D_t_a, can you please measure the current drawn of the IF25A? I’m kinda of suspecting that the current drawn of the 5-7 modes would be 1A, 2.9A and 6A like those of the test of D4V2.
IF25A (4x SST20-4000k)
in ramping mode:
battery first inserted and turned on ~ 0.35A
ramp ceiling ~ 6A
Turbo ~13+ Amps (battery was 4.10v, so not "fully-charged", using Sofirn 4000mAh 21700)
in stepped ramp mode (7 levels):
7th level ( = ramp ceiling) ~ 6A
6th level ~ 3.3A
5th level ~ 1.4A
Thank you very much, d_t_a. Just as what I suspected. If then, I think using a high drain 21700 would probably draw a couple of more Amps.
Hum… it’s a powerhouse light for sure. As much as I like the output this thing can hit on turbo… the heat factor makes me second guess using a Molicel P42a I have in the fridge waiting for a light for a month now. But like most BLFer’s… I’ll probably do it just to SEE 
Well… just got back inside from a walk through the property with the Molicel P42a in my 4k IF25a and I am impressed!
BUT, muggle warning… this light gets HOT fast! I’d drop it out of turbo after about 30 seconds but even then (on the factory high setting) it stayed hot. I tried it for a full minute on turbo and it just got too hot to hold comfortably. It will make a great little hand warmer this WINTER when I am elk hunting in 5 degree weather. 
The throw was a tad bit more (to my eye) than when using the Sofirn 21700 4kmAh battery. The Molicel is a very high drain battery and although my custom (old 18650 version) C8F “outhrew” it— it wasn’t but much tonight.
The natural white of the 4k IF25a is really nice. I kept going between the C8F and IF25a shooting trees about 100 yards away and the main beam of the IF25a is literally TWICE the width of the C8F at that distance. And the rendition of the 4k LEDs in the IF25a is just “better” to my eye compared to my shaved XPL HDs in the C8F that are at about 5500k (after the “shave”).
This light is a real tight package and both the host and battery got hot fast as there just isn’t anywhere for the heat to go other than down the entire light. The C8F never got warm in testing (under a minute on most tests). Just confirms what I said before… IF you NEED high output for short amounts of time (typical use for me), the IF25a kicks butt! 
BUT the price is instant heat for a super lightweight tool that can do it, but probably not without gloves in summer.
I see this little light being my go-to this winter where it will be more WAY more usable to me out in the field where the beam is WIDE, the ambient temps below freezing, and the throw is there for 99% of my needs.
Very cool (hot) light! 
Glad you like it. I really like it too. It does not use the latest version of Anduril firmware, which doesn’t bother me. Though it’d have been better if the latest version of firmware had been installed from the factory.
Does the manual say anything about whether or not it supports 2xCR123 batteries? Might give some insight into what kind of driver the IF25A has.
Funny you ask about the manual… this light didn’t come with one. Maybe they didn’t have it printed yet as this was one of the first to ship out just last last month.
I have to figure out Anduril. The light when clicked 6 times (I guessed right ) changed over to ramping, but the ramping didn’t go up near as far as the step-up setting did on high (in the step mode out of the box). I am assuming I need to go set all that up.
Also when out last night, after heating up the light good… the ramping was almost immediately reducing the output after I hit the top of the ramp. And it wasn’t just trimming it down a bit, but dropping it WAY down to the first or second lowest setting. Anduril tweaking should fix this (I hope).
I find that because of its super wide beam, one has to run this light higher than most to get the same throw. For general hunting and any field use at night, most lights on medium output are fine. But I predict that when I get it set up, it’s going to need to ramp up to a more “high” setting— where it’s going to be running on the warm side for sure. Again, not a problem in most cases where I’ll be using the light.
Here’s my UI simple instruction to follow
6 clicks is Muggle Mode for simple mode for lending the light. Disables all the features and reduces output. Doesn’t work properly until you configure the temp sensor
1 Thank
Thanks for the anduril UI manual. I was searching for it
That's the plausible explanation, maybe first batch was missing the printed manual -- the Sofirn IF25A I got came with the correct IF25A manual describing Anduril firmware. (although it's probably not possible to write everything about Anduril in a manual).
