Xtar Improvements/Suggestions

Commercial Sellers' Spot
1

I have posted this in the commercial section because I honestly did not know where to post it.

It has become well know that BLF has ideas, and ideas that work. Due to this we are starting to attract more and more factory reps to our forum and that is actually a good thing for all of us. One of my latest conversations was with our Xtar rep (Hazel), regarding increasing Xtar sales and idea development. Speaking for myself, I am more than willing to speak with any manufacturer or vendor that wants to listen and try.

I have a few Xtar products and I like them. I think their service and warranty is good - very much unlike some manufacturers that tell you to find a tall cliff.

Because of the language barrier I offered to make this post on Hazel's behalf.

This is Xtar's product page: http://www.xtarlight.com/05-chanpin/p-001.asp

What is being sought are two things:

  1. What could be done to improve the current line up of Xtar products? (Either from description or experience)
  2. Is there any product that is not there that someone would like to see become reality?

Who knows...maybe we can get a nice group buy going ;)

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Suggestions so far:

  • CW and NW tint options
  • Increase PWM on flashlights to higher frequency
  • Make clone of Jacob A60
  • Better mode spacing
  • Possibly ability to select 7 modes or 4 modes (like ToyKeeper did on BLF A6)
  • Make some chargers 4.35 capable
  • Make some chargers capable to also charge 10440 (I am leaving out the Nihm because I do not think that is logistically possible in an MC01)
  • Include 5V 2.1A standard wall adapter for new VC4 and VC2 Plus
  • Add Micro USB input chargers
  • Improved labeling on chargers
  • Add memory for last mode on chargers
2

1. Website improvements.

  • The website is slow to load. Meaning it’s got too much stuff trying to download. Webmaster needs to seriously look at simplifying whatever is slowing the site down.
  • The website is much too dark. Simply lightening up the background would improve it. And it really begs for color splashes and accents to add some sensory appeal.
  • The product images are much too small. They need to be at least double in size to attract customers’ attention. (I think part of the reason is that the display seems to be set to a default resolution of VGA. It needs to automatically adjust to the user’s screen width, like the BLF website.)

2. Chargers

  • Inexpensive universal charger needed (similar to MC1 and MC2, but capable of charging NiMH batteries, too).
  • Add .2A or 0.25A charge rate to chargers (such as the MC1, MC2, VP2, and VC4) for charging smaller cells.
  • Add 4.35V charging capability to some of the chargers.

3. Flashlights

  • Need more tint options. None of your lights have a choice of tints. At least some of the flashlights need multiple tint options.
  • There is a significant void in the world of flashlights left by the absence of the Jacob A60, I’d suggest Xtar work on something to fill that void. (Perhaps work with BLF to make a special edition that would literally blow the competition out of the water.)
3

I tried that, talked with Kara from Xtar, exchanged bunch of emails, my idea was to make WK41 and WK42 better flashlights with new emitters and updated firmware. Bottom line is, there is nothing they can do with “ready to ship” products that exited production line, returning them back to production even just for emitter replacement is just not economically feasible so she forwarded my recommendations to development team so they could think about it before next mass production batch, yes I did advise NW XP-L if someone is wondering :slight_smile:

After that I suggested a group buy for their current stock of WK41 and WK42 with XM-L inside and they were happy to do that, idea was to gouge the interest and asses what price could be offered, general agreement was something about 15$ per light for all customers. Unfortunately that idea burned in flames gloriously, folks thought that I (personally) am selling second hand lights and not old stock from Xtar warehouse, offered ridiculously low prices like 10$ - 15$ for both lights, probably expected to get them for free, su I advised Xtar to forget about BLF and go to ebay and amazon with that “Old stock sale” that I had in mind which they did and I think it was successful except it was only for US market, everyone else could just watch and cry…

So let’s hope that next batch of WK41 and WK42 will be with XP-L and with short hold to power off…

4

Personally I am not against the idea of selling old stock off to BLF-members. You just have to make people aware of the fact it is not customized to their specific wishes. I envy fellow BLF-members for their patience in guiding and channelling group-buys. The risc is that, when people finally seeme to have reached some sort of agreement, the opportunity is gone (like the “good” XM-L2 in the BLF SE X6). I am certainly not a master-modder myself, but I can imagine that there are some XTAR old-stock lights that make fine $10 hosts.

5

I have purchased over a thousand dollar worth of XTAR chargers this year. I really hope that their hardware design is more robust and able to withstand daily charging for minimum one year without single issue.

Please provide an option to include 5V 2.1A standard wall adapter for your new VC4 and VC2 Plus.

6

A VC4 with normal Micro USB input so you can use a regular micro USB cable, I don't like the extra cable. Dual micro USB would even be better: 1A charging for all ports when the second port is connected.

7

I have their H3 Warrior and it would make it a nice flashlight is they improve the mode spacing and the rubber mount. NW emitter would be nice too, but I can live with CW as well, if it has proper mode spacing. Something like 1-20-100-300-1000lm instead of 1-70-200-400-1000lm would be much better.

8

The labeling next to the indicator LEDs might be more legible with a contrasting color on the raised lettering. Almost impossible to see what current my MC0 is set to.

9

Thank you for the input so far.

