[Review] Niwalker Vostro BK-FA30S XHP35 HI 4x18650 thrower flashlight

reserved for updates

Center mass of the light is 109mm from the head, so just 4mm from the switch center towards the battery tube
I consider this a good balance for a light with such a large head

Relative output:

measured between the modes
I did multiple this value with the rated 2200Lumens

Moon
0.0037% 0.09 Lumens

L1
1.01% 23,8 Lumens

M
11.62% 260 Lumens

H1
34.55% 960 Lumens

H2
79.42% 1750 Lumens

Turbo
100% 2200 Lumens

The light reaches full output even with drained battery a test with 3.7V showed same brightness as with full cells brightness

.

I noticed today that the light sometimes flicker in Turbo after a few seconds then a few seconds later it stops again

I looked now again close on the driver and its used parts

The driver uses a pretty bad MOSFET compared to new Infineon and Vishay types
and the driver has no Output capacitor to smooth the PWM from the Buck regulator

So I did 3 improvements replacing 2 parts that could cause the flicker investing 2€ of parts

- first remove the old MOSFET and solder one of the best available ones there

- second remove the Diode and put in a 10A SMD type

- third add a 4.7uF 07R capacitor parallel to the main LED

I have also found some inconsistencies in the UI

for example if I switch the light on with an auxiliary button then click the main switch the light turns off
while I turn the light on with main button switch to aux buttons then main switch gets me back to memorized modes

Another odd thing is this
I have a medium mode memorized for main switch
I turn on the light with Turbo on auxiliary button and turn it off with the same auxiliary or the main button,
then the light comes on in moon the next time I switch it on with main switch
after this I turn the light on with a blinky mode on the other auxiliary
now I switch it off with that button or main button
and now switching on the main switch recognizes again the stored medium mode

Next thing
I switch the light on with blink mode on aux1 or switch it on with main button then switch to aux1
then switch to turbo on the 2. aux button
if I click now the main switch I do not get the memorized light level instead I get again the blinky mode of aux1 button

If the light is switched on with momentary Turbo then hold for Turbo it is not possible to change modes with main button
instead the light shuts down whith a long press

.

Playing more with the light I notice at some points a whining sound from the driver, I am pretty sure the unshielded inductor is causing it
So I switched out the Inductor with a 10uF shielded one
just in case I added another 4.7uF cap on the input in case the used inductor was smaller value

on to do list

- Pictures from Inside the head

- modding to NW XHP35 E2-3C

maybe a short video showing the UI

maybe add video or gif of tail cap LEDs

- destruction test with a tank :smiling_imp: just kidding

Thanks for the great review. It has a lot of info. Those beamshots sure show that its tint is quite cool.
I wonder what is the standby current. Do you have measurement for that?

At 225m the BK-FA0S hotspot it not as tight as modded MF02 given its larger reflector, what gives?

The battery tube threads for the head and tail cap is only* 2-3* turns and it is not anodized (cannot lockout)? Is it adequate?

Thanks for the review and tear down Lexel!
At first I thought I wouldn’t like all the extra buttons but now I agree with you they are a nice feature.

Niwalker didn’t make the S42 did they?
Maybe you were talking about the MF02 there?

Genius of you to bash the tail cap onto a piece of wood.

@ Lexel: can you please check if its battery-carrier is different from this? :

Please update when prize is confirmed.

My flashlight needs are fulfilled now, but after other investments in 2018 i might need a better thrower in 2019, then again there will probably be more alternatives by then :sunglasses:

One think people in German forum surprised the light is 70g lighter that the Astrolux MF02,
so carrying it is easier

the main difference makes the battery carrier which is about 75g heavier on the MF01 so both lights are almost balanced at the same point

I noticed today that the light sometimes flicker in Turbo after a few seconds then a few seconds later it stops again

I looked now again close on the driver and its used parts

The driver uses a pretty bad MOSFET compared to new Infineon and Vishay types
and the driver has no Output capacitor to smooth the PWM from the Buck regulator

So I did 3 improvements replacing 2 parts that could cause the flicker investing 2€ of parts

- first remove the old MOSFET and solder one of the best available ones there

- second remove the Diode and put in a 10A SMD type

- third add a 4.7uF 07R capacitor parallel to the main LED

I have also found some inconsistencies in the UI

for example if I switch the light on with an auxiliary button then click the main switch the light turns off
while I turn the light on with main button switch to aux buttons then main switch gets me back to memorized modes

Another odd thing is this
I have a medium mode memorized for main switch
I turn on the light with Turbo on auxiliary button and turn it off with the same auxiliary or the main button,
then the light comes on in moon the next time I switch it on with main switch
after this I turn the light on with a blinky mode on the other auxiliary
now I switch it off with that button or main button
and now switching on the main switch recognizes again the stored medium mode

Next thing
I switch the light on with blink mode on aux1 or switch it on with main button then switch to aux1
then switch to turbo on the 2. aux button
if I click now the main switch I do not get the memorized light level instead I get again the blinky mode of aux1 button

You`re brave!

Nice review Lexel. Are you updating with one of your own drivers?

The modded MF02 does roughly 15-20% more Lumens and is driven a bit harder, so the hotspot is overall bigger with more light in it,
but still the Niwalker has a higher peak intensity in the smaller hotspot
The light can be locked out by a full turn, then the carrier does not touch the tail boards ground ring

there are no solder bridges or stuff on the boards of the carrier, the traces are fully covered with solder mask
no risk of a short here
also the Carrier is wired 4S, so reversing a battery wont do a short

Playing more with the light I notice at some points a whining sound from the driver, I am pretty sure the unshielded inductor is causing it
So I switched out the Inductor with a 10uF shielded one
just in case I added another 4.7uF cap on the input in case the used inductor was smaller value

Awesome review :sunglasses:

So we’ll have to put up with yet another boring destruction with a hammer? Come on Lexel, don’t disappoint us like that….

Make a sabot and launch it from a Leopard 2 tank, that should ensure high speed impact testing, and spectacular slow motion footage, cuz i want to see the sabot peel away to reveal the flashlight :smiley:

And i am sure the bundeswehr would be helpful

wonderful

viele danke

comparing with TN42 and MK35 would be interesting )

Mauuka has one review light as well and he also owns a TN42, so he can compare

Great review!

Disappointed in the driver quality. :frowning:

Yeah the Astrolux MF02 driver is more sophisticated with better parts

I hope they change driver for production run

The last light I had with flickering output was a Klarus XT11GT which died after a few weeks with electronic crisp smell

made a NarsilM design for it

Niwalker BK-FA30S

added 3 pads for the auxillary switches,
one providing 5V for the Turbo switch
one sets multiples the current by 10 or goes to Turbo
the other divides the current by 10