Anyone for a Astrolux S42 BLF Edition?

Who needs S42 we have Emisar D4 now.

The S42 is availiable in SS with copper head,
can make a really nice light with 18650 tube and a Skilhunt or shortened tailcap if you put in there a TA Narsil driver

+ + +

Thanks. I missed that option for a copper head. Unfortunately I’d have to buy 1 stainless with copper plus one aluminum and long tube to bake plus driver and spend well over $100 for the equivalent of a S41 with a side switch in the color I want.

well, a charging option is nice and the lit button.

And the LEDs are high CRI

Another board with charging would be nice

But as a stock light it’s a I will never this crap again.

I would buy a BLF S42 if:

USB was gone completely,
Copper head, aluminum tube and cap
Nichia high cri emitters
Narsil firmware

Otherwise, like other’s have said, what’s the point when the Emisar D4 is here and works the first time out?

Me too. Sounds great.

D4 lacks onboard charging. A BLF S42 that was sorta like a slightly larger D4 onboard charging could be worth it.

I would NOT want a copper head on this light. In my opinion, copper heats up too fast around the switch button and is too heavy for comfortable pocket EDC.

Personally IMO, onboard charging is one more thing to go wrong, especially on a light like this. I don’t even use the usb charging on the Acebeam EC50 G2 since it takes 6+ hrs to charge it. Easier to change the cell. I love the copper head on the S41, one of my favorite lights. albeit, there’s no switch on the head.

it may be possible to do a TA driver that could be replacing the contact plate, the tricky part is to get the clearance for the 2 rods to solder on

if I had the distance and size of those holes I could try it

You stole my line!

@Lexcel, dann noch eine Kupferscheibe 0,8mm dick unter das LED-Board

+1

Yeah i dont use on-board charging and i prefer flashlight without it but i know everyone is different.

Astrolux S42 driver designed

If you remove the small MCU on slave board you can use charging without the parasitic drain from breathing sideswitch LED

Running NarsilM
FET+6+1

sale topic

Sorry for reviving a dead (thread) but I couldn’t resist. While reading about the D4 Ti I came across this thread where some compared a wishlist BLF version of the S42 to the D4, then I realized my modded S42 was essentially that.

Basically I used the above/post mentioned S42 TA Narsil Driver from Lexel and got most of the features mentioned by others in this thread, an Emisar D4 like finished product. Some may ask, “why bother”, I wouldn’t have but I also couldn’t stand letting the S42’s potential go to waste by sitting in a draw unused and unloved (primarily due to the poor UI), plus modding is in the BLF spirit.

Changes to the S42 starting with the original pre-order model –

  1. Replaced original 18350 battery tube with longer one and replaced loose USB cover, corrected/supplied by BG

  2. Added a 18650 battery tube for longer runtime option as needed, purchased on BG

  3. Sanded down the sides of the original optic so that it drops down further onto emitters for more throwy focus

  4. Replaced existing S42 driver with Lexel’s TA Narsil driver (see post above)

    1. Elected to retain USB charging function (which is optional) by re-using original charging board

    2. Elected to retain lit side button as a “locate me” feature (which is optional) but also serves as an indicator for various other light functions such as battery voltage, FET/SOT power levels, lock-out indicator, etc.

  5. - Added a second smaller spring into tailcap to help with any added current demands


New Driver (top) used to replace the original board on bottom-right
![](https://i.imgur.com/waSmOtI.jpg)

Wiring completely removed from original boards before re-soldering to new driver board. Also unseen is partially desoldered MCU on underside of origal USB power board (on left)
![](https://i.imgur.com/Da2rjIy.jpg)

Side switch with all onboard LEDs rewired
![](https://i.imgur.com/ecyy0c4.jpg)

New FET+6 Driver Board installed with battery post (used instead of spring)
![](https://i.imgur.com/RPIz3w7.jpg)

MCU Function indicated/locate me Switch LED
![](https://i.imgur.com/QRG66Gr.jpg)
(Sorry in my excitement to test the UI and see if the side switch LED worked I forgot to take a photo of the completed driver assembly before installing.)

The light now has the excellent Tom E. / TK ramping firmware (similar to that as used in the D4) - smooth stepless ramping with direct access to turbo, last mode memory, battery voltage indicator, tactical turbo mode, etc. AND no more long presses for on/off!

Opening, disassembling and removing the old driver and parts and soldering and reassembling the new driver was the most complicated mod this novice has tackled to date, probably why it sat on my table untouched for weeks. I finally got the nerve to start when I saw member Edness’ completed project in the ‘Modded Today’ thread. In the end I was pleasantly rewarded with a fully functional version S42.Blf which is what it could have been all along (or a D4 wanna-be with USB charging! for those who prefer.)

My understanding is that a new version of the S42 is being considered for release with a TA driver, I don’t know what FW will be used but hopefully Narsil. For any others with an unloved original S42 that enjoy modding and can’t wait, Lexel’s TA Narsil driver is worth your attention.

Thanks for the post about Lexcel’s driver.

With the USB MCU partly desoldered what can the switch LED do?
Do you get rid only of the breathing LED?
Or have I only the NarsilM switch LED signals?
Or does it show also charging completed?

Thanks Joe

Good questions joe, I’m still learning but but here’s I’ve discovered based on my one and only experience thus far.

Any original switch LED functions would be replaced entirely by functions programmed into Narsil only, for example the locator function, battery voltage check, etc.

Yeap, active Dragon Breathing (ramping up and down in brightness) is gone but the switch LED continues to provide the same “locator” functionality only non-Breathing (i.e., the switch LED turns On/Off as the main LED is respectively turned Off/On.) The advantage of the fixed switch LED brightness is a 90% reduction in parasite demand/drain as the MCU no longer has to remain active in order to provide active “breathing”.

Narsil switch LED signals only but FWIW users can choose either of the two original switch LEDs (red or green) during re-wire to indicate those functions and/or the other LED can be connected to be permanently lit (as long as there’s battery power).

Nope, although the USB charging still works, the switch LED does not have a charge complete indicator, I guess its not part of the FW. But one can check battery actual voltage through blinks from the main LED and the switch LED (if wired for Narsil signals) by a quick triple-click. First series of blinks for volts, pause, second series for 0.1volts.

Although you’ve got me wondering if it wouldn’t be possible to wire the second switch LED to someplace on the remaining USB charging board to provide “charge complete” functionality even without the MCU. So that when there’s charging current the switch LED lights and when it drops (meaning charge complete) it turns off, hmmm :question:


In summary - in addition to the 90% reduction in parasite demand/drain it’s basically a trade-off of active breathing and charge complete for non-breathing and voltage readings.

While I agree that I wouldn’t want USB charging on most of my lights, it does have a couple of advantages. You don’t need to bring a separate charger when you travel, and you can use it to charge cells for other lights too.

It’s also good for people that don’t want to deal with the extra hassle of charging cells separately. Most people want to charge things the same way they charge their cell phone: plug it in and forget it. Now, you could argue that’s not a smart way to treat lithium-ion batteries, and I tend to agree. But, as long as the light has a reliable charging circuit, it’s not much different than trusting your other lithium-ion devices to charge properly.

Edit: Oops, sorry, I just noticed the post I am replying to is several months old.

The only reason I would want a BLF edition is because it has onboard charging. That is the only thing that would set it apart from the otherwise superior Emisar D4. I have the S42 and don’t use it besides for lumen bounce because the UI is so awful.

I would be interested if it has a similar presale price to the original S42 and if output and quality is similar to the D4.

The main reason I’d want a S42 is the ability to use a lanyard.