Inova T4 MP Flashlight Review*

by Bill Kincaid

Inova T4 MP at BrightGuy

Introduction

Although I chose the Inova T4 MP for this specific review, the Inova T series of flashlights comes in a number of sizes, configurations, and outputs to match the user’s needs. If you’re interested in an Inova flashlight, I assembled a brief table below listing all the flashlights in the T series.

Inova T-Series Flashlights
Model	Length	Battery	Output / Lumens	Run Time / High	Switch
T1 MP	4.5"	2 ea CR123A lithium	100	5 hours	tailcap
T2 MP	5.5"	2 ea CR123A lithium	125	4 hours	tailcap
T3 MP	6.2"	3 ea CR123A lithium	150	3.5 hours	tailcap
T4 MP	8"	li-ion rechargeable	175	2 hours	mid body
T5 MP	9"	3 ea CR123A lithium	200	3 hours	mid body

Inova markets the T series lights for military, police, and security professionals, claiming they are, “Designed for mission-critical use, the T Series is engineered to withstand the rigors of tough duty and extreme environmental conditions.” I must admit the specifications listed on the web site are impressive, some of which are paraphrased below.

Patented Optical System

Machined from solid aluminum bar stock, no extrusions

Double sided AR coated mineral glass with Teflon Seal to withstand environmental pressure

Listed as shockproof, crushproof, and water resistant (can’t wait to run the car over it)

Compression sealed with O-Rings

Official Specifications for Inova T4 MP Rechargeable LED Flashlight:
high powered LED
power regulation circuit provides uniform light output for up to two hours
powered by high efficiency lithium ion rechargeable battery
zero memory effect - recharge anytime, at any state of discharge without disrupting battery capacity
battery can be recharged hundreds of times before requiring replacement; recharge time is approximately 2 hours
charging indicator - a steady red LED light on the flashlight indicates that the battery is charging; when this light turns green, the battery is fully charged
4 function mid body switch activates high power, low power, strobe and momentary on modes
rugged, low-profile, charging bracket is engineered with spring loaded rollers to hold the Inova T4 MP securely while offering ease of insertion and removal
power regulation circuit provides uniform light output for up to 2 hours
deep reflector for long range beam
up to 350 ft effective range
aircraft-grade aluminum body
type III Military Spec hard coat anodized finish
rugged, low-profile, fast-charging cradle features hassle-free docking/undocking.
includes T4 flashlight, lithium ion battery, 1 charging bracket and both AC and DC charge cords
made in USA
limited lifetime warranty from Inova/Emissive Energy

Test Findings and Observations for Inova T4 MP Rechargeable LED Flashlight:
Due to the mid body switch the Inova T4 MP will tail stand.
The Inova T series of flashlights are listed as water resistant with no standard given, so I gave Inova customer service a call. They state the Inova T4 MP is water resistant and should survive a quick splash in a puddle, but the flashlight is not submersible. My tests confirm this. Customer service also stated the limited lifetime warranty does not cover water damage. (see summary)
When you say your flashlight is shockproof and crushproof someone is going to call you on it. I sure couldn’t resist so I ran the car over it. Okay, I did it twice. No negative effects detected. (See Pictures)
Dropped 3 feet onto a folded towel on a concrete floor to check that the components were mounted solid. I also dropped Inova T4 MP less severely numerous times during the course of this review. Did I mention the flashlight was listed as shockproof? No negative effects detected.
No holster or belt clip provided. (see summary below)
Extra battery available at extra cost.
Unlike some other tactical LED flashlights, the Inova T4 MP Rechargeable has no sharp corners or edges to snag on clothing. I like that.
No lanyard hole.
No lock out feature listed on the Inova T4 MP and Inova T5 MP flashlights.
The tint of my Inova T4 MP was very warm. Probably the warmest LED light I have ever seen. It actually looked more like a bulb than a typical LED, which many prefer.
Beam quality is extremely good. Perfectly round hot spot with a hard corona, then a soft corona then an artifact free spill. The patented optical system of the Inova T4 MP is impressive, and provides a balanced beam quality that gives a tight spot for reasonable throw and enough spill for all around use.
Low mode appeared to be around 20-35 lumens. It provided plenty of light for reading and writing, close up and short range duties. Inova does not list the run time on low so I did just a quick test. After fully charging the battery I placed the Inova T4 MP in the lower mode around 11:30 pm. At 11:30 am the next morning the light was still going strong. 12 hours of run time with battery remaining is not too bad, matter of fact; it is nice to know you have that kind of reserve lighting time available.
Inova T4 MP uses proprietary Lithium-ion batteries, unless there is a standard battery I’m not aware of. While the voltage and capacity were in line with a standard lithium-ion battery, the positive and negative terminals are on the same side of the Inova battery.
The electronic multi-function switch was a pleasant surprise. It is rectangle with a rubber cover, has a nice positive feel, and is just behind the head. Click once to activate high. Click twice within two seconds to activate low. Click twice very fast to activate strobe. For momentary on, press and hold longer than a click or ½ second, then let go to turn the flashlight off. If it sounds complicated it’s not; within minutes the user can easily master the switch..
The supplied charger and adapter was what one would expect from Inova. The charger charged the Inova T4 MP within 2 hours every time and then shut off when complete.** The cradle (charging bracket) was nicely designed, of good quality, and should last for years. It held the flashlight securely in place while charging and was easy to insert and remove the T4 from. The cradle could be mounted flat or vertical on a wall with the supplied screws.
Low battery warning. The manual states the Inova T4 MP will strobe when the battery reaches the point it needs recharging. Except for the 12 hour low power test, I kept the flashlight fully charged for testing and never reached the point where the flashlight went into low battery warning.
The LED was centered and I detected no dust or debris in the sealed head.
Machining and anodizing looked perfect.
The head can be unscrewed and removed although you must first break the locktite.

