FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

With “turbo” being a FET, it isn’t possible to limit the current to a specific amount. The max-regulated mode should be 3A.

Well yeah, that’s why I said

The point is that the q8 doesn’t, and the d4 does it very weakly, but this one should be somewhat faster than the turning of the seasons and yet smooth. :stuck_out_tongue: It will be ‘cool’ to have that updated behavior. Of course, for cool factor, optical configuration (which should absolutely be called photonic programming or something equally fun) is definitely cool.

I agree. I trust the team with lights in hand will make a better decision than the rest of us looking at beam shots. In addition, I think that a team working hard to make a nice, efficient light is likely to be mindful of tint and not just go for max lumens. :wink:

A lot of us here have built FET triples before. It’s not necessary to have this specific host in hand to have previous experience with the emitters and optics in question. People should keep in mind this will heat up faster than a Convoy host with a big spacer though.

Exactly. The emitters and optics are pretty standard and lots of people have experience with them. The main differences here are:

  • The edges of the optic aren’t covered by the bezel.
  • The host has less mass than most triples.
  • The host’s double-tube design may reduce heat-shedding capacity a little.

So, normal BLF-triple performance and output traits except it needs extra care for thermal behavior.

I don’t personally care much how bright turbo is, because even XP-G2 at ~2250 lm is plenty for my purposes. Really, I could be mostly happy with 1x7135 and only 150 lm. I care more about the beam and tint and heat. Plus, of course, non-performance-related traits like host design and interface.

On mine, I’ve left the ceiling at the maximum regulated level of ~3A, with FET modes only available via turbo. This is the default configuration, but it can be changed with a few clicks.

interested

TK, you rock, but I’d guess almost everyone else does care how bright it is.

I mostly don’t care about the peak output. 3500 lumens for 12 seconds is only a marginally better party trick than 2900 lumens for 11 seconds. I use my lights to see things, and given that, CRI, tint near the blackbody line and tint evenness across the beam are generally above output on my list of priorities.

Heat matters a bit, but I expect the differences to be moderate at max-regulated and only really significant on the FET channel.

I used to care about output more, but as I’ve collected more lights, I haven’t found big output in small lights all that useful. When I pick a pocketable 1x18650 light to bring with me, I don’t find myself thinking “this one has a higher max setting, so I’ll bring it”. If I do expect to be using a lot of light, I bring a larger light that uses multiple 18650s.

Peak doesn’t matter (to me) much like zak said, and since these ramp in brightness, you can exchange heat for brightness or vice versa easily. So I don’t really mind too much if it’s not as bright as it could be; it’s a triple. It’s not going to be as good as the d4, but it will still be very bright. That’s all I really need to know. This is going to be a very nice looking little light with a nice price tag; why make the light more expensive or let it fall down on its apparent quality as soon as you turn it on? You won’t remember the difference in brightness on a light you’re not using at one set level, but you can see the difference in the quality of the beam at every setting.

interested

I know it’ll be a shocker but I don’t care about max output in this light either and hope for the greater good the package focus’s on tint over lumens with weight given to thermal maintenance. Quality here, as it’s an elegant light with elegant UI.

Promise you won’t make it brighter when you get it then. :smiley:

I bet he can’t make that promise haha

Max output is not much an issue for me as well, fully regulated is probably a better option for a light like this. In the same respect I don’t need a technical UI but none of which will turn me off. I don’t know if the optics have been talked about much but my preference for practical little lights are to be floody. That’d make an ace edc :disguised_face:

What I can promise is that if they get the emitter right and I find it pleasing I won’t do anything to it at all as far as modification goes. Will just use it. If the emitter choice leaves something to be desired then I will change the emitters, but this only to give me a better color and/or beam profile.

This is, for all practical purposes, a custom flashlight. As such, I will honor it’s inventor…. :wink: (which is why I cast a vote to keep it styled as originally intended)

Am I on the list if not add me in for one

Yes, exactly this

I agree with everyone who has expressed a preference for quality of light and overall balance over maximum output. I also think the default configuration with the ramp ceiling set at the max regulateded level and FET mode for turbo sounds great.

I’m really excited about this light and the direcition it’s heading. It was the look of Fritz15’s original design that hooked me, but I don’t mind the design changes at all.

At this point I’m equally excited about Andúril and the prospect of having a FW3A, a Q8, and a a fleet of Emisars (which I don’t yet own) all running the same great firmware.

Interested in one

Yup