[PART 1] Official BLF GT Group Buy thread. Group buy officially closed! Lights shipping.

Would much prefer if this light had a battery carrier. Some of use will want to convert to 4P or 4S (Me!).

Actually, I think it would be best if this was just a Host. Then we all use our own drivers and emitters or have someone build one to their personal configuration.

Will start a poll about shape/form factor tonight
Lol and add all the names to the post now in use for it for another poll.

Can you also poll on Host vs Whole Light. Something like:

  • Plunger Host
  • Plunger Whole Light
  • Box Host
  • Box Whole Light
  • etc

A host could be developed so much faster than a whole light that would probably have a driver and maybe an emitter I don't want. For example, I want 4S cells and buck driver to max drive the emitter of my choice. Some here want big emitter. Some want small die. Some prefer parallel cells for safety, etc.

No one told me this was already announced and had a thread lol.

Well I just skimmed the last 6 pages for some interesting talking points, so forgive me if I missed anything.

I was doing some testing last night with various lights. I would hold them like a lantern (aka, the box style) and then light a flashlight at eye level.

When held at waist level the shadows get very bad and in many cases it is almost impossible to see what you are looking at. Good in open flat areas but not good int he woods or places with optical.

When held at eye level it was much easier to see things at range. I also noticed that it was easier to point the light at what I wanted with it held “overhand”.

So my vote for a thrower goes to the classic style.

Now I think a flooder / monster lumen version would work amazing in the box style. You could mount a fan on the back of it and have virtually unlimited heat shedding ability. You could run 4-6x XHP70’s wide open without overheating I bet for a grand total of 20k+ lumens. I would totally get behind this.

A whole light gives more control over a manufacturer than a host, they have to deliver a working flashlight so they have to have the details right. And a whole light also implies the developement or adaptation of a driver, which for simple folks like saves a lot of trouble making/fitting one.

Yes I understand the question
Yet I want to pursue a whole light.
Why?
So all can use it.
Then it has Narsil, so many options people just dive into settings to set it up how they want.
With a tail switch and a side switch and driver retainer ring without any glue this too should be nice to mod.
I think it could be a lot easier to find a manufacturer for a complete light then a host.

I really hope (yeah hope since we started polls so much sooner in the process we will have to see what will be chosen) it will be a XHP35hi
And well with a LED like that in a reflector like this we should get such a nice beam that stock should make for a dream light.

But writing this, why don’t we indeed poll about host or not

First poll shape
Second poll name
Third host/complete
Fourth beam shape (pencil, fat panvil (marker) or a little more floody (TN16))
OK?

^

Makes since. Just hoping this light will have configurability in the design. A big light like this will have serious heat sinking. Some will want want do drive the emitter to the max. Others at a consistent output for extended periods. That calls for 4S (with 2P and 2P as an option) and buck regulation in my book. We are talking serious thrower here. Something that would be used in search and rescue. Like searching a mountain side. Lots of area to scan.

I vote for XHP35-HI marker beam and the only head with handle style light with four 18650-s in series in the head around or under the reflector. The bottom battery tray will give it a good platform to stand on. And aluminum reflector, and UCLp plastic AR coated lens.

I’m in for this:

Probably also the cheapest variant.
3x18650 in parallel would result in a comfortable tube diameter, sufficient runtime and current.
Additionally a tube extension for further mods.

Perhaps a large order of UCLp lens from flashlightlens.com? The ones Dale always recommends. I’d love to see one in a killer BLF light.

one reason for the 4x 18650 is so you don’t get that ugly plunger look, by having the larger grip it gives the light a more balanced look.

By making it longer with 2 cells long, it also helps balance the light from both a weight and visual perspective.

Plus from Dales testing the XHP35 basically matches the XP-L HI in maximum throw with almost twice the lumens and a large hotspot. With this in mind I am 100% in favor of a XHP35 based light. There also has to be a reason all the other monster throwers are using the XHP35, it costs twice as much as the XP-L afterall.

Ditto.

An XPL-HI pencil beam ultimate thrower is really neat and all, but its usefulness is almost zero. Apart from showing off your lightsaber what can you do with that tight of a beam? It would be similar to the Jacob A60, just proportionally larger.

XHP-35 HI gives you long throw with a larger hotspot and more output which is far more useful in my experience.

And half the runtime …

That’s why four (or eight) cells are to be used. :wink:

Plus if you want runtime you should not be using turbo anyways.

I’m in for at least 1 no matter the format. I think the standard flashlight shape is the way to go. It seems more natural way to hold a light when spotting distant objects. But really if the throw is there I wouldn’t care so much about the format. For the LED I would like to see highest cd/mm2 irregardless of total lumen output. But if it comes out to be very little difference between a 400L led and a 2400L led I might reconsider and go with a little less cd. The TN42 is the benchmark so it’s gotta beat that in cd.

I am in, depending on price.

Interested for one BLF BT! :+1:

If I want maximum throw I have to use turbo.
I know there a different preferences.
Mine are:

- maximum throw, spot diameter doesn’t matter,

- no temperature ramping,

- much runtime with fewest possible cells,

- little weight, I want to be able to carry it for a while,

  • low price.
    Best to achieve with highest bin XP-L HI or HD dedomed.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to see a poll for the concept of the light.

Put me down please :+1: