The reasons were discussed in Q8 thread.
Most cheap can-shape flashlights a machined without threads synchronization. I.e. switch place is milled with separate machine or separate setup and have random position relative to the threads start point.
Battery tube is made with same way.
As result you have random angle between switch and tube flatness.
In Q8 design this problem is even bigger than ever, because tube end forces down the driver pcb so tube angular position depends from driver thickness.
Using combine machines with minimum setups can fix this problem, but sometimes design is not suitable for this.
If flashlight have a removable tail cap (as Q8 have), a spare lanyard ring that can freely rotate looks like cheap and easy solution.
I should have one to review sometime soonish. I also have an incomplete prototype strictly for firmware development. Just finishing up the last few details now, actually. I donât think I can really give any extra details about it yet though.
What I can say is ⌠itâs really bright. Like, really really bright. I canât even measure it properly, because itâs way more lumens than I have equipment for. Itâs like a Noctigon Meteor M43 but a bit smaller, a lot brighter, and with the Emisar UI people liked on the D4S. So if anyone was wanting a âMeteor 2â, this is probably for you.
dave101, I donât have any aircraft hangar bulbs or 30,000 lumen mega-flooders to compare against. But the D18, even in an incomplete dev kit form, is easily the brightest flashlight Iâve ever tried. It wonât be suitable for lighting up an entire hangar, but it sure gives a bedroom a surreal holy aura. To get an idea what it looks like, turn on 15 to 20 60W-equivalent light bulbs all at once.