FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

Anyone else seen a tracking showing returned to shipper? Mine shows shipped on 05-20-19 and then "Returned to shipper" 05-22-19. I emailed Neal but haven't heard back yet. I'm more patient when I'm not confused...

You are gonna fit right in here………. :beer:

My first one arrived almost two weeks ago… The second was hung up in tracking… Mind you they were ordered minutes apart… Now DHL gives me this :

We wish to inform you that a number of packages may experience delayed or missing tracking information. Continue to check this tracking page for the latest update. Please accept our sincere apology for any inconvenience this may cause.

nothing from Neal yet

no i dont think nichia rules out the sst20, last i read here they are still working on getting it or something.

Yeah.

The SST-20 is throwier, has better color rendition, and has the same efficiency, and is actually cheaper to get.

Is this yours?? Or you just posting a picture you found somewhere??

someone should hit the rude button on this person for posting this picture :wink:

:+1: . /\:smiley:

Post #11009:

I take that to mean the Nichia version is as well as, and not instead of, the SST-20 version, and does not impact the production of the SST-20 version.

Yeah, it’s usually easy enough to figure out the revision based on the light’s behavior. A useful version string would end up being very long and difficult to read.

Then you’re in good company. Most of us are idiots around here. At least, I know I’ve done some pretty dumb things…

That’s a pic from Neal. It’s a FW3C prototype sample.

I’m hoping the production version can be polished or even just raw to improve durability and give it more of a classic copper look.

Nope, not mine. I’m not fortunate enough to have such good connections. This was posted on a FB group, and was originally posted on reddit.

/\ . :+1:

Sandblasted Ti body and tail + raw Cu head

Is it ok to dream?

so 35E batteries are the best if u looking for best runtimes yea ?

Those are 8A cells, which is certainly plenty for the regulated modes. 7x7135 chips should max out at 2.5A, assuming they are 350mA chips.

I don’t know what the max current is on turbo, which is pure FET driver. I would guess it’s pushing around 8A with a full battery, less as the battery depletes. Anyone measure it? IIRC, I think the max discharge of the 35E is rated at 13A, but that would be for brief periods.

Given how quickly the light will ramp down on turbo, I doubt the battery would be draining more than 8A for very long, if at all. So the 35E should be fine. Or, you could go with a Sanyo GA cell (10A) which gives you some margin. Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it, though.

The only thing I’d stay away from are older low-drain cells, like the Panasonic NCR18650B.

Is there some estimation how long the FW3A will run on the lowest moon mode, for example on a 30Q cell?

I think the continuous discharge rating is pretty irrelevant. It’s more of a way to compare batteries and not so much a way to match a battery to a light. You are taking it way too literally. It’s kind of a subjective number, so don’t pay too much attention to it.

The best runtimes might be from the Panasonic NCR18650B, assuming you don’t care about measuring the Turbo output. The 35E and GA (and MJ1) are also fine cells for this light.

I’d rather have full Time. Even if that means the fet is turned off by default to protect the LED’s.