Specs indicate 3800 lumens max (likely for the 6500k version) and 420 meters beam distance. 21700 battery recommended. (no mention of other battery types, although an 18650-to-21700 battery adapter is included in the package.
I tried comparing the beam pattern of the IF25A with an Emisar D4v2
(unfortunately the D4v2 I had is sort of customized - uses 4x SST20, 1 each of 3000/4000/5000/6500k, so an "average" of around 4700k)
~~~~~~
Here is a comparison between the IF25A and the FM1, both use the same 4x SST20-4000k LEDs.
Sofirn IF25A (4x SST20-4000k) vs Meote FM1 (4x SST20-4000k)
(The FM1 is more floody, but even then, its brightness is quite dim)
Thanks for the great info and beam shots guys!
So I just thought I was in ramping uh? My six clicks went to the weird ramping I described and I’m guessing the heat (I had already built up) was triggering a LOW temp setting that immediately reduced the output every time I ramped to the top (which was about 1/2 output compared to Turbo- for about a 1/2 second before reducing to low). Sounds like a perfect muggle ramping mode to me
I ordered the 6500k version last month after getting this one. Thought I’d compare it to my C8F and see how close it really gets. Any luck and I’ll see it by August 
So I need to play with Funtastic’s chart here and figure out how to make this into a little super hand heater for this fall 
Just got mine today after a month. Just want to mention I was able to charge the battery through the built-in USB C port at around 5V x 1.78A = 9 Watt. Also, out of the box, the temp calibration seems way off. My house is at 19C, but the temp calibration shows 31C. I had adjusted it down to 19C, hopefully that will keep the turbo a little longer.
BTW, here is how you do temp calibration in Anduril (text version of diagram above):
From Off
3 clicks to enter battery check
2 clicks to enter sunset mode
2 clicks to enter beacon mode
2 clicks to enter temp check
Flashing shows current temp
4 clicks to enter temp calibration
1 flash - follow by rapid flashing, while flashing, click N times where N=room temp in C, stop
2 flashes - follow by rapid flashing, while flashing, click N times (up to 35) to set max temp to 30+N, stop
Flashing shows original temp -> brief pause -> flashing shows new temp
1 click to turn off
Enjoy
I’m not sure if I follow correctly, the original IF25 had 2x2700K SST-20 and 2x6500K SST-20 with tint ramping, but does the IF25A have 4x4000K SST-20? Is the tint ramping function gone? I wish it had 2x2700K and 2x4000K instead with tint ramping.
After taking a few hours this afternoon I finally took my tutorials (thanks again Funtastic, your links were SUPER helpful). I reset the temp sensor which several users have mentioned is coming from the factory way off. I didn’t wait for mine to count it out though, I just reset it along with the thermal limit of 60 Celsius. I am wondering if I should have gone for 55, but we’ll see.
One thing that seemed to not work though was the upper limit for smooth ramping. I’m not 100% sure, but it seems that it was coming on at full turbo even though I chose the TWO (2) click limit. I also wonder if double clicking (for turbo) in smooth ramping ONLY goes up to the “set” limit. After I tried twice to set the limit a tad lower, it didn’t seem to work AND when I double clicked for turbo- it didn’t increase in brightness.
Because this light heats up so fast, I’m looking for the brightest setting it will run at (in smooth ramping) without getting ridiculously hot. I’m estimating that to be about 75-80% of it’s full turbo output after four times out with the light. The idea is to get smooth ramping set for a good every day use brightness being the top limit… BUT still be able to double click UP for turbo as needed.
