UPDATE! "REVIEW" & Mods: Sofirn SP32A [It is now a TRIPLE :D ] (Pic Heavy)

I’ve uploaded a video with a comparison between the SP32A and the Emisar D4 while ramping up and down. There are differences in timing, as can be seen.
The Emisar D4 was set for 71ºC.

Both started to go up and down at the same time!

So, I decided to try one thing with this flashlight that I had already tried with the SP32 version! A little “Lego” :smiley:
I used the Convoy S2+ short tube, in reversed position (anodized threads with not anodized edge upwards and clear threads with anodized edge downwards). Guess what? It worked!

MORE: the Convoy clip works pretty fine as well (at least in the position the photos show) :smiley:

So, here are some pictures :wink: From the full size to the small size :smiley:

Hi,

You say “no PWM” but the picture suggests otherwise.

Jerommel, from what I’ve recently “learned”, those traces seem to be from the Constant Current driver.
It can only be seen with the camera really on the top of the Led. If used on filming of photography , they wil not appear.
I’ve compared some lights with PWM and others that don’t have it. Examples:
Sofirn SF10 (PWM) > Lumintop Tool AA (PWM, Low and Mid) > Sofirn SF14 (No PWM)

Please note the differences in the lines in the left and middle. Those are PWM.

Well, i have a SP32, and it has PWM too, but the frequency is very high, like >20kHz
Regulated current will not produce lines.

Maybe you’re right! I don’t know what to think on this anymore :person_facepalming:
I thought the “rainbow colours” produced in some levels were not PWM, but apparently they are ! But in a higher frequency…

I’ll change what’s written…

Nice beam shots and good review sir. :beer:

Thanks 264 :wink:

BTW, after the “shorty” version mode last night, I decided to try something different: change the reflector and put a TIR lens on it :wink:
As I mentioned on the review, the tint is not the one I like the most, specially because I expected it to have a more Neutral White look.
So, I gave it a try :wink: [glass lens + o-ring + TIR + original gasket]

BEFORE TIR (Reflector)

AFTER TIR

Lens vs Reflector

I also added some Glow-in-the-dark tape over the MCPCB and around the TIR Lens! Just because :sunglasses:
GITD tape :smiley:

EDIT (30 December):

I took some beamshots with the TIR lens installed!! The range of illumination doesn’t seem to be much affected with the TIR vs Reflector!
40m >>> 70m

After seeing this video, the Sofirn engineer (through Tracy Wan) said that the stop on/”slow” ramping “may be due to the driver have not debugged to the best condition”. So I don’t know if the other drivers of this light will behave the same way, or if it was a “issue” of all the lights. On further models, the ramping will be improved.

MascaratumB,

Well done on a very thorough review and sharing with us.

Just got one of these myself.

Could the Obvious pause in the middle of the Ramping Mode be some sort of indication to do with Driver efficiency?

Just a thought as TK mentioned that the Emissar D4 powers up at the Max Regulated point after a Battery Change or Physical Lock Out.

Anyway, really loving this light, and lots of it’s Sofirn siblings, SP35 Heat-Sinking Doubts excepted, (smells Very Hot inside when changing batteries, even on lower modes!).

They do seem to be trying really hard to please.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they build a BLF project for us in the future!

Many Thanks for your Hard Work reviewing this.
S-L :slight_smile:

Thanks for your words and reading Splott-Light! :wink:

Well, I’m not sure about this, but it may have something to do with the driver (the channels?) used. Tracy from Sofirn said that their engineer said that the issue on ramping ““may be due to the driver have not debugged to the best condition”. I don’t know what does this mean, but maybe it was some technical issue on the driver, and maybe not extensive to all the units.
Does yours have this?

Hum, the SP35 seemed a solid model… Maybe some heatsink issues, then?
Aside from the SP32A, I only have the SP32 and their smaller lights (SP10A, SP10B, SF14 and a dismantled SF10).
But yes, they are working well and they are asking for some contributions to one of their new models (named K6, you can see in my signature).

If they keep up with this work, quality and good “relationship” with their buyers, I see them working with a BLF team for sure :wink:

BTW, currently I’m using the SP32A in the short + TIR version and I like it a looot :smiley:

Thanks for reading and enjoy your flaslight :sunglasses:

So, I decided to disassemble and mod my SP32A!
I turned it into a triple!

Here are some photos of the original components, and of the mod!

DRIVER

MCPCB

TRIPLE mod

“Pill” – I bought a piece of brass, as I didn’t find copper in the adequate diameter; later it was cut in some pieces, tall enough for the height need for a pill to sit over the in-built shelf. I filled it and made a hole in the middle. The rest you see below :wink:

The MCPCB used is from Jaxman Store and this is the CW XP-G2, and the TIR optics was also from Jaxman.
I soldered new wires to the driver and re-done the spring bypass as the original was not in place anymore.
I added glow-in-the-dark tape all over the fins and other places, including arount the TIR, on the inside :wink:

ORIGINAL > SHORTY > TIR LENS > TRIPLE

:sunglasses: :+1:

Very cool. What is the max run time?

Thanks 264 :wink:
Hum…I can’t tell the runtime as I don’t have ways to measure the battery drain :person_facepalming:
I don’t have DMM or clampmeter (yet) to measure that, I’m sorry! I’ll post it as soon as I get one :+1:

I bought all the XP-L2 Sofirns including the SP31, SP32, SP32A. SP32 had the warmest tint but not red/peach enough compared to my better tinted XPL lights such as the Emisar D4 and BLF A6. The SP31 and SP32A is too cool white for me. The SP32A had the best UI though. I also bought the SF36W, which to me has the best rear clicky I have ever seen but it is too warm. I haven’t found a really good Sofirn that I liked.

Hum, from those lights I only have the SP32 and SP32A, and I totally agree with you on the tint! SP32A is too much Cool White, and the XP-L2 has a big tint shift, with a greenish look!

The SP32 has a better tint, more Neutral to Warm, but still it does not render those colours so good! This is my bedside flashlight with a Convoy diffuser to use it like a “go-to-sleep” light :wink: Used on Moonlight or Low levels it is nice!
About the UI, I prefer the SP32A on the quick access to turbo, though I miss the quick access to (a) moonlight level like the SP32.
Both are solid lights, tough!!

The SF36W I don’t know, but I guess Lightbringer has it and likes it a lot!
I guess they are learning and improving with time! And they are really wanting to “hear” us, their customers, to know what is best to manufacture! I guess in the future we will continue to have better Sofirn lights and still on the budget side! Maybe you’ll find one you really like meanwhile :wink:

Sorry I meant to say SP32A had the best UI not SP32. I edited my post above.

SP31 UI is horrible. You need to untwist it to turn it off. Unless I’m missing something.

Some beamshots after the triple mod!!

I must say that the tint and beam with these LEDs and triple TIR are not the best on close range and white walls. But, at a distance and with other non-whit environments, it has a nice beam and even being CW emitters, they look nice!


Button in tailcap. You miss a button :wink:

Great review, thanks for posting plus all the tips and mods, I really learned a lot from this, I especially like how the convoy 350 tube fits. I’m planning to order one of these.

In the beam shots above it appears the tint is more neutral with the TIR, (at least it doesn’t appear to have the bluish tint shift in the spill anymore) Are you seeing that improvement in reality or is it just the camera playing tricks?

Also what is the degrees of TIR you used and where did you get it? Please post a link if possible. Thanks.