Thanks for purchasing NITECORE!
• The world's smallest LED rechargeable searchlight with a maximum throw of 1400 meters
• Utilizes a CREE XHP35 HI D4 LED
• Integrated multi-function OLED display
• Thermal protection circuit prevents overheating
• Intelligent charging circuit with security detection charges safely and rapidly
• 5 brightness levels and 3 special modes selectable
• Innovative single button two-stage switch provides a user-friendly interface (Patented:ZL201120062948.1)
• Integrated power indicator in the switch displays remaining battery power (Patented: L201220057767.4)
• Optimal heat dissipation to improve overall performance
• Toughenedultra-clearmineralglasswithanti-reectivecoating
• Integrated“PrecisionDigitalOpticsTechnology”providesextremereectorperformance
• Constructed from aerospace-grade aluminum alloy
• HAIII military grade hard-anodized
• Waterproof in accordance with IPX8 (submersible to two meters)
Length:278mm (10.94 ") Length: 195mm (7.68 ")
Head diameter: 90mm (3.54 ") Head diameter: 90mm (3.54 ")
Tube diameter: 50mm (1.97 ") Tube diameter: 50mm (1.97 ")
Weight: 1260.3g (44.46oz) (with battery pack) Weight: 780g (27.51oz) (without batteries)
Standard charger adapter (3.5mm), quality sling, lanyard, spare O-ring, spare rubber cover of charging port
TM38: NBP68 HD ultra-high performance Li-ion rechargeable battery pack
Capacity 98Wh (3400mAh×8)
Charging Current 2A (Trickle charge) / 4A (Rapid charge)
Charging Port 3.5mm 12V DC Adapter / 4.0mm 12V DC Adapter
TYPE Nominal voltage Compatibility
18650 Rechargeable Li-ion battery 18650 3.7V Yes (Recommended and can be recharged)
IMR18650 battery (button top battery) IMR18650 3.6V Yes (Recommended and can be recharged)
Primary Lithium battery CR123 3V Yes (Not recommended and CANNOT be recharged)
Rechargeable Li-ion battery RCR123 3.7V NO
*Nitecore 18650 are recommended to ensure complete compatibility.
TURBO HIGH MID LOWER STROBE SOS BEACONLOW
*4h 11h 22h 40h 120h —— —— ——
1400m 900m 650m 460m 250m —— —— ——
490000cd 202500cd 105625cd 52900cd 15625cd —— —— ——
IPX8, 2m (Waterproof AND Submersible)
NOTE:TheabovedatahasbeenmeasuredinaccordancewiththeinternationalashlighttestingstandardsANSI/NEMAFL1usingthe
Nitecore NBP68 HD battery pack under laboratory conditions. The data may vary during real-world use due to battery type, individual
usage habits and environmental factors.
*The runtime for TURBO mode is the testing result before starting temperature regulation.
TURBO HIGH MID LOWER STROBE SOS BEACONLOW
*2h 5h30min 11h 20h 60h —— —— ——
1400m 900m 650m 460m 250m —— —— ——
490000cd 202500cd 105625cd 52900cd 15625cd —— —— ——
IPX8, 2m (Waterproof AND Submersible)
NOTE: TheabovedatahasbeenmeasuredinaccordancewiththeinternationalashlighttestingstandardsANSI/NEMAFL1using
4 × 18650 Li-ion batteries (3.7V 3400mAh) under laboratory conditions. The data may vary during real-world use due to battery type,
individual usage habits and environmental factors.
*The runtime for TURBO mode is the testing result before starting temperature regulation.
TM38: Screw on the NBP68 HD battery pack as illustrated.
TM38 Lite: Install 4 x 18650 Li-ion batteries with the positive ends (+) pointing toward the light head and tighten the tube. In
emergency situations, one to three 18650 Li-ion batteries may be used. Please see note 1 in the WARNING section below.
1. Using less than 4 x 18650 Li-ion batteries might trigger the overload protection circuit in Li-ion batteries, which may lead to explosion
or turbo mode malfunctioning. Nitecore recommends this feature is used with caution and only when necessary.
2. Insert batteries with the positive (+) ends pointing toward the light head.
3. Do not mix rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries.
4.Donotmixbatteriesofdierenttypes/brands.
5.Donotmixbatteriesofdierentchargelevels.
6.Pleaseensurethatall18650batteriesusedintheTM38Litehaveabuttontopconguration.
After tightening the battery pack or loading batteries, “NITECORE” will be displayed on the OLED screen for 2.5 seconds followed by a
4-second display of battery voltage (to nearest 0.01V) after which the TM38/TM38 Lite will enter standby mode.
When the TM38/TM38 Lite is turned on, the OLED display will activate automatically and show output lumen, brightness level, battery
voltage,batterystatus,remainingruntimeandtemperature.Afterdisplayingthesereadings,theOLEDdisplaywillbeoautomatically.
To reactivate the OLED, simply press the display switch. To cycle through the information, press the display button repeatedly.
NOTE: The TM38/TM38 Lite has two modes: Daily Mode and Search Mode. These modes can be selected by the 2-stage switch
according to how hard the switch is pressed. A halfway press will activate daily mode, and a full press will activate Search Mode. Please
refer to instructions below.
DailyMode:Withthelightturnedo,presstheswitchhalfwayandreleasewithinonesecondtoenterthismodewithconstant-on
illumination. Alternatively, press and hold the switch halfway for more than one second to activate momentary illumination with the
previously used daily mode brightness.
SearchMode:Withthelightturnedo,presstheswitchallthewaydownandreleasewithinonesecondtoenterthismodewith
constant-on illumination. Alternatively, press and hold the switch all the way down for more than one second to activate momentary
illumination with max brightness.
