New Sofirn K6 – [NO LONGER ACTIVE]

Let me preface this by saying I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m still working on fully understanding how different LED’s create different patterns of light. That said…

Would it be possible to make a light with Jerommel’s 7 LED configuration and have the center LED be a thrower, and the six surrounding LED’s be floods? Perhaps with independent control of them. Or is this a bad idea given the way lights get used in the real world?

Not knowing much about the issue you asked about, I will not add your question right now, to allow some CONCISE discussion!
If or when a conclusion is reached and there is a “final” thought/answer on this, I will add it on post #2! Is this ok for you Lazy-R-us?
Otherwise, if there is no discussion, I’ll add your question as it is on the mentioned post :wink:

By all means, add my suggestion if and when it makes sense. I’m not too proud to be the guy who asks silly questions - especially if they occasionally turn out to cause interesting discussions that are educational.

The problem with more than one size parabola (like when you want a larger centre reflector) is that the depth of the cupus are not the same (the centre one will be deeper).
I think Sofirn wants to use one single LED board for the multiple LEDs.

Then why not buy the Haikelight ?

I want to repeat the benefits of 8 LEDs.
You can split it into 2×4 or 4×2, which is better when you have a sense resistor before the FET.
(again, i’m no expert at this, but i think it’s a valid point)
The Voltage drop over the sense resistor will be significant with 7 or 8 LEDs in parallel on 1 single FET.
But maybe that’s just a matter of making the sense resistor 7 or 8 times smaller, but when you satrt out with 0.01 Ohm, you’ll end up with something like 0.00115 Ohm, which is possibly lower than the PCB traces and / or LED wires…

In Jeromel’s example, the center LED will actually be the floodiest, as it will have most of the sides cut out, thus making it the shallower reflector pit. For the center LED to be throwier the center pit would ideally be deeper and not have the sides cut. At that point I start thinking it will look weird.

So far I think I like the idea of TIR optics best, non-intersected reflectors second.

As for number of emitters, we have to remember it is also a matter of price, and the number 6 might have been reached as a production cost limit. If not, well, than I’m all up for a K7 instead of a K6. K8 will sound weird for a product name, and K9, just don’t go there

I have a similar thing in my mind a few months now. But I will build thewhole flashlight for me. My idea is because I have 13 pcs 12V Luxeon MX Leds free from a friend to put them in a ring shape with OP S2+ reflectors and in the center I will use an L6 SMO reflector with XHP35 HI and I will be able to control them separately. 14 leds all and each put out about 2500 lumens :smiling_imp:

So many interesting ideas and I’m learning a lot about design and optics through the contributions.

I mentioned it before, but I wonder what Sofirn’s goal is for this particular light. Is it to compete with the BLF Q8 and ride the wave of its popularity? Is it going up against the Astrolux MF01 and learn from the mistakes it had? Is it an alternative to another 4x18650 light at a less expensive price point? I’m not in a hurry for an answer and maybe there’s no answer as of yet, but with all of the feedback in the Q8, MF01 and Haikelight threads, hopefully they can learn from the mistakes and produce another worthy light for us to buy. I’m hopefully optimistic based on the other Sofirn light I have.

Deal with the heat, have a nice and current UI (ramping?), make sure the switch works well and come in at a nice price and you’ll bound to be a winner.

Just a few suggestions:
The battery holder should be careful with the interior design, not to damage the battery side wall during insertion.
Each slot should be well separated, and the battery will not lean over the other slot. This is a bit, but it’s pretty good for use.

External dimensions: Do not have a very large diameter because many people can not handle it comfortably.

Head: good if the size is the same as the size of the body and not bigger. This makes it easier to carry while it is in use, taking up less space.

Optics: Combine mixed OP and SMO reflectors. There is not much on this market yet!

LED: Combine the same loads of LEDs in the SMO and OP reflectors. Eg XPL-HD is the OP reflector and XPL-HI is the SMO reflector. You get beautiful throw and a large flood in one flashlight.

Driver and Modes: Be Easy! Do not complicate it like BLF Q8. I got a lot of feedback on how good the description is, but the menu is still complicated. Anyone who wants to buy it is not programmed. or not want to change the final user firmware! The ramping I think is quite useful. Let the two endpoints be well interpreted and that’s all. The moonlight mode should be really low for a terrific long running time. Heat protection works reliably and independently.

Battery level indicator is definitely useful, the light under the button is probably the most good. I like to see a metal button on the side of the body and a lighted ring.

Exterior: Have a tripod mount, when you have a high weight (over 500g) on the head and body at the end of a decent size and wall thickness hole to use a shoulder strap to it.

I’m happy to review it.

It’s a dog of a light…

After these questions:

and this answer:

I guess there may not be much to add in the suggestion list! Or should I put it up?

I am also inclined to agree with this, despite there is no feedack - yet - from Sofirn’s engineer:

Suggestions - non discussion - added! :wink:

I think you can send it and then they will choose the ideas what they like.

You’re right!! I’m here to compile information not to choose the suggestions :person_facepalming:
Lazy-R-us question added! :wink:

We’ve seen a picture of the SRK, but here’s some things if you’ll be doing machining. One thing to note is that saving weight is not a good thing with this type of light. If material is machined away, it must serve a purpose. Grooving fins for heat sinking is good. Machining the LED shelf thinner is bad, very bad. I’ll just say it, leave lots of material under the LED.

Also, a threaded tripod hole would be good, and even better if the center of balance when fully loaded is at the tripod hole. This would be good for cyclists that want LOTS of light. Most lights aren’t balanced, and they tilt up and down with every bounce.

Comments added :wink:

UPDATE : 4th January

After talking to Cissy from Sofirn (@ AliExpress) I was informed that the discussion will roll until the next weekend (7th January). After that, their engineers will pick the suggestions from the thread and will work on Sofirn’s new model.

About the testing, I asked Cissy if they will make a “pre-production” for tests or just a final version. I will be waiting her answer and will post it here then!

The discussion may still keep going on after 7th January, but the post #2 will stop being updated after that day! Post #3 may be updated if there is any information from the manufacturer regarding the flashlight’s building!
I hope you understand this decision :+1:
Thanks for participating on this :wink:

Great. I just got my SP32A and the C8F host to try from them.

Nice :sunglasses: I’be been using the SP32A with some “mods” and it is nice!! I use it mostly in the modes, not ramping, but is still nice!
Hope you enjoy yours :wink:

Hi there people!
In the sequence of this post (#107) and the given information, I will “suspend” the updates to posts #2 and #3 .

I know that the 7th January isn’t over yet in some parts of the world, but GMT is my time zone (its 0h00 already) and I will also sleep, so I’ll stop updating the posts from now on!

The discussion about the “Sofirn K6” can continue, of course, and I’ll ask Tracy and Cissy from Sofirn to keep on checking it, in case new information is given by BLF community! :+1:

Other than that, thanks for all the excellent suggestions given so far :wink:

If, or when, answers or details are given by Sofirn about this light or about the questions above, I’ll post them here!

My best regards to all and have a nice week :sunglasses: