What about 6x18650 in 2s3p ?
As far as using a few large emitters with higher power, check out Haikelite.
4x XHP35 HI is interesting, and I can't think of competitors off the top of my head. Driver will be interesting, though.
Could elevate soda can to coffee can, and do 4x 21700 and maybe an extra XHP35 or two... But nobody wants to hold that.
As it is, the Q8 hits a really nice spot for practicality as well as sustained output. I feel like any brighter is just 15-second show-off mode. The other nice thing about the Q8 is how easily modded it is, especially with Led4Power's board available.
Your skills are fine. You miss some space between the cells so you can actually insert them but the conclusion is correct.
What would we be looking at lumen-wise?
Goggle “circle packing”. 3 circles in a larger one has a lower “packing density” than 4 circles in the same-sized larger one (65% vs 69%. respectively). So 3×21700s would just about fit the same size can as 4×18650. Okay, so 4000mAH for 21700s (12AH total), vs 3000mAH for a decent 18650 (umm, also 12AH total). It’s a wash at best.
Lots easier to find 4 18650s than 3 21700s, and I’m not even sure if the latter comes in buttontops.
10k driven hard at start
So one of the issues of using XHP35 leds is they only come in 12V, right?
Not if we have 4x18650 in serial connection.
Having more lumens is great, but not if they don’t go where you want them to. Any increase in emitter size or number will lead to a floodier beam, unless the reflectors are made proportionally larger too.
I don’t see the benefit unless you want more floody lighting (there are options for that already) or bigger numbers on the spec sheet just to have them.
Any successor to the Q8 needs to be have practical improvements on the positive qualities the current model has IMO.
I was looking Samsung 48G 21700 4800mAh. 14400mah available. I think there is also some 5200mah batteries. Above the best 18650.
Not huge, but there.
The 21700 is not mandatory, but it’s the latest size for high volume.
In a flashoholic forum, I’m suprised on the amount of why instead of the why not!
If we can land a man on the moon….Shirley we can come up with a better soda can.
Wellp, you already got the MT09Rs out there. 35s for throw, 70s for flood, both versions painfully bright, and not terribly bigger’n the Q8.
If 5k lemons isn’t bright enough from a sody-can light…
At least the Q8 keeps the cells in parallel, not series. So no need for balancing, BMS, at the very least protected cells, and all other rot which just complicates things.
And what’s nice about the DC7 I mentioned is the ability to charge the cells in situ.
I realize that some are seeking advancement as its own end. Others are looking to meet specific purposes. Both are interesting and useful parts of this hobby. My interest in the post is application specific.
The Q8 achieves a sort of ideal compromise for one of my primary use cases. Hiking and walking in areas that can be creepy in the dark. One of my single 18650 lights is more than enough for basic navigation. The Q8 adds an additional, sustainable output level that adds a visual security blanket that puts me at ease. It’s big enough to sustain high output. It’s small enough to fit in my coat. It’s throwy enough to see as far as I need. It’s floody enough. It provides big runtime but I find it comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Its neutral tint probably appeals to a broad audience that strikes a middle ground. I’d prefer 5D tint but that’s almost splitting hairs. Almost any deviation seems to be to a bigger detriment. The Sofirn SP36 is a smaller version of these attributes with the associated compromises. I find the Q8 just right.
More output is always fun. I simply don’t need that to fulfill my needs and I have little interest in impressing anyone. Q8 is my outdoor grail light.
$232.91 CDN
Aint happening…….
“’If you like your holly grail, you’ll be able to keep your holly grail”…I think I heard that line before! :confounded:
I fully agree on the size. That is why I’m arguing for the same size but to push the envelop.
…and most the suggested changes to the Q8 will quickly push it close to that price range as well.
Emitter options, different UI, etc. cost little or nothing more vs the current Q8s.
I don’t think it’s worth reinventing the wheel until another round of emitters, batteries or driver tech comes out.
The D18 and MFO1S sound very close to what a lot of people are expressing they want here though.
Wellp, a little over a hunnert murrrrcan here.
Why not?
My Q8 with 4 of the 3V XHP-50.2’s and 4 brand new Molicel 26P 18650’s just showed me 15,000 lumens on my calibrated light box. Of course, that’s a start value and the numbers fall pretty fast from there, but the hot spot is decent, can be made better by slicing and dicing, so yeah, there it is, why not…
Perhaps someone should be trying to talk Sofirn back into those parallel extension tubes…
I’d be thrilled with 3 minutes of full blast controlled by a heat sensor. Then back to earth with maybe 1500 continues.
With X-PLs the Q8 get VERY hot after 3 min of turbo, you’re looking at closer to 30 seconds before an aggressive step down with that kind of wattage.
I’d be good to “hot” but hold-able. 120 degrees? If that buys 3 minutes of massive light, I’m good.
DBCustom….you want to weigh in on this? How long does your mod go before it hits 120.F?