The NEW Sofirn C8F Triple XP-L W2 w/side e-switch

Nice review Dale and great pics! I got my version last week and put a D4 V2 driver in it. Had to alter the lighted e-switch switch, it was making the driver do silly things! :person_facepalming:

Great light, love the ramping!

Nice review. Good catch on the cell. That explains its performance and low internal resistance in my review.

35$ on AE…
I already have a C8F - tho first one with triple XP-G3 (now triple 219C)… pretty rare light, huh?
I will buy this one, also.
One can never have too many C8s.

Hey KB,
What did you alter on the SW and why do you think it causes the wonky driver?
Considering the D4 UI driver too with lighted SW on the C8F and ther lights.
Did you keep the OTC or remove it?

btw
Where can I get the D4 driver from?
I love this Ui and I love Side-Switch-Only lights

Probably Mountain Electronics. Richard also has other drivers that he can flash with the D4 firmware.

Kept it. Removed the resistors and LED’s, they share a common ground with the switch. Had the Green Led’s working. looked cool behind the smoked button. Driver would just blink and ramping was screwed. Look at the back of the switch, there are only 3 contacts, 2 switch 1 LED.

Nice review Dale!
Yes I talked with Sofirn and currently I’m waiting for a C8F host and some XP-L2 leds from kaidomain :slight_smile:
I will make some FET+1 driver with Narsil in it.

Can original driver be flash with narsil?

There’s no Attiny 85 on that driver to flash.

Ok thanks forgot to look at picture of driver :person_facepalming:

Narsil needs a specific hardware design to work in addition to the Attiny85. This driver is completely different. Best option might be to replace with a Lexel driver with NarsilM or a MTN ELEC driver with RampingIOS (used on D4 lights). Assuming the emitters can handle it, of course.

I’m not too big of a fan of most of the major players engineering myself. I swear that at times it’s as if they have a minimum of three engineers working on each product demanding that their input be included whether it helps the final product or not. Over-engineered is putting it mildly.

This new light seems like a winner to me. I’ve made a few C8 triples myself over the years using the reflectors out of cheap headlights and they are nice lights to have around but they are a lot of work to make and I can’t make them even close to as cheap as these.

As for the UI, it’s got more going on than most of the local guys I sell/gift lights to want. Outside of us flashaholics most people are more than content with three or four modes so long as they work without flickering. I always try and remember that a ton of people are used to having a flashlight with two modes (on and off, lol) and were perfectly content with them that way. I actually get far more complaints about my lights if I try and go with a UI that is overly complicated to use. People think the light is broken when they can’t get it to do what they want and just try and explain that it’s user error. So you are absolutely correct everyone has their own opinion on what makes a UI the best. If I was giving them my input it would be to also offer the light with a simple four mode, from moonlight to turbo. Maybe something like TomE’s early circular one or even a simple ramping and nothing more.

Great review by the way.

Oh and forgive me if I missed it, but was there any parasitic drain on this light?

Yah, well, tell that to my C8 army… Sometimes they make me nervous.

(I’m surrounded.)

Great now you gave me one more thing to be paranoid about.

LOL

LOL LOL LOL :+1:

To be honest, I don’t remember how to check for parasitic drain. :blush:

meter inline, or pass through meter between power supply.
May be a better way but that is what I have done. :blush:
Not all meters have mA or less capability.