[BLF Joint-Development] WildTrail BLF Tactical Flashlight

Thot it was another light, my bad. :person_facepalming:
I even have one for sale now.

You could always remove R4 to shut down the FET if you don’t want it

it is FET+5+1
so 2.1A, light can easily run without getting to the thermal throttle if its set to like 60°C

Hmmm way too tacticool for me, I’ll come back when you decide to do something that really is tactical, rather than gadget ridden.

I’d suggest something similar to the Lumintop ED20-T as an excellent starting point for true tactical.

I think you and many others do not understand the advantages of DD FET drivers. It must be something about them being simple and cheap so they can’t be good. The beauty of the direct drive (PWMed to create lower modes) is that by chance of physics many leds when run at high output run at a voltage that is close to the same voltage that a li-ion produces under load. Fine-tune that by adding or lowering the resistance in the system and you have a fairly efficient super-simple circuit that is cheap and extremely robust.

You can keep going on about the disadvantages of direct drive, like that it has no constant output (btw incans never had that, it is a matter of taste, not practicality, if you like it or not) and that efficiency is bad (if measured compared to other types the difference is not impressive), but solving those disadvantages comes at a huge price: bigger pricier drivers with more components that fail earlier, can produce whine, and can never achieve the power levels for the led that a simple direct drive situation can.

In short, I never see flashlights that are nicely regulated and at the same time run at the same power level as a direct drive flashlight. For real output power I only trust direct drive, only for lower level flashlights I trust regulated circuits.

No, that’s not the point at all.
Simple is good, but current regulation is better.

It depends on the LED Vf.
If it’s low, why not use a 3, 4, 5 or 6 Ampere FET CC driver?
With an XP-L or other high Vf LED there’s no need for current limiting.

Yup, I could tell you were discussing an alternate version, so I didn’t quote you. The others seemed to be just blindly posting in a group buy thread.

May I put my input on these tactical lights?
I love the form factor shown. It really reminds me of Fenix PD35 and Zanflare F1 combined.

But my thoughts of tactical light really comes in 2 versions.

I like the surefire G2x Pro interface. Always on low but double tap to go high. I even got a Solarforce L2M with Nanjg 105C programmed to be the same. No memory always on low with high on double tap.

I also love the interface of Olight M18 Maverick for a dual switch operation.
Single tailcap click is a customizable brightness mode via side switch with memory that will never hit turbo. (The only place to select brightness here)
Double tap to click to achieve turbo (hitting side switch bounce back to common modes)
Triple tap to click to access strobe. (turn off to reset back to 1)

And yes get me that sweet sweet DD Fet but only on turbo. I’m even okay with timer stepdown like the BLF A6 but only on turbo.

Any word if there will ever be a 21700 tube for this light? The tube diameter is already larger than some 21700 lights.

I'm Interested for 2

OK, I'm a civvie but if I were a cop I think I would want:

Maybe a dual tailcap switch like Fenix does.. main switch would power light on on high every time. KIS... forward clicky with high, medium, low, period. High would be the max that the LED would be capable of without overheating and making it impractical to use for any length of time. No burn-up-your-pocket turbo. Momentary capability of course.

Second tail switch would give instant strobe, period. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think law enforcement is gonna want SOS and all that crap. No side switch you'd have to fumble for.

Thick AR lens like Surefire uses. SS bezel for dropping on head. Tough enough that you could run over it with a truck or smash a car window. Aggressive heatsinking. Screw on grip ring so you decide whether you want it or not. Ditch the USB charging. Dual removable belt clip. Completely waterproof. Bezel-down quick draw holster included. Matte finish=better grip and looks.

Cost more but if I was in a precarious situation I want something that's up to the job. I wouldn't want tacticool, I'd want simplicity. It's a tool, not a toy. Has to stand out from the crowd of lights already being made because if it doesn't one is just gonna buy one that is already on the market.

Comments? Texas shooter, whaddaya think?

It sounds well thought out. If you’re making it heavy enough to be run over that extra mass will make high run that much longer. I’ve got a 192 gram flashlight with an XHP-50.2 that will run 1300 lumens and can be held after 30 minutes. I personally carry bezel up in a full length holster. I do this as car seats, seat belts and chairs with arm rest like to pull gear off the belt. However many overs carry bezel down in speed holsters.

I will state again that I carry two lights and consider that there are two types. First is that “Tactical light” with on/off only tail switch at about 1200 lumens. Mine is the Pflexpro. Second is a duty light, a little bit larger and heavier. It has a few modes and could bust a brick.

Looking at the link you provided, that is not at all what I would want…

Color me disappointed.

-dmm

Who are you talking to? You didn’t quote anyone

Interested in 1.

Interested for 1

I'd like to make a suggestion to please, please try to use a standard MCU that Anduril/FSM supports. We can develop just about any UI you want using Anduril's common base of FSM. TK already has a few UI's based on it.

If you go with one on the better MCU's like used in the new V2 Emisars or Noctigons (1634), that would be great because it's got more memory, and a lot more I/O pins - can do much more with it.

For a proper BLF light, we really want the driver and firmware to be open source and the firmware easily re-programmable. This way, it can be tweaked however, preferably you can even download Anduril if you want, but the light ships with a simpler UI - that's fine. Judging by all the differing opinions on the UI, maybe alternates can be offered when ordering.

I hear my nephew who works for the NY port authority always raving about his tactical light on the job, basically about momentary mode on max, think the tail button. Now of course the charging systems are way superior to what we do by using a bank of charging stations. Off duty, snap the light in to charge, going on duty: take a light from a green lit station, and your good-to-go on your shift. This is how it should be for first responders, enforcement, etc. Dunno if that's the target buyer here, but just ideas...

As a light painting photographer, I would like the see the following functionality in a tactical light:

- Constant frequency strobe (so many manufacturers have recently moved to alternating frequency), that is memorized for use with forward clicky switch.

- Evenly spaced brightness levels, all of which can be memorized for use with forward clicky switch.

- Good heat handling at max output/max output can be sustained for a few minutes.

- Simple user interface.

  • Head size <37mm for light painting connectors (smaller more preferable).

The Sofirn SP31v2 comes close to perfect, but ruined by a non-memorized alternating frequency strobe.

A tactical light painter light. Hhmmm. How about the SP31B? That's an easy light to mod and I got it running a customized Anduril. I would think could add the strobes as a memorized mode, then I could make a strobe however you want. It's a side switch though, and to operate a few minutes at high amps in a small light package is a major challenge for sure - probably not possible with current tech at a reasonable cost. Maybe micro size active cooling?

Will Anduril work with flashlight with dual switches?