[HKJ]

Fenix LD01 SS XP-G R5





Fenix has been active from the start of led flashlights and made many good lights, this one here is a stainless steel version of their classic AAA light and it is the second time they make this model, but with updates. The light has 3 levels and no flashing modes. It is turn on when screwed together, it will always start in medium, a quick off/on will change to low, then high. This light is also sold in an aluminium version with nearly the same specifications.



The light is delivered in a small cardboard box with a window and selected specifications printed on the box (The runtime and brightness is not for the same level).



The box contains the light, a split ring, a spare o-ring, the manual (With full specifications) and a warranty card.



The light has a OP (Orange Peel) reflector with the XP-G led at the bottom.



The head has knurling, there is not much "bite" in it.



Moving to the backside of the head there is the battery connection, the center has a bump for connection to the battery plus pole, the ring around the center is used for connection to the battery tube. The light will only turn on when the tube is touching the ring.



The threads are on the battery tube are nicely done and a o-ring makes the light waterproof. Inside the battery tube is the usual spring.




The back end of the battery tube has a hole that can used to mount the split ring and because of the grove the light can still tail stand.



Here is all the part the light can be disassembled in without tools.



This light is a solid and well performing light and because of the stainless steel it can handle just about any key chain use. The first LD01 lights Fenix made did not have a really low level, this has been fixed some generation ago and this light has both a good low level and a good high level. The automatic reduction on high will extend the battery lifetime at the cost of a invisible drop in brightness.



Technical specification and measurements



This light is designed for 1.5 volt AAA batteries (Alkaline, NiMH, Lithium).

Measured size and weight:
Length: 76.1 mm
Diameter: 14.4 mm
Weight: 53 gram with eneloop

The light uses a Cree XP-G R5 led.



In the above table I have used 800mAh eneloop batteries for measuring and estimating the runtime. The estimated lumen are based on the specified 77 lumen and then scaled according to measured brightness. High will automatic be reduced after some minutes.
Note: The above table is based on values at 1.2 volt.



I have automated the metode I uses for voltage sweep, this has made it possible to use much higher resolution, add a power curve and do runs at different brightness settings. The light tries to stabilizes the brightness down to 1 volt. The maximum current draw is around 1.8 ampere, but will drop nicely when the battery voltage goes down, this prevents the light from turning off when the battery is nearly empty, instead it will run with low brightness as can be seen on the runtime curve.



The reduced high output works the same way, but stabilizes down to 0.8 volt and has reduced the maximum current drain to 1.25 ampere.



Medium can keep the stabilization down to 0.63 volt.



Low will stabilize down to 0.45 volt.



I have tested multiple LD01 lights and one of the lights showed this curve, where the stabilization is lacking. This is probably due to component tolerances.



The runtime clearly shows that the light reduces brightness after some time and that alkaline has a very short runtime (on high).




The light uses current control and has no flashing modes.




Comparison to other Flashlights

TITANER ET20 XP-G R5, Fenix LD01 SS XP-G R5, 4Sevens Preon Revo SS XP-G R4 NW


4Sevens Preon Ti XP-G R5, Olight Xmas 2010 XP-G S2, Klarus Mi10 XP-E R2


For the full comparison to other lights with graphs and beamshots see here.