Nice idea. Plastic washers should work too