While I have recently acquired the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, which is an impressive, and expensive light @ ~110$, and which I like more and more each night I use it, I wanted a backup headlamp.
I ordered the Sofirn HS40, but there are no North American based sellers, yet. So has to come from China. It says it shipped. No idea when it will arrive to where I sent it, which is 2600 miles from where I currently am.
https://www.sofirnlight.com/product...&variant=c00da67a-48bd-4da2-98dd-d97ef3a3fcac
Its specs look impressive for the price.
In the mean time, a frugal minded friend ordered a cheap COB headlamp for workbench tasks, and he liked the even broad bright light, and he planned to buy a second.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/203774651876?hash=item2f71ea6de4:g:BykAAOSw7UdhzN7N
I decided to try the cheapest COB light I could find, as a temporary backup: 2 for 11$ at time of purchase from a US based seller. I later saw a different link two for 10, and the same light, appearance wise, can be shipped from aliexpress/baba for ~3$ for the truly frugal.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2749237965...6bQaXSOSQrPvsqGnw%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675
They arrived today. I charged one through my USB meter, and it took 427mAH before amperage dropped to 0.00. The Red charging light never shut off. I left it on for 30 minutes after amperage dropped to 0.00.
The second unit took 317mah, same red charging light never shut off.
I took it apart, one can pry off the endcaps easily enough with a small flathead screwdriver working the perimeter.
Do not believe the waterproof claim. The button is rubber and does flip up and reveals the micro usb charge port below. perhaps there is some small degree of water resistance for the USB input because of this.
There is an 18650 flattop battery inside, no markings upon it.
I got my clampmeter over one of the wires from battery to circuit board. 0.25 amps on either the COB led or the single led behind conical reflector.
If one presses and holds the button, when on either cob or reflector LED , the output gets dimmer and dimmer to a point. If one releases button, then re presses it it gets progressively brighter again over 3 seconds. I wish I could control other light's outputs in this same way, rather than 3 or 7 different light levels.
While the marketing leads one to believe that one can turn on both cob led and reflector led at same time, I've not found a way to do this by the button.
I estimate both cob led and single led behind reflector are equally bright, and comparing to my Armytek's C2PM published lumen ratings, they are brighter than its low setting of 45 lumens, but nowhere near its medium setting of 150 lumens. I will estimate it is somewhere in the 85 to 110 lumen range, with fully charged battery.
the reflector led has pretty good throw, but its hotspot is quite blueish in the center, and slight green tint surrounding that. The COB is a very broad and evenly distributed light with little throw, and much less bluish tinted than thrower reflector, but much much cooler than my armytek in the warm white version.
For ~ 5$, it is not a badly functioning light, but is certainly nothing any light aficionado, would be impressed with. I'd be disappointed if it were more than 9$.
Replacing the 18650 cell inside, for more capacity, or just when it wears beyond useful runtimes, would not be difficult. I took mine apart and snapped it back together quickly and painlessly. It looks like a tailcap would easily unscrew and the cell slide out, but it is not designed this way.
It is lightweight and comfortable enough on my head, and can easily be removed from its headstrap, has a magnet on one side and will balance on end on that magnet on a flat non magnetic surface.
I am seeing how long one of the two, lasts at full brightness, and then will recharge and see what my USB meter claims to have returned to the cell.
I forgot to check to see if its usb charging stopped at 4.2v or slightly below, as it should.
