djozz wrote:

d_t_a wrote:

Also wondering, what’s the difference of the BLF Q8’s light output compared to say 4xBLF A6 3D-tint (eg. tie up 4 of these in a square pattern), and let’s say put the 4xBLF A6 into Turbo mode — compare it with BLF Q8 at Turbo mode — will they have similar light output using same batteries (perhaps the beam pattern will differ)? The BLF A6 3D-tint uses the same emitter as the BLF Q8, isn’t it?

The Q8 is for a great deal not unlike 4xBLFA6 taped together, same battery/led set-up, but there are nuances: the surface area of the 4xA6 is a comparable so the maximum sustainable output is also similar (~2000lm at room temp/no airflow, if you like your flashlight hot), but the heat path and amount of metal in the right places is way better in the Q8, so while the 4xA6 must step down at 40 seconds, the Q8 with more soaking capability takes more than 3 minutes to get to the same temperature. That makes the Q8 also easier on the leds so I expect them to live longer.

Thanks for the explanation!
(4x BLF A6 taped together is also more expensive than a single Q8; plus would be much hotter as you mentioned)

The Miller wrote:

Received word from Barry Next batch Q8 lights will have latest Narsil. Just clear lenses , no coating. And they try to get better springs. The next batch is gen 6 or 7 so I think it is pretty cool it gets a bit better, usually it seems to be the other way around

Thanks for the update!
So the Banggood pre-order that says “expected shipping on Dec 5 or 9” would have these improvements… I might make an order while the M4DQ8 coupon code is still active.

JasonWW wrote:

Flashy Mike wrote:

JasonWW wrote:

Nah, you can still use magnets, just put them on the negative side.

How does this help against shorts at the positive end?

Sorry, I was thinking of too short springs and magnets as spacers.

ssschen wrote:

I know many here put solder blobs on their flat top batteries. If I choose not to do this, does anyone have any links to recommended magnet slabs to use?

You can’t put any type of magnet on the positive end on the Q8 or any similar design flashlight. You either need proud positive posts or add solder blobs. There’s no other alternatives.

Zulumoose wrote:

ssschen wrote:

I know many here put solder blobs on their flat top batteries. If I choose not to do this, does anyone have any links to recommended magnet slabs to use?

Hi ssschen

Remember that in the Q8, unlike devices with single battery or battery carriers, the top of the batteries will be rotating around the contact ring, ie there will be a lot of sideways friction on the positive pole as the battery tube is screwed in. This could dislodge a magnet, potentially causing a short. It may be a bit risky going the magnet route.

Thanks guys. Glad I asked. I will stick to button top batteries in this flashlight. I do have 4 button top 30Q that I managed to get from BG before they stopped shipping batteries to Australia. They are currently scattered across 3 flashlights. Charging the flat top now to replace them with. But for my own info, when using magnet slabs on flat top battery in single battery flashlight, what ones are best to get?

The Miller wrote:

Received word from Barry Next batch Q8 lights will have latest Narsil. Just clear lenses , no coating. And they try to get better springs. The next batch is gen 6 or 7 so I think it is pretty cool it gets a bit better, usually it seems to be the other way around

I've posted about this before, but the second batch is improved in all the screw mountings, including:

• de-burring threaded holes
• better screws
• improved reflector mounting with the screw mount re-design
• better quality in assembly - no more stripped screws and over-tightening
• no more evidence of glue or foreign substances at the tail PCB mount points

Also the switch PCB and green LED's are much improved in the 2nd batch.

There's been other subtle changes though, more on the negative side:

• AR lens - appeared to be single sided, seems to effect the tint negatively
• labeling on the the driver and switch boards has been changed from English to Chinese to identify the ground, LED, and switch wire connections - dunno why this happened, but it's showed up on some, think'n the latest, Q8's

Also there's still some QC issues I've seen recently:

• solder blob found on the underside of the driver on the ground ring, resulting in the driver not sitting flat and even
• on another recent stock Q8 when I measured lumens output, the meter detected flickering, erratic variation in output, that is not noticeable in the beam indoors, but I've never seen the meter jump up and down like it did. Normally for the first 30 seconds, output just gradually reduces, fast at first, then slowing down. In tearing the light fully down, I could not notice any obvious issues. Hoping that in fully modding the light with bypasses, improvements on electrical contact surfaces, and replacing the FET and LED wires, the problem will go away -- still need to confirm this. I also re-heated up 2 of the LED's that seemed to be reflowed the worse, thinking that maybe one of them could have had a suspect connection. It might just be a bad LED, so may still notice the flicker. Interesting thing is no one may notice this problem without a meter. 
• Reflow of the LED's could be better. On several Q8's I noticed the LED's are not sitting flat - usually one side is higher than the other, sometimes the + and - pads are not fully making contact along the entire pad. It seems like they are using too much solder paste. Dale pointed out previously the center thermal pad is lower than the + and - pads, so maybe that's complicating the factory reflow. I would prefer to see sizable overflow pad extensions on all 3 pads, like a Noctigon has:

s_mukherjee wrote:

Q8 back in stock

Are you seeing that it’s fully back in stock?

