If we tell them how to built it, they can do it.
Then on the definition of cockroach light:
- cheap
- reliable (potted electronics)
- long runtime on common alkaline cells (battery vampire circuit)
simple twisty design
Any Chinese flashlight manufacturer can built such a flashlight by copying the Fenix E01 design and put in Yuji LED. Given they are willing to do so. Let us provide them the motivation by making clear there are buyers.
That is why Fenix is the number 1 choice for this project as they have a track record for building reliable stuff.
If that option does not work out, I am sure there is enough expertise in the international flashlight enthusiast comminity to design a driver that is at least as reliable as the one in the Fenix E01. If not by just simply cloning it.
I am no electrical engineer, perhaps someone could chime in to explain how to build uber-reliable (flashlight) driver boards. I am certain though that potting by encapsulation makes circuits able to better withstand environmental stress such as vibration, temperature shock, moist.
Wellā¦. good luck convincing them of that. Most of the smaller chinese flashlight makers chase lumens instead. None of them want to make 1xAAA lights under 30 lumens. The Manker Boney was one of the last ones.
Iāve looked quite extensively for cheap dim single mode 1xAA and 1xAAA lights with good runtime. I want something that I can give away in blackouts and emergencies. They donāt exist. The closest thing are those 9 LED 3xAAA cheapos. It will be more than a simple LED swap to make it happen
The major brands still have them. Jetbeam NE01. Klarus Mi02. Sunwayman R01A. Fenix E01. Nitecore T0. Led Lenser P2BM. Nextorch K00. But most of these are on the way out. I donāt think theyāll be too open to making a limited run. Just guessing but the big appeal to producing these lights is that the design hasnāt needed to be changed or updated in a decade.
One thing that might help this project would be the larger quantities. If we can get the right design, I can imagine people ordering 4 or 5 to toss in go bags and cars all over the place. Not many people need more than one Q8, so the overall quantity could be higher. Maybe even work out a ābulk discountā? Not sure.
At the end of the day if Fenix doesnāt bite, it could be hard to make this happen.
Klarusā Mi02 would be a good backup option. Plan C would be a custom light, and Iād have to guess between Lumintop, Manker, or Thorfire, but I think it might be harder to get a cheap fully potted light if this route is taken.
I agree that the appeal of producing these is the minimal resources it takes to keep doing so.
Still, if thereās enough people interested in the idea, I think itās worth trying. The worst I could see happening is we spend some time discussing it, and Fenix doesnāt even respond to the solicitation, so we never know if they even seriously considered it.
Hopefully this is purely a drop-in replacement for the Nichia GS (I think the E01 is current controlled, and 5mm LEDās are fairly standardized, so it should be), in which case, it should be a matter of coordinating with Yuji for packaging that fits their assembly process, and a little distribution oversight to keep the specials from getting mixed up with the regular production.
By the way, my understanding is there are two official Fenix distributors in the US (who import the lights and wholesale them to the retailers): Fenix Store and Fenix Lighting.
Fenix Store sponsors a manufacturer-specific sub-forum on CPF they have stayed somewhat active in.
If nobody on BLF has any experience dealing directly with Fenix, then once the list has grown a little, I can volunteer to reach out to Fenix Store to find out if they can be of any assistance in this request. Iām unsure whether this is a better route on the whole than going straight to the parent company in Shenzhen, but itās an option.
I bought the E01vn with the 3200k Yuji from Vinh just to see how this emitter looks like, and while the tint is much better than Cree 3000k that Iāve seen, it is still above the BBL whereas Nichia 219B, E21A, and Optisolis is at or below the BBL. My 3000k 219B has better tint, less yellow and more rosy.
organizing an interest list at CPF might be an option, although as I understood BLF is for the ābudgetā lights, whereas the people at CPF would probably just buy an HDS. Nonetheless an High CRI Fenix E01 might be a nice cheap backup light for an HDS