I see in the OP mentioned: glass lens, while a plastic lens may be a better idea considering the 120mm diameter, light transmittance is the same, sometimes even better than glass, and the light will be much less vulnerable and more lightweight.
I’m not sure about plastic being not as flat as glass: I did not notice it yet, but that may affect the beam and throw somewhat.
I see in the OP mentioned: glass lens, while a plastic lens may be a better idea considering the 120mm diameter, light transmittance is the same, sometimes even better than glass, and the light will be much less vulnerable and more lightweight.
I’m not sure about plastic being not as flat as glass: I did not notice it yet, but that may affect the beam and throw somewhat.
Price and throw should be the main objectives. I have no idea which one is cheaper, but I presume the plastic is. Novelty materials should not be primary goal in my honest opinion.
My input:
The host design from djozz looks very innovative and would be very nice (if made of aluminum).
Will the reflector be made of aluminum or plastic?
Plastic reflectors tend to be rather imprecise compared to ones made out of metal. Metal reflectors themselves can have varying precision, but generally they tend to work.
The precision is important if one wants to combine a large reflector with a very small led. This is why reflectors for large searchlights with xenon arc lamps (very, very small point of light in the arc) are so expensive – they are very precise.
If the reflector is made out of plastic I would recommend using a larger LED like a de-domed Luminus SST-90 (P-Bin @ 15A) oder CBT-140 (factory de-domed, very expensive, inefficient, but 4000-6000 lumens from 14mm^2 is very nice). A de-domed Nichia144A series or de-domed Cree XHP-50 would be more modern and efficient (but with donut-hole).
If the reflector is made out of of metal the Cree XHP-35 HI, XP-L HI, de-domed XP-G2 and Osram Black Flat are all nice options. The Osram Black Flat has the absolute highest luminance, is readily available, has a nice tint and doesn’t need to be de-domed. It’s only problem is that it has a very small 1mm^2 DIE, half the size of a de-domed XP-G2.
The XP-G2 would need to be the old version with small DIE in the S2 Bin. This is very hard to find, especially in larger quantities. It might also have an ugly tint after de-doming.
The XHP-35 HI is probably the best compromise for extreme throw and still some lumens.
Super simple design. 130 mm head. 50 mm battery tube (4s2p setup)
That i the best design in my opinion.
Regards Xandre
Is the heatsink overly spreader to the front of the head? Based on the experience owning the new maxtoch 2X, the fins on the outer front of the reflector does not improve much to the heatsink. Acebeam K60, K70 both heat up very slowly at the front and the fins seem not helping much also. Why not follow the 2X to minimise the head diameter:)
Would much prefer if this light had a battery carrier. Some of use will want to convert to 4P or 4S (Me!).
Actually, I think it would be best if this was just a Host. Then we all use our own drivers and emitters or have someone build one to their personal configuration.
Can you also poll on Host vs Whole Light. Something like:
Plunger Host
Plunger Whole Light
Box Host
Box Whole Light
etc
A host could be developed so much faster than a whole light that would probably have a driver and maybe an emitter I don't want. For example, I want 4S cells and buck driver to max drive the emitter of my choice. Some here want big emitter. Some want small die. Some prefer parallel cells for safety, etc.
No one told me this was already announced and had a thread lol.
Well I just skimmed the last 6 pages for some interesting talking points, so forgive me if I missed anything.
I was doing some testing last night with various lights. I would hold them like a lantern (aka, the box style) and then light a flashlight at eye level.
When held at waist level the shadows get very bad and in many cases it is almost impossible to see what you are looking at. Good in open flat areas but not good int he woods or places with optical.
When held at eye level it was much easier to see things at range. I also noticed that it was easier to point the light at what I wanted with it held “overhand”.
So my vote for a thrower goes to the classic style.
Now I think a flooder / monster lumen version would work amazing in the box style. You could mount a fan on the back of it and have virtually unlimited heat shedding ability. You could run 4-6x XHP70’s wide open without overheating I bet for a grand total of 20k+ lumens. I would totally get behind this.
—
Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. --Herbert Spencer , English Philosopher (1820-1903)
A whole light gives more control over a manufacturer than a host, they have to deliver a working flashlight so they have to have the details right. And a whole light also implies the developement or adaptation of a driver, which for simple folks like saves a lot of trouble making/fitting one.
Yes I understand the question
Yet I want to pursue a whole light.
Why?
So all can use it.
Then it has Narsil, so many options people just dive into settings to set it up how they want.