It was showing..
Now I checked.. it is showing “Preorder”

Actually I was trying from the cart

Sorry for misleading you

Thorfire probably had to stop the production line on the Q8 temporarily for a couple weeks so they could produce some other models of lights that Banggood (and other stores) has been out of stock of and waiting for.

Ok..

It is becoming tough to get 18650s imported to India.

$100 shipping fees on $4 battery

I received my Q8 today. Happy to say it’s 100% perfect. Very happy camper here.

atbglenn wrote:

I received my Q8 today. Happy to say it’s 100% perfect. Very happy camper here.

Strange — I bought 2.5mm and 3mm screws from one of the links recommended.

Took the Q8 screws out of the driver — and they’re smaller than the ones I just got from eBay. Look like 2mm.

I suppose the eBay screws could have been mislabeled. Poking at it.

Another holster option …

From Ledlenser (Leatherman)

https://www.ledlenserusa.com/sheath-269.html#start=14

The size is M14

@The Miller
So let us name lamps sent after 2017-12-05 : batch 3 with Narsil v1.2

Quote:

The Miller
Received word from Barry
Next batch Q8 lights will have latest Narsil. (Joe: should be v1.2)
Just clear lenses , no coating.
And they try to get better springs.
The next batch is gen 6 or 7 so I think it is pretty cool it gets a bit better, usually it seems to be the other way around
Q:
http://budgetlightforum.com/comment/1219595#comment-1219595

I hope Thorfire will make the next batch tail pcb with improved springs available for separate orders. Or better, if there is a place to order proper tail pcb already with the best springs on it to get 1000 lumens extra! I do not own a solder iron and pcb/springs must come ready to go.

Solder blobbing is pretty easy. If you have some dead batteries you could practice on them. That’s the way I did it. They don’t have to be perfect. Just try not to have the iron on the battery very long.

I thought I saw a post from TomE that said brass screws for the driver board were unnecessary. Is this correct?

Blinker: Yes it is correct. The driver got the positive contact with the brass ring and the negative from the battery tube to the edge of the driver. Nothing is going through the head and driver screws.

ZozzV6 Thanks. Just need 4 brass screws to upgrade then?

Yes.

teacher wrote:

Guesticles wrote:

teacher wrote:

Guesticles wrote:

QUESTION FOR BANGGOOD

Looking to follow up on the status of my order. It has tracking from last month for the 22nd through 25th, and then nothing since then. The “expected” delivery date was over a week ago, according to their own site. Not sure what all information I need to provide to TM.

My last one left China 23 October headed for Kennedy in NY. There was no Tracking update at all till 9 November when it was handed over to the USPS.
So it just sat somewhere in NYC for over 2 weeks.
Hopefully yours will show some movement also…..

At least yours has tracking state side. The last tracking from mine was still in China almost three weeks ago now.

Hmmmm…. when did you order yours? (my was ordered 19 October)

My last one did not/is not coming by FedEx SmartPost… it is USPS all the way once it hits the USA.

This may not help, but if your Tracking Number starts & ends with letters like this… LS03@@@@@48CN …… plug it in here….. https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input …. and see if you get any results.
You may have done this already, but if you haven’t it can’t hurt to try.

Order was placed Oct 21 2017, and my tracking number is in that format. I’ve followed it since it shipped, and the last update on 17track says: “2017-10-25 12:46 Origin Post is Preparing Shipment, We have received notice that the originating post is preparing to dispatch this mail piece.” USPS tracking says it’s “Pre-shipment” and they haven’t received anything.

Really disappointed. Have requested refund, but hope the package does show up, as I’m more than willing to pay for it. :’(

hank wrote:

Strange -- I bought 2.5mm and 3mm screws from one of the links recommended. Took the Q8 screws out of the driver -- and they're smaller than the ones I just got from eBay. Look like 2mm. I suppose the eBay screws could have been mislabeled. Poking at it.

Easy to measure the screws. All the batch 2's I've seen (maybe bout 6 or so) use M2.5's.

blinker wrote:

ZozzV6 Thanks. Just need 4 brass screws to upgrade then?

