LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO Flashlight Overview

The LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight contains a new end, and nonetheless has accessible 18650 cells (included) in addition to a excessive output triple and throwy single.

Official Specs and Options

Right here’s a referral hyperlink to the LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight product web page.

Variations

There are at the very least two variations of the LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight. Three physique colours can be found: black, gray, and this new MAO. There’s a non-Professional model too. This Professional model comes with two flood emitter choices – Nichia 519a or increased output Luminus SST25.

Value

This model of the LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight is available in at an MSRP of $152.99. It’s out there now at Amazon!

You may as well buy this via LoopGear instantly. Right here’s a hyperlink to the LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight and a coupon! code: zeroair

What’s Included

• LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight
• LoopGear 4000mAh 18650 (2)
• Charging cable
• Pocket clip (with screws and gear for mounting)
• Handbook

Bundle and Handbook

Construct High quality and Disassembly

The LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight could be very very similar to the LoopGear SK-05 (non-Professional). There are just a few variations, most of that are necessary later within the evaluate. However common construct high quality is identical between fashions – superb.

In fact, one of many largest variations is that the cells are accessible! So inside the sunshine, you possibly can see that the optimistic contact is a giant button.

And the opposite finish, the place detrimental contact is made, there are twin springs.

Possibly extra necessary to you, expensive reader, than the distinction within the non-Professional and the Professional is the distinction on this MAO and the Professional non-MAO. I’ve reviewed the LoopGear SK-05 Professional flashlight earlier than, however that was the Nichia 519a triple model, which gives excessive CRI. This cool white triple model gives increased output, and clearly, MAO end! A lot of the textual content (and a few of the information) between that evaluate and this one would be the similar.

Measurement and Comps

106mm x 47.8mm x 22.5mm and 235g. Notably, this is identical dimension because the non-Professional. (And 10 grams heavier.)

If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll present it right here. If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll additionally present that right here, too!

Right here’s the take a look at mild with the venerable Convoy S2+. The model beneath is a customized laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full put up on an engraved orange host proper right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to purchase your Convoy S2+ now!

Within the picture above, chances are you’ll word that the SRM (customary reference materials) flashlight for comparability has modified! I used a TorchLAB BOSS 35 for ages. Now, what you possibly can see because the 18350 SRM is the Hanko Machine Works Trident. Whereas I’ve not reviewed or examined the Gunner Grip model seen right here, I’ve examined a Hanko Machine Works Trident Complete Tesseract in brass. I like the Trident, and it’s a putting distinction subsequent to the cheap Convoy S2+, which additionally makes an excellent customary reference materials.

Retention and Carry

Not like the non-Professional, there’s a pocket clip included right here. It’s not connected, however two screws (and two further) are included. A screwdriver (TORX) can also be included, too!

A bit of sticky sticker is included. The guide doesn’t say the place it goes, neither is there any actual instruction on tips on how to set up the pocket clip. However it’s not arduous to know.

I consider the clip is fashioned in order that it might be put in in both course. Reverse to how I’ve it beneath could be higher, and permit a deeper carry. Each orientations permit entry to the lanyard loop, which you’ll be able to see most clearly beneath. No lanyard is included.

There’s a powerful magnet within the tailcap. It’s completely ample for holding the LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight horizontally or vertically.

Above, chances are you’ll word a brand new holder for my magnetic-tailcap objects. That’s the Exceed Designs Hyzer Titanium Mini Hatchet D2 axe. The deal with (because the title suggests) is titanium. However the blade is D2 metal and ideal for retaining magnetic tailcap flashlights! The Hyzer is offered in a bunch of cerakote physique colours in addition to completely different thickness D2 heads.

Energy and Runtime

The LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight makes use of two 18650 cells. The 2 which can be included are 4000mAh customary 18650 cells.

The cells go into the sunshine with the button (optimistic finish) towards the top. They’re parallel, too, so that they each go in the identical course. This does imply that the sunshine can run with only one cell!

Right here’s the little lever the place you possibly can entry the hinged cell cowl. There’s a lock change for this cowl, too.

Runtime checks are beneath. There is no such thing as a take a look at for output with each emitters, because the guide doesn’t make any declare about that output degree. Efficiency is precisely the identical (in profile) because the Nichia model, however this Luminus SST25 model has increased output.

The sunshine shuts off with low voltage safety. There’s a distinguished facet RGB COB that alerts the consumer to the approximate cell voltage at startup. In actual fact, you don’t even have to show the sunshine on – simply change the rotary dial away from lockout mode, and the indicator will show the cost degree. It’s principally an influence meter. Purple means principally empty (“0%”), and something blue is increased than that. So, for instance, if the indicator is half blue and half off, the cost is roughly 50%.

Charging

UBS-C charging is used for the LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight. The port is close to the top and has a press-in silicone cowl.

A C to C charging cable is included.