With a tail switch and a side switch and driver retainer ring without any glue this too should be nice to mod.
I think it could be a lot easier to find a manufacturer for a complete light then a host.
I really hope (yeah hope since we started polls so much sooner in the process we will have to see what will be chosen) it will be a XHP35hi
And well with a LED like that in a reflector like this we should get such a nice beam that stock should make for a dream light.
But writing this, why don’t we indeed poll about host or not
First poll shape
Second poll name
Third host/complete
Fourth beam shape (pencil, fat panvil (marker) or a little more floody (TN16))
OK?
Makes since. Just hoping this light will have configurability in the design. A big light like this will have serious heat sinking. Some will want want do drive the emitter to the max. Others at a consistent output for extended periods. That calls for 4S (with 2P and 2P as an option) and buck regulation in my book. We are talking serious thrower here. Something that would be used in search and rescue. Like searching a mountain side. Lots of area to scan.
I vote for XHP35-HI marker beam and the only head with handle style light with four 18650-s in series in the head around or under the reflector. The bottom battery tray will give it a good platform to stand on. And aluminum reflector, and UCLp plastic AR coated lens.
2) The maximum throw way: big reflector small die led (think XP-L HI), can be driven with two or even one battery, heatsinking is very modest.
This can be made very compact, the size is the reflector and not much more, and be featherweight. The throw with a 120mm reflector can be up to 1.5 Mcd. It is an extreme pencil beam!
Probably also the cheapest variant.
3×18650 in parallel would result in a comfortable tube diameter, sufficient runtime and current.
Additionally a tube extension for further mods.
I see in the OP mentioned: glass lens, while a plastic lens may be a better idea considering the 120mm diameter, light transmittance is the same, sometimes even better than glass, and the light will be much less vulnerable and more lightweight.
I’m not sure about plastic being not as flat as glass: I did not notice it yet, but that may affect the beam and throw somewhat.
Perhaps a large order of UCLp lens from flashlightlens.com? The ones Dale always recommends. I’d love to see one in a killer BLF light.
one reason for the 4× 18650 is so you don’t get that ugly plunger look, by having the larger grip it gives the light a more balanced look.
By making it longer with 2 cells long, it also helps balance the light from both a weight and visual perspective.
Plus from Dales testing the XHP35 basically matches the XP-L HI in maximum throw with almost twice the lumens and a large hotspot. With this in mind I am 100% in favor of a XHP35 based light. There also has to be a reason all the other monster throwers are using the XHP35, it costs twice as much as the XP-L afterall.
—
Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. --Herbert Spencer , English Philosopher (1820-1903)
one reason for the 4× 18650 is so you don’t get that ugly plunger look, by having the larger grip it gives the light a more balanced look.
By making it longer with 2 cells long, it also helps balance the light from both a weight and visual perspective.
Plus from Dales testing the XHP35 basically matches the XP-L HI in maximum throw with almost twice the lumens and a large hotspot. With this in mind I am 100% in favor of a XHP35 based light. There also has to be a reason all the other monster throwers are using the XHP35, it costs twice as much as the XP-L afterall.
Ditto.
An XPL-HI pencil beam ultimate thrower is really neat and all, but its usefulness is almost zero. Apart from showing off your lightsaber what can you do with that tight of a beam? It would be similar to the Jacob A60, just proportionally larger.
XHP-35 HI gives you long throw with a larger hotspot and more output which is far more useful in my experience.
Please add me to the interested list.
I see in the OP mentioned: glass lens, while a plastic lens may be a better idea considering the 120mm diameter, light transmittance is the same, sometimes even better than glass, and the light will be much less vulnerable and more lightweight.
I’m not sure about plastic being not as flat as glass: I did not notice it yet, but that may affect the beam and throw somewhat.
djozz tests translucent S2+ gaskets available for free
me too. sounds fun
I am interested depending on price
BLF Trébuchet
Sorry for my bad English (gogole transtorla)
Price and throw should be the main objectives. I have no idea which one is cheaper, but I presume the plastic is. Novelty materials should not be primary goal in my honest opinion.
Count me in please.
My name proposition would be BLF UT (Ultra Thrower).
Best regards Tom
My input:
The host design from djozz looks very innovative and would be very nice (if made of aluminum).
Will the reflector be made of aluminum or plastic?
Plastic reflectors tend to be rather imprecise compared to ones made out of metal. Metal reflectors themselves can have varying precision, but generally they tend to work.
The precision is important if one wants to combine a large reflector with a very small led. This is why reflectors for large searchlights with xenon arc lamps (very, very small point of light in the arc) are so expensive – they are very precise.
