Flashlight Host and Uncommon Budget Flashlights

In the context of a laser talk I read your comment as “I want a great host with a bad (imprecise) lens”. I think that’s not what you meant…or is it?

Agro,

I just wanted small zoomie with real glass lenses and glass lens are usually inferior to plastic lenses and they make blurry die projection in direct comparison to acrylic/plastic lenses wich have ultra clear die projection. I need glass one because I need blurry effect with VCSEL laser die…

So once again challenge for you guys:
“Zoomie(budget smaller one) with anodized threads, glass lens, 25.4mm body, 1×18650 bat, without any gimmick charging ports if possible…”

Been through hundreds of models only Sofirn SF30 is close to that but it has freaking 3xaaa body :rage: , and I need 25,4mm one :neutral_face:

Why not use a glass lens from Yajiamei in a host that otherwise fits? (Richfire SF-168, 20$, but plastic lens.)

Or on the cheap - 6$ , plastic lens :


Or, why not re-anodize those threads (it’s not that complicated)?

That TF-Z9, I’m pretty confident it has a glass lens and counting pixels tells me the tube is 25-26mm. But no anodized threads.

Hi Kikkoman,

That is real beauty! I ordered one… Everything here but glass lenses

So why not swapp plastic to glass lens?
I think it is turbo hard to find glass one that will work on place of plastic one… Yes it may fit but focal difference… I would not like any overfocus or defocus(black hole :slight_smile: ) issues. So finding that is also Sizifus job :slight_smile:

I was able to find all kind of stuff and flashlights but I can’t believe that I can’t find the one I need with mentioned criteria:
Zoomie(budget smaller one) but with anodized threads, glass lens, 25.4mm body, 1×18650 bat, without any gimmick charging ports if possible…

Haven’t seen this one by Jin Heng mentioned here:

SST20 or SST40, 21700, Type C USB charging, ~30USD:

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/SST20-SST40-LED-Rechargeable-Aluminum-Flashlight-Torch-Type-C-USB-Charging-21700-Battery-Light-Outdoor-Camping/1242423_33004236817.html

/\ That looks like it might make a nice 21700 host.

This one looks super dope too:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/30W-Powerful-Xlamp-XHP70-2-0-XHP70-2-LED-Type-C-USB-Rechargeable-18650-Flashlight-6/1242423_32968903816.html

Take a look at the specifications 7 amp CC, 3 volts out, luminus SST- 40.2

Where did you see 7A?

I don’t see anything.

Sorry wrong info, looking at too many items at once, link to a driver that is listed that way. Interesting low 3 volts out, Luminus SST-40.2. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/22mm-2-8V-4-2V-Input-7A-Constant-Current-Output-5-Mode-LED-Driver-Flashlight-Circuit/33003164774.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.b7e52e0eMlzhNa

Oh it’s using dual FETs.

Probably CC at 3A, and direct drive at 7A.

I mean, at 7A in linear regulation, the regulator wouldn’t really survive.

I have purchased a couple of lights from this seller JKK70 Manta Ray C8.2 all pretty good in my opinion. But yes it is also listed a 15 watts, 7 amps x 3 volts = 21 watts. Who knows, really only one way to find out.
I am kinda new here and I have been wondering why someone has not attacked the voltage on these low voltage emitters this way. Limiting the output voltage and increasing the amperage.

Because it doesn’t work like that with LEDs.

To increase the amperage going to the LED, you need to up the voltage to the LED by a bit.

Be careful though. Up the current too much(even if the LED can handle it), but gets too hot, and you might end up in a situation of a runaway with an LED, in which it kills itself.
Isn’t an issue with regulated drivers, but can be an issue with FET drivers.

Also, 15W for the SST-40 draws 4,6A at 3,27V.

Thanks for the info.

Those look sharp. Too bad that switch retaining ring appears to be pressed in. I’m curious is the charging circuit is on the same board as the main driver components or a separate one.

I might have to try one. If it’s halfway decent, it would tick all the boxes for a friend I’ve been meaning to get a flashlight for…

Man that Jin Heng flashlight looks great and has everything I was looking for in a host. However, the press 2sec to turn-off is what turns me away

Have anyone found a 18650 big reflector thrower as Supwildfire was? I was searching around Ali and nothing interesting there. I would make a mod with Osram white flat or SST40 dedomed version from Kaidomain.

So today I got the “”upgraded” Revtronic F30B”:https://www.banggood.com/Revtronic-Upgraded-F30B-2-T6-800-Lumens-4Modes-Hidden-USB-Rechargeable-Portable-LED-Flashlight-p-1337893.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN in the mail, the one with USB charging in the tail.
What do you know, it’s another tailcap driver light…. but with a reverse clicky. :open_mouth: :confounded: It seems I’m a magnet for weird drivers, huh.

All that’s in the head is two resistors and a diode, antiparallel to the LED. (The diode is necessary for the TC charger.)

This is the tail driver:

Just a reverse clicky on the other side.

I don’t know what to make of this. It’s a nicely constructed light (paid 13€ for it), beefy body, 5.5mm thick LED shelf, the TC charger is nice & clean & watertight, - but the driver is an overengineered solution to a non-existent problem. And it’s not good at what it does.
The TC charger could be done with a standard driver, all it needs is that extra diode.
(Oh and there’s plenty of space in the head, it can fit a 22mm driver.)

Another one for the ‘project’ bin….
Any good suggestions ? Biscotti?

Sounds a lot like the 4×AAA LuxPro I got. Just a contact board in the head, 2 sm chip-resistors acting as a ballast, and the driver in the tailcap. Hell if I can get it apart, though. Got real ring-pullers, not just pointy tweezers, and I’m cranking it cw and ccw and it ain’t budging. No visible threads to see if it’s got rh/lh threads.

Really nice feather-touch switch, though, so while I suspect it wouldn’t function long as a power-switch, even with puny AAAs.

Should fit a Li cell nicely if I ever do get the tailcap apart, though.