[Postponed] Sofirn SP10R - deep red AA/14500 EDC

What's the matter with SOS in a red light? Actually, SOS and maybe Beacon are the only modes that make sense to me. But, it's not up to me and as stated in the OP this is a draft UI, so suggestions are always appreciated.

That would be inconsistent with any of the other Sofirn flashlight UIs. One click from Turbo always gets you back to the previous (standard) mode, if I recall correctly. So far, I did not receive or see any significant feedback that this behaviour should really be changed. I remember that we had a brief discussion about this on Wurkkos's new HD20 headlamp thread. If the majority here wants this to be changed, I will be glad to discuss it with Sofirn.

Agreed, thanks. I will update the draft UI.

I understand that the entire strobe modes are open for discussion. IMHO, I could live without any strobe modes but it seems I underestimated the demand for these modes. So, maybe let's just use the classic option of all three modes (Buzzing Strobe - SOS - Beacon).

Anyway, OP is updated accordingly.

Fortunately, I have no use case for another deep red light. Might be interested nontheless if this one has much more power.

Depends on what you expect as "much more". ;-) If you want it reeeaaally bright and deep red, then Hank's Noctigon KR4 or Emisar D4v2 with 4x SST20-DR might be the right thing.

Nah, since I have no real use, it must be inexpensive :wink: .

Much more power = notably brighter. I know the battery format is very limiting.

Actually, I was rather impressed with the maximum brightness of XP-E2 photo red in C01R. Let's see what Sofirn can squeeze out of an SST20-DR using the SP10S driver (with some adjustments, of course).

The firefly in my SP10S is absurdly low. But I guess that the modes will be made again for this version :slight_smile:

Itā€™s just retarded to stick SOS into every light ever made, even AA- and AAA lights. Itā€™s like walking around with a parachute strapped to your back all the time, because ā€œyou never know when you might need itā€. :confounded:

Interested for the LED :slight_smile:

I doubt Iā€™d use SOS and strobe modes.

Different blink intervals and intensities may be useful when using this red light with a diffuser as a Rear Light on a bicycle. Too complicated?

I would one with Ramping UI and E21A

Not even remotely. I'm open for all kinds of suggestions in order to get SP10R as good as it gets. Can you please elaborate what kind of blink intervalls were useful?

It seems there are two opinions here: Those who more or less want to get rid of any strobe modes and those who have very precise ideas what strobe modes are good for a (deep red) EDC light. One thing in life is for sure: You can't please everyone. For now, I will leave things as they were ever since, i.e. triple click will get you those three classic strobes ("angry buzz", S-O-S and Beacon mode). I look forward to seeing further feedback.

Agreed but unfortunately, that's not gonna happen in this thread. ;-)

Maybe have two mode groups - one with only steady mode and one with only blinky modes?

Just out of curiosity as you said "Pass."... (please don't take any offence)

So, just in case SP10R had a (hidden) SOS strobe mode, that would be a reason for you to not buy the light? IMHO, if we once get to the point to decide whether SP10R used strobe modes or not without having any clear majority, I'd rather stick to the plan to have these modes hidden somewhere for those who really need them or just want them.

Actually, that could make things too complicated both for Sofirn and for customers.

Currently, I'm torn between those three options...

  1. No strobes at all
  2. Classic strobes via triple click (buzzing - SOS - Beacon)
  3. Specially BLF-designed strobes (e.g. 20Hz bike strobe, ... )

OK :slight_smile:
I wish smoother knurling for their lights,it have better appeal instead of rough

Nah, no offense. Call me names, question my parentage, I donā€™t care, as itā€™s all just 1s and 0sā€¦

It would have to be really hidden. If I can get to it even accidentally, itā€™s going to annoy me. And Iā€™m all SOSed out. Thatā€™s got to be the most annoying blinky mode there is. Maybe if youā€™re stranded after an avalanche, then youā€™d need SOS mode, but thereā€™s no normal need for it. Worse, I associate SOS mode with craplights like you see advertised on teevee by former pilots.

So yeah, really hidden, as in buried deep where you couldnā€™t find it even if you tried. Okay, wishful thinking, but at least if you had to go into turbo, then doubleclick to get to blinkies (starting with strobe, I imagine), then another doubleclick to get to SOS, maybe.

But if itā€™s as easy as a tripleclick, (between doubleclick for strobe and quadclick for lockout), guaranteed Iā€™ll eventually hit it by accident and get pissed off. No, seriously, Iā€™m so SOSed out itā€™s not funny, it would piss me off. Iā€™m just sick of that mode being stuffed into flooders and throwers and lanterns and AAA lights and 10,000lm lights and pistol lights and every light in creation. Ugh. :confounded:

I discovered that Skilhunt (at least in the M200) has a ā€œstickyā€ blinky mode. Defaults to strobe, but if you set it to beacon then go back to normal modes, next time you go into blinky mode itā€™ll be beacon, not strobe. That at least can be handy.

But in general, I donā€™t think thereā€™s anything wrong with a light that has one dedicated purpose, and doesnā€™t try to do 100 things. So a red light that has firefly/low/high would be quite enough for me. Donā€™t want strobes, SOSes, lightning modes, other idiocy that youā€™d never ever ever used with any normal red light.

As long as itā€™s a parachute that doesnā€™t weigh anything or take up any extra space, and most importantly, does not deploy when I donā€™t want it to, I donā€™t see a problem.

Based on the reported tailcap current, it seems like the low forward voltage meant the driver is able to push a lot of current through the LED for a AAA light. In terms of battery performance, it might have been better to dial it back a bit. However, if the same applies to an SST-20 in the SP10S body, it should also be pretty impressive for a deep red light.

You sure itā€™s the SP10S and not SP10B? Firefly on my S is 0.5 lm, B is less than 0.1 lm (basically only useful for seeing as far as your nose).

A slow blink for being seen: flash on for about 300ms and then off for 1s with around 50 lumens to avoid blinding drivers and other rosd/path users.

A pulse blink for really being noticed: flash on for 300ms and off 300ms two times at 50 lumens and then the third time flash on for 300ms and off for 300ms at 100 lumens.

Iā€™m not sure on the exact timing but I hope that gives some perspective.