Pre production sample [Review] Astrolux MF-01 4x18650 flashlight supplied by Banggood

[Ronin42]

@hIKARInoob

Edit:

Based on the run time data, I see a possibility that the light steps down aggressively when reaching 60 C to the 1100 lumen mode (for the Nichia version), and stays there until batteries are depleted. So there is no feedback control for output as a function of temperature.
If so it’s a bit unfortunate that there is no 2500~3000 lumen mode where the light can sustain output fairly continuously.

+1

[steel_1024]

NarsilM V1.0，Ramping TEST

Chinese：

MT-18 無級調光

[Lexel]

I did today a measurement of the beam intensity of this light

measured @5m 2080 Lux cold start

so I get 52000 Lux @1m for the Nichia pre production light

this is just the Luxmeter set to show save max.
starting the light, 3 clicks to highest mode
then move the light a bit to get its peak output

[hIKARInoob]

@Lexel

I did today a measurement of the beam intensity of this light

measured @5m 2080 Lux

so I get 52000 Lux @1m for the Nichia pre production light

Two big thumbs up!

[hIKARInoob]

Is there a likeliness that the driver spring might bend when tightening the battery tube, causing a short? Something similar happened with an Acebeam K70 here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?436281-Should-I-be-scared-my-Acebeam-K70-might-explode

What do you guys think?

[Lexel]

This can not happen with the MF01

I did not show a picture from the driver with the insulator inserted

Basically the platic insulator you see on the carrier here fits inside the insulator on top of the driver the distance between spring and ground is 12.5mm, also there is no ground spring

And the distance between pisitive spring and the ground ring is 12.5mm

[hIKARInoob]

Aha, thanks. It’s a plastic ring on the driver side. The picture on the Banggood site showing the three parts, head, battery tube and tailcap, made me worry it might be aluminium.

[hIKARInoob]

Ugh… First video of busted MF01

[video:]Faulty astrolux mf01 - YouTube

[The_Flashaholic]

@SteveMidwest

My thoughts exactly WTF (and hIKARInoob). You hit the nail on the head! :sunglasses:

Acebeam is really good at having a mode on its line of flashlights, that hits its heat dissipation sweet spot, exactly.

Take the newer X45 for example. Capable of putting out a total of about 16,500 lms. On high, which is a 4000 lm level. It can be turned on at that level, and it will stay there, with no step-downs, for 1.4 hours. At which point, the batteries can no longer maintain that output.

Even on the newest Acebeam X80. Which is a smaller sized flashlight, but capable of putting out approximately 25,000 lms. They pushed it even harder. In the high mode, when the flashlight is cool, and the battery levels are full. That flashlight can be turned on in high mode, and run at 5000 lms for 20 minutes, and then, it only steps down to 4000 lms. For the remainder of what the batteries can handle.

The Acebeam K60. The same way. Turn that flashlight on in level 6, and it will give you a constant 5000-ish lumens, for over an hour.

I too, would love to see more flashlight manufactures work on getting a ‘sweet-spot’ level figured out, and programmed into their flashlights. That they will maintain, from a cool start.

The EC50 Gen II can hold 1,500 for the duration too, Acebeam really are the daddies.

Can’t wait to see their Nitecore Tip rival.

[Tom_E]

@hIKARInoob

Ugh… First video of busted MF01

Well, Lexel pointed out the LED's are 3 sets of 2S3P, so has 3 pairs of wires, 3 separate circuits. So either there's a component failure or maybe loose wire in one of the 3 sets of parts and wires.

[JasonWW]

@Tom E

@hIKARInoob

Ugh… First video of busted MF01

Well, Lexel pointed out the LED’s are 3 sets of 2S3P, so has 3 pairs of wires, 3 separate circuits. So either there’s a component failure or maybe loose wire in one of the 3 sets of parts and wires.

Not a loose wire as all 3 banks work at the other 4 levels. I’d look over the driver with a magnifying glass to see if a resistor or some other part was burned or not soldered properly. I don’t know if it uses 7135 current chips, but if it did, it could be a bad one of those on the bank that doesn’t work.

[Tom_E]

Dunno, I was pretty blinded by the light - I could not make out bumping thru modes. No clue, no description by the poster. Only the lowest mode?

Mine is in the US some where, on the way from west to east...

[Tom_E]

Lexel - is the MF01.ZIP board a go, and tested? It looks dated August 27th on OSHPark here. I see steel_1024 used an earlier version - seemed ok, not sure.

Let me know - I'd like to order them. Thanks!

[JasonWW]

@Tom E

Dunno, I was pretty blinded by the light - I could not make out bumping thru modes. No clue, no description by the poster. Only the lowest mode?

Yeah, only on the lowest level.

@Tom E

Lexel - is the MF01.ZIP board a go, and tested? I see steel_1024 used an earlier version - seemed ok, not sure.

Let me know - I’d like to order them. Thanks!

On Lexels 4th batch page he says he can make them. One other person wanted one, but I think he was looking for at least 3 buyers for Oshpark, because he has to order 3.

[Tom_E]

No, not interested in an assembled board. Been building dozens of my own, ordered probably about 100 OSHPark boards by now since February 2014.

I've had issues on the 7135 channel on my other high amp 2S cell builds: 16X XHP50 and MT03 with 3 XHP70.2's. Not completely resolved, been getting help from DEL. Dunno if Lexel has built anything true high amps in 2S, meaning maybe 20K lumens and up.

[Lexel]

@Tom E

No, not interested in an assembled board. Been building dozens of my own, ordered probably about 100 OSHPark boards by now since February 2014.

I’ve had issues on the 7135 channel on my other high amp 2S cell builds: 16X XHP50 and MT03 with 3 XHP70.2’s. Not completely resolved, been getting help from DEL. Dunno if Lexel has built anything true high amps in 2S, meaning maybe 20K lumens and up.

The board from Oshpark is tested and fits the light
The missing ground on switch pad is fixed and C3 and C4 pads added

[hIKARInoob]

Another faulty MF01. At this rate the MF01 seems to become a total disaster:

[video:]- YouTube

[Tom_E]

Ok - even more reason to get a custom driver goin asap!!

[JasonWW]

@hIKARInoob

Another faulty MF01. At this rate the MF01 seems to become a total disaster:

It seems like the lights weren’t tested before shipping. Not looking good.

Let’s see how Banggood responds.

[maukka]

I’ll take one NarsilM driver for the MF01 as well.