Beam is artifact-free. Tint is OK. I like….but they were too large.
So I decided that I wanted to be like CRX, took a file and worked on it until I liked the result (checking if it’s still working from time to time).
At one plug-in, there was a blink and the light went dark.
No good.
So I took another, filed a little less. It works and is significantly better than stock. And it weighs 13% less too! That’s a whooping 0.4g saving.
I have a couple of those that I justed used with my power banks during a 3 day snow storm power outage. They were easily as useful as my fancy expensive lights!
I got the ramping version, which is a little touchy (no pun intended). It’s kind of random what level of light you’ll get. If I buy more I’ll look for a different interface.
They are cheap ($0.89) enough that I bought a handful. I left them in the little plastic bags they came in and distributed them liberally. There’s one in my backpack, wallet, bag of cables in my laptop bag, desk drawer, and rubber-banded to each of my power banks.
I’ve got a few like the ones in the first pic. I hardly ever use them but they are a little bit of insurance that takes up practically no space in a computer bag, belt pouch or even a wallet. There’s USB ports practically everywhere so why not?
Is it compatible with Optisolis?
I won’t check, I expect it to be quite dim but I do wonder. And I’m really amused by the small number of components. Simple!
Nice.
I wish there were somewhat larger and brighter tiny lights. Put 12-18 5730 LEDs on one side, control on the other. Won’t weigh enough to stress USB port and even with limited cooling it will be bright enough to be useful.
I tried learning PCB design twice already but with no electronics knowledge it doesn’t go smooth. Maybe the third trial will be more successful.
I played with some of these a while back. Got a bunch (like 50pc) for next to nothing (like $5, or $0.10 each) but they were cool white. I had a bunch of 2700K Samsung LEDs I also got for nothing on closeout at Arrow (again, like $0.10 per LED).
I reflowed the Samsung LEDs as shown, and boom and nice WW color temp. Added a bit of conformal coating and I sold them for like $5/ea to backpackers/campers (warm white is SOOOO much nicer when camping). Made like 2000% profit, lol.
Thank you to all who’ve contributed to this thread! There are so many practical uses for these little lights but the opinions of BLF members are far more reliable than comments on a product page. With USB outlets everywhere these little lights will have a big wow factor when needed.