Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - ShiningBeam S-Mini beamshots. Super-compact 18650-powered light.

I got a ShiningBeam S-Mini. Here are some remarks:

1. It's very lightweight, 90 grams with the battery installed, and really compact. This is the first 18650 light I've had where I felt like a standard TwoFish LockBlock was plenty (versus the heavy-duty Cycle Block (http://www.boomerdirect.shoppingcartsplus.com/page/page/1719053.htm)). It's actually lighter than my 1xAA Romison.

2. Bryan at SB did a runtime test and it looks like you can expect 2 hours easy. runtime graph from CPF (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/amigafan2003/miniruntime.png)

3. The beam is somewhat like a Fenix L2D, with a fairly large, soft-edged hotspot, but considerably more output.

4. It has low, medium and high, and remembers the mode you used last (yay!).


OK, beamshots. Right-click the links below, open them in new browser tabs, and then you can toggle directly back and forth between any two lights for easy impressions. You're looking down the length of a ~20-meter basement in a bike shop.

Romison 1 x AA flashlight (http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/bike_lights/S-Mini/RomisonAA.jpg)

Fenix L2D Q5 2xAA, on Turbo (http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/bike_lights/S-Mini/Fenix.jpg) This is known to be about 145 lumens out-the-front.

Romison RC-2R4 II, on High (http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/bike_lights/S-Mini/Romison18650.jpg) This is an 18650-powered light, fairly burly compared to the svelte S-Mini.

S-Mini on High (http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/bike_lights/S-Mini/SMini.jpg)

Naturally, all the photos were shot with locked manual camera settings so they can be compared directly.

Thanks for the post. Can you post a link to the Mini where you bought it? Also, can it accept an extender tube so you can use 2 x 18650 batteries for more power or run time?

Thanks for the post. Can you post a link to the Mini where you bought it?

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-152/***NEW***-ShiningBeam-S-dsh-mini-XP-dsh-G/Detail

I was looking at them recently - form factor reminds me of the TR801 I have and love. I decided I'd rather go with a P60 so it could be upgraded since things change so quickly.

I love my little S Mini. I never intended to buy one. My partner refuses to use my MG P Rockect XP-G R5 on her helmet. She said it was too heavy. So I bought a S Mini and she loved it. So did I such that I took it back and kept it as a pocket flashlight. All good thing must equal out, so I ended up buying two more from SB.

I notice two of the S Mini is almost or just as bright as a MS900 while also allowing me to adjust the two light tilt angle differently. One S Mini seem to be as bright as a P7 with less flooding. Along with better runtime, I rather run a S mini than a single P7.

I used AW2900 mah 18650 and almost got three complete hours of runtime. Not too bad of a light!

I have a 2yr old SB S-Mini that I use every day to illuminate my "computer" room.

It is not bright enough for bicycling compared to alternatives, IMO. In fact, even SB has a number of flashlights better suited to this task, some at lower cost.

BTW, the reverse-polarity circuit did not work on mine. I slipped a 18650 in and momentarily started to cap it when I discovered my error. By then, driver fried. I bought SB's last extra pill to replace mine, a 5-mode special with H M L S F and mode memory.

Be careful installing batteries in all lights. This was the second time I destroyed a light by inverting a cell (or cells). The driver circuits in these inexpensive Chinese lights are delicate things.

I have a 2yr old SB S-Mini that I use every day to illuminate my "computer" room.

It is not bright enough for bicycling compared to alternatives, IMO. In fact, even SB has a number of flashlights better suited to this task, some at lower cost.

BTW, the reverse-polarity circuit did not work on mine. I slipped a 18650 in and momentarily started to cap it when I discovered my error. By then, driver fried. I bought SB's last extra pill to replace mine, a 5-mode special with H M L S F and mode memory.

Be careful installing batteries in all lights. This was the second time I destroyed a light by inverting a cell (or cells). The driver circuits in these inexpensive Chinese lights are delicate things.

Well if you have one that is 2 years old it is the L-mini which is about 1/2 as bright as the new S-Mini. I feel helmet light should be in addition to bar lights, that help you see through corners and more for being seen than seeing.. I use a small fenix p2d in sos mode for being seen at night..I normally have 2 bar lights that keep me riding fast in the night..

Oh, and one update: like many LED lights, it evidently generates enough EMI to jam my Polar heart-rate monitor, and would probably jam many types of wireless computers too.

Well if you have one that is 2 years old it is the L-mini which is about 1/2 as bright as the new S-Mini.

Yes, I have an L mini, with an emitter/driver from ~6 months later, emitter type and output unknown.

XPG is probably much brighter, perhaps I should give the S Mini a second look. I almost bought the Romison RC-2R4 several months back, and considered the P Rocket XPG also.

I got a ShiningBeam S-Mini...

In the beam shots, the S Mini appears to have a little more side spill or wider beam than the RC-2R4 - is this correct?

In the beam shots, the S Mini appears to have a little more side spill or wider beam than the RC-2R4 - is this correct?

That's accurate, yeah.

Hmm, maybe I should get one.

Thanks for the review, mechBgon.

The pictures are especially useful. I know it requires much more effort to post pics than text.

Are all of those bikes yours!

Are all of those bikes yours!

It's a bike shop, so some belong to customers, and others are waiting to belong to customers :) You should see it in the busy season!

Yes, I have an L mini, with an emitter/driver from ~6 months later, emitter type and output unknown.

XPG is probably much brighter, perhaps I should give the S Mini a second look. I almost bought the Romison RC-2R4 several months back, and considered the P Rocket XPG also.

the biggest reason for getting the s-mini is that it is super light.. The knurling on the light make it so it stays in place while using as a helmet light..