Breaking out a standard classic for today’s post-Thanksgiving Fun Fund Friday review. It’s a twisty 10180 light by the well known Steve Ku of Veleno Designs. This is my second of these, and despite being available for years, they’re still being sold today!

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the official product page.

Versions

This is a bit of a tough one, since I think the Quantum has gone through some revisions. This is the Quantum D2. At the very least there was a Quantum DD, which had the QTC (more on that later) in a different, less favorable, position.

The current version, the D2, is available in a few different emitter options (at least of and on). Cree XP-G3 (NW or CW), Nichia 219c, and occasionally Cree XP-L HI.

There also might be a coated version of the D2. I’m talking to Steve Ku now and I’ll flesh out this section for historical purposes, as much as he’s willing, and when he’s willing.

Price

All current options are $60, and while they aren’t in stock they do come in waves. Most times they get mentioned on the Veleno Designs Facebook page, which you can find here: facebook.com/VelenoDesigns

Short Review

This is a very cool and well considered little keychain light. There are a couple of things that make it a light I won’t use much, but it’s one I’m happy to have. I don’t love twisties, first of all. Secondly, while I love the technological side of QTC, in practice I almost never love lights with it. While it works good and fine here, it’s still QTC.

Long Review

The Big Table

* 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

Veleno Designs Quantum D2

Keychain Triangle (2)

Spare O-ring

My package was purchased used, and did not include a 10180. I had one, so it didn’t matter – but according to the documentation on the official page, a 10180 is included with the purchase price.

Package and Manual

The package is a plastic form fit (seen above) and a zip top bag. There is no manual.

Build Quality and Disassembly

As I said above, the Quantum is a well considered light. The body is stainless steel, which means that while living on a keychain and receiving a ton of abuse, it should have a long and happy life. Stainless is a very robust material.

This is a twisty light, and while there’s no knulring anywhere on the body, there are “vertical” lines into the head which allow grip enough for twisting.

The threads are very fine and also very long. That’s perfectly reasonable since it’s a progressive twisty. The tighter the head is twisted onto the body, the more output is obtained.

The tail end is a “dumb” cavity, too. Just a metal piece; no electronics or QTC bits or anything. (I believe in the Quantum DD, the QTC was in fact in the tail end; I think this differentiates the two).

Below, you can see the head (center) which includes the tiny square of QTC compound.

The tail on all models have two sets of fins. These aren’t for cooling, but strictly for decoration – a tritium fits in here. Steve will install these for free with purchase of light and tritium. The tritium size is 1.5x6mm.

These tritium vials are visible from the side (through the fins) and also from the end.

Size and Comps

A proper smol light.

Below is another 10180 light. It’s different in a number of ways. First this Astrolux M01 is titanium. Secondly, inside the body is a charge port! Since my Quantum didn’t come with a charger, I used this Astrolux as a charger. This is a reasonable trade off, since Steve’s [very cool] charger is $20, and the M01 itself is only $15ish and also includes a cell (which could be seen as a spare cell for the Quantum).

If you wonder does the M01 make me wish the Quantum was titanium? Yes, yes it does.

Retention and Carry

I always just throw this light in a pocket, but primarily you’ll probably use it on a keychain. There’s a very beefy triangle for connection, and a loop through the tail of the body for connecting this loop, too.

It’s probably possible to remove this triangle and connect the Quantum directly to a spit ring, too. This could be beneficial because you could grip the [bigger] split ring for easier twisting of the head for operation.

There’s no magnet, no pocket clip, nothing else for carrying the Quantum.

Power and Runtime

All Quantums are powered by a single 10810 cell. That’s a lithium ion cell, so has a nominal voltage of 3.7V and fully charge should be around 4.2V. The 10180 cell that the Quantum needs is a bit specialized, since the bottom (negative) needs to be revealed as seen below. I had to remove the wrapper with a razor blade, from the cell of the Astrolux M01.

As most lights, the cell goes into the light with the anode toward the emitter.

Here’s a runtime with the cell shown above. Output is quite low in my testing – from what I read, the D2 should be around 120 lumens. At startup, I’m only seeing around 55 lumens. This doesn’t bother me, since I’m not using this light in a way to need 120 lumens. And my version is old, so maybe with newer emitters, you’ll see higher output, too.

Neither runtime exhibited LVP; I ultimately shut the light off manually.

Also these two runtimes are essentially the same – I just twisted the light as tight as I could for “Highest” and ran that twice. Since the lower modes aren’t defined, picking one of those wouldn’t be all that meaningful for testing.

PWM

No evidence of PWM on any mode. Three lower randomly selected modes, and finally the highest mode, too.

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

The UI (and really how it works) is the real kicker. Yes, it’s a twisty. But it’s not a typical discreet mode twisty. It has a “ramping” progressive output, due to QTC. QTC is quantum-tunnelling composite.

Quantum-tunnelling composite (QTC) is a flexible polymer which contains tiny metal particles. It is normally an insulator but if it is squeezed it becomes a conductor. QTC can be used to make membrane switches like those used on mobile phones, pressure sensors and speed controllers.

So in the application of flashlights, the more compressed the composite becomes (by twisting the head tighter), the more current it conducts. Which leads to more output.

It’s a very neat thing. QTC can wear out though, and so Steve includes a spare patch with the Quantum. I am not the biggest QTC fan, but this sample has worked great.

Here’s a UI table!

State Action Result Off Tighten Head On On Tighten Head More Brighter On Loosen Head Low to Off

LED and Beam

I purchased this used but was told it’s a Cree XP-G2. It’s an older variant, so that’s probably reasonable. If I was buying now I’d definitely get Nichia 219c or Cree XP-L HI. Those are good choices.

These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. Sort of random modes from lower to highest output.

Tint vs BLF-348 (Killzone 219b version)

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

Conclusion

What I like

Great attention to build details

Includes (or can include) tritium

Updated to current emitter options

Steve is a great maker to support

What I don’t like

It’s a small twisty, so if you have big man hands it might be cumbersome to use

You need to really like QTC to like it

Pricey since it’s stainless and charger is extra

Notes

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

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