Fenix L2D CE Premium - Q5

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Fenix L2D CE Premium - Q5 belongs to 2AA Premium 'L' series flashlights from Fenix. L2D CE Premium - Q5 is 4^th upgrade since the launch of 2AA L series comprising L2P V1, L2P V2, L2D, L2D CE. It has Premium Cree 7090 Q5 binned XR-E LED. Except for the LED, it is similar in all other aspects to standard L2D CE. Machined from aircraft grade aluminium having hard anodize type III coating that offers a very good wear and tear protection. O-Rings are placed at various places to prevent dust and water entering the light. In fact, L2D CE Premium Q5 meets the IPX - 8 Standard and is protected against water submersion, suitable for continual operation under water. With turbo mode having 180 Lumens at disposal, L2D CE Premium - Q5 is exceptionally bright, strong built and high quality light. The electronics inside L2D CE Premium - Q5 have Microcontroller (µC) Controlled drive circuit with 2 UI (User Interface) modes. In Turbo Mode the light operates with Max Brightness (180+ Lumens) and Strobe. The General Mode there are 3 light output levels and SOS function.
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Light Features:

• Premium Q5 binned Cree XR-E LED
• Can run on various AA sized battery ranging from NiMH, Alkaline to Primary Lithium
• Meets the IPX - 8 Standard Waterproof Specifications
• Microcontroller (µC) Controlled
• Max Output, with Strobe in Turbo Mode
• Three light output levels and SOS in General Mode
• Toughened ultra clear glass lens with AR coating
• Can stand on tail

Light Operation: The Tail cap Switch in L2D CE Premium Q5 is 'Reverse Click' type switch.
Turbo Mode: This mode is attained by fully tightening the bezel. It consists of Max Level [180 Lumens] and Strobe. The sequence alternates in cycle.

• Press the tail cap button until 'click' sound is heard to switch ON the light
• To change Mode, in ON condition, push the tail cap button until light is off for about half a second and release for next mode. The modes will cycle through
• Press the button on tail cap until 'click' sound is heard to switch OFF the light

General Mode: This mode is attained by loosing the bezel. The General Mode consist of [12 Lumen]-[53 Lumen]-[107 Lumen]-[SOS].

• Press the tail cap button until 'click' sound is heard to switch ON the light
• To change Mode, in ON condition, push the tail cap button until light is off for half a second and release to enter next level. The modes will cycle through
• Press the button on tail cap until 'click' sound is heard to switch OFF the light

Below is the chart showing total output levels for Fenix L2D CE Premium - Q5 with different types of AA batteries the numbers are close to the manufacturer specifications.

Fenix L2D CE Q5 Premium
Level	NiMH	Alkaline	Lithium (1.7v)	1 x Li-ion (3.7v)
Low	109	110	360	1390
Med	407	417	419	1387
High	809	828	836	1392
Max	1466	1460	1458	1460

Comparing L2D CE Premium - Q5 with L2D CE standard version here is the chart showing total output levels for various AA batteries, as you can see there is a distinct increase in overall brightness for L2D CE Premium - Q5. If you have the standard version, it's definitely worth considering this /upgrade.

Fenix L2D CE Standard
Level	NiMH	Alkaline	Lithium (1.7v)
Low	67	69	69
Med	300	310	305
High	600	610	610
Max	1115	1180	1170

General Info
ID	31
Light Model	L2D CE Premium Q5
Manufacturer	Fenix Light
Review Page & Image	L2D CE Premium Q5
Country	China
Review Date	2008-01-04
Review Update	2008-01-07
Light Vitals
Length	147 mm
Width / Bezel Diameter	22 mm
Width / Tube Diameter	17 mm
Height (if applicable)	mm
Weight (without battery)	55 gm
Light Source
LED Format	Power LED
Number of LEDs	1
LED Name	Cree XR - E
LED Power	3  Watts
Light Management
Lens Material	Glass
Lens Coating (if any)	AR Coated
Lens Transperency (typical)	90
Lumen Management	Reflector
Material	Aluminium Metal Smooth
Beam Type	Mostly Throw
Power Management
Converter Type	Buck
Properties	Regulated, Micro Controller (uC)
Features	Advanced User Interface
Batteries Supported, Output & Runtime
Battery Size     Chemistry     Nominal Voltage     # Used     Total Output     Runtime to 75%     Runtime to 50%     Runtime to 25%	AA AA AA AA NiMH   Alk   LiFeS2   Li-Ion   1.2 1.6 1.7 3.7 2 2 2 1 1466 1460 1458 1460 190 98 0 0 191 100 0 0 192 101 0 0
Switch Options
Switch Type     Switch Properties	Click Reverse Click
Body Material Options
Material     Properties     Color	Aluminium Type III Hard Anodized Black
Light Rating
Looks	60
Build Quality	70
Runtime	80
Output	85
Features	70
Usability	80
Bang for buck	70
Overall Rating	73.571

