Neal over at NealsGadgets sent a new Lumintop my way. It’s an update to the EDC05… Quite an update too, because this one adds some side emitters and charging. It removes the option of using any cell except 14500 li-ion cells, though. Read on for more!

Official Specs and Features

I can’t see this on Lumintop’s site yet, so for now here’s as official a link as I can find.

Versions

There seems to be only one version of the EDC05C, but of course there’s still the EDC05 if you don’t wish to have charging, and want AA support.

Price and Coupon

These are going for $39.90 at the moment. I should have a coupon presently, though!

Short Review

This is a neat little light. Based on the build, I understand why there’s no AA support, but I’d like for the UI to be a bit more fleshed out. The side emitters are neat. Overall it’s a nice little package. I’d like for a cell to be included, though.

Long Review

The Big Table

* Standard measurement disclaimer: I am an amateur flashlight reviewer. I don’t have $10,000 or even $1,000 worth of testing equipment. I test output and such in PVC tubes!! Please consider claims within 10% of what I measure to be perfectly reasonable (accurate, even).

What’s Included

Lumintop EDC05C Flashlight

Pocket clip (not attached)

Spare o-rings (3)

Note that I’m not sure this is an official retail package, as I didn’t receive a manual. Normally I’m sure a manual will be included, but I don’t know what else might be. (Probably nothing else.)

Package and Manual

The package is a very usual Lumintop cardboard box. There is no manual in my box, but you can expect one.

Here are reader submitted photos of the manual! Thanks D T A!

Build Quality and Disassembly

The build of this little light feel as robust as any light I can recall. It’s a very solid little unit.

It’s a sort of a “unibody” design – there is no head or tail to unscrew off the body. More on that later.

The way to get at the cell is by removing this coin-like tailcap. The recess is extremely shallow, making the edge retention of that little groove paramount for cell removal. I found a number of tools that will work – unfortunately I couldn’t find a way to make the pocket clip do the trick. (Seriously, the pocket clip should work for this!) What I found worked best was just a flat head screwdriver. It’s still not perfect – too narrow – but it does work reliably, and with the least amount of effort.

The side of the EDC05C is dominated by a COB type emitter array. This is 4 Nichia E17 emitters, and that little white strip is a GITD strip. Also I found that this strip removes frustratingly easily, but it’s also easy to get back in. There doesn’t seem to be any glue holding it in.

The bezel appears to be press fit into the head.

The body has fins up and down both sides. They look almost like Picatinny mounts, but they are not.

Here’s the tool I used most often with the tailcap removal. A copper u-clip, broken in half. I use these things for so much….

The tailcap comes out after a good bit of twisting. It feels like it’s stainless (and should be, with the thin slot, mentioned above). There’s a long spring on it, and a magnet too.

The head end has only a brass button.

Like I said, the white side cover glows!

Size and Comps

Officially: Size: 90.2*21.4mm (length*diameter)

Net Weight: 70g (including battery) (even though they don’t seem to include a battery)

It’s not exactly cumbersome in hand, but getting it like you want it will probably require a bit of manipulating.

Retention and Carry

First to mention is the magnet in the tailcap. It’s a very strong magnet, and this is a light light, so the magnet has no trouble holding the light in place.

The other option is the pocket clip. It’s a proper deep carry clip, and is one of my favorite clips of late. It’s deep carry, has a big mouth, isn’t overly big, and doesn’t get bound up around the friction fit part – it goes fully and easily onto a pocket.

The clip provides a lanyard attachment point as well, though a lanyard was not included. The friction clip is probably attached securely enough that a lanyard would be safe here.

Power and Runtime

The EDC05C runs on a single 14500 cell. That’s a li-ion cell, and that’s the only type cell that’ll work. No AA, primary alkaline, NiMH etc. None of it.

Also what cell that works electrically is further limited by what fits physically. I found a bit of a hard time picking a cell that’ll work. And that’s why I think Lumintop should be including a cell with these. The inclusion of on-board charging, and the difficult with which the tailcap is removed, what’s likely to happen is that a single cell will spend its whole life in this light. That’s fine, indeed, but don’t make it hard to find the right cell!

What I ended up using was one of these Vapcell Flat Top 14500. A shorter cell is probably favored, since the contact point of issue is the tailcap seating fully into the body. A long cell could prevent this. Also flat/button isn’t an issue either way, since the light has a brass button for positive contact anyway. Just length seems to be a problem.

Here are a few runtimes. This runtime could be the first indication I have a pre-production model or something, because my output numbers don’t line up all that well with what’s mentioned on the product listing. Output on high is flat til the stepdown, which is respectable.