If the reflector is made out of plastic I would recommend using a larger LED like a de-domed Luminus SST-90 (P-Bin @ 15A) oder CBT-140 (factory de-domed, very expensive, inefficient, but 4000-6000 lumens from 14mm^2 is very nice). A de-domed Nichia144A series or de-domed Cree XHP-50 would be more modern and efficient (but with donut-hole).
If the reflector is made out of of metal the Cree XHP-35 HI, XP-L HI, de-domed XP-G2 and Osram Black Flat are all nice options. The Osram Black Flat has the absolute highest luminance, is readily available, has a nice tint and doesn’t need to be de-domed. It’s only problem is that it has a very small 1mm^2 DIE, half the size of a de-domed XP-G2.
The XP-G2 would need to be the old version with small DIE in the S2 Bin. This is very hard to find, especially in larger quantities. It might also have an ugly tint after de-doming.
The XHP-35 HI is probably the best compromise for extreme throw and still some lumens.
Project Excalibur - Next Generation LED Thrower (UPDATE 2018-01-15: 1.7Mcd)
Portable Thrower Comparison
I would be in for 1 depending on price and if it can make it for Christmas 2020
I’m in for a box style pencil beam fun toy with no practical use
I am interested and in for one.
Good luck with the design, looking forward to follow this evolution.
I vote traditional flashlight shape with a 4-cell carrier. So really TN42 shape with a little bit bigger head.
I vote for XP-L HI or XHP35 HI
I vote for a weapon-related name, like “Machete” or “Howitzer” or “Katana” or my favorite: “Gladius”
My Favorite Modded Lights: X6R, S8 , X2R , M6, SP03
Major Projects: Illuminated Tailcap, TripleDown/TripleStack Driver
Count me in as interested. Hey we call it Goliath!
Words can be broken,
so can bones.
Definitely interested!
Add me.
2S2P 4×18650 (2S4P 8×18350) cell with optional 18650 extender (see TK75).
XHP 35 overloaded turbo -> 1 Mcd.
Battery block and head with handle and active cooling?
WANTED Zebralights. My flashlights
That i the best design in my opinion.
Regards Xandre
Is the heatsink overly spreader to the front of the head? Based on the experience owning the new maxtoch 2X, the fins on the outer front of the reflector does not improve much to the heatsink. Acebeam K60, K70 both heat up very slowly at the front and the fins seem not helping much also. Why not follow the 2X to minimise the head diameter:)
CWK
Please add me to the list.
Would much prefer if this light had a battery carrier. Some of use will want to convert to 4P or 4S (Me!).
Actually, I think it would be best if this was just a Host. Then we all use our own drivers and emitters or have someone build one to their personal configuration.
Will start a poll about shape/form factor tonight
Lol and add all the names to the post now in use for it for another poll.
It is done when it is done
How my BLF Specials generally work, please read before asking Qs
The Q8, Exciting a groupbuy for a Premium BLF special high lumens soda can light!
The GT, A BLF special GIGA thrower
The FW3A, a TLF BLF special small, elegant, powerful triple
Lithium Ion safety 101 important read
Sorry grammarlovers, I am a real King Typo.
Can you also poll on Host vs Whole Light. Something like:
A host could be developed so much faster than a whole light that would probably have a driver and maybe an emitter I don't want. For example, I want 4S cells and buck driver to max drive the emitter of my choice. Some here want big emitter. Some want small die. Some prefer parallel cells for safety, etc.
No one told me this was already announced and had a thread lol.
Well I just skimmed the last 6 pages for some interesting talking points, so forgive me if I missed anything.
I was doing some testing last night with various lights. I would hold them like a lantern (aka, the box style) and then light a flashlight at eye level.
When held at waist level the shadows get very bad and in many cases it is almost impossible to see what you are looking at. Good in open flat areas but not good int he woods or places with optical.
When held at eye level it was much easier to see things at range. I also noticed that it was easier to point the light at what I wanted with it held “overhand”.
So my vote for a thrower goes to the classic style.
Now I think a flooder / monster lumen version would work amazing in the box style. You could mount a fan on the back of it and have virtually unlimited heat shedding ability. You could run 4-6x XHP70’s wide open without overheating I bet for a grand total of 20k+ lumens. I would totally get behind this.
Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. --Herbert Spencer , English Philosopher (1820-1903)
Texas Avenger Driver Series
My LED Test series - XP-L2 V5 - Nichia 219C 90+ CRI - Latticebright "XM-L" - XHP35 & PWM efficiency - XHP50 - XP-L V5 - XM-L2 U2 - XP-G3 S5 - XP-L HI V2 - Oslon Square & direct comparison to Djozz tests - Nichia 319A - Nichia 219B 9080 CRI - Nichia 219C D320 - Nichia 229AT - XHP70.2 P2 - XHP50.2 J4 - Samsung LH351D
Easy comparison tool for all my LED tests
A whole light gives more control over a manufacturer than a host, they have to deliver a working flashlight so they have to have the details right. And a whole light also implies the developement or adaptation of a driver, which for simple folks like saves a lot of trouble making/fitting one.
djozz tests translucent S2+ gaskets available for free
Yes I understand the question
Yet I want to pursue a whole light.
Why?
So all can use it.
Then it has Narsil, so many options people just dive into settings to set it up how they want.
With a tail switch and a side switch and driver retainer ring without any glue this too should be nice to mod.
I think it could be a lot easier to find a manufacturer for a complete light then a host.
I really hope (yeah hope since we started polls so much sooner in the process we will have to see what will be chosen) it will be a XHP35hi
And well with a LED like that in a reflector like this we should get such a nice beam that stock should make for a dream light.
But writing this, why don’t we indeed poll about host or not
First poll shape
Second poll name
Third host/complete
Fourth beam shape (pencil, fat panvil (marker) or a little more floody (TN16))
OK?
It is done when it is done
How my BLF Specials generally work, please read before asking Qs
The Q8, Exciting a groupbuy for a Premium BLF special high lumens soda can light!
The GT, A BLF special GIGA thrower
The FW3A, a TLF BLF special small, elegant, powerful triple
Lithium Ion safety 101 important read
Sorry grammarlovers, I am a real King Typo.
^
Makes since. Just hoping this light will have configurability in the design. A big light like this will have serious heat sinking. Some will want want do drive the emitter to the max. Others at a consistent output for extended periods. That calls for 4S (with 2P and 2P as an option) and buck regulation in my book. We are talking serious thrower here. Something that would be used in search and rescue. Like searching a mountain side. Lots of area to scan.
I vote for XHP35-HI marker beam and the only head with handle style light with four 18650-s in series in the head around or under the reflector. The bottom battery tray will give it a good platform to stand on. And aluminum reflector, and UCLp plastic AR coated lens.
Reviews: Sofirn SP32A, Thorfire VG15S, Thorfire VG10S, Thorfire TG06S
Mods: Small sun T08 MT-G2, Eagle eye X6 triple XPL, Ultrafire F13 MT-G2, Convoy C8 XHP70
Big flashlight measurement and beamshot collection
3D printing stuff for flashlights
My flashlight related Instagram
I’m in for this:
Probably also the cheapest variant.3×18650 in parallel would result in a comfortable tube diameter, sufficient runtime and current.
Additionally a tube extension for further mods.
Perhaps a large order of UCLp lens from flashlightlens.com? The ones Dale always recommends. I’d love to see one in a killer BLF light.
one reason for the 4× 18650 is so you don’t get that ugly plunger look, by having the larger grip it gives the light a more balanced look.
By making it longer with 2 cells long, it also helps balance the light from both a weight and visual perspective.
Plus from Dales testing the XHP35 basically matches the XP-L HI in maximum throw with almost twice the lumens and a large hotspot. With this in mind I am 100% in favor of a XHP35 based light. There also has to be a reason all the other monster throwers are using the XHP35, it costs twice as much as the XP-L afterall.
Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. --Herbert Spencer , English Philosopher (1820-1903)
Texas Avenger Driver Series
My LED Test series - XP-L2 V5 - Nichia 219C 90+ CRI - Latticebright "XM-L" - XHP35 & PWM efficiency - XHP50 - XP-L V5 - XM-L2 U2 - XP-G3 S5 - XP-L HI V2 - Oslon Square & direct comparison to Djozz tests - Nichia 319A - Nichia 219B 9080 CRI - Nichia 219C D320 - Nichia 229AT - XHP70.2 P2 - XHP50.2 J4 - Samsung LH351D
Easy comparison tool for all my LED tests
Ditto.
An XPL-HI pencil beam ultimate thrower is really neat and all, but its usefulness is almost zero. Apart from showing off your lightsaber what can you do with that tight of a beam? It would be similar to the Jacob A60, just proportionally larger.
XHP-35 HI gives you long throw with a larger hotspot and more output which is far more useful in my experience.
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