just found this thread, it released last year at 80 usd, now its 90…will it ever go back down? lol
and im assuming 21700 is a much better battery for it than 18650?
Yea, it's a bit pricey with no offered discounts but it's got some pricey parts:
- USB-C charging built in to the battery carrier - because it's separate, maybe worth $10 extra
- large SS bezel - BG charges big bucks for large SS bezels for their lights (~ $9 for FT03), so another $10 there
- driver - pretty special with PWM-less current regulation and FET (another $10-$15 extra), plus multi-color AUX LED support using the more advanced 1634 MCU
do u know if it supports USB C-C PD charging?
Dunno what that means - does TK mention it in the OP review?
you know how lights like sofirn sc31 pro has USB-A to USB-C charging cable? i heard most flashlights with USB-C port only allows this type of charging, and does not allow USB-C to USB-C cable, which given the right cable and wall adaptor/power bank, can use PD (Power delivery), and charge things up super fast.
he did not mention it in the “review”, well technically he does, but he doesn’t know:
Plus, for what it’s worth it appears Hank has upgraded the W1 and W2 emitters recently! I don’t know if that’s worth extra ching, but I know it has very recently tipped me over the edge on wether to buy the K1 with a Osram emitter! Also, the (new?) convoy L21a with CULPM1 goes for ~$45… I think comparing the K1 to that light shows the value of the K1 @ $90… Well really they’re both good values, but still…
wait, i havent looked into the L21a, but if you say comparing that to k1, it shows value of k1 at 90, then doesnt that mean L21a quality/performance isnt worth the 45 price point? lol
Yea, those OSRAM's are more $$$. I hope he tuned up the amps if the new LED's can take more amps. The original W1 K1 was set to 4.9 amps max.
For the USB-C issue, I don't have a K1 with me now but I should test it out on a USB-C connector. Assuming I could just use a USB-C/USB-C cable to a tablet or laptop.
Shame that Hank's listing on the K1 is leaving out so much of the spec's on the K1, because they are "pro" specs, not cons, like PWM-less regulation. It probably has the proper USB-C support but it's just not listed.
where can we reach hank for these kind of questions? besides straight up email
I use his "contact" email address on his site and he's been pretty good to get back to me, may take a day or two. Actually I emailed him last night on couple things requested but he did not respond yet.
You could also try posting to his thread - seems to monitor it regularly and reply on it - https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/57210/2205
Yea by the time i ended my above ^ thought I realized it was not really clear. I meant to say that - for $45 the convoy (Seems, i dont own it) like a good value because of the emitter, specially designed driver (8amps), nice styling, and acclaimed reputation. The K1 @ $90 (Seems, i dont own it) like a good value because of large / unihead host (more difficult machining feat), specially designed driver, on board charging, “extra’s” like SS bezel that TomE mentioned, Anduril/completely customizable UI, and Noctigon’s acclaimed reputation of being High End and well thought out. In my mind, i would always expect a Noctigon to be at a higher price point then a convoy because of the two companies placement in the market, the customer base they’re aiming at, R&D, and other factors i will probably never understand about flashlights 
oh ok thanks, ill try the thread first, maybe other people have that answer too
I was hoping that too, about the driver and max amps for the new osrams… I see Hank updated the KCD on the W2.2, but not the lumens… (fingers crossed).
Ok, just tested out the K1 and a few other lights on USB C<->C, and USB C<->A compatibility, results:
K1: Both
FT03 Mini SST-40: Both
FT03 Mini W1: Both
FT03: only C<->A
MF01 Mini: only C<->A
SP36: only C<->A
SP33 V3: only C<->A
HK04: only C<->A
NA40: only C<->A
IF25A: only C<->A
For the C<->C, I used a USB-C wall adapter. For the C<->A, I used a USB type A wall adapter.
Didn't test amps, so not sure it proves the C<->C lights charge at higher amps or not. The wall adapter rating is 3 amps at 5 volts.
Conclusion: So the better (newer?) lights seem to work properly. Not surprised the Astrolux and Sofirn lights did not work - little older models, lower budget lights.
TK is female btw... 
oh my bad, lol
man i didnt even know there was a ft03 mini! i already ordered the ft03…i hope the mini performance is a lot worse so i dont regret my decision lol
The mini w/SST-40 is a great light, but the FT03 is also a great deal. The mini w/SST-40 or XHP50.2 is a totally different driver from the Mini NM1. The SST-40 and XHP50.2 version has color AUX LED's in the reflector around the main LED - pretty cool.
All FT03 models here. Ooops! Forgot this is the K1 thread -- of course they don't compare to the quality and value of the K1
So i dont really understand this… or what i mean is, what does A~~C mean, versus C~~>C ? I have the hk04 (sst40 version, bought 2 months ago), and i plug in my usb-c cable to it which is plugged into a QC3.0 block wall charger and it charges. I never pay enough attention to notice if it charges “quickly” or not, but it charges all the same. i have seen it before on blf before where people mention that something is not “true usb-c” and that it is usb-a to c. What does this mean?
EDIT: Thank You TomE for doing the tests and giving these results!
I think i just realized the answer to my question… and my confusion came from lack of intelligence and meager understanding of basic electrical technology … correct me if im wrong, but a true usb-c would have the usb-c connection on the wall block as well? what made me realize this was re-reading TomE’s OP-
…“For the C<C, I used a USB-C wall adapter. For the C<>A, I used a USB type A wall adapter. ”
and remembering ive seen wall blocks (very sledomly) with the usb-c plug in on them.
Nevermind…
this is what usb a-c looks like, it means one end has a usb-a header, the other end has usb-c header, true usb-c would have usb-c on both ends of the cable. and i think only for true usb-c cables, it is possible to have technology like PD (power delivery) to charge things superfast. i found this link just off of a quick google search, havent read through it yet, theres probably other sites that explain it better, but thats the general gist
