Q8, PMS SEND TO THOSE WITH ISSUES BLF soda can light

Thanks for the explanation!
(4x BLF A6 taped together is also more expensive than a single Q8; plus would be much hotter as you mentioned)

Thanks for the update!
So the Banggood pre-order that says “expected shipping on Dec 5 or 9” would have these improvements… I might make an order while the M4DQ8 coupon code is still active.

Thanks guys. Glad I asked. I will stick to button top batteries in this flashlight. I do have 4 button top 30Q that I managed to get from BG before they stopped shipping batteries to Australia. They are currently scattered across 3 flashlights. Charging the flat top now to replace them with. But for my own info, when using magnet slabs on flat top battery in single battery flashlight, what ones are best to get?

I've posted about this before, but the second batch is improved in all the screw mountings, including:

  • de-burring threaded holes
  • better screws
  • improved reflector mounting with the screw mount re-design
  • better quality in assembly - no more stripped screws and over-tightening
  • no more evidence of glue or foreign substances at the tail PCB mount points

Also the switch PCB and green LED's are much improved in the 2nd batch.

There's been other subtle changes though, more on the negative side:

  • AR lens - appeared to be single sided, seems to effect the tint negatively
  • labeling on the the driver and switch boards has been changed from English to Chinese to identify the ground, LED, and switch wire connections - dunno why this happened, but it's showed up on some, think'n the latest, Q8's

Also there's still some QC issues I've seen recently:

  • solder blob found on the underside of the driver on the ground ring, resulting in the driver not sitting flat and even
  • on another recent stock Q8 when I measured lumens output, the meter detected flickering, erratic variation in output, that is not noticeable in the beam indoors, but I've never seen the meter jump up and down like it did. Normally for the first 30 seconds, output just gradually reduces, fast at first, then slowing down. In tearing the light fully down, I could not notice any obvious issues. Hoping that in fully modding the light with bypasses, improvements on electrical contact surfaces, and replacing the FET and LED wires, the problem will go away -- still need to confirm this. I also re-heated up 2 of the LED's that seemed to be reflowed the worse, thinking that maybe one of them could have had a suspect connection. It might just be a bad LED, so may still notice the flicker. Interesting thing is no one may notice this problem without a meter.
  • Reflow of the LED's could be better. On several Q8's I noticed the LED's are not sitting flat - usually one side is higher than the other, sometimes the + and - pads are not fully making contact along the entire pad. It seems like they are using too much solder paste. Dale pointed out previously the center thermal pad is lower than the + and - pads, so maybe that's complicating the factory reflow. I would prefer to see sizable overflow pad extensions on all 3 pads, like a Noctigon has:

Its still showing it will be back in stock on Dec 5, but you can pay for it now.

Are you seeing that it’s fully back in stock?

It was showing…
Now I checked… it is showing “Preorder”

Actually I was trying from the cart

Sorry for misleading you :weary:

Thorfire probably had to stop the production line on the Q8 temporarily for a couple weeks so they could produce some other models of lights that Banggood (and other stores) has been out of stock of and waiting for.

Ok…

It is becoming tough to get 18650s imported to India.

$100 shipping fees on $4 battery :person_facepalming:

I received my Q8 today. Happy to say it’s 100% perfect. Very happy camper here.

lucky ones)

Strange — I bought 2.5mm and 3mm screws from one of the links recommended.

Took the Q8 screws out of the driver — and they’re smaller than the ones I just got from eBay. Look like 2mm.

I suppose the eBay screws could have been mislabeled. Poking at it.

Another holster option …

From Ledlenser (Leatherman)

The size is M14

@The Miller
So let us name lamps sent after 2017-12-05 : batch 3 with Narsil v1.2

I hope Thorfire will make the next batch tail pcb with improved springs available for separate orders. Or better, if there is a place to order proper tail pcb already with the best springs on it to get 1000 lumens extra! I do not own a solder iron and pcb/springs must come ready to go.

Solder blobbing is pretty easy. If you have some dead batteries you could practice on them. That’s the way I did it. They don’t have to be perfect. Just try not to have the iron on the battery very long.

I thought I saw a post from TomE that said brass screws for the driver board were unnecessary. Is this correct?

Blinker: Yes it is correct. The driver got the positive contact with the brass ring and the negative from the battery tube to the edge of the driver. Nothing is going through the head and driver screws.

ZozzV6 Thanks. Just need 4 brass screws to upgrade then?

Yes.

Order was placed Oct 21 2017, and my tracking number is in that format. I’ve followed it since it shipped, and the last update on 17track says: “2017-10-25 12:46 Origin Post is Preparing Shipment, We have received notice that the originating post is preparing to dispatch this mail piece.” USPS tracking says it’s “Pre-shipment” and they haven’t received anything.

Really disappointed. Have requested refund, but hope the package does show up, as I’m more than willing to pay for it. :’(

Easy to measure the screws. All the batch 2's I've seen (maybe bout 6 or so) use M2.5's.

I do 7 brass screws - 4 on the tail PCB for electrical connections, 3 on the reflector/MCPCB for thermal.