I do 7 brass screws - 4 on the tail PCB for electrical connections, 3 on the reflector/MCPCB for thermal.

JasonWW wrote:

s_mukherjee wrote:

Q8 back in stock

Its still showing it will be back in stock on Dec 5, but you can pay for it now.

Are you seeing that it’s fully back in stock?

Just an observation for Banggood preorder for the Q8 at this time. If I use the BG app (I’m using Android), the pre-order price for the BLF Q8 is $47.50. Cannot use any coupons or points. But if I use computer web browser, the price is $79.95, but I can use the ‘M4DQ8’ code, which brings down the price to $46.50. So it’s $1 cheaper on the computer web browser with code. I don’t see an “App only” indication so I’m not sure why this is so.

Tom E wrote:

blinker wrote:

ZozzV6 Thanks. Just need 4 brass screws to upgrade then?

I do 7 brass screws – 4 on the tail PCB for electrical connections, 3 on the reflector/MCPCB for thermal.

s_mukherjee wrote:

Ok..

It is becoming tough to get 18650s imported to India.

$100 shipping fees on $4 battery

Hi guys,
Did a nasty mistake and i fried my Q8’s springs. I put one battery in reverse and it completly toasted my springs. Now they are mushy and batteries don’t even make contact with the brass ring. Do you know where i could find a replacement back pcb with springs?
Thx in advance.

CrashOne wrote:

ludolf wrote:

I bought a similar (same?) pouch as mentioned above from here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282660747064

!{width:50%}https://i.imgur.com/ltscUxS.jpg!

Looks like the same I’ve ordered here: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Genuine-FLYYE-Smoke-Grenade-Pouch-In-stock-Military-camping-modular-combat-CORDURA-G003/1083515_32777569533.html

Haven’t received it yet, but will post if it’s any good.

Received it last week. Really like it. It’s made of a strong fabric and it’s a good fit

fixvid wrote:

Hi guys,
Did a nasty mistake and i fried my Q8’s springs. I put one battery in reverse and it completly toasted my springs. Now they are mushy and batteries don’t even make contact with the brass ring. Do you know where i could find a replacement back pcb with springs?
Thx in advance.

!http://oi65.tinypic.com/2mnkepw.jpg!

Damn, second Q8 in this thread…

Could a protection ring prevent this? If so, where do I get one?

Guesticles wrote:

teacher wrote:

Guesticles wrote:

teacher wrote:

Guesticles wrote:

QUESTION FOR BANGGOOD

Looking to follow up on the status of my order. It has tracking from last month for the 22nd through 25th, and then nothing since then. The “expected” delivery date was over a week ago, according to their own site. Not sure what all information I need to provide to TM.

My last one left China 23 October headed for Kennedy in NY. There was no Tracking update at all till 9 November when it was handed over to the USPS.
So it just sat somewhere in NYC for over 2 weeks.
Hopefully yours will show some movement also…..

At least yours has tracking state side. The last tracking from mine was still in China almost three weeks ago now.

Hmmmm…. when did you order yours? (my was ordered 19 October)

My last one did not/is not coming by FedEx SmartPost… it is USPS all the way once it hits the USA.

This may not help, but if your Tracking Number starts & ends with letters like this… LS03@@@@@48CN …… plug it in here….. https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input …. and see if you get any results.
You may have done this already, but if you haven’t it can’t hurt to try.

Order was placed Oct 21 2017, and my tracking number is in that format. I’ve followed it since it shipped, and the last update on 17track says: “2017-10-25 12:46 Origin Post is Preparing Shipment, We have received notice that the originating post is preparing to dispatch this mail piece.” USPS tracking says it’s “Pre-shipment” and they haven’t received anything.

Really disappointed. Have requested refund, but hope the package does show up, as I’m more than willing to pay for it. :’(

CrashOne wrote:

fixvid wrote:

Hi guys,
Did a nasty mistake and i fried my Q8’s springs. I put one battery in reverse and it completly toasted my springs. Now they are mushy and batteries don’t even make contact with the brass ring. Do you know where i could find a replacement back pcb with springs?
Thx in advance.

.

Damn, second Q8 in this thread…

Could a protection ring prevent this? If so, where do I get one?

A polarity protection ring probably would save the springs, but you would have to fabricate it yourself.

I don’t think you can buy the rear pcb, so you’d need to find new springs and solder them on.

Maybe someone knows where to buy springs in that size? I don’t.

Can’t Neal or any other contact in China make the reverse polarity protection rings?