FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

I looked quick, but didn’t see… What’s the driver? FET? Approximate lumens and amps?

Put me in the list for one.

me to please.

It is tight bu twe are looking at a
AT85 MCU
FET + 1 + 7
1 7135 for lowest modes from moon and up to 350mA
then the extra 7 7135 kick in for regulated output of 2800mA (I estimate ittle over 1200 lumens out the front but a no expert :slight_smile: )

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Will updatelist later

This should be fairly similar to the D4, except:

  • Tail switch instead of side switch. (both momentary electronic switches)
  • 3 emitters instead of 4.
  • FET+7+1 driver instead of FET+1 (so, more efficient and higher regulated modes).
  • Narsil UI instead of Ramping IOS UI.
  • Different body style.
  • Extra pin wired up for aftermarket light-sense hacks.

At a guess, probably ~140 lm on the “1” channel, ~1000 lm on the “7+1” channels, and ~3000 lm on the FET channel. With smooth ramping from moon all the way to maximum. Or discrete levels if you prefer.

Anything up to 1000 lumens should be reasonably well-regulated.

I’m assuming I should (or someone should) probably put in some proper thermal regulation before the FW3A is released, but that probably won’t be too hard.

Putting in a blink at channel boundaries shouldn’t be hard either, but it depends on if that feature is desired.

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Hi, please add me to the list for one.

Thanks!

If I absolutely had to choose between one, the D4 or this, what would you suggest? I mean, I will probably end up getting both to feed my crippling flashlight addiction, BUUUT, if I had to choose?

Yes agree after reading that you wrote the stepdown is more for bigger lights.
(Though it would be nice if you care to explain what is the difference, is it that smaller lights heat up faster so thermal stepdown should kick in sooner then actually measured?)

Is there enough memory space for an extra operation group?
now it is
1 ramping 2 modes, factory default 1
could that become
1 ramping smooth 2 ramping with blink at channel boundaries (same operation as 1) and 3 modes, factory default 2 (for in this small light with just one cell it is more important to know the regulated settings)

also with 8 7135 chips a few extra mode groups added seem logical to me
excluded moon or that is different setting
low (1x7135) - low med (2x7135) - med (4x7135) - low high (8x7135) - turbo/high (DD)
low (1x7135) - med (3x7135) - low high (8x7135) - turbo/high (DD) OPTION 1
low (2x7135) - med (4x7135) - low high (8x7135) - turbo/high (DD) OPTION 2
low (1x7135) - low med (2x7135) - med (4x7135) - low high (8x7135) NO turbo/high safer modes
low (1x7135) - med (3x7135) - low high (8x7135) - NO turbo/high safer modes OPTION 1
low (2x7135) - med (4x7135) - low high (8x7135) - NO turbo/high safer modes OPTION 2

OPTION 1 or 2 depending on what is perceived as most evenly spaced
right?

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Both, of course. :smiley:

Really, I can’t answer that for you. I can tell you how they’re similar or different, but I can’t tell you what you like.

Well, except for lamb. You like lamb.

A light with a higher output-to-thermal-mass ratio needs more aggressive thermal regulation.

I think the method I came up with should work on both large and small lights, but I haven’t actually tried it on a larger light yet… so that’s still To Be Determined. The D4 now uses a predictive algorithm, so if the temperature is changing quickly it’ll react sooner than if the temperature is changing slowly. On a small light, which heats up faster, it’ll react faster — often before the temperature is anywhere near the limit. On a large light with slower heating, it’ll react slower. And the magnitude of response is proportional to the rate of change too, so a bigger light will be regulated in smaller steps.

For example, this is only an early simulation, but it shows how the light begins to step down (green line) before the measured temperature (Tdrv) even reaches the low end of the target zone (green shaded area):

The driver can guess where the temperature will be in the future, and it tries to steer away from that early.

On a larger or lower-powered light, the response would be slower and smoother and have a smaller initial bump.

The FW3A is a FET+7+1, not a FET+4+2+1. So it can’t do 2x7135 or 3x7135 or 4x7135. It’s only 1, 7, or 8.

In any case, it’d probably be easiest to just put a blink into the ramp, or put in a config option for a blink in the ramp at channel boundaries. No need for a separate operation mode.

It’d probably be a good idea to wait until people get a chance to try the updated D4 and then see what everyone thinks about the blinks.

ah yes thanks
so it should read:

new mode groups:
low 12% 7135 - low med 25% 7135 - med 50% 7135 - high 100% 7135 - turbo DD
low 12% 7135 - med 50% 7135 - high 100% 7135 - turbo DD
low 12% 7135 - low med 25% 7135 - med 50% 7135 - high 100% 7135 SAFE no turbo option
low 12% 7135 - med 50% 7135 - high 100% 7135 - SAFE no turbo option

If I recall it correctly, there are several multi mode options, but a lot got the FET kicking in. I think all actually, nice with a big light and 1 7135 chip.
with 8 7135 chips and a small light a couple of options to choose from that keeps it in regulation longer could be good right?
Also like the idea of being ble to put it in a safe selection without it being possibleto use anything but the 7135.

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Thanks
-DK

I would imagine it can have whatever mode groups you like. I’ll probably stick with ramping plus boundary blinks, for my personal use, but the mode group UI has tables for defining this stuff. It’s probably not hard to edit those tables.

Please add me to the list! Thanks

Hi,

Please add me to the list.

Thanks
Chuck

Now that Lumintop is involved, please add 2 more for me.

Two for me please.

I’m on the list for 2. Add another to me please. Total, 3. Lumintop is cool.