Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC Flashlight Review
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight runs a single 18650 and has three emitters (and three options!). There’s an array of RGB, too! Read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight product page.
Versions
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight has two body options (black or blue) and three emitter options. Those are Luxeon HL4X, Nichia 519a, and Luminus SFT-25R HI.
Price
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight sells for $59.90, and that includes the cell! This version (the SFT-25R HI) is a bit more costly, at $65.90. I recommend you buy the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight at KillzoneFlashlights.com!
What’s Included
- Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight
- Acebeam 3300mAh 18650
- Charging cable
- Lanyard
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Manual etc
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
It should be no surprise that I like tube lights – and the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight is a tube light. Other examples that I love are the Convoy S2+ and the Olight Baton-type lights (Baton, Warrior Mini, etc). I just really like tube lights!
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight is a good one – it’s a tube light, but it’s a triple. You can scarcely build or buy a Convoy S2+ triple for this price, so the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight represents an extraordinary value.
The tailcap is removable. I believe you can remove the magnet if you wish. Thread on both the head and tail are unanodized. Having unanodized threads does mean that the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight can’t be locked out by just unscrewing the head or tail. (That’s a bit unfortunate.)
The head, like the tail, has a spring.
Size and Comps
Length: 109.51mm/4.31”
Head dia.: 25.4mm/1”
Tail dia.: 24mm/0.94”
Weight: 116g/4.09oz (Incl. battery)
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Retention and Carry
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight uses a collar-style clip, which is much more secure than a more typical friction-fit clip.
It’s nice that the clip is a collar-style, because that’s the only place to attach the included lanyard.
In the tailcap is a magnet strong enough to hold the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight in place.
Power and Runtime
Power to the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight is from a single lithium-ion cell. My package included a cell, and this cell is included in the purchase price. The cell is a 3300mAh 18650.
The cell is installed into the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight in the usual way – the positive terminal toward the head.
Below are a number of runtime charts.
The switch does indicate when the battery voltage is low.
Charging
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight itself does not offer built-in charging, but the included cell does. Anyway, the included cell has a USB-C port on the positive end.
A USB to USB-C cable is included.
When charging, the LED indicator lights red. When charging is completed, this turns green.
Charging is quick at around 2A and finishes in around 2 hours.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 2500-650-25 | 35s+2h30m+1h | 2296 (0s) 1998 (30s) |
8.46 |
| High | 1300-650-25 | 5m+2h20m+1h | 1097 (0s) 1056 (30s) |
2.61 |
| Med1 | 540-25 | 3.5h+1h | 477 | 0.88 |
| Med2 | 180-25 | 9h+1h | 156 | 0.31 |
| Low | 25 | 24h | 26 | 0.10 |
| Ultra-Low | 1 | 36h | 1.3 | 0.05 |
Pulse Width Modulation
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight does not have PWM in any mode! That’s great. And one of the things I love about Acebeam flashlights.
Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor.
Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.
User Interface and Operation
The Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight is controlled with a single e-switch. The switch is hard (probably not metal) and has an indicator right in the center.
It’s not a proud switch, but still accessible.
The action is very low.
Below you can see the switch indicating in green – it can also blink and indicate in red. Also, check out the toothy bezel!
This is a nearly standard Acebeam user interface (but there’s ramping! Ramping, I tell you!). Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | Mode 1, 3: Mode memory Mode 2: High |
| Off | Hold | Ultra-Low |
| Any | Double click | Turbo |
| Off | Click hold Release after 1, 2, or 3 flashes (number of flashes indicates mode) |
Change between Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3. Mode 1: Stepped, increasing direction Mode 2: Stepped, decreasing direction Mode 3: Ramping group |
| On | Hold | Mode 1: Increase (stepped) Mode 2: Decrease (stepped) Mode 3: Increase or Decrease (opposite of previous hold) (ramping) |
| Any | Click 3x | Strobe |
| Strobe group | Hold | Strobe advance (Strobe > SOS > Beacon) |
| Off | Hold >1s | Ultra-Low then RGB (Red – Green – Blue – Multi RGB |
| On | Click | Off |
| Off | Hold >3s | Lockout (white emitters blink 4x to indicate lockout) |
| Lockout | Click | Switch blinks quickly red/green to indicate lockout |
| Lockout | Hold >3s | Unlock to Ultra-Low |
LED and Beam
There are other options, but this copy has Luminus SFT-25R HI emitters. This option has the most throw among the three choices.
If you want more output, you’d probably pick the Luxeon HL4X. If you want warmer and high CRI, you’d pick the Nichia 519a.
The optic used seems to be a standard Carclo, but the bezel did not unscrew easily enough for me to remove it. It’s likely possible though. I do really like the bezel!!
Below you can get an idea of the RGB options. I sort of like how this is setup, with red, green, and blue as standard options (in that order) and the fade RGB of multiple colors in the fourth slot. Each individual color does not have multiple modes and the user interface for RGB isn’t really fleshed out, but it’s still plenty good. I’m happy that red is first and there’s no RGB memory.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
As stated above, if you want warm and high CRI, you’d get the Nichia 519a. This version is cool white (claimed at 6500K) but is warmer – ranging from 5500-6000K. That’s not SO cool. The CRI is low, though. Arguably very low. And what’s worse is that the Duv is very positve. The beam will look green. It does according to the tests and does in practice, too. But if you’re an output-over-all chaser, then that’s fine.
Beamshots
These beamshots always have the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
I really like the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight. I’m quite certain I’d like the Nichia 519a version more than I like this higher-throw version (which has a greenish tint in the beam). It’s a tube light, which is fantastic for me. The user interface is familiar but (for the first time?) adds ramping (and it’s added cleanly – it won’t get in your way ever if you (like me) are not into ramping).
Even the cost is great – as I said above you can barely build a Convoy S2+ triple for this price, much less one with secondary emitters and the other features the Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight offers. Highly recommended!
The Big Table
| Acebeam EC20 Multi-light Source EDC flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Luminus SFT-25R HI 6500K (Triple) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $65.90 at killzoneflashlights.com (referral link) |
| Cell: | 1×18650 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C (on cell) |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | – |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 2500 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 1998 (79.9% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 8.76 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 370 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 733lux @ 5.478m = 21996cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 296.6 (80.2% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | 6500 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 5500-6000 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Acebeam |
| All my Acebeam reviews! | |
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.
What I like
- Great build quality
- Reasonable price
- Nice user interface (newly incorporating ramping, nice!)
- High CRI option (Nichia 519a)
- High throw option (this Luminus SFT-25R HI)
- High output option (Luxeon HL4X)
- It’s a triple!
- Secure collar pocket clip
What I don’t like
- Luminus SFT-25R HI emitters have a lot of green in the beam
- Can’t be mechanically locked out because of the unanodized threads
- Mode memory (but at least Ultra-low is accessible from off)
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
- For flashlight-related patches, stickers, and gear, head over to PhotonPhreaks.com!
- Please use my Amazon.com referral link to help support zeroair.org!
- Please support me on Patreon! I deeply appreciate your support!