Sirius9 - I understand what you are saying. Unfortunately the sometimes BLF community does not understand certain things but I also remember that post and the intent was not made that clear either. Not meant to insult anybody so please do not take it that way. If I recall many started making ridiculous offers too. It definitely would not be feasible for Xtar to send lights back into production nor to strip them down.

Henk4u2 - Considering that Xtar is a flashlight manufacturer I do not think that we are going to start seeing them offer hosts.

Suggestions so far:

  • CW and NW tint options
  • Make clone of Jacob A60
  • Make some chargers 4.35 capable
  • Make some chargers capable to also charge 10440 (I am leaving out the Nihm because I do not think that is logistically possible in an MC01)
  • Include 5V 2.1A standard wall adapter for new VC4 and VC2 Plus
  • Add Micro USB input chargers
  • Improved labeling on chargers
10

I agree they won’t start selling hosts. But I am not in the Vinh leage of modders. So I would have less inhibitions using a $10 old-stock flashlight as a host (spare parts included) than I would have (ab)using a $40+ flashlight.

11

My intent here is to try and eliminate some language barriers. My hope is that we (BLF) can influence improving current products or development of new products. My reasoning is that Xtar IS a company that is worth putting some time into.

What cannot happen is changes made to "already manufactured" products.

My suggestions have been to bring back the H1 (AA/14500) headlamps, and even the H2 (16340), as well as make the headlamps output more flood (at least one of them) and lastly to change the UI. At the same time we all must remember that some of our wishes cannot come true UNLESS there is real belief that thousands of something will sell because it just is not smart business otherwise and my headlamp wishes just may not be possible.

12

Agreed! I truly think that the community may have fumbled when Sirius9 tried to get us the WK41 and 42. Looking at those lights (via pics), and knowing the H2 and H3 headlamps....I think those could have been very feasible to mod if one so desired.. Not everything has to have the latest emitter. Less than 1/2 the price of the Nitecore when they were on a deal and the same choices of AA/14500 or CR123/16340...and they definitely would have been good for the "non Li-ion" crowd.

I am fairly certain that a Christmas buy could be put together for the Wk42 (I do not know about the Wk41 but maybe).

13

Just one wish.

MEMORY MODE!: I would love to have chargers remember the last used charging mode. A bit annoying to cycle 0.25, 0.5 to 1A each time.

14

Better low mode spacing on their high lumen flashlights. It’s great they are putting moonlights in their lights, but they need a mode or two in there between .5 lumens and 70 lumens. A nice 20-30 lumen mode comes to mind. And possibly 5-7 lumens.

15

I like several modes to find the one that is "right" for the need but i am afraid that as many that would like that many would not.

What would be nice is if they could incorporate the choice of 7 modes and possibly 4 modes like TK did.

16

The only "new light" suggestion has been something like the Jacob A60. Just curious, because I never followed the A60, what was the usual selling price for one of those...anybody?

Would anybody be interested in a group buy of the Wk41 or Wk42?

17

I didn’t like the WK41 much because of the low frequency PWM on all modes but high- so I gave it to my brother. They were blowing them out for $15 ish about a month ago on their eBay store.

18

Thanks for starting this bugsy36. Xtar had a very fruitful thread asking for suggestions for their chargers two years ago, and I think that thread added quite a lot to where they are now (plus HKJ's reviews of course). This could be the beginning of another developement boost for them.

I would love to see the 1xAA/14500 headlamp back, but in neutral or even warm tint and high CRI (does Xtar do Nichia's?). IMO for a headlamp good tint is even more important than for flashlights. Being able to use AA alkalines is a must!

Chargers

About chargers in general, the chinese seem to have the misconception that chargers are made simple by reducing the number of buttons, this is not true! The Xtar VP4 is a great charger and has only one button . I love my Opus BC3100, but I often charge at a different current than I desire because setting the current is a pain: I have to toggle three different buttons to get it done, in the meantime I have set the mode to discharge by accident !! In short: I hate toggling!

1) What I would like to see (and if it is there no one will want different) is chargers with for each bay a series of buttons, at least: one for setting current, one for setting the charge mode.

2)The same for the display: no toggles there, for each bay just all information displayed at all times: set charge current, present charge current, present voltage, estimated time for end of charge.

3)As for the display backlight: please no automatic switch-off (it is not that it is eating lots of energy) , or make it at least several minutes (another great annoyance about the Opus, the display backlight turns off when I'm still watching it), why not a small on-off button next to the display?

4)A wide selection of charge currents, 250mA, 500mA, 1A, (+2A for chargers with mains input), for each bay independent.

5)if the power comes from micro-USB, no socket soldered onto the circuit board, sooner or later it will break!

I have enough chargers, but with these improvements I will buy a new one without hesitation.

19

- a charger similar to the Lii 100 would be good. 1 bay, multi-chemistry, but smaller

- 4x2A charger with new/updated software and nice display, maybe even PC link

- more discharge functionalities across the brand

20

Emitter colors as has been stated before. NW definitely in all lights, WW option in headlamps… Up close work and a WW tint like 7A or so makes a world of difference. If it can be 80+ CRI, that’s a plus too. Perhaps they can look at the high CRI Osram Olson SSL series in 3000-5000K?

UI, simpler the better with the logarithmic mode spacing like the BLF A6 has…

Lower parasitic drain on the e-switch drivers…