Extreme light yield, but with stumbling block ...

Today I want my experience with the Fenix ​​TK15, especially when using 18650 battery, to share with you. I had the incredible good fortune to get this flashlight directly for just under 60 euros, on Amazon. The lamp is for me the successor, my in the years have come, MagLite 3D (with LED Upgrade). This had now been with me for seven years reliably.

Since I professionally, and personally often use the flashlight, you should now her little brighter and especially easier. The choice finally fell on the Fenix ​​TK 15 (New Model). The first version I knew of colleagues and was absolutely thrilled by this.

The torch I ordered along with a NiteCore Intellicharge i2 Charger for Li-Ion, NiMH and NiCd batteries and two 3.7V 2500mAh EagleTec 18650 Li-ion batteries.

The first impression:

The lamp is in terms of size, made for my hands. Personally, I particularly like this, let's call him "tactical" look of the torch. Also, the operating concept is conclusive. At the bottom of the flashlight with pressure switch on and OFF can be. Slight pressure Switches to the lamp for the duration of the print. At the top there is a button with which you can switch between the different Leuchtmodis. By holding the button Print the strobe mode. The lamp remembers the auschschalten the last selected light level. If you switch the lamp but in stroboscopic mode off and on again, the previously selected light level is activated. But this only in passing ...

Up to this point I have the lamp used and tested with the supplied (outrageously expensive) CR123A batteries. The lamp has endured about three hours with the batteries. Meanwhile, I've used the flashlight almost exclusively in turbo mode (400 lumens) and stroboscope mode. When the power source is depleted, the lamp turns gradually into the darker Leuchtmodis ...

Of course I have now (unfortunately not in the form of German ...) read the operating instructions and then I remembered a table for use with different batteries and batteries in the eye. Here I found the first, there is a significant stumbling block. It was luckily the only ...

As is unfortunately nowhere mentioned in this table, I submit you about it:

Type: - (Dimensions :) - Nominal Voltage: - Usability:
1) Fenix ​​ARB-L2 Battery - (18650) - 3.6V (!!!) - Recommend (Recommended)
2) CR123A Battery - (CR123A) - 3.0V - Recommend (Recommended)
3) CR123A battery (Li-Ion) - (16340) - 3.7V - Banned (Banned)
4) 18650 battery (Li-Ion) - (18650) - 3.7V - Cautious (Dangerous !!!)
5) CR123A battery (LiFePO4) - (16340) - 3.2V - Usable (Usable)
6) 18650 battery (LiFePO4) - (18650) - 3.2V - Banned (Banned)

Now from the can clearly be seen that Fenix ​​(CR123A design) allows only its own battery (18650 with special voltage of 3.6V), normal Lthium batteries (CR123A) and LiFePO4 batteries for use. Any commercial 18650 battery, alas, has 3.7V voltage, which unfortunately cause problems with this torch that I have even noticed immediately .... Sorry!

These batteries occurs (when fully charged) in Turbo mode, a flicker on and the lamp then switches back stage three a. The effect actually occurs when the battery or the battery is empty. This phenomenon does not occur when using original batteries Fenix.

The fact that the commercially available Fenix ​​3.7V to 3.6V reduces UMD buyer of the lamp to bind to its own battery, the flashlight costs unfortunately a star. From a processing and luminosity ago, the lamp would have certainly earned the fifth star, but the product policy is not really conclusive!

Conclusion:
+ Extreme luminosity
+ Very good workmanship
Included + Batteries
+ Practical holster, replacement cap for pressure switches and spare O-ring included.
+ Lots of optional accessories. (Various color filters, cable switch, traffic wand attachment, etc.)
+2 Years "free repair warranty" (When registering on the manufacturer's website 30 months)

- Use of commercially available 18650 Li-ion batteries (3.7V) causes problems
- Only In-house 18650 batteries can be used with 3.6V voltage
- Normal CR123A relatively expensive

In summary, I would buy myself the flashlight, despite the battery problems at any time. Because everything else fits really perfect!

ADDENDUM:'ve decided, in addition to upload an image of the operating instructions and the relevant table. The image can be found on the Products page under "customer images".