[candle lamp]

Reviewer's note : Thrunite TN30 XM-L2 version was provided by Thrunite for review.

Thrunite has released TN30 XM-L2 version with 3xXM-L2 U2 emitters installed.





Packaging is a nice small metal box with built-in packaging foam. Included inside is the light, user manual, warranty card, extra o-rings, lanyard, nice holster.
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Manufacturer Specifications from Thrunite website & user manual:

• LED : Three Cree XM-L2 LEDs with a lifespan of 20+years of run time.
• Max 3600 lumen output using 3 * 18650 batteries.
• Level 1 (1.2 lm, 1200 hours), Level 2 (45 lm, 75 hours), Level 3 (422 lm, 10 hours),
Level 4 (1118 lm, 3.5 hours), Level 5 (1580 lm, 2.3 hours), Level 6 (3338 lm, 1 hours),
Standby (67 uA), Strobe (3338 lm, 1.8hours)
• Working voltage : 8V to 13V.
• Max runtime : 1200 hours.
• Max beam distance : 440 meters.
• Peak beam intensity : 42000cd.
• Impact resistant : 1.2 meters.
• Waterproof to IPX-8 standard, 2M.
• 178.00mm length, 64.50mm bezel diameter.
• Weight : 559.80g without battery.
• Aircraft grade aluminum body structure.
• Premium type III hard anodized anti-abrasive finish.
• Ultra-clear tempered glass lens with anti-reflective coating.
• Momentary forward click tactical switch.
• Strobe mode for tactical and emergency use.
• Smooth reflector for max light output.
• Highly focused beam for maximum distance.
• Tactical knurling for firm grip.
• Streamlined body design.
• Reversed polarity protection : batteries should be placed into the battery holder in the correct direction (battery pack can be inserted into body tube either way).
• Intelligent highly efficient circuit board design for max performance and long run time.
• Specially designed for Military, Law Enforcement, Self-defense, Hunting, Search & Rescue and Outdoor activities.
• Intelligent temperature controlled light output for user safety.
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The hard (type III) anodizing is glossy black, with no chips or damage on my sample. The labels on the body are clear, bright white gainst the background. There is a label mark on the control ring that lines up with the labels on the head. The manufacturer, model name, are on the battery tube. The knurling is present over battery tube only.
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The light has mainly 2 parts (i.e. head and battery tube) There is a battery carrier as well.
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The light has a scalloped bezel and a waterproof o-ring between the bezel and reflector. There are cooling fins on the head. The head base of the light has a positive contact spring to contact with the positive contact of the battery carrier. The wide negative contact rim surrounds the central positive contact.
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The light uses a AR coating lens, and the sky blue hue is reflected on it.
Although manual describes the reflector is smooth, my review sample has an orange peel reflector, and nicely finished. The TN30 XM-L2 uses 3x XM-L2 U2 emitters, each emitter's perfectly centered in its own reflector cup. Because the wells overlap with each other significantly, there are peripheral artifacts in the spill in a very short distance.
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There is a control ring, located below the cooling fins. All six constant output switching including Standby and Strobe are controlled entirely by the control ring. The light has eleven slight indents on the control ring to help with feel. There is a label mark (▼) on the control ring that lines up with the labels on the head. The individual six constant output levels are not labeled on the head, but there is a graded output arrow (◢) which shows the direction of the output levels. There are firm detents at each level, with a slight click. So you may need to count detents to figure out what output level you are set to in the darkness.
The total traverse of the control ring is about 170 degrees of the light. The control ring action is smooth.
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The light uses a metal battery carrier that holds 3x18650 cells in series. It looks sturdy and well-made. The positive contact plate is slightly raised, and the negative contact spring has good elasticity. So all types (i.e., true flat-tops, wide and small button-tops) of 18650's work fine. Longer and wider cells may be somewhat tight, but all my protected high capacity (2600~3100mAh) cells fit. I found that wide cells are tight fit into the battery tube. You can insert the battery carrier either orientation into the battery tube (i.e., it's reversible), because it has same ends with positive and negative connection terminals. But you should be careful to insert the 18650's into the battery carrier in the correct polarity. The positive contact plate may catch on the heatshrink on the flat cells when removing them. So you need to first depress the cells towards the negative spring before removing them. Note that the cells with wider diameter will have difficulty when inserting into or removing from the battery tube. The battery carrier introduces little rattle if you shake the light laterally when it's fully loaded with 18650's unprotected. But no rattle with the protected 18650 cells installed in my sample. Note that only 3x18650 li-ion cells can be used in the light (i.e., it doesn't support multiple CR123A or RCR123A due to 8~13V working voltage).
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I would have hoped for the fully heat-shrink tubing around the legs and the consistent tubing surface of the legs along with the length. The battery carrier is very similar to that of SupBeam K40.
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Mostly the battery tube continues the cylindrical shape with three flat, long rectangular surfaces. The diamond-shaped knurling is presented over most of the battery tube except three flat, long rectangular sides, and it's a bit aggressive on the handle, helping with grip.
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Screw threads are general triangular cut, but seems good quality. The female threads on the head are only anodized for head lock-out. They are smooth with no cross-threading or squeaking on my sample.
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The tailcap is screwed to the battery tube together, and can be removed from the tube without any tools, like K40. There is dual springs (i.e., inner & outer springs) in the base. On the opposite side of the base, you will see the mechanical tail switch with a circuit. Assume this electronic circuit is for carrying higher current. There is an o-ring at the tail threads.
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The switch is the forward click switch which allows the light to be momentarily activated by half-pressing the switch while not affective the mode changing which is completely controlled by the control ring on the head. The switching travel is slightly longer than average, with above-average resistance and provides audible click when engaged. You can attach the lanyard came with the light as shown above. I found it's easy to attach the lanyard with a split ring. The light can tailstand with the lanyard attached stably. The switch cap sits recessed within the tail end which allows the light tail stand. There are cut-outs facilitate easily access to the switch. There are six long holes at the rear end for lanyard attachment.
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From left to right, VicLite 18650 protected, Blackshadow Terminator, Niteye Eye40, Thrunite TN30 XM-L2, SupBeam X40, Fenix TK75.
The head size & body weight excluding battery of the following lights are as follows :
Terminator - 63.4mm / 427g, EYE40 - 66.0mm / 509g, TN30 - 64.4mm / 466g, X40 - 68mm / 519g, TK75 - 87.9mm / 506g.
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Measured Dimensions & Weight

