There does not appear to be a Strobe mode.
Low voltage protection⌗
There is low voltage protection. The light turns off around 3V.
There is a low voltage warning. The light flashes when the voltage gets low.
I tested low voltage protection by connecting the driver of the torch to a bench power supply and then by lowering the voltage from 4.2V to 0V.
| Mode | LVP? | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Yes | 2.88V |
| High | Yes | 3.01V |
Pulse Width Modulation⌗
I did not notice any visible PWM (flickering).
I measured the PWM of the light with a Zoyi ZT-703S oscilloscope.
What I like about the UI⌗
- Simple.
- Forward-clicky tail switch.
What could be improved⌗
- I like the user interface but it would be nice if Low had an output of 20 lumens and a longer runtime.
Batteries and charging⌗
Battery⌗
A flat top Vapcell 14500 3.7V Li-ion 1000mAh cell was included inside the torch. It arrived with a voltage of 3.83V.
The cell was isolated with a piece of cardboard to prevent accidentally turning the torch on.
I tried the following cells:
| Cell | Top | Compatible? | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acebeam ARC14500 Li-ion 920mAh 3.7V USB-C | Button | Maybe | The pocket clip is loose. |
| LOOP 14500 Li-ion 920mAh 3.6V USB-C | Button | Maybe | The pocket clip is loose. |
| Vapcell H10 14500 3.7V Li-ion 1000mAh | Button | No | |
| Vapcell H10 14500 3.7V Li-ion 1000mAh | Flat | Yes | |
| Shockli Orange 14500 3.7V Li-ion 1000mAh | Flat | Yes | |
| eneloop pro AA 1.2V Ni-MH 2450mAh | Button | No |
I put “Maybe” because the torch will work but the tailcap is not fully screwed on.
Charging⌗
There is no built-in charging.
Performance⌗
Specifications from the product page:
| ANSI/NEMA FL1 | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Output (lumens) | 100 | 300 |
| Runtime | ||
| Beam Distance (metres) | 700 | |
| Beam Intensity (cd) | 122,600 |
I tested the light using a flat top Vapcell H10 14500 3.7V Li-ion 1000mAh cell.
Lumen measurements⌗
I used a UNI-T UT210E clamp meter to measure the current at turn on.
| Mode | Amps at start | Specs | Lumens @turn on | Lumens @30 sec | Lumens @10 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 0.87 A | 100 | 109 | 108 | 107 |
| High | 2.30 A | 300 | 280 | 270 | 241 |
Standby drain⌗
There is no standby drain. This torch has a forward-clicky tailswitch.
Runtime graphs⌗
I used my own DIY lumen tube with a TSL2591 sensor and forked bmengineer’s project RuTiTe to record runtimes.
Note: Lumen measurements may be off by 10% with my DIY lumen tube.
The room temperature was approximately 10 C.
Runtime⌗
Here is a summary of the runtime results:
| Mode | User manual | Runtime | Turn off | Final voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 33min 31s | 33min 31s | 3.02 | |
| Low | 1h 4min 33s | 1h 4min 33s | 2.96 |
“Runtime” is the time until the output reduces to 10% of the output at 30 seconds (as per the ANSI/PLATO FL1 2019 Standard).
“Turn off” is the time until my DIY lumen tube no longer detects more than one lumen.
“+” indicates that the light remained on after recording had stopped.
The runtime is a bit lower than I had expected for the Low mode but it using a 14500 cell with a capacity of 1000mAh.
The output is well regulated and it steps down nicely.
Throw⌗
I took lux measurements with a UNI-T UT383BT at 30 seconds. Low and High were measured at ten metres.
| Mode | Specs (cd) | Specs (m) | Candela measured (cd) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 14,375 | 239 | ||
| High | 122,600 | 700 | 141,300 | 751 |
Beamshots⌗
I went to a local park and I aimed the torch at a tree 100 metres away while using High.
Beamshots were taken using a Sony RX100M2 using 1.3", f3.2, ISO 800, 5000K WB.
NLIGHTD L2 (High)⌗
Lumintop Petal (LEP High)⌗
Here are some older photos before the BBQ and the shelter were replaced.
Amutorch BT35 (High)⌗
Weltool W4Pro (High)⌗
The beams of the Lumintop Petal and Amutorch BT35 seem to have a tighter hotspot compared to the L2.
Here is a comparison video:
Conclusion⌗
The NLIGHTD L2 is an awesome EDC-sized LEP torch!
The beam is narrow but it has a slightly more practical hot spot where you can comfortably walk around with it while pointing the beam at the ground five metres away.
If there were two things that I could change they would be:
- Make the Low mode 20 lumens so that the runtime lasts longer.
- Make the notch for the positive terminal shorter so that button top cells with USB-C charging fit.
Those two things are not deal breakers for me.
After testing the NLIGHTD L2 and playing around with this week, I can highly recommend it.
Pros:⌗
- Small size!
- Good build quality.
- Good beam distance.
- Practical hot spot.
- Simple user interface.
- Output is well regulated.
Cons:⌗
- Short runtime.
- It only accepts a flat top 14500 3.7V Li-ion cell.
- It gets hot on High.
Price⌗
The black aluminium NLIGHTD L2 is US$71.97 from nealsgadgets.com when using the early bird coupon code NLDL2 (40% off).
Product page⌗
Promo code: TimMcAU
Promo code: TIMMC
NLIGHTD L2 at nealsgadgets.com (affiliate link)
I may earn a commission if you use an affiliate link or a promo code. This will help fund future torch reviews and tutorials.