KDLitker E6 (P60 21700 host)

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Kdlitker E6 21700 P60 specifications

Brand/model	Kdlitker E6 (P60 host for 21700)
LED	N/A
Lumens	N/A
Beam intensity	N/A
Battery config.	1*21700
Material	Aluminum
Modes	N/A
Blinkies	N/A
Reflector	N/A
Waterproof	N/A
Review date	January 2022

This is not a normal flashlight review, because the KD Litker E6 21700 is a P60 drop-in flashlight host. This means, that it doesn’t have a light engine/ light source. You have to buy (or make) a P60 dropin in order to use it.

A P60 drop-in is a light assembly, that consists of a reflector, driver, and LED. These drop-ins are available with different kinds of emitters and drivers. You can basically transform your flashlight on the go, without the need for soldering. The drop-in can be added and removed by simply unscrewing the front of the flashlight. It’s a great way to try out new emitters, new tints, new LED CCT, new LED versions without a soldering iron. (You just need to make sure you get the correct Voltage driver)

Back in the day, these types of flashlights were quite popular, but nowadays, you don’t see people really talk about them anymore. This has to do with 1 major drawback, which I will discuss later in the review.

While ordering several LEDs at Kaidomain, I noticed this host for sale and thought: hmm… interesting… so I ordered it to see if what this is all about.

Package quality.

For $13, you shouldn’t expect Olight-like packaging. It arrived in a simple, cheap box with a plastic transparent (and broken) tray that holds the flashlight. This is a real bargain in my opinion, just like the Solarforce flashlights back in the day.

So this is what you get:

• The flashlight host: Kdlitker E6-21700
• Lanyard
• O-ring
• Green GITD switch boot
• Green dustcloth

One of the nice things about the P60 flashlight system was the lego-ability. You could ‘pimp’ your flashlight with different heads, bezels, tail caps, extension tubes, switches etc. besides just the drop-in. That way you could mix and match different parts and different materials. But those were all 18650 or 2*CR123 flashlights.

The KD Litker E6 (that’s probably how you pronounce the name) has a reverse-clicky switch. And like I said, if you prefer a forward clicky switch, you can order a KD Litker forward clicky set for less than $3.

I wanted to see if it was lego-able with Solarforce parts, but unfortunately, that didn’t fit. I can understand that the tailcap won’t fit (18650 vs 21700) but even the heads didn’t match, unfortunately. Kaidomain is probably using a different kind of threading.

Unlike the traditional Surefire and Solarforce flashlights, the E6-21700 has no anti-roll feature. When you put it on a sloped surface, it will roll around. If you want to use it for maintenance work/ construction work/ inspection work, make sure you don’t put it on something that ‘looks flat’.

For the price, I can’t really complain. The anodization seems to be sufficient, and I don’t see any blemishes or scratches. The logo/model prints on the battery tube seem to be done well, although the logo looks a little unprofessional. I’m specifically talking about the battery with the letters E6 on one side.

The tailcap threads have lots and lots of lubrication. In my opinion, this is a little overdone. I’d prefer having less lubrication but hey.. it might help keep water out.

Unscrewing the tailcap (and head) are smooth.

Like I said earlier, this is a flashlight host, and not a normal flashlight with a light engine. You can add any drop-in you want, as long as it is for a single cell. The other KDLitker host is a 18650 host, and they also have a 18650 extender. And in that case, you can buy a 6V drop-in, but not for this one.

I couldn’t find an extension tube for the 21700 model at Kaidomain.

P60 drop-ins are available at relatively low prices. If you want one with a single LED, you can get them probably for about $10. Kaidomain still has a nice number of affordable dropins as well,

You can get them with IR LEDs, UV LEDs, and any other normal LED you want. Some sellers like Malkoff Devices has copper drop-ins.

Kaidomain sells triple and quad-LED drop-ins for less than $20. The description in the image says it’s made of brass, which is strange, because brass has worse thermal conductivity.

• Length: 131 mm / 5.17 ”
• Head diameter widest:  33.1 mm / 1.3 ”
• Bezel diameter: 32 mm / 1.26″
• Body and tailcap diameter: 28 mm / 1.1 ”

Weight: 

• Empty: 93.9 g / 3.31 oz
• With battery and single LED dropin: 182.9 g / 6.45 oz
• (changes with battery and droping)

Flashlight comparison

Size compared to the Solarforce L2M with a short 18350 battery tube. 2nd image: with 21700 battery.

And compared to other 21700 EDC flashlights. From left to right KDLitker E6-21700, Acebeam E70-SS, Fenix E35, Wurkkos TS21, Zebralight SC700D

I couldn’t find any other 21700 P60 hosts, but soon after posting some people commented about 2 other P60 hosts for 21700. 1 actually turned out to be a simple battery tube that can be used on several other existing heads, and the other is sold out.. and I don’t know if it will come back in stock.

I can skip this section because the UI depends on the drop-in you buy/make.

Okay, this is something I need to draw your attention to because this is quite important for a flashlight host.

I added a single LED drop-in to see which 21700 batteries would fit, and which don’t. And unfortunately, I have to say, that it doesn’t accept longer 21700 batteries with protection boards or USB ports.

It only accepts unprotected cells, with or without button tops.

Don’t use protected cells or cells with USB ports.

Performance: what you have to know

It’s my conviction that the main reason these P60 flashlights aren’t popular anymore, is they aren’t high performers.

The main reason is the problem with heat dissipation. Most P60 reflectors are made of aluminum, and those are the main parts touching the host. So, if you want to run something more powerful than several hundred lumens, you will see a drop in output rather soon. It can’t dissipate the heat well enough, which reduces its performance.

In order to have better heat dissipation, you can do 2 things. Either buy copper P60 drop-ins, or add aluminum strips/foil or copper tape between the drop-in and the host. That way, the P60 drop-in can move the heat away from the driver and LED.

So, if you want to go above 1000 lumens, you need to look into better heat management for these P60 flashlights.

No beamshots, because this is just a host.

Disclaimer: I bought this flashlight with my own money. Nobody paid me to review this flashlight, nor have I been holding back on problems or defects.