The wall on that first pic is a pretty crazy, some of those stalactites where big enough to squeeze your body in behind them 
Way cool! There are vias because the board itself isnot DTP, right?
Yeah, I put all those small vias in there to help with the heat and resistance from LED- to the host. I’m not sure how effective they are but I figured it can’t hurt. I got them made with OSH Park’s 2 oz copper option. I have to put them to the test one of these days…
Oshpark? So it’s actually a FRP PCB?
Have you considered MCPCB?
I have not tried it yet but small orders from AllPCB start from $16 shipped for a non-DTP alu MCPCB. Not as cheap as OSHPark but not particularly expensive either and may work better.
Thanks for the link, I didn’t know about them… But to be honest I don’t really know what all those options mean. FR-4? CEM-1? Guangzhou or Goldenmax? 
I went with OSH Park because I know how well they work and was thinking that if people can build +10 amp FET drivers with PCBs from them, then a 5 amp XM-L2 should be no issue at all with 2 oz option… It’s more of an experiment really, my plan is to do a test of mine vs copper MCPCB on identical heatsinks and measure the heatsink temps after a while. Hopefully I’ll get around to it someday…
Hurray, I’ve built another light after all this time… I made a custom Fat-3 for a S42 and finally I have light for firmware testing where I can flash with a USB cable:
I think it’s a wrong thread for what I want to write. But since you Mike asked for UI suggestions and there were quite a few already I decided to go here.
Some time ago I got an YLP Falcon. It got an unknown-to-me kind of switch that acted mostly like a clicky but it actually had a momentary action as well.
I don’t really know how is such switch called but it raised my interest in alternative switch kinds. And yesterday I found something similar to YLP but without clicks - a double action momentary switch.
It acts like a regular e-switch but has 3 states: closed, lightly pressed, strongly pressed.
I find it interesting because it should enable richer UI while cutting those daunting multi-clicks to something shorter. And it is much easier to implement with the existing hosts than multiple switches.
Possibilities?
Some quick examples:
- weak push ramps down, strong ramps up
- press weakly from off to start with the default mode, press strongly for turbo
- from off, press lightly and hold to ramp from moon, press strongly and hold to ramp down from Turbo
Thoughts?
Are there any other interesting switch kinds available?
I have tested dual action switches. The issue with the ones I tested was that they where so sensitive to heat that after soldering they where no longer dual action. I tried a few different brands. At least one other user experienced the same (scroll to bottom): Looking for a dual action switch
I’ll take it up again if someone finds a model that isn’t so sensitive to heat. I’ve given up buying randomly for testing as all of mine failed.
Good to know. I checked a few datasheets to see whether manufacturers give any specific soldering advice. Of those checked only ALPS did and soldering conditions were the same for all tact switches. 260C for 3 seconds.
Though low temperature solder seems like a reasonable workaround. 
You’re welcome to try! Let me know how it goes. You make the switch work, I’ll make the UI work 
For me UI is way easier than PCB though I do intend to do at least some tests once my Mouser purchase list reaches the free shipping threshold.
If you get them dual action switches working fine after soldering, can you update me on the model and soldering method?
I never have issues with filling up Mouser carts for free shipping, too many projects ongoing 
This is the latest: 
A general update on giveaway drivers: I’ve reached the point where I think the firmware is fine for giveaway. Far from all the functionality is implemented but I don’t really expect most features to be useful for anyone other than myself anyway. The main functionality is working and most of the quirks have been addressed.
I’m heading for more work related trips next week, and if the world doesn’t freak out about the virus and shut down all borders while I’m gone, I’ll get them in the mail when I get back.
Better take some “masks incorporated” “into the light” with you
BTW, I found out that the OTR i3 w/ Crescendo was working after all. The led got damaged when using 2 cells, the driver didn’t
Your driver I will probably use it with a Osram LED on a light I will probably re-mod again
I surely will. TBH I don’t expect much troubles with my SnBi solder paste.
Mouser has free shipping on some orders? I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen that. I wonder if it’s a European / international thing?
They send with Fedex that take care of customs clearance too, so I don’t have to pay any additional import fees.
I don’t understand this part, I haven’t ordered from Mouser yet.
I used to assume that they send from some EU warehouse and so there are no import fees.
But if they don’t, some fees should apply. What does Fedex do to prevent that?
I can only vouch for ordering from Sweden, but this is how it works here:
In Sweden the postal service has implemented an import fee. This import fee is for the post office that has to do custom declarations in all imported goods from outside EU. This is an attempt to get some money pack from the millions of small $2 packages from China that where declared is gifts.
Fedex have their own customs clearance procedure, they don’t need the postal services to do it so they don’t have to pay this fee. If I send/receive something myself with Fedex I would have to pay some sort of fee, but as this is Mouser sending they obviously have some sort of deal with Fedex. DigiKey has the same with UPS.
For me, ordering as a private person on Mouser, VAT is added to my total on checkout so that is taken care of too. The only difference with DigiKey is that the VAT isn’t added on checkout, I get a separate bill from UPS that only contains VAT. No import fee from DigiKey either. I prefer Mouser though, it’s easier with VAT added on checkout.
I see, thanks for the explanation.