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

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.

I’d hardly call my Q8 scorching after a minute of turbo with spring bypasses and Luxeon Vs. Stock it never got hot at all even after several minutes just warm to the touch and I clocked mine in around 4500. All temp regulation off. After bypasses it gets warm a lot faster, but still nothin like the Emisar D4.

With a modified battery carrier we can even build a XHP50 or XHP35 version with a single tube easily.

… and with both tubes I could build a super bright (and heavy) version of my Janus :slight_smile:

Maybe it’ll be a Hi-C can light next…

Thorfirn? Sorfire?

We need Maury to give a DNA test.

I like when he dials up the drama…

Yep… Q8 - v.HI-C …. :+1: … :smiley:
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I like it Lightbringer….

Oooh good idea.

BLF Q8 HI-C edition.

:+1: … :slight_smile: …. /\

Why don't I have a rope to hang on such a long thing, so heavy and heavy? I have to carry 8 18650 batteries with me. I think this design is a failure

I wanted to get carryers for modding from the beginning, but the team has declined becaus it should be SRK-Style.
Now, that would be great.
And we will see, how the carryers could be modified. There seems to be only the center bar, which could be used to make Bat+ contact from the end to the top. The other bars are used for battery- or ground.
So with different carryer PCBs it should be possible to make a 2S2P or 4S1P variant.

Ok, now we have a MCPCB for XHP50, we’ll hopefully soon have the new battery tubes, now I need an affordable source for well binned XHP50 or XHP50.2 in neutral or maybe warm white. Are XHP50.2 suitable at all for a FET driver? I guess I have read somewhere they have a lower forward voltage than XHP50.

Any recommendation from the LED guru(s)?

This is a good question but not because of the voltage. I have a XHP50.2 running fine without driver on 2 high drain 18650 batteries so at least some XHP50.2 leds can handle that. But I had one dying at much lower current in a light with 3A boost driver from KD. Something with a sensitivity for unseen voltage spikes?, I don’t know. At least the Q8 will not use a boost driver but a simple direct FET driver, could be advantageous for the XHP50.2

Great news for several reasons. Thanks for the heads up BSM.

I’ve been patiently waiting 9 months for a simple CW version to be offered for sale.

Is 5700K to 6000K too much to ask for?