[candle lamp]

XENO has recently released the S3A (version-1) which is powered by 1x18650 or 2xCR123A. The light comes in a choice of emitter types (i.e., cool white, neutral white, warm white), and my review sample is the XM-L U2 cool white, 1B tint bin.

Manufacturer Specifications from user manual & Xeno website :
1. Emitter-CREE High-Power LED, XM-L series, 3-Color Temperature optional :
• XM-L 1B U2, Color Temperature 5000~8300K, Cool White, Max Output 300lms
• XM-L 3C T6, Color Temperature 4750~5000K, Neutral White, Max Output 280lms
• XM-L 7B T4, Color Temperature 2600~3700K, Warm White, Max Output 245lms
2. Output(OTF) & Burning Time*(CW version) :
• 6-Stage(3+3) Variable Output
• Normal :
- High(1000mA / OTF 300lms / 2.5hrs)
- Low(350mA / OTF 120lms / 8hrs)
- Ultra Low(20mA / OTF 20lms / 100hrs)
• Hidden :
- Strobe(1000mA / OTF 300lms / 10hrs)
- LB(350mA / OTF120 lms / 34hrs)
- SOS(350mA / OTF120 lms / 20hrs)
* Measured with single SANYO 2600mAH 18650 rechargeable Li-ion battery.
(Full recharged and continuous testing to get a burning time.)
* The experience result will be a little different for the battery of different brand, condition etc.
3. Datasheets under ANSI/NEMA FL-1 Standard
• Light Output : 300lms
• Runtime : 2.5hrs at High Output, 100hrs at Ultra Low
• Beam Distance : 65m
• Peak Beam Intensity : 1300cd
• Impact Resistance : 1m
• Water Resistance : IPX-7, 1m
4. Size & Weight :
• Size - Ø21.5mmxL111mm
• Net Weight - 1.8 oz(50g,battery not included).
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The box has a simple magnetic closing clasp, cut-out foam holding the light and extras. S3A packing includes S3A light, instruction & warrant paper, nylon cord wrist lanyard, spare o-ring, micro-reverse clicks switch.
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The hard (type III) anodizing is a matte dark gray and no flaws or scratches on my sample. There are identification labels on the head and battery tube. All labels (i.e., manufacturer name, model name, logo on the head and serial number on the battery tube) are white and clear. The light comes with a very nice matte built-in pocket clip, and it seems to be good quality. The clip is tail-facing, and not reversible. (i.e., the clip for head-facing use is impossible.)
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The light has 2 parts, i.e., body (head+battery tube) and tailcap.
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There is no cooling fins for heat dissipation on the head. (I think the S3A is not an heavily-driven light.) The positive battery contact has a 24K-gold plated spring. The circuit has not only over-discharge protection function for 18650 cell but also electrical reverse polarity protection function. The light uses double-sided AR coating lens, and light purple hue is reflected on it.

The aluminum reflector has light orange peel (LOP) pattern. The well-centered XM-L U2 LED sits at the bottom of the reflector cut.
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The light has a flat and shallow stainless steel bezel ring with its pure color.
The GITD O-ring is installed under the lens. It makes for an interesting green glow under the lens and it make it easier to locate the light in the dark for a moment after turning off the light. When you turn on the light, it charges up the GITD O-ring and then when you set it down on its side, you can see the ring.
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While there is no knurling to speak of the body, the five longitudinal grooves on the battery tube and pocket clip slightly help with grip. The wall thickness of the inside tube is reasonably thick, but looks somewhat thin at the front of the tube. The tailcap is also stainless steel like bezel ring. The female screw threads at the body are anodized, so tailcap lock out is possible.
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The full 360 degrees encircled pocket clip fits on the head very firmly. The clip looks too long for its body size, but is far sturdier than expected. It is removable if you use tools, but not reversible.
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The light has relatively small size of the stainless steel tailcap (i.e., its height) in this class. It has stainless steel crenulated bezel.
The negative battery contact has a 24K-gold plated spring like the positive contact. The switch is a reverse clicky. The shallow & flat rubber switch cap is recessed within the tail end. The switch has a good feel to touch and has nice long travel with slightly firm tension when turning on-off the light. There are two small holes on the tail lip for lanyard attachment.
The screw threads are square cut, and the height between crest and root is very low. The tailcap lock out is possible due to the anodized female screw threads at body, although the screw threads at tailcap are not anodized. The threads are smooth with no cross-threading or squeaking on my sample.
The overall build quality seems excellent.
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User Interface
There are two outputs (i.e., normal output & hidden output).
Press the tailcap switch until it clicks to turn on the light. (i.e. press and release for on). Press the switch again until it clicks to turn off the light.