In all of these 3 tests following, I say they didn’t shut off, but in truth I didn’t give them time. The light does have LVP.

Here’s the main difference…. High on the side emitters is very bright for side emitters. I measured them to be as bright as the main emitter. Completely different experience of course, since the main emitter is directed, and the side emitters aren’t.

There’s a flash warning at 2.7V, and at 2.6V the light turns off. That’s the same for both front and side emitters.

On-board charging happens via a charge port in the head, opposite the switch. The port cover fits very well, and is also easy to get open.

Charging is around 0.45A, which is suitable for 14500 cells.

During charging, the side switch is red. When charge is complete, the switch is green.

PWM

Main emitter shows zero signs of PWM (yay).

Same with the secondary/side emitter. Also no PWM.

For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor. And here’s the worst PWM light I have ever owned. Also one of the very first lights I ordered directly from China!

User Interface and Operation

There’s a single switch on the EDC05C. It’s an indicating e-switch on the head.

Here’s a UI table!

State Action Result Off Click On (Main Emitter) – Mode Memory (LMH only) Off Hold Moonlight (Main Emitter) Off Double Click On (Side Emitters) – Mode Memory* On (Any) Hold Off** Moonlight (Main) Hold >5s Strobe Moonlight (Main) Double Click Moonlight (Side) Strobe Group Click Strobe Advance (Strobe, SOS, Beacon)*,*** Strobe Group Hold Off On (Side) Click Mode Advance (LMH)**** Off Hold >5s Lockout Lockout Hold >5s Unlock^ Lockout Any Click Momentary Low On (Main) Double Click On (Side Emitters) – Medium

* This is different from what’s described on the product page

** “Off” happens differently for Main and Side. With the Side on, or LMH of Main, Hold turns the light off after about a second. With the Moonlight Main on, Hold doesn’t turn the light off until it’s released. (This is not ideal behavior.)

*** If you turn the light off in Beacon mode, the light will preflash one Beacon blast on any next main emitter mode. (This is not ideal behavior.)

**** Despite the manual stating it, I couldn’t find a Moonlight on the Side Emitters. I have a feeling it’s there, but the description doesn’t accurately state how to get to it. (A kind reader sent photos of the manual and described how to get into Side Moonlight. It’s added to the table.)

^ During 5s hold, light will be on in Momentary Low. Light will go off – still locked. Light will come back on in low – now light is unlocked.

There’s a lot going on in this UI. I checked it pretty thoroughly, especially since the product page doesn’t seem to have it all that correct. For general usage, the light will be pretty straight forward. But if you happen to need Strobe et al often, then this might not be the light for you.

Usage of the indicating side switch is really underwhelming in this UI.

Modes and Currents

Mode Mode Claimed Output (lm) Claimed Runtime Measured Lumens Tailcap Amps Front High 500 50m 426 0.71 Front Medium 200 2h 5m 143 0.19 Front Low 35 18h 19 0.02 Front Moonlight 2 140h ~ ~ Side High 175 0.4h 414 0.72 Side Medium 65 1.7h 106 0.19 Side Low 10 12h 14 0.02 Side Moonlight 1 “h” ? ?

(I’ll fill the rest of that out presently.)

LED and Beam

The main emitter is a Cree XHP35 HI. You may say to yourself, isn’t that a 12V emitter? You’d be right, and that’s likely one of the reasons this light requires a Li-ion cell. The main emitter is Cool White.

The reflector is surprisingly deep, and also is lightly orange peel.

The four side emitters are Nichia E17a emitters, and are Neutral White.

These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure.

Here’s the main emitter. Seem to have left Moonlight off this light, but I assure you it would not show up on these photos anyway.

And here’s the side emitter beamshots. Unlike my reasons for not having the other moonlight, the reason I don’t include a moonlight shot for the side emitters is because I never found it in the UI!

Tint vs BLF-348 (Killzone 219b version)

Main emitter:

Side emitter: (Making great use of that magnet.)

I compare everything to the Killzone 219b BLF-348, because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!

Conclusion

What I like

Side emitters being Nichia E17a is a nice touch.

Very warm (“Natural white”) side emitters

GITD cover on side emitters

On-board charging works appropriately

Build is very robust.

Excellent pocket clip

High strength magnet.

What I don’t like

Could be fantastic if the cell was included!

Cell hard to remove

Indicating side switch is under utilized

UI is a bit of a crapshoot. A real manual is needed.

Notes

This light was provided by NealsGadgets for review. I was not paid to write this review.

This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!

Whether or not I have a coupon for this light, I do have a bunch of coupons!! Have a look at my spreadsheet for those coupons. It’s possible to subscribe and get notifications when the sheet is edited!!