New Solarforce P1 - Is Available!

LED Flashlights – General Info
46

what dthrckt said. there is blaze orange, and then there is every other color, doesn't matter anymore.

47

Although I prefer earth tones when given the choice, I too wouldn't mind an orange option. Let us hope someone is listening.

48

I'd have to buy an orange one! Please, dear Solarforce lurker, tell your boss!

49

I'd already own this if it took 18650s

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-XPG-Hunter-Series-Flashlights/1221859.uts

actually, this one is better, imo, but again, not going to start using primaries...

http://www.opticsale.com/streamlight-packmate-led-flashlight-with-lithium-batteries-51058-22561-prd1.html

50

Confusius say, "Tell your boss". A very old proverb, no doubt.

51

Here's an orange-ish light, xml zoom and takes 18650's...it's cheap anyway

http://www.tmart.com/CREE-XMLT6-6W-900-Lumen-3-Mode-Focus-LED-Flashlight-with-Compass_p139073.html

52

I was talking about the thermal attributes when referring to GFRP as "glorified plastic". Of course it is a nice durable material and good for holding a light in winter without gloves, because it insulates well, but I don't want my flashlight head covered with that stuff. Jetbeam has shown us how it can be done and used similar materials in a superior way on the PA40. Aluminum head and carbon fiber body... that's a design that gets my vote. Covering the head in an insulator and the "cooling grooves" on the body that will be blocked by a hand? Come on Solarforce ... I know that you can do better.

53

i've almost bought that so many times - but each time I held off because I'd probably just pull that orange rubber thing off to put on a better light and the rest would end up in a drawer

54

I'm ready for one with fins that pop out when the head gets warm, ray-gun-like.

Or a tiny water reservoir that vents through a steam whistle, maybe.

55

a few times. very good price, but i can't even imagine what a P.O.S. it must be.

56

Well put. I'm not familiar enough with the Surefire G2. Is this design essentially copying that or did Surefire do something better that Solarforce isn't catching on to? Or was the G2 Nitrolon a flop?

57

I agree the heatsinking might be a problem.

Yet again, if this is aimed for those low-output dropins, it is acceptable.

But... Where are those low-output ones readily available on the shelf?? Vast majority of P6+ XM-L dropins are driven at near or over 3A at high.

Well, there´s always the SF´s own dropin selection at 1,7A. I wonder how will it handle the plastic insulation.

If this comes out at right price, I´m sure I will find it out.

Going to take a trip to flashlight store with timer with me, to check readings from integrating sphere.

58

It's a perfectly suitable host for an incandescent dropin, which are still widely used in Surefire-land and often bundled with a G2. On incan dropins the fast heat build up is actually wanted, as the inert gases like Xenon can only do their job at protecting the filament at high temperatures. The whole P60 lineup were originally designed for incans. I think it is time for Solarforce and others to leave the path that Surefire has taken and to give the end-consumer a new screw-in based light engine carrier especially designed for high power LEDs. I think most of the private end-consumers are more interested in a new form factor, that would allow legobility and highly efficient heat dissipation at the same time. Solarforce would be a prime candidate for introducing such a new style of lights at a competitive price. They certainly have the knowledge and machining capabilities. Surefires main target are the military and police forces that may have a different demand.

59

Well said! Wish I'd said it first. The P60 is about keeping heat in. With LEDs you want to let heat out.

60

Thanks for the very informative and in-depth explanation! I never really thought about the origin of the P60 being incan, which is very true and makes a lot of sense considering the design. Now I'm really curious how this new marriage of metal and plastic will pan out. Maybe I'll just stick with the all metal designs since I always want the option of high output.

I agree, we need a P60-type form factor for the powerful LED's of today. I still want Solarforce to make the C8 size head a popular lego addition to the P60 family. All we're doing is making a bigger reflector since we're using the same battery and thus same battery tube size.

61

It would be a great thing to have some other standard for dropins widely available.

Which comes first: new dropin standard or less heat generating LED´s?

Nevermind... LED´s will always be drive to the max so the heat is not going anywhere :-P

62

You need mass and/or an efficient thermal pathway to effectively deal with heat. The MCU-C88 comes to mind - thick and heavy - the antithesis of the EDC friendly P60 form factor, which is relatively light/compact for the amount of light you can build into one.

There are no free lunches. There is only so much heat a small piece of aluminum can wick to your hand and your hand can only draw away so much heat at a given rate. P60 designers probably never imagined emitters/drivers so powerful. So what do we do? We drop in drop-ins that sizzle near 4 amps and limit our time on high. What else can we do?

I still think some kind of C8 standard would be ideal. It's already an accepted form factor, reflector size allows for serious throw and it can be built robust enough for superior heat dissipation.

bartenderaroundofc88sforeverybodyFoy

63

It's going to be better and cheaper than a SF G2.

http://www.solarforce.hk/index.php?controller=products&action=view&id=93

Solarforce to glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and aluminum alloy combination, successfully created in 2012 another set of lightweight and high brightness in a flashlight products are cordially you to offer the latest model - P1.

Flashlight part of the P1, high quality aluminum alloy, through the computer lathe precision machining, surface oxidation by the military the third level of the anode hard by of GFRP (a very tough, lightweight, corrosion-resistant and durable plastic material) parcel into the holding part for the family to provide comfort heat-resistant. In addition, the tube body of the GFRP cast streamlined cooling pores, maintain good ventilation to effectively prevent the LED components to overheat. P1 used GFRP by the addition of flame retardants, greatly increasing the safety of the product, practical, lightweight and flexible design, in fact, one of the essential professional home outdoor Solarforce flashlight.

Specifications and Features ︰

  • Components of the head, battery tube and tail switch three major components (light bulb does not contain a component) can all be dismantled and converted into related Solarforce professional compatible accessories
  • Shell of glass fiber reinforced plastic and T6061 aluminum alloy constitutes
  • Color ︰ black, yellow, brown and green
  • The original settings you can use two CR123A or 16340 or a 18650
  • Tail forward with lock switch (touch of bright style), can withstand the 3A current
  • Waterproof design
  • Size (head diameter x length) ︰ 34 x 136m
  • Weight ︰ 68g (not including the bulb components and battery)
64

If the head (the threaded part that hosts the drop-in) is made from metal and not from plastic, it will provide better heatsinking than the G2. We can still switch to a standard metal bezel for heatsinking purposes.

65

this host looks really nice, i like the video where the leave it on in the fish tank for well over an hour. guess i found my next host...now the wait!