1. Normal output
With the light turned on, slightly pressing & releasing the switch cycles the output in the following order.
Hi -> Low -> Ultra Low -> cycle
There is no mode memory, so the light always turns on in high after more than 1~1.5 seconds the light off from any output.

2. Hidden output
There are 3 hidden modes, Strobe, LB(Locator Beacon), and SOS.
With the light on, do a quick slightly pressing & releasing the switch no less than 3 times at any normal output level to enter hidden output. Slightly pressing & releasing the switch cycles the output in the following order.
Strobe -> LB(Locator Beacon) -> SOS
Turn the light off for 2 seconds to exit hidden output. There is no memory for hidden output (i.e., always comes back on at normal output Hi level). This can be uncomfortable for most users. But slightly pressing-holding for 2 seconds and releasing the switch at any hidden output level will reset back to High. (i.e., you don't need to turn the light off to exit the hidden output.) Neither the user manual nor Xeno website describe this interesting feature.
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The light can tailstand perfectly with lanyard attachment stably.
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From left to right, VicLite protected 18650, Xeno S3A v1, Spark SL6-740NW, Fenix PD32 Prototype, Solarforce L2T, Xeno Farka F8 v5. S3A is slim & compact size of the lights in this class.
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From left to right, Duracell AA battery, Xeno E03 v2 (powered by AA sized cell), N-light B5 (powered by 1x18650), Xeno S3A v1, AW protected 18650.
S3A is not much taller than E03, and has almost the same height as N-light B5 with electronic reverse click switch installed. It's interesting S3A is quite same as E03 in head diameter.
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The light is good size to hold and can be used as an EDC light. It is somewhat slippery due to no knurling.
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In spite of the springs on both positive & negative contact points, the tailcap switch doesn't work with overly long 18650 cells. There is no mention of 2x3.7V Li-ions (i.e., RCR123A) support for the light. I experienced the issue only with my long 18650 cells which length is equal to or more than 69mm (i.e., I can't turn the light on with such a long cell).

The followings show the length of the various 18650 batteries I have. (but no issue relating to the diameter of the all 18650 cells.)
• LG 18650(2600mAh) unprotected : 65mm, flat-top
• Panasonic 18650(3100mAh) unprotected : 65mm, flat-top
• AW 18650(2600mAh) protected : 67.5mm, button-top
• Jil Lite 18650(2600mAh) protected : 67.5mm, flat-top
• NLTEK 18650(2600mAh) protected : 68.5mm, flat-top
• VicLite 18650(2600mAh) protected : 69.0mm, button-top
• Torch Gear 18650(3100mAh) protected : 69.0mm, button-top

The 65~68.5mm length cells fit into the body fine. Both tightening the tailcap and turning the light on are just fine. Tightening the tailcap looks just fine, while turning the light on is impossible with 69mm cell.
If you try to force the tailcap tighten with overly long cell, the positive contact of the cell would have scratches due to much resistance with the springs.
Because S3A has reverse polarity protection function, you can use unprotected 18650s. According to Xeno, the low-voltage cut-off of the light is 2.7v. (i.e., the light is shut off when 18650 battery voltage drop to 2.7v.) I will explain it later on again.
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The net weight of the light is 52g. The weight including 2xCR123A and 1x18650 are 84g and 98g respectively. It's less than 100g.
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HGS v1 holster is an optional accessory, and doesn't come with the light. It is made of genuine leather-calfskin and is very well made holster with two snap fasteners. It fits S3A very well and can be used for the 110~112mm length & 21.5~22mm diameter size lights as well.
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TW15 v2 diffuser is very nice, and soften output of the light. You can use it as a traffic wand and water cup for outdoors (appr. 25ml). It fits for any lights which has 21.5mm diameter bezel. But it is an optional accessory to be purchased separately.
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The above shows the beamshots without and with the diffuser for cool white, neutral white, and warm white.
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Same as above.
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PWM



The light shows no sign of PWM at any output levels. I think the light is actually current-controlled as claimed, and notice there is no buzzing sound at any levels.
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Runtime



The following runtimes are the time for the light to fall to 50% and 10% of it's original (or initial) high output level.

