Review OrcaTorch D530 - Is it for real???

[Ukmc]

So I have tested a couple of dive lights here and there. All have worked great so far. Some have different switches. Some rated slightly different.
Anyhow, I received D530 from @OrcaTorch-Amazon Seller to review. It is very well made and I expected a similar performance to an Orcatotrch D550 that I already own. D550 has a magnetic tail switch, whereas D530 has side button switch. D530 rated at 1300 and D550 rated at 1000, but the lights look very similar. While brightness is rated slightly differently, I could not tell the difference. Took it for a pool dive down to 12 feet. No problems and performs well.
Then I decided to test a continuous burn time and compare to other lights using the same battery - 18650. I had Nitescuba s12 and orcatorch d530 and d550 on hand. I made sure all had full charge, filled the tub with water and off we go. All three lights showed similar brightness (d530 slightly brighter)
Nitescuba s12 went out after 2 hrs. About what I expected. D550 went out after 2.5 hrs. About what I expected.
Now here comes the craziness - d530 kept going and kept going without losing brightness. I started around 15:00 (expecting plenty of time to test runtime), well at midnight I called it quits because d530 kept on going. To my astonishment, when I went back at half past 7 in the morning - d530 was still on with similar brightness! That is 16 hrs! Did my light come with a nuclear powered battery? Has anybody else experienced this??? I don’t think I will take any other light with me on the trips!
Amazing work @OrcaTorch !

 

[lexvil]

You seem to have the best 18650 ever made

 

[Ukmc]

You seem to have the best 18650 ever made

I know it is insane. Except both d530 and d550 had the same brand orca-torch 18650 battery, which showed the same capacity on a XTAR charger. All three batteries were charged fully with the same charger prior to start.

 

[tursiops]

I know it is insane. Except both d530 and d550 had the same brand orca-torch 18650 battery, which showed the same capacity on a XTAR charger. All three batteries were charged fully with the same charger prior to start.

Is it possible the D530 was not on full power at the start?

 

[Ukmc]

Is it possible the D530 was not on full power at the start?

I suppose it is possible, but highly unlikely, as I am pretty sure they all were on the highest setting. Also as you can see from the photos - d530 was the brightest of them all (by a little), so if you presume that I made a mistake (possible), then the lower setting was brighter than higher ones on the other lights

 

[tursiops]

L

I suppose it is possible, but highly unlikely, as I am pretty sure they all were on the highest setting. Also as you can see from the photos - d530 was the brightest of them all (by a little), so if you presume that I made a mistake (possible), then the lower setting was brighter than higher ones on the other lights

Lumens are tricky. My D530 and D550 have similar "brightness" and beam pattern but quite different "lumens," i,e 1300 and 1000, depending on where you find the specs.. The beam patterns are not identical, and likely the "lumens" are either based on what the emitter can provide or by looking at the very brightest part of the beam. If the D530 was on low power (380 lumens) and the D550 on full, I'm not sure you'd see the difference. The OPrcaTorch website dives encurances nothing like what you measured with either light:

 

[Robert H. Diver]

That’s insane. Makes me want to test mine to compare.

 

[Eric802]

Maybe I’ll top off my batteries and do this with my 550 and 530.

 

[Ukmc]

I

Maybe I’ll top off my batteries and do this with my 550 and 530.

I was thinking about randomized blinded study. I will blind myself and randomly will choose a battery and will see if I have “the best 18650 ever made” or the best d530 ever made… Of course, I will verify that all the lights are on the highest output setting!

 

[lexvil]

It m

I

I was thinking about randomized blinded study. I will blind myself and randomly will choose a battery and will see if I have “the best 18650 ever made” or the best d530 ever made… Of course, I will verify that all the lights are on the highest output setting!

ay be the nexus Of both! Don’t blind yourself, maybe just cover your eyes.