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TN30 XM-L2 comes with a nice nylon holster with a velcro strap on the head. The light fits in the holster head-up only.
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The light is a good size with a right weight to manage it. The operating the control ring with two fingers (i.e., thumb and index finger) is relatively easy, but a bit difficult with the thumb only). The gripability seems good, and I find handling & balance of the light is good. Overall build quality isvery high.
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User Interface
On-off is controlled by the tailcap forward switch and output switching is controlled by the control ring in the head. Turn the light on-off by the tailcap clicky – press for momentary, press and release (i.e., click) for constant on.

There are six constant output levels (L1~L6), stanby, and strobe. Change output modes by turning the control ring in the head. Arranged from left to right (with the head facing forward) in the following order. L1 (min. output) --> L2 --> L3 --> L4 --> L5 --> L6 (max. output) --> standby --> strobe.

No light is produced on standby, but a small current will be drawn to allow the circuit to respond to a ring turn as described below.
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Standby Current Drain
Due to the control ring and electronic tail switch, the light has a small current when fully connected and control ring arrow is pointing at standby mode and the tailcap switch is clicked on.
I measured this current as 110.8μA with 3xVicLite 2600mAh on the head, and measured as 9.0μA on the tailcap. There is no current draw when the tailcap switch turned off as expected. Since the cells are arranged in series for 3x18650 cells, that would translate into around 2.5 years before the cells would be fully drained. Note this (119.8μA) is higher the 67uA standby current listed in the manual, but this is quite reasonable for a standby current. If you want to break this current, store the light locked-out by loosening the head or turn the light off by the tailcap clicky when not in use.
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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. I notice there is no buzzing sound at all output levels.
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Runtime
The runtime to fall to 10% of its initial output from 30 seconds after the point the light is first turned on (i.e., based on ANSI FL-1) for High is as follows :


The runtime for 10% output of L6, L5, L4 is as follows.
1) L6 : 89 min.
2) L5 : 96 min.
3) L4 : 235 min.
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Runtime performance is good, and flat regulation is evident on L5 & L4 I tested. I could see the light flickered shortly three times every 25 seconds & 10 seconds on L6 & L4 output respectively at a very low output for low battery warning..
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Beamshot

1. White door beamshot about 50cm from the white door on Max output on VicLite protected 18650 (2600mAh)
- ISO100, F/11.0, 1/250sec, Auto white balance

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- ISO100, F/11.0, 1/500sec, Auto white balance

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- ISO100, F/11.0, 1/800sec, Auto white balance

As expected, there are peripheral artifacts in the spill, but this is particularly noticeable at close-range distance. The overall beam profile is nice without noticeable flaws.
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2. Indoor beamshot about 7.0m from the target on Max. output on VicLite protected 18650 (2600mAh)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1/10sec, Auto white balance

- Control Shot
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- EYE40
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- TK75
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- TN30
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- X40
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3. 55m Outdoor Beamshot from the target on Max. output on VicLite protected 18650 (2600mAh)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1sec, Auto white balance

- Control Shot
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- EYE40
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- TK75
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- TN30
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- X40
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4. 60~65m Outdoor Beamshot on Max output on VicLite protected 18650 (2600mAh)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1sec, Auto white balance

- Control Shot
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- EYE40
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- TK75
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- TN30
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- X40
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5. 140m Outdoor Beamshot on Max output on VicLite protected 18650 (2600mAh)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1sec, Auto white balance

- Control Shot
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- EYE40
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- TK75
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- TN30
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- X40
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6. 150m Outdoor Beamshot on Max output on VicLite protected 18650 (2600mAh)
- ISO100, F/2.8, 1sec, Auto white balance

- Control Shot
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- EYE40
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- TK75
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- TN30
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- X40
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