Summary:

The Inova T series of flashlights have already earned a reputation for dependability with professionals. This latest Inova T-Series (for 2008) improves on that tradition. The new specifications start at a respectable 100 lumens for the Inova T1 MP and progress all the way to 200 lumens for the Inova T5 MP. The Inova T4 MP listed at 175 lumens has 3 times the light of the standard tactical flashlights of just a couple years ago, all in a reasonably sized package only 1.1 inches in diameter at the body and 1.4 at the head. At 8 inches long the handle on the Inova T4 MP is just long enough to give you a confident full hand grip. With its deep checkered knurling the light feels very secure in the hand even when wet. While the Inova T4 MP has less run time than the other flashlights in the Inova T series that use primary CR123A batteries, the regulated output and two hours of run time on high from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery is very respectable, and can potentially save the user hundreds of dollars or more in primary battery purchases. It can be charged at home or right in your car with the supplied DC adapter. Since the lithium-ion battery has no memory effect the light can always be placed back in the charger after any amount of use and be fully charged and ready for action again.

Finding improvements for this flashlight was a task, but I did have a couple. One could argue that based on the light going to the military, or police, or even an outdoorsman, that there are many different ways to carry the T4 MP, and Inova cannot possibly provide a carry option for each of those scenarios with each light. However, having no belt clip or holster provided for a light of this caliber and cost is an over sight. Second, in my opinion a flashlight that is specified for “tough duty and extreme environmental conditions” should be more than just splash resistant. It should meet stringent water resistant standards, and be warranted by the manufacturer to meet those standards. (IPX8 comes to mind)

In conclusion, other than the couple of items stated above, I found nothing to complain about with the Inova T4 MP package, and I really did look. It was a mission after reading their advertising claims. People who buy the best and are serious about the tools they use, expect that the product they purchase is as good as the manufacturer claims it is. I tested and used this flashlight hard in the short time I’ve had it. Running the car over it and purposely dropping the T4 MP enough times to turn lesser lights into junk may have been extreme, but Inova does clearly state shockproof and crushproof, and my tests would confirm this. In my opinion the latest T series of lights from Inova deliver what they claim. They are brighter, ergonomically designed, and very tough. I would not hesitate to take the Inova T4 MP or any of the Inova T series LED flashlights with me on an excursion where a dependable flashlight could be considered a necessity.

Note: Always remove Lithium-ion batteries from the charger or unplug the charger after charging is complete.

*The preceding in-depth review was supplied by a customer of BrightGuy, Inc. (with the author's permission). The opinions expressed in this review are those of its author. BrightGuy assumes no responsibility for the information provided in this independent review.