I guess I have more work to do but one last thought is that although this color is REALLY nice (at 4k) when running it towards the top of it’s output capability, I have a harder time seeing even close in things with it at lower levels. I’ll have a 6.5k IF25a here in a month or so and really be able to compare the two. Several times I’ve though these four LEDs in a slightly larger head (a little more mass and deeper heat sinks) would be killer. The C8F would be too heavy for what I am imagining, but something in between would let you run these LEDs full out without the instant heat. But hey… maybe there are five lights out there already that fit the bill and it’s an afterthought on a HOT July night. Come winter, I’ll probably be GLAD it’s a little hand heater
After further efforts, I realized the range of clicks is well interpolated. I had to click DOWN 40 clicks to get my ramp MAX to a level where it’s plenty hot still, but I can hold it in the bare hand. And YES… turbo is working now when I double click from ramping!
I am VERY impressed by the light’s output on turbo. But it’s not a realistic option for more than about ONE MINUTE without a glove. Even where I have it running now at about 65-70% of turbo (estimated, and this is 40 clicks DOWN from the max ceiling setting), I hope it’s bright enough for outdoor woods out to 50 yards or so.
I would love MORE heatsinks and would give up a few ounces and a slightly longer (or wider) head to tame the heat just a tad bit. I’m still sure it will make a great winter light for hunting and such as it is, but in July in Kansas it’s really too hot to use much above 60% output due to the heat in the hand factor.
Anyway… Anduril and this IF25a ARE 100% working as expected, I just didn’t expect the heat which is manageable, but a factor if you aren’t comfortable with holding very warm things.
I received my 4000K version today. The box didn’t contain a manual. Mine shipped May 19 from sofirnlight so it was probably one of the first batch or so. I set ramp floor to 10/150 and ramp ceiling to 100/150, and it still gets warm fast at ramp ceiling but not hot. After running the flashlight under cold water the temp sensor read 36C, so I recalibrated it to 25C. I don’t have any charged batteries that can really drive this thing on Turbo, so I haven’t tried running it really hot yet. The light won’t work with flat top laptop cells but works fine with Sofirn button top cells, due to the flat contact in the head.
The head has good machining but the body and tailcap have a lot of sharp edges. I found the body tube was impossible to remove from the head, anyone else’s light like that?
Tint at similar brightness is generally more yellow than my SC31B with 25deg TIR, which uses the same emitter. At higher brightness though, the tint approaches and surpasses the SC31B in rosiness. I’ve heard that the SST-20 gets less green at higher currents. As far as I know the SC31B uses PWM+FET so current stays pretty constant throughout its modes, so the IF25A uses something different. I decided to measure output at different voltages with my phone, so big margins of error:
3000mAh Sofirn cell @ 4.1V:
Some ramping level: 85 lux
Turbo: 1056 lux
2200mAh Sofirn cell @ 3.4V:
Same ramping level: 90 lux
Turbo: 315 lux
As my first Anduril light the UI takes some getting used to, but basic operation isn’t too complicated. I wish there was a way to access moon discretely from ramp floor, and I wish single click from turbo went into the previous state instead of off, but otherwise no complaints.
Uhm… I have used flat-tops in mine fine. The front contact IS wide, but I thought it a design choice to make the light smaller (shorter). Both a Sofirn brand 4000mAh and Molicel 4200mAh flat tops fit and run fine in my IF25a.
Also, given this light runs so hot, and running it on turbo for long isn’t a proposition 99% of the time… I now wonder if a higher capacity battery might be a better fit. The Molicel is a VERY high drain battery and it does a great job, BUT the Sofirn 4000mAh 21700 “heats it up” just as fast The difference in output on turbo probably isn’t 5% or so (if that… I want to “feel like” its brighter because the Molicel is a 35A drain battery!).
Anywho… the point is that without a glove, I’m not running this light high enough to benefit from a high drain battery like the Molicel. The Sofirn 4000mAh battery runs it just as good with the (possible) exception of a touch more output on turbo with the Molicel. But after that 30 second show… maybe a 5000mAh medium drain battery like the Samsung 50e (5000mAh capacity with 10A drain) 21700 would be a better fit as it wouldn’t heat up as fast and would increase run time by about 20% or so.
On that note; I HAVE a Sofirn 4800mAh 21700 I’ll probably try next. I doubt it would heat up any faster (passing it’s thermal/current rating) than the light itself. So that battery paired with the IF25a MIGHT just make a great “reciprocally regulating” pairing together