I wasn’t really expecting this thread to hit four digits. It’s not a big long group project like the Q8; it’s just a review and a few days worth of development. Was planning for most of the discussion to happen in Hank’s D4 thread, but he was having difficulties with the Great Firewall of China and couldn’t post for a while.
I really appreciate the feedback everyone has given though. At least half the things I changed were because people made requests. Like, I hadn’t really considered adding a channel-switch blink, but it was a good idea that I find useful.
As it turns out, I’m in the middle of building a color quad light… but not with a FET. It’s using a dozen 7135 chips instead. It’s only 1A per emitter, but that should be plenty for my purposes.
That’s kind of what the FW3A is about. The D4 might not have quite enough room (depth) for 7135 chips on the back side of the driver. It would be nice to have FET+N+1 instead of FET+1, but I find most of my use is on just the +1… so it’s mostly a theoretical upgrade for me.
I’m definitely not the type who goes through multiple 18650 cells in a single night. Usually it takes me at least a month per charge, even on 1xAA or 1x16340 lights.
Just received my grey nichia and wow. I’m new to the world of led flashlights and this covers a lot of firsts for me. First 18650 light, first quad, first pocket hot rod. This thing is amazing, it’s so bright it’s like having a little piece of the sun in your pocket - heat wise too.
It’s actually much smaller than I expected. I bought the 18500 tube for edc but don’t think I’ll need it.
Nah, it’ll probably be easier to not get sucked in, knowing that almost everything else will be a disappointment compared to this. There’s basically nothing on the market yet which gets anywhere near the lumens-per-cubic-centimeter ratio of this one.
Of course, you’ll still need a thrower… and a compact thrower… and a keychain light… and maybe that one with the magnetic ring… and that pretty copper light… and…
Thats great stuff Dale, a would defo be up for a 20700 tube if hank ever decided to add. I think it would complement the light perfectly :+1:
Till then, i will just have to have 2x vtc6 or vtc5 or 30Q(or any 2 of) as spare/back up with/on me ! The amazing work gone into this little beast is outstanding. I have a few very special lights(to me) in my collection, the D4 is certainly one of them…………………and to top it all, the actual cheapest of them. I honestly think you can not buy a better light out of the box for $40…………………(subjective of course, just IMO).
Thanks to all who help create one of the best lights on the planet :+1:
I’ve been holding off this purchase for sooo looong. Keep trying to convince myself that it really is only another +–600lm light (after a min. Or so based on tests done 2 pages back).
Will have a tall one when i get home tonight and decide. Im sure it will be easier to hit that buy button then
Its sure fun for 15s though Seriously though, it makes for a great compact 18650 EDC light, nice useful beam but with a bonus of having a multi cell light output……….that fits in your pocket.
I thought in ways like that with the m43vn, 11k lumens short lived(30 seconds or so), but how many 11k lights that can be slipped into a coat pocket with ease. Still use 3000lm for long duration’s, but that 11k on tap if/when needed never grow old for me.
You wont regret it, it will become a fav in seconds………literally. In fact the problem will be on how many more to get
Love these 2 lights, masterpieces imho
It’s a bit like getting a Zebralight SC600Fd Mk III Plus… only a lot brighter, with a more intuitive UI, available in more colors / tints, more mod-friendly, and on sale for 60% off. Just without quite as much runtime or a clip.
I wonder if anyone has tried a SC600 clip on the D4. It looks like it should be just about right…
Here’s some scope shots of the output. Measured optically OTF. Most of them links not to clutter the thread too much. Used a slightly discharged 18650GA and there probably was some throttling going on.
My D4 219c arrived today. Smaller than expected, 18350 may be small enough for EDC for me.
Can’t judge the output, the day is too bright. Still, after accidentally shining at my eyes I got 4 dots of afterimage for a quarter. With a half-empty battery.
You hid the most interesting scope pics… interesting shape at the beginning of each 7135 pulse, and rounder FET pulses than I would normally expect. Maybe this isn’t one of the FET models which slams closed hard at the end of each pulse, or maybe something is rounding out the curve a bit to prevent the ringing issues from older drivers.
Got my green D4 (219C) last night. The user interface is as nice as everone else says, and so is the heating up Wanted to hotrod it further with XP-L2’s but changed my mind, I like it better with 219C SW353 R9050 leds.
And now I want another one for the XP-L2 mod :person_facepalming:
Wanted to hotrod it further with XP-L2’s but changed my mind, I like it better with 219C SW353 R9050 leds.
