Talk about future projects and donation topic

Just keep in mind you need the corresponding MCPCB to the TIR if you go multiple emitters. That limits the TIR options to only a few. Now those few options need to fit into a light.

Careful taking that DQG Tiny apart, if you do. I have seen several strip domes.

I wasn’t gonna take it apart. I was going to try some frosted tape over 1, 2 and 3 lenses to see what effect it has. Simple and cheap.

Yeah I have the Dc fix over my S41, not a great difference but I have left it on.

A BLF project used to be a nicer tint and a current boost, now it seems to be a complete ground up project pushing boundaries. I hope there remains room for both, I don’t have the time or inclination to do even minor mods unfortunately.

I’m still preferring the TIR option if I’m honest, I carry the S41 over the Q8 for walking.

If I go to the Q8 it replaces the C8, if I want more throw I take the Maxtoch (soon a GT hopefully). The constant always remains the little TIR for its great close range beam.
The TIR isn’t all to credit, the Nichia’s certainly help. The beam profile, tint and CRI all combine to make it useful close range.

Yes! I want a 10180 thrower! It should be fully optimized for throw by using a tiny emitter with good brightness and a very well machined smooth reflector. Let’s build it! :partying_face:

Edit: I just realized that I missed what you were saying almost entirely. I guess I turned off reading comprehension after “10180 thrower… ” I don’t really want any flashlight that doesn’t use a driver. I’m not familiar with that emitter or that optic. Can you tell me a little about why you chose those?

The LED is the current throw king:

It puts out small but useful enough 450 lm (peak, probably not possible with 10180).

The optic is a very throwy one and has the right size. A reflector should work well too, but I found precisely 0 intensity measurements coming from manufacturers, so I use TIRs in my drawings. I may use Endermann’s calculator though…

Frankly, I don’t know whether driverless is a good idea.
This LED had a very low Vf. It’s totally unsuitable for direct drive with moderately sized batteries, but 10180 may not blow it. It will be hard on battery and hard thermally. A regulated driver might be a good option, but it will take a lot of space, 2-sided for sure. A FET driver will be smaller, but when doing FET why don’t go all the way and make it driverless?

EDIT: I see very roughly 40 kcd with the calculator, again at peak intensity.

For me, the driver is desirable in order to get a nice UI. I wouldn’t necessarily want max output at all times either. It’s not so much about “regulation” as it is about “control”. I’m a little bit of a control freak, and I like having choices. It would also be insanely cool to have the NarsilM smooth ramping on such a minuscule light. That, coupled with it being classed a “thrower” would make it truly over-the-top!

I would also love a 26650 D4 or mini Q8.
With four XPLs it should do 4k+ lumen.
Onboard USB charging would be nice too.

Which optic/reflector remains a good question. The D4 TIR is too floody IMO. The Q8 beam is just right to my taste. Can it be shrunk and maintain some throw?

I would think the C8F triple reflector would be pretty close to the Q8. My guess would be a little bigger hotspot, so not as good throw, but still good and much brighter spill than a TIR. Here is a video of the C8F xpl to see the beam. Video by DB Custom.

For the record, in my testing I always got the same or slightly better throw from TIR optics vs reflectors of the same size.

Assuming the TIR was properly match to the LED is use that is.

How was the spill brightness? I was really hoping to find a TIR setup that could come close to a reflector as far as beam proportions, hot spot size to spill brightness.

EDIT, I changed post 487 to better reflect what I was trying to say.

TIR’s give you a larger hotspot then a reflector but that doesn’t mean less throw, they are simply better at collimating the beam.

I have dozens of TIR’s laying around here and I have tried all sorts of combos. The spill is usually better then you would expect unless the optic you got is specifically designed to not have any spill.

Unlike reflectors TIR’s are designed for a bunch of use cases and a whole lot more then size factors into what they give you.

In my case I did a lot of testing for my EDC tube light.

As a rule, the TIR gave more spill close to the hotspot, then there was a small area near the edge of the reflector beam where the reflector spill was slightly brighter. After the reflector spill cutoff though, the TIR spill kept going, just getting dimmer.

I prefer TIR optics in most cases, the beam is more pleasing.

:+1:

Also someone mentioned frosted TIR, this second image is sorta what you will get if you diffuse it:

Almost no hotspot and very nice spill, great for close range use.

How about a really tiny lamp, using one AA cell or a 14500.

Similar to a UTorch 01, but with a better interface, and maybe a little more power…?

I’d like a small, elegant, titanium light. BLF style.
Seeing how Astrolux sells their TI3A for $16 I can’t help but think that a much better BLF light has to be doable for $25 (preorder price). And I want one.
So:

  • 10440 powered
  • e-switch, BLF UI
  • FET driver (FET+1 would be better, but if it complicates the build it’s not worth it)
  • CRI90 219c
  • clip
  • locator light

I think that LED locator would be cheaper than tritium. And if connected to the driver it could act as an indicator as well. Or with RGB led the colour could be configurable to best suit the garment.
I’d like it the most with the switch in the tail, but I’m not sure if doing the FW3A thing is feasible in a titanium light (I guess with Al internal tubing - yes). It would make the light thicker though.

Thoughts?

I’d like another light of this style.
18650 with 16 Yuji VTC-5730 LEDs. No overcurrent to maintain CRI 9790, ~400 OTF lumens.

A double-tube 10440 light doesn’t make much sense because it would lose the advantage of being thin. It’s also difficult to fit a complicated driver into something that size. But perhaps a 16340 light could work? It seems like it’d be a lot easier, at least.

I still want a BLF version of the Olight S-Mini.

I also still want a small BLF 14500 light. Could be like a smaller FW3A, could be like the brass AA clicky.

16340 or 14500 would work great in a woman’s purse, but not so well in a jacket’s inner pocket….too thick.

But I wonder what is the factor limiting minimum tube thickness? Size of PCB contacts? Strength necessary when joining them into one?

I have been looking for a good quality mid-size thrower for a while now and I just thought of bringing it up here. What I have in mind is a 3 or 4 cell Q8 style battery tube with a 2.8 to 3” head. Throw in good heat management, an efficient driver and Narsil or other great UI and BLF would have a nice light that would fill a hole in my line-up.

How would that differ from the Q8?

Single reflector with a 35 HI or other throwy led. In my mind that was implied, but my mind is not always clear.