Andúril 2 coming to Sofirn - The general Sofirn development thread

I have many chargers but I still like having USB charging. Especially with Type C. And even more so when this acts as a powebank.
Why?
Because I’m backpacking - extra charger is a needles bulk to carry around. But then….that’s why I have not bought any Sofirn light yet.
They tend to be large and heavy, totally not my style.

I like the 2*18650 side by side format (like Fenix TK35, Nitecore SRT9 etc). I would like to see a Sofirn light use this format with a reflector the size of C8 reflector or smaller, NarsilM / Anduril and two independent switches (side electronic switch = NarsilM / Anduril as we know it, recessed back electronic switch for only momentary on turbo, not on/off). Use a XHP35 or an SST-20 for a thrower version (and ~2k lumens turbo) and a XHP70.2 for a flooder version (and ~3.5k lumens turbo).

I’d also like a 1*18650 tube flashlight with deep carry clip and the UI I described above with the two switches (side = NarsilM/ Anduril, back = momentary turbo only). In that case, the sidebutton should be recessed so it won’t be activated in pocket, ever. Also, electronic lockout should only affect the side switch, momentary turbo should always work as long as it isn’t locked out by unscrewing the switch cap.

18650 or 21700 or 26650 flashlight which uses two different emitters for different cases (like Rofis MR70).

Talking about nice designs that are discontinued (as David suggested), have a look at the Lucky Sun flashlights. They had a good body quality and distinct aestetics that was appreciated by many, but their drivers and performance was mediocre.

I would love to see a LuckySun D80 style flashlight coming back, and think that the LuckySun F3X looks much better than the Sofirn C8F triples, it has much better finning too.

I heard a lot off: 5000K is green in low modes.
Is it better now?

The aesthetic comments are similar to those who prefer throw vs flood. It seems as if you need two versions of every body style light.

I have almost no use for throw. I thought the new light looks interesting but I think it is hard to imagine how such a thing would feel in your hand. I would like to see the crenelations on the bezel be deeper. Maybe 3mm minimum so if the light is on and head standing, more light is able to escape.

On the other hand, I need to look into this “x5 pro”.

it seems more and more brands sell battery with charging port, then the flashlight with battery called rechargeable light.

What are advantages and disadvantages of this battery?

How do you guys think about it?

The advantage of this battery is that you can use it in multiple lights, and you can still charge it via USB.

However, the disadvantages are:

  1. You can’t swap the battery on the fly. You will need to wait and charge the battery via USB, which can be very useful.
  2. It will be a bit more expensive than no-recharge port batteries.
  3. The battery will be bigger, which some lights may not fit.
  4. The battery will be limited in performance. In lights like the C8F, Sofirn SP36, and BLF Q8, and even Sofirn SP32A V2, it will be limiting the amount of power you can drain.
  5. You lose a bit of capacity.
  6. Like all protected batteries, you lose capacity more quickly. Therefore, it can’t be stored for as long.

I think USB chargers in lights is a good idea. I don’t need it, but it can be convenient. But USB charger built into the battery? No thanks! I want the battery to be completely uninhibited! Nothing added to it except maybe a good quality button top.

I would much rather have a USB Charging port in a battery than a light. That way those who want USB Charging can have it and the manufacture does not have to put a USB port in the flashlight.

So it seems a great way to ’not’ have to make an unnessary hole in a light for a USB port…. a win - win for everyone!! . :+1: . :wink:

  • Cost of light can be kept down not having to add a USB port
  • Those who want USB charging can buy a battery with a USB port

Like I said… win - win for everyone.

It’s not a win win.

If they support those garbage batteries they have to make all their flashlights longer with poor quality springs.

Well stated, teacher.

@teacher and Pete, for once, I have to disagree with you.

USB ports should just be hidden inside of the flashlight, like the Zanflare F1 and Night watch NA40 SE.

@contactr, absolutely.

It may also restrict compatibility with smaller flat top cells.

I think those batteries are junk and should be avoided. So many of them fail. I’ll post up some examples of them failing once I find it. I saw it somewhere here on blf. Sometimes the charging circuits go bad, sometimes the batteries leak.