Charging appears tremendous – Whereas C to C delivers much less present, it’s delivered at 12V, so is general a lot faster. A to C additionally works tremendous, however at 5V and the next present nonetheless takes over 3 hours.

The RGB COB on the facet signifies the charging standing.

Powerbank

The LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight is able to getting used as a powerbank. There are indications on the facet – the sunshine could be charged at 5, 9, or 12V, and may output (powerbank) at 5, 9, and 12V.

I examined the powerbank of the non-MAO solely at 5V, nevertheless it appears to carry out simply tremendous.

Output proceeds at round 3.3A for over an hour. At that time, the powerbank is principally depleted (round 3V) nevertheless it’ll nonetheless output at decrease currents for a short time.

Modes and Currents

Pulse Width Modulation

Solely the highest mode for every output makes use of PWM. That’s putting. The off-cycle could be very transient, although, so it’d be practically not possible to note this PWM.

Right here you possibly can see a “baseline” – a chart with nearly no mild hitting the sensor.

Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has a few of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so unhealthy that I used a put up about it to elucidate PWM! Listed here are a number of timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make evaluating this “worst” PWM mild to the take a look at mild simpler. That put up additionally explains why I didn’t take a look at the WF-602C on the traditional 50us scale.

Person Interface and Operation

There are two methods to work together with the LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight. First, there’s a rotary dial. It has 4 positions. Locked (seen beneath), flood, spot, and facet RGB (in that order).

Subsequent is the e-switch, proper within the heart of that rotary dial. It’s a really huge change with good motion.

As acknowledged above, there’s a rotary dial with 4 positions. You’ll need to rotate this dial to your output of selection, then comply with the actions within the consumer interface desk beneath! Be aware that the consumer interface for Spot and Flood appears to be the identical.

One replace to this Professional model is that there appears to be a delay. That is most likely to forestall unintentional activation. So in each case, the dial might want to have been rotated earlier than the e-switch will work.

Numerous clicks can carry out numerous issues for the RGB ranges. Suffice it to say that the RGB choices are vastly elevated for the Professional model. You possibly can pace up the biking of some RGB choices. Most of the RGB choices have low/medium/excessive, too. It’s fairly spectacular!

Loop Gear SK-05 Professional MAO Flashlight LED and Beam

There are two choices right here for output. Within the picture beneath, the left emitter is the “Spot” output – it’s a Luminus SFT25R. The triple on the suitable is three Luminus SST-25 emitters.

The facet emitters are RGB, together with three variations of white.

LED Shade Report (CRI and CCT)

CRI and CCT should not mysteries – LoopGear claims the flood triple to be 6500K, and that’s roughly proper – I measure it as 5400-5800 CCT. CRI could be very excessive, at above 97. That’s superb! 

The center row is the spot emitter – CCT is cool or very cool, and CRI is low.

The final row is the facet heat white. I didn’t take a look at Impartial or Cool for this facet emitter array. These are very uncommon, in that they’re heat white and very low CRI. Presumably the bottom CRI I’ve ever noticed on a “white” emitter.

CCT (Correlated Shade Temperature) refers back to the measurement of the colour look of sunshine, expressed in Kelvins (Ok), which signifies whether or not the sunshine is heat (yellowish) or cool (bluish). A decrease CCT (beneath 3000K) is taken into account heat mild, whereas the next CCT (above 5000K) offers cooler, bluish mild.

CRI (Shade Rendering Index) is a measure of how precisely a light-weight supply renders colours compared to pure daylight. Scored on a scale from 0 to 100, increased CRI values point out that colours seem extra true to life and vibrant, just like how they might look below the solar.

Beamshots

These beamshots all the time have the next settings:  f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and guide 5000K publicity. These photographs are taken at flooring degree, and the beam hits the ceiling round 9 toes away.

Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b model) (affiliate hyperlink)

I preserve the take a look at flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the suitable. These photographs are taken round 18 inches from the door.

I evaluate all the things to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 as a result of it’s cheap and has one of the best tint!

Abstract and Conclusion

The LoopGear SK-05 Professional MAO flashlight is definitely a step up from the unique (or “non-Professional”) SK-05. Having replaceable batteries alone is sufficient to make this one higher. Energy Supply output from the powerbank is a standout characteristic, too! I like all of the RGB output adjustments, and that there are three CCT from the facet white. It might be good if the sunshine labored whereas charging. MAO is a neat end possibility, and in the event you’re a MAO fan, you’ll be happy with this model.

The Large Desk

^ Measurement disclaimer:  Testing flashlights is my interest. I take advantage of hobbyist-level gear for testing, together with some I made myself. Strive to not get buried within the particulars of producer specs versus measurements recorded right here; A certain quantity of distinction (say, 10 or 15%) is completely cheap.

What I like

• Stable construct high quality
• MAO end
• Cells are simply accessible
• Makes use of customary flat-top cells
• Intuitive consumer interface
• RGB facet choices are enjoyable!
• C to C charging works very properly
• Can run off only one cell

What I don’t like

Notes