NiWalker Vostro Black BK-FA09S

This looks like a bit of a beast…

Hoping to see a review some time, really want a good thrower to add to the collection.

Is this for real? It’s hard to believe that Niwalker actually has this priced closer to $100 than $200. Add the decent price to its magnetic control ring, plus greater output than the TN42, and I’m interested. It looks like the reflector is smaller than the TN42’s, which explains why it has slightly less throw even though it has 20% more lumens. It’s not all rosy though. I could have accepted the lack of a true firefly mode, but the jump from mode 1’s 3 lumens to mode 2’s 168 lumens is ridiculous. That might not be so bad on a clickie, but on a ring light it’s super fast to breeze through an unwanted mode. The rest of the modes look fine to me. I can’t find anything about its tint. Weight is also about 100 grams less than the TN42, and given that it’s driving the emitter harder, there may be thermal issues.

There’s a discount code for the the other 2 vostro’s, newnwk, doesn’t work on this one which is a shame.

Would be nice if a code came up for it.

The reflector size is actually smaller than the K70 which is smaller than the TN42. Yet NiWalker claims farther throw than K70 with less lumens. Not sure I’m a believer. Also find it strange that they don’t list anywhere the LED as being XHP35 HI. Only XHP35. I can only assume that it is XHP35 HI.

On their homepage http://www.niwalkerlight.com/content/?294.html it’s listed as “U.S. made Cree XHP35 HI LED chip”.

I always liked the look of the “Black Light” series.

…Still waiting for the MM18III…

There’s a guy on cpf got one ordered. Looking forward to reading the review. It’s a lot of light for the price if its specs check out as accurate.

Ok cool. Thanks. I actually have one of these on order and was worried it might be totally nuts and have not HI, XHP35. Didn’t think it would but I hadn’t seen that documentation. It should be a good light for the money and pose an excellent alternative to K70, TN42, if nothing else.

For this light to output this much it would have to be running direct drive?

Well.What about the K70 related with this light?It has the same emitter, bigger reflector,more lumens,but less throw.Are they sensible?

Now its time to wait. I ordered One……

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

I was looking at the older version recently, needless to say the newer one has killed that interest.

Beamshot video from MSITC of the BK FA09S :

https://www.msitc-shop.com/taschenlampen/niwalker-black-light-vostro-bk-fa09-xhp35-2400-ansi-lumen-max-550-000-lux/a-938/

Please advise wich batteries for this beast?

Will the KeepPower 3500 mAh do the job, or should I better buy High Drain batteries?

Thanks!

According this review in German the longer protected cells is a tight fit in the battery carrier.

With the batteries connected in series I don’t think it has to be high drain batteries for max output. I would use : Keeppower 18650 3500mAh (if they fit), Sanyo/Panasonic NCR18650GA 3500mAh, Sony US18650VTC6 3000mAh or Samsung INR18650-30Q 3000mAh

Although it’s a matter of definition, I do think all these cells you mentioned are considered high drain cells in the flashaholic community; meaning 10+A. I also believe that battery configuration, i.e. 4P, 4S, 2S2P etc, is initially not relevant to current draw (=power requirement) from the cells. Let me give you example:

For simplicity’s sake V = 4.2V (no sag), and we draw 1A from four cells.

4P: P = 4 cells x 4.2V x 1A = 16.8W
4S: P = 16.8V x 1A = 16.8W

Different driver types as a result of battery configuration leads to different efficiency and different losses, but the initial power requirement remains the same.

High drain cells or not is a matter of definition. But I believe that battery configuration makes a difference because it’s a 12v emitter, you don’t have to boost the voltage to match the emitter requirements when they are in series. If you use 4P or 2S2P you would have to boost the voltage creating a bigger current draw from the cells.

I read this regularly, and I disagree. let me give another example. So 1 XHP-35 emitter (12V), and there’s let’s say 1A going through the led. Meaning the led consumes P = 12V x 1A = 12W (simplified numbers)

For simplicity’s sake I take battery voltage = 4V
Battery configuration 4P (= driver input voltage = 4V):

Total current draw = 12W/4V = 3A.
Current draw per cell = 3A/4cells = 0.75A

Battery configuration 2S2P (= driver input voltage = 8V):

Total current draw = 12W/8V = 1.5A
Current draw per cell = 1.5A/2cells = 0.75A

So you see, current draw per battery remains the same. As mentioned before, variables will determine the total actual power requirement, but the initial power requirement remains the same, independent of battery configuration.

Edit:

Yes, with 2S2P and 4P you need to boost the voltage to the desired 12V for the emitter. But boosting the voltage does not mean more power, thus more current per cell (current is related to power) is required.

Aren’t we only talking about driving a single xhp35 hi for this particular light. If we were talking about something like the TM28, which also takes 4x 18650, yet is driving 4x xhp35 hi, high drains become very relevant to the topic of powering the light. With the BK-FA09s the cells are give 1/4 the amount of LED’s. Granted it’s an overdriven LED but still, regardless of series/parallel the single LED is not going to require 4x high drains to get it’s amps, although it won’t hurt to use high drains either.

A TM28 in either 4s or 4p will require high drains if hitting its max output, BK-FA09s will not. However, I think the BK-FA09s may get a little boost in output if using high drains because less possibility of some resistance. At least I think that’s the case. I’m still rather fresh with all this stuff.

I think you’re absolutely right; old school 18650B should do the job. And also agree that modern 10A cells can only make the light perform a bit better, as in less voltage sag so a bit less current meaning less heat and a bit more runtime etc.