• AW 18650(2600mAh) protercted : 50% output (145mins or 2.4hrs), 10% output (147mins or 2.5hrs)
• Panasonic 18650(3100mAh) unprotected : 50% output (186mins or 3.1hrs), 10% output (202mins or 3.4hrs)
• Panasonic CR123A : 50% output (87mins or 1.5hrs), 10% output (111mins or 1.9hrs)

Runtime specs. on 18650(2600mAh) seems to be consistent with my test result.
Flat regulation & good runtime are evident at high output level on 1x18650 in my test.

[Update 12.06.14] As mentioned earlier, the low-voltage cut-off of the light is 2.7v. I found the light output was so low before reaching that point, so I couldn't see the light was shut down by the low voltage cut-off during the runtime test. When the brightness output falls to 1~2% of the initial output, I stopped the runtime test and the voltage of 18650 battery at that point was about 2.814~2.835v. Therefore you can get long hours of a very low output prior to hitting that low voltage cut-off. [Update 12.06.14]
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Beamshot

1. White door beamshot (about 50cm from the white door)
- ISO100, F/3.5, 1/200sec, Auto White Balance
- From left to right, cool white, neutral white, warm white
- Battery used : Panasonic 18650 (3100mAh)



2. Light ivory wall beamshot (about 1.2m from the wall)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1/80~250sec, AWB
- From left to right, cool white, neutral white, warm white
- Battery used : Panasonic 18650 (3100mAh)



ISO100, F/2.8, 1/80sec, AWB
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ISO100, F/2.8, 1/125sec, AWB
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ISO100, F/2.8, 1/250sec, AWB
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The overall beam quality is good with no noticeable artifacts. Beam tints of all emitter types are nice. The warm white in the above photo looks somewhat redder than it really is.
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3. Indoor beamshot (about 3.5m from the target)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1/3sec, Auto white balance
- Battery used : Panasonic 18650 (3100mAh)



Cool white, High
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Cool white, Low
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Cool white, Ultra Low
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Neutral white, High
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Neutral white, Low
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Neutral white, Ultra Low
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Warm white, High
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Warm white, Low
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Warm white, Ultra Low
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[Update 12.06.14]
4. Indoor beamshot (about 7m from the target)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, Auto white balance
- Battery used : Panasonic 18650 (3100mAh)



Cool White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec,High
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Neutral White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, High
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Warm White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, High
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Cool White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, Low
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Neutral White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, Low
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Warm White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, Low
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Cool White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, Ultra Low
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Neutral White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, Ultra Low
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Warm White, ISO100, F/2.8, 1/2sec, Ultra Low
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The Low & Ultra Low seem to be Med. & Low for me. But the light shows good balance of the brightness outputs.
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5. Tint comparison
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1/20sec, Auto white balance
- Battery used : Panasonic 18650 (3100mAh)



From left to right, CW, NW, WW.
[Update 12.06.14]


* S3A was supplied by Neotrading Corp. for review.

[ssr]

дизайн не очень нравиться

[dsche]

Ага! А клипса-то переставляется, я был прав )

[Жуков]

Резьбы отличные.

[fnksb]

 Сообщение от dsche :

Ага! А клипса-то переставляется, я был прав )

Хммм. Это из чего следует?

The clip looks too long for its body size, but is far sturdier than expected. It is removable if you use tools, but not reversible.

[dsche]

 Сообщение от fnksb :

Хммм

Чёрт, ошибся. Не переставляется. Хотя, казалось бы – что им мешало вторую канавку нарезать.

Нет в мире совершенства

[fnksb]

 Сообщение от dsche :

Чёрт, ошибся. Не переставляется. Хотя, казалось бы – что им мешало вторую канавку нарезать.

Нет в мире совершенства

Угу. Ему бы переставляемую клипсу и настраиваемый драйвер (с изменением старта с макс или мин, например, или хотя бы включением памяти) - был бы действительно весьма интересный фонарик.