• In daily mode, press the switch halfway repeatedly to cycle through brightness levels of lower, low, medium or high. Alternatively,
press and hold the switch halfway for more than one second to enter turbo mode directly. A second halfway press will resume the
brightnesslevellastused.Theselectedbrightnesslevelwillbememorizedwhenthelightisturnedo.
• Insearchmode,presstheswitchhalfwaytoswitchbetweenhighandturbomode.Thismodedoesnothavememoryeect.
NOTE: In turbo mode, the thermal protection will activate. Please refer to the “Thermal Protection” section for details.
Special Modes (Strobe / SOS / Location Beacon)
Whentheashlightison,presstheswitchallthewaydowntwiceinquicksuccessiontoaccessstrobemode.Wheninstrobemode,
press the switch halfway repeatedly to cycle through SOS, location beacon and strobe modes. To exit special modes (and enter standby
mode), simply press the switch all the way down and release.
NOTE: Wheninanyofthespecialmodes,theOLEDdisplaywillremainondisplayingthespecicmodebeingused.
Whentheashlightison,pressandholdtheswitchallthewaydownformorethanoneseconduntiltheashlightisswitchedoand
Lockoutmodeconsumesalmostnobatterypowerandpreventsaccidentalactivationoftheashlight.Toexitlockoutmode,simplypress
and hold the switch all the way down for more than one second again.
1. In lockout mode, the OLED display will show “LOCK OUT” as a reminder when the switch or the display button is pressed.
2. When the TM38/TM38 Lite is kept in a backpack or left unused for extended periods, Nitecore recommends users loosen the head to
cutopower,thussavingbatterypowerandpreventingaccidentalactuationoftheashlight.
Whentheashlightison,presstheswitchallthewaydownandreleasewithinonesecondtoenterstandbymode.Inthismode,the
lightwillconsumesmallamountsofpowertomaintainthesettingsintheMCU(microcontrolunit)whileappearstobeturnedo.
When in standby mode the power indicator light will blink once every two seconds to indicate the location of the light.
NOTE: When in standby mode, a single press of the OLED display button will activate the OLED and display battery voltage for 10
ConnectthechargingcableoftheTM38/TM38LitetotheashlightandtheA/Cpoweradaptertothewalloutletasshowninthe
• Undernormalchargingconditions,theon/oswitch’sblueindicatorlightwillblinktwiceeverysecondwiththeOLEDscreen
displaying "Charging..." and battery voltage.
• Ifaproblemisdetectedduringcharging(e.g.faultyorincorrectlyinsertedbatteries),theashlightwillstopchargingautomatically.
The blue indicator will blink rapidly and the OLED display will show the word “ERROR” to notify users.
• Whenchargingiscompleted,theashlightwillstopchargingautomaticallywiththeblueindicatorremainingonand“Chg.Finished”
along with battery voltage being displayed on the OLED screen.
NOTE: It takes TM38 Lite about 7 hours to fully charge four 18650 Li-ion batteries (3.7V 3400mAh).
TheTM38’sNBP68HDbatterypackcanalsoberechargedindependentlywithaNitecoreAdapter.Asshown,plugoneendofthe
adapter to the battery pack charging port (2A, 3.5mm), and plug the other end to an outlet. The integrated blue charging indicator of
the NBP68 HD battery pack will blink rapidly when the battery pack is being recharged, or blink slowly when battery power reaches
98%, or illuminate steadily when the battery pack is fully charged.
1. Charging the TM38 or the NBP68 HD battery pack directly will require charging time of approximately 15 hours.
2. Charging time can be reduced to 8 hours if the NBP68 HD battery pack is recharged via the rapid charging port (4A, 4.0mm) using an
1. With the light switched on, the power indicator will blink once every two seconds when power level drops to 50%.
2. With the light switched on, the power indicator will blink rapidly when power level is low. Batteries/battery pack should be replaced or
rechargedwhenanyofthefollowingoccurs:Thepowerindicatorblinksrapidly,outputappearstobedimortheashlightbecomes
NOTE:Whenthelightisbeingusedinlowermode,thebluepowerindicatorwillbeotoconservepower.
Extended operation in turbo mode will cause the temperature of TM38/TM38 Lite to continually rise, making it too scalding to hold.
Thus, Nitecore does not recommend using the TM38/TM38 Lite in turbo mode for extended periods. Equipped with an integrated
thermal protection circuit, the TM38/TM38 Lite will automatically reduce its output to prevent overheating once temperature has
reached 60 degree Celsius.
Precaution: Do not attempt to cool a heated TM38/TM38 Lite by submerging it in liquid. This may cause irreparable damage to the
TM38/TM38Liteduetoairpressuredierenceinsideandoutsideofthetube.
Every 6 months, threads should be wiped with a clean cloth followed by a thin coating of silicon-based lubricant.
products are warranted for quality. DOA/defective products can be exchanged for replacement through a local
distributor/dealer within the 15 days of purchase.
After 15 days, all defective / malfunctioning NITECORE
products will be repaired free of charge for a period of 60 months from the date
of purchase. After 60 months, a limited warranty applies, covering the cost of labor and maintenance, but not the cost of accessories or
Thewarrantyisnulliedinallofthefollowingsituations:
1.Theproduct(s)is/arebrokendown,reconstructedand/ormodiedbyunauthorizedparties.
2. The product(s) is/are damaged through improper use (i.e. reverse polarity installation).
3. The product(s) is/are damaged by leakage of batteries.
For the latest information on NITECORE
products and services, please contact your national NITECORE
distributor or send an email to
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SYSMAX Industry Co., Ltd.
E-mail: info@nitecore.com
Address: Rm 2601-06, Central Tower, No.5 Xiancun Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510623, Guangdong, China