Size Comparison: About 3 times as big as a standard AA cell. Despite the odd shaped battery tube, Fenix L2D CE Premium Q5 is comfortable to hold by hand. Pictured below size comparison between Fenix L2D CE Premium Q5 and standard Fenix L2D CE is virtually identical. From L to R: Fenix L2D CE Premium Q5, AA Battery and standard Fenix L2D CE.


Another size comparison, From L to R: L2D CE Premium Q5 and Energizer AA Lithium battery.



Bezel: Reflector in L2D CE Premium Q5 is built from solid Aluminium. Although the premium Cree 7090 XR-E LED is perfectly aligned and centered within reflector, there is a gap in between LED ring and reflector. The beam very has a distinct transition from Hot Spot to Spill beam. The reflector has LOP Finish. There are no artifacts in the beam. The Glass Lens of L2D CE Premium Q5 has AR Coating. There is a o-ring seal between glass lens and the bezel body protecting reflector of L2D CE Premium Q5 from dust and water. Top of bezel is chamfered on to prevent sharp edges.


Shown here is a comparison between reflectors, Standard Fenix L2D CE on left with smooth reflector and L2D CE Premium Q5 on right with the LOP reflector finish.


Body: L2D CE Premium Q5 is built from Aircraft Grade Aluminium. The Machining work is very good, there are apparently no any flaws in workmanship of L2D CE. To remove the machining marks and rings, the body is sand blasted and with hard anodized type III coating, the L2D appears to have a matt finish. Anodized type III coating also protects L2D from wear and corrosion in normal usage. The body of L2D CE Premium Q5 consists mainly of 3 parts; head housing lens, LED, reflector & Electronics, battery tube and the tail cap with switch. the battery tube has flat faces machined offering relatively good grip. The laser engraving is done on bezel to identify light model with L2D Premium Q5 engraved on it. the battery tube has fenix logo and L2D engraved. On the other side of bezel there is a also a serial number engraved. The overall size of L2D flashlight is very comfortable to hold in hands.


One of the distinct feature of the LxD Series is the battery tube. It looks kind of odd having dissimilar diameters at different sections. At one point the diameter is very less, about 16.5 mm and it's 18.5 mm at the beginning and end of tube. Now considering the inner diameter as measured to be 14.5 mm, the wall thickness variation in battery tube from 1 mm in the weakest section to 2 mm at the thickest section. Comparatively, the L2P had a very nice Hexagonal body with thick walls.


Picture below showing side view of L2D CE Premium Q5 highlighting the structural features on the bezel and top of battery tube section. As you there is a band of straight knurling on bezel to offer more grip.







L2D CE Premium Q5 Components: Showing from left to right, L2D CE Premium Q5 Head, Battery tube and tail cap. The threads on body tube on tail cap side are anodized but the threads on bezel side of tube are not. O-Ring placed behind threads on both sides of battery tube offering good water resistance. The battery tube is of relatively fair in thickness and the tail cap has gold plated negative contact spring.


Thick positive contact tab placed over the PCB in head ensures good contact with battery as well as protects PCB from wearing out.

Here is a Beam Shot in smoke.


Below Beam shot Matrix shows Fenix L2D CE Premium - Q5 on Left and Fenix L2D CE on Right, one of the interesting observations from these beam shots is even though the L2D CE Q5 is considerably brighter by numbers visually, there is less difference in brightness visually.

	0	-1	-2
Low
Med
High

Here are a some extreme closeup shots, notably the sand blasted, anodized surface finish is almost flawless.


Laser Engraving on Bezel, checkout the band of straight knurling on bezel


Battery tube


Tail cap showing rectangular knurling


Super Closeup of L2D CE Premium Bezel


Super Closeup of L2D CE Laser Engraving on battery tube


Super Closeup of L2D CE Premium Q5 Tail cap

Here is the runtime chart for L2D CE Premium Q5 on High (not Max/Turbo). The runtime for L2D CE Premium Q5 with 2 x Alkaline on High is about 1 Hour 40 Minutes to 50% whereas on NiMH its about 3 Hours 10 Minutes.