Well, I cannot argue with that. They Some of those are crappy batteries & it might possibly take less than optimal design changes in some lights to accommodate them. That would be a lose for sure. :person_facepalming: . :frowning:

EDIT: But in my experiejce, all batteries with a USB port are not junk. I have a few that came with lights I bought & to date none of them have given any problems. No, I do not use them in high powered bigh drain lights; but that is not what they were designed for. Used within their limitations they work just fine & can be handy at times. And in most lights I have no trouble using batteries with a USB Charging port or regular unprotected batteries.

But, I shall just revert back to my original stance of No USB Charging…. First stated in THIS EPIC POST . :wink:

……

Thank you Pete!! I had to modify it but hope you still approve. :wink:

……

If a particular light ’must’ have USB Charging…… simply “must” …… then as I stated in THIS EPIC POST , partially quoted below…… It should absolutely be done as option #2 states. BSM also is a proponent of this it appears. :+1:

However, I still strongly feel that options 1 & 3 are the best solutions.

Those solutions being No USB Charging…… ymmv

I like USB rechargeable batteries. Sometimes I need rechargability and the light of my choice lacks it - they are the best solution. I especially like the Folomov one that doubles as a powerbank, though I don’t have one yet.

I also like rechargable 18650 from Klarus - because they included a good cell with a low-resistance circuit and rate their cell for 10A continuous discharge. I haven’t seen it tested, but that’s not some unbelievable claim….

BlueSwordM - I have no idea why would you be unable to swap cells. I do it all the time.

ADDED:
But I’d like to make it clear that I prefer to have a charger built-in. That’s because:

  • it just more comfortable to plug a cable into light than to screw-remove cell-plug-put cell back-screw back
  • I have a better choice of the cells
  • USB cell just feels like a hack. A useful one but still a hack.
  • there are no USB cells with Type C connectors

Your right Agro . I rethought my post above yours & edited it. . :+1:

ADDED: …. But I do not like a USB Port in the flashlight itself, except as I have stated previously. Do it for a very limited number of lights & do it with a concealed port in the threads of the light that is hidden & sealed by O-ring.

My suggestion to Sofirn: Diversification!

Have two product lines:

a) one for - sorry for my language - "muggles", i.e. your grandmum, your uncle, your naughty little niece...whoever is not familiar with proper handling of lithium-ion batteries.

These flashlights, like Sofirn's SC31, will be equipped with a USB-charging port, covered by an unmissable rubber plug that even grandma can pry open without her glasses. ;-) For more safety, these flashlights will come with a protected battery, so everyone can sleep well when handing these lights to his/her loved ones. Usually, this target group is not up to big lumen output, maximum endurance and HighCRI frenzy, that's why you could focus on a specific assortment of lights, like SC31 and maybe even SP31 V2.0. These kind of lights could also be glued if necessary as most people would not try to mod/enhance them.

b) one for the flash'o'holics, the experts, the enthusiasts, the evangelists, in a nutshell: all those who want to get the best out of the flashlight and who are well-informed about proper charging and handling of unprotected high-drain batteries.

I'm suggesting this group of people would prefer to not have an outside USB charging port and not use protected USB-rechargeable batteries in their lights. Instead, please refrain from using USB-charging in return of less material cost, maximum endurance, maximum performance and 100% IPX8 waterproofness. These customers may even pickily select their batteries for best results and most important - they prefer to have not-glued drivers, bezels etc.. Personally, I'm very glad that Sofirn's Q8 or C8F come without USB charging, so I could throw them into a river (if I wanted to) without worrying about water ingress or a failing circuit due to a defective/worn-out USB port. The only compromise I think I agree upon was the internal USB-charging port, hidden in the flashlight's threads like Zanflare F1.

/\ . Very well said Lux-Perpetua.:+1:

Lux-Perpetua - I strongly disagree. Even non-muyggle people (at least some) like to take high-end flashlight on a vacation without any charger. If you don’t want to use usb charging then just don’t. Also I’d not expect any significant cost side effect, as you can have whole usb charging module for just $0.20 (see aliexpress tp4056 usb charging module). Making more models with small differences is not really any benefit from mnf and logistic point of view. Also there is no problem to make usb charging waterproof without rubber flap. Because one way, how to make it, is bad, does not mean it’s always bad.

I also strongly disagree that built-in charging is only for muggles, though I agree that separating muggle and enthusiast lines make sense.

I just extended my previous post to clarify that I prefer to have a charger built-in.