(BLF) Sofirn Q8 V1.5: The XPL HI monster, DIY parts + Extended 8x18650 tubes GB Interest List

I can imagine the variant with XPL-HI but why does anyone need a battery extension tube for the Q8?
I did not even know Sofirn was related with Thorfire :frowning:

Interested in a XPLHi version though, especially if the coupon from Martin is still working.
Did they mention what bin will be used? or is there any choice?

Imma order the battery tube extension I have a use for it. When I’m at work in my paint booth I use lights and to change batteries I have to come out from under the trailer make sure there’s no paint that will get on the light. From my paint suit. I usually change batteries but it will be nice to have twice the run time. And when I take my kids to the park at night. I make a circle of lights it’s not lit well. Having twice the run time will be nice. So most people won’t need it but a few people will find it useful. It can’t be any heavier then a mt07s but for my use I’m not carrying the light most of the time. So weight and heat isn’t a issue.

From what I have understood from what Sofirn said to me, they share the same factories, and this is how they are offering the DIY parts and the new Q8.

One other thing is they said is the reason they are offering DIY parts is that Thorfire was never willing to do so, and Sofirn saw the need for the DIY community to have these parts.

One other thing though: I have not asked Sofirn yet, but who is going to sell the new Q8? Thorfire or Sofirn?

Hmmm. Sofirn and Thorfire sharing the same factories… that seems to make sense.

I’ve noticed that the Thorfire VG10S and the Sofirn SF36/SF36W look extremely similar (I think even their UI are similar).

And the Thorfire TK18 seems to be a hybrid of the UI for Sofirn SP31 and SP32A.
(Thorfire TK18 = tail+side switch, and the UI is low-to-high-to-low — this is similar to the Sofirn SP31.
though the Thorfire TK18 also has a ramping UI, which is similar to the SP32A…)

There are likely other similar flashlights between Thorfire model and Sofirn model that I haven’t read about… (oops but this is sort of off-topic for this message thread)

I do wonder another thing.

How are they going to connect the tubes in parallel?

From the looks of it, the only possible way to do this would be either battery carriers, or a 2S battery pack.

Oh ok. I had not noticed.

Still, this is an amazing development.

They did say another thing, which I had not added:

The driver may have a little change and the technology is still in testing, includes new open source driver software

Seems silly to make such a large extension and only change the LED’s to XP-L Hi’s. You might as well throw in some XHP50.2 or XHP70.2’s if you’re going to have that many batteries.

I’m sure it serves a purpose… Maybe for someone going camping for a WEEK and needs as many batteries as possible due to no way to recharge the batteries?

I use my Q8 a lot and hardly ever see the 4 batteries drop below 4.00v. Put that extra voltage to use and give us a 20k lumen light! :+1:

2S/4P for 4 XHP50.2s would make sense

Yes, but more runtime is better right?

Also, using this extension would allow for one great thing: the use of lower drain, but higher capacity cells with the same brightness.

Or better, they know people mod their BLF Q8s to the limit. They know using 8 cells allows for 2S modification.

I have just asked them about that XHP50.2. They’ll probably say no, but I gave it a shot.

Oh, and if we could buy the extension tube separately.

a battery carrier and tube for 2S/2P would be great.

If it becomes 2S that’d be great, but the issue is using it with existing Q8s would be rather problematic… I can see why they’d keep it all parallel. You can still run 3V LEDs that are very amp hungry as long as 8x cells won’t push them into the danger zone.

Also as it was tested the Q8 can run stock turbo indefinitely without harm, just gets warm. The extra battery tube gives a better place to hold the light from in the event of such warmth.

You should bypass the springs then.

Then the light WILL get hot.

If they are messing with the leds, the driver and the battery configuration… then i don’t think they should sell it as a Q8.

This would bring confusion at best and may even tarnish the genuine BLF Q8 reputation if they don’t do it right.

I’m still glad Sofirn decided to sell Q8 spare parts though.

My q8 is stock and on turbo it will get scortching hot. Maybe not hot enough to damage the components. Maybe yours gets warm because you havnt disabled the thermal regulation

@patmurris, as mentioned before, it is going to be a BLF Q8 V1.5.

They are going to put NarsilM V1.2, just change the LED to XPL HIs, and a bigger extended tube.

Why are you worried about it? It is just going to be the bigger brother of the Q8, not a different one. It would be hard if they would miss the target, as they have every part available already.

Even then, it would just be how a modder would modify the Q8: swapping the XPLs for XPL HIs, flash NarsilM V1.2 for better thermal regulation and features, and bypass the springs. The only thing that a modder couldn’t easily do on their own is make a bigger battery tube, but this is why we have this new Q8 V1.5.

If they only swapped leds and upgraded the firmware i would agree, but the long tube which will require two battery carriers seems to me a sharp departure from the original SRK/soda can concept, introducing complexity to a simple design. It’s a matter of POV of course.

That said, i’m not sold at all about this direction. All this just to extend the already very decent run time seems to miss the opportunity to move further and address 6V and 12V emitters. I’d rather have the same short tube form factor with XHP50/70s. That would be a big brother - that can keep you warm for sure!

Good luck with this venture…

I asked them. If they are willing to put XHP50.2s, then the 8 cell tube will be absolutely worth it.

Can’t wait to see this come to be. Be like a super powered mag light lol

UPDATE:

See what Sofirn said:

1. Yes, the tube will be sold separately, but need to change the both two tubes. Springs better too. Copper alloy.

2. Checked with our factory XHP50.2 NW 80CRI will be considered in next update and XPL-HI will be used this time, for enthusiasts who want better color tint and long range. XHP50.2 will only require modification of battery carrier to work, so XPL-HI releases, flashlights enthusiasts will only modify carriers and driver to work to get XHP50.2 working if not waiting for update.

This is surprising to say the least

And the pic they linked.