FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

How about the Samsung LH351C (die size is in between LH351B and LH351C). It is recently introduced so probably the bins are good, it will not have the enormous flood of the 1D but should still have good output and efficiency. and it is cheap, about $0.50 when bought in quantities. (Some high CRI options ( :wink: ) : 4000K 90CRI at Digikey: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SPHWHTL3D50GE4TPJF/1510-2323-2-ND/7560620)(5000K 90CRI: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SPHWHTL3D50GE4RTMF/1510-2325-2-ND/8536264)

Offtopic: I don’t get the nude gnus joke.
sth. like nude news??

Moonlight mode is great for screening the suspect population

Edit: It’s surprising joke, by TK, aided and abetted by DB Custom.

A silver version, with a wooden “glass breaker” spike would be perfect, for dual use.

That word, I do not think it means what you think it means.

This is the result of a relatively broken voting method called plurality voting. It does not capture more complex real-world preferences like “I prefer 5000K, but I wouldn’t be upset with 4500 or 4000, both of which I strongly prefer to 3500, but even that is better than 6500”.

There are voting systems that do capture such preferences, and TK will be using one for the poll.

I don’t know how to vote. Not sure where this email box is that I’m supposed to put my username…feeling kinda lost. :slight_smile:

The actual poll isn’t live yet.

Hi all,

here are some quick pictures of the second FW3A prototype!




Generally, I feel like the build quality is really great. I also like the beam a lot although there are now XP-G3s in use.
I’ll provide a little more feedback within the next few days since I’m in the middle of moving to another apartment.

I hope you still like the light although it differs partly from the initial design.

Looks real good Fritz. Still hoping for a more raw finish but the design looks much better than in earlier pictures.

Important for me is the emitter efficiency - output vs heat for a given current.

The Emisar D4 with 219s is honestly the dumbest and least usable light I own, it gets hot so quickly, then throttles down to the output of a 1xAAA keychain light. A silly party trick of a flashlight. Ramping is also fun initially but I am done with it now, I prefer discrete levels.

Naturally a hot rod triple in tiny package will get hot but since it is not possible to win the “max lumens” in tiny package title (D4 already wins it), the aim for FW3A should be to win the “practical & usable lumens” in tiny package title.

Thank you!

Definitely!

To solve this we must go to a ballottage with the two most voted

Instant Runoff Voting would work and the winner would take 51% or more at that point.

I like that!

well said, I resemble those remarks

lol, did I make a math error?
spin it any way you like, thats what stats are for

Im starting to think you’re part of the Vocal Minority that does not care about High CRI, thinks Low R9 is a fair trade for throw, and calls 5000k “neutral”.

While I resemble the Silent Majority, that Loves High CRI and wont settle for Low R9. And we all know that 4000k is the One True Neutral…

Something tells me you might not agree.:slight_smile:

anyway, its just Nude Gnus, a fun way to pass the time waiting for the New and Improved FW3A to materialize from the ether, with the Ultimate EDC LED for High Cri Throw.

Not to be confused with the 2004 60 lumen HDS Ultimate EDC XRGT

flashback to more gNude Gnus
http://outdoors.magazine.free.fr/spip.php?article248
“This light is computer controlled- the brightness is regulated, the temperature of the light is monitored and automatically kept at a safe level…

this line of lights has a fabulously pure white tint (GT= Guaranteed tint) and improved runtime over previous models by 50% (XR= extended runtime). Luxeon LED emitters are never identical in efficiency, brightness or tint due to slight manufacturing variances. Luxeon LEDs used in handheld lighting are very rarely “pure” white but often give off a slight green, blue, or purple tint. The LEDs placed in the XRGT lights are hand-selected for both tint and efficiency.

Believe it or not, the maximum brightness of the Ultimate 60 has greater throw than the incandescent. That’s a tremendous amount of light for one 123A battery to sustain, and though I initially doubted the advertised runtime of 30 minutes, a test revealed a runtime of approximately 35 minutes.“

The Silent Majority has spoken the OneTruth!

I would say Yes, thats absolutely Brilliant :slight_smile:

totally agree, which is why I have more than one light, and often buy lights knowing the LED will be swapped

TK’s page says she’ll be using the Schulze Condorcet method. This is a different ranked-choice algorithm that places emphasis on the order of preference and allows two or more options to be given the same rank. That is to say you could have a ranking like this:

1. 219C

  1. LH351D
  2. XP-L HI
  3. XP-G2
  4. XP-G3

If you’re the last vote, here are some possible conditions before your vote is counted, and the result:

  • LH351D is tied with XP-L HI, XP-G2 or XP-G3: LH351D wins
  • LH351D is tied with 219C: tie is not broken
  • XP-L HI is tied with XP-G2 or XP-G3: XP-L HI wins

jon_slider is a useful jester who has stimulated some insight into how TK’s poll might work.

Once it goes live.

Meanwhile some food for thought:

Kruithof curve - Wikipedia which matches my personal experience, and mine eyes. And explains why good CRI is important.

That’s why I will be voting for 4000K high CRI efficient Samsung LEDs, hopefully the exact version, and choice of optic, (I look to Djozz for advice since I have no experience here) will make a great all-round EDC.

This will never be a blaster or thrower, please make it well rounded (I don’t mean the horrid tapers :frowning: ) and actually useful. I’ve already got enough things that do the other work.

Edit: And I am bored with Cree and Nichia stuff, I’ve got plenty of these and would like to see something different.

Edit2: Sorry Fritz, it still looks chubby to me, far from your svelte original. As for the bead blast :person_facepalming:

Some small remarks.

I would machine a small optical groove between the smooth bezel and the first knurling to give it the same look as the transition from the knurling to the battery tube.

Maybe some minimal crenellations would look good and be functional when standing the light on the bezel.