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

[zak.wilson (Zak)]

You’re not limited to buying the number you signed up for. If you want more, buy more.

If you want to recommend the FW3A publicly and not disclose the group buy discount code, PhotonPhreaks has them at a good price.

[jasontheguitarist]

I had a snafu with mine earlier tonight. I was playing with it outside, I took it out of my pocket, and clicked 4 times to unlock it. It started spazzing out and strobing and clicking it wouldn’t turn it off. I unscrewed the head and put it back together and it seemed fine.

I was playing with again later and noticed an extra blink at the top of the ramp, and it was getting hot.

So at this point I realized what I’d done, earlier when it was blinking and strobing it was just in ramp config mode. Apparently I thought I’d locked it out but didn’t, so I must have turned it on coming out of my pocket, then clicked it 4 times and it entered ramp config mode. All my random clicking trying to turn it off changed the ramp ceiling setting to almost all the way up.

After I figured out that I am in fact an idiot, I got the manual and set everything back to how it’s supposed to be.

Light is fine, just an ID10T error.

[CRX]

Yep, that happened to me too.
Configuration should be harder to access IMO. Once the light is set up how often are you going to change it…

[Lane32x]

Ha ha. I also stumbled into ramping config mode and freaked out a bit at first. Wasn’t until I found the “modded cheat sheet” that I realized what I had done.

[goshdogit]

@slmjim

The analogy breaks down here though, because it took more than nine months to get results

Actually, your analogy isn’t that far off.

Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal.

Some species of elephant give birth almost two years after mating. :partying_face:

[CRX]

Probably a bit of a surprise after all that time

[el_duderino]

@ToyKeeper

I’m not sure what the deal is with 219C appearing in the store.

Neal mentioned it a few weeks ago, asking if it would be okay because Lumintop already had some available. I told him it would disappoint people and he should stick to what we promised everyone. That’s the last I heard about it.

Has anyone heard from Neal recently? Between this post from TK and several of us not receiving any responses to inquiries about outstanding orders, I hope he’s alright. I’m tempted to order a 219C version, but definitely not until he makes good on my original order (China Post returned it to him; not necessarily his fault, but he said he’d look into it 10 days ago and nothing since then). Anyone know if he’s OK?

[ToyKeeper]

@el_duderino

Has anyone heard from Neal recently? Anyone know if he’s OK?

Neal is fine, but he probably hasn’t slept in weeks because of the new baby.

[Random_Dan]

@el_duderino

@ToyKeeper

I’m not sure what the deal is with 219C appearing in the store.

Neal mentioned it a few weeks ago, asking if it would be okay because Lumintop already had some available. I told him it would disappoint people and he should stick to what we promised everyone. That’s the last I heard about it.

Has anyone heard from Neal recently? Between this post from TK and several of us not receiving any responses to inquiries about outstanding orders, I hope he’s alright. I’m tempted to order a 219C version, but definitely not until he makes good on my original order (China Post returned it to him; not necessarily his fault, but he said he’d look into it 10 days ago and nothing since then). Anyone know if he’s OK?

My Nichia FW3A shipped yesterday

[ToyKeeper]

@goshdogit

@slmjim

The analogy breaks down here though, because it took more than nine months to get results

Actually, your analogy isn’t that far off.

Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal.

Some species of elephant give birth almost two years after mating. :partying_face:

It may also be apt since, on the day the shipping was supposed to start, there was birth involved.

Where the analogy breaks down is … Neal isn’t an elephant. At least, I don’t think he is. It’s hard to tell on the internet.

[raccoon]

Speaking of things that lasted about two years...

This thread was created shortly before a famous political investigation was created, and the first shipping of the finished FW3A was a little after the political report was finished.

Yes, the lifespan of the development of the FW3A was a bit longer than the lifespan of the famous report.

It's kinda interesting, but I don't want to go into politics here.

[Klayking]

@ToyKeeper

Where the analogy breaks down is … Neal isn’t an elephant. At least, I don’t think he is. It’s hard to tell on the internet.

Yeah, it’s hard to address the elephant in the room if you’re not in the room with the elephant.

[slmjim]

@goshdogit

@slmjim

The analogy breaks down here though, because it took more than nine months to get results

Actually, your analogy isn’t that far off. Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal. Some species of elephant give birth almost two years after mating. :partying_face:

Was lying in bed last night, almost asleep, when my eyes flew open with the thought, "James, ya' dumba$$, pachyderm gestation is twice that of what you wrote!"

Seems my subconscious thinks about these things & chooses inappropriate times to announce it's findings.

Edited my OP accordingly.

Sorry for the derail. We now return you to the regularly-scheduled FW3A thread.

slmjim

[Tejasandre]

@el_duderino

@ToyKeeper

I’m not sure what the deal is with 219C appearing in the store.

Neal mentioned it a few weeks ago, asking if it would be okay because Lumintop already had some available. I told him it would disappoint people and he should stick to what we promised everyone. That’s the last I heard about it.

Has anyone heard from Neal recently? Between this post from TK and several of us not receiving any responses to inquiries about outstanding orders, I hope he’s alright. I’m tempted to order a 219C version, but definitely not until he makes good on my original order (China Post returned it to him; not necessarily his fault, but he said he’d look into it 10 days ago and nothing since then). Anyone know if he’s OK?

Just got shipping notification on my 219. Ordered the day they came out.

[Bucknkd313]

Just got a text from DHL, my FW3A is out for delivery!

Order summary-

1. 05/15/19 - Learned about the potential joy of the FW3A off /r/flashlight
2. 05/16/19 - Succumbed and ordered
3. 05/19/19 - Got notice of shipment
4. 05/22/19 - Got notice shipment was returned to shipper
5. 05/23/19 - Got notice shipment was sent again, eta 05/28/19
6. 05/28/19 - OUT FOR DELIVERY!

Edit: Much like my flashlight addiction has been revived, my wife's eye-rolling when I talk about flashlights has started up again.

[Bucknkd313]

Side question, so my 3D FW3A comes today, I have, and very much enjoy, my Rovyvon A8 with the 219 emitter. I can see myself wanting an FW3A with the same set up.

According to Neals it's 4000K, ~1,600 lumens but everything I've seen said that it produces a lot more heat than the XP-L. Is that correct? And if so, why so with much lower lumens? I'm guessing the XP-L's are a lot more efficient? Are all High CRI emitters that way?

Man, it's not even in my hands yet and I'm already thinking about the next one. Yeah, I'm back.

[BlueSwordM]

The thing is that the 219C will probably make more lumens than the rating, probably around 2000 lumens, but it’s a less efficient LED, so less light OTF, and more heat is generated.

[zak.wilson (Zak)]

If the 219C is using the 219B firmware that’s limited to 50% FET, it may be a little under 2000 lumens, but it won’t heat up as fast as the XP-L HI version using 100% FET.

If it’s not using the 219B firmware, 1600 lumens is unrealistically low. 219C FET triples are more like 2400 lumens, depending on the battery, springs, leads, etc…. In that case, it will heat up faster. It’s not just because it’s less efficient, but because it has lower forward voltage, allowing it to consume more power in a FET light.

All of the high-CRI options that have been considered have lower forward voltage than the XP-L HI and will produce more heat, though the SST-20 and LH351D should have a bit higher forward voltage than the 219C. Increasing CRI within a given emitter design usually has an efficiency cost as well, so more heat and less light for a given amount of power. That said, the LH351D is very efficient to start with and probably won’t lose much, if any output relative to the XP-L HI. It will lose throw relative to any other option under consideration.

[Bucknkd313]

@zak.wilson

If the 219C is using the 219B firmware that’s limited to 50% FET, it may be a little under 2000 lumens, but it won’t heat up as fast as the XP-L HI version using 100% FET. If it’s not using the 219B firmware, 1600 lumens is unrealistically low. 219C FET triples are more like 2400 lumens, depending on the battery, springs, leads, etc… In that case, it will heat up faster. It’s not just because it’s less efficient, but because it has lower forward voltage, allowing it to consume more power in a FET light. All of the high-CRI options that have been considered have lower forward voltage than the XP-L HI and will produce more heat, though the SST-20 and LH351D should have a bit higher forward voltage than the 219C. Increasing CRI within a given emitter design usually has an efficiency cost as well, so more heat and less light for a given amount of power. That said, the LH351D is very efficient to start with and probably won’t lose much, if any output relative to the XP-L HI. It will lose throw relative to any other option under consideration.

Thanks! (same to BlueSwordM too)

[mattlward]

My first one arrived Saturday. It is the 3D version. I am really wanting the 219C version as I have some of the R80’s left and will swap them in and set the ceiling low so I do not cook it. This light is fantastic, will replace my Zebra EDC. My only complaints are that the clip ring is the wrong diameter and my anno is very blue. The software is great, takes a little play time but then it just works!

Thanks to the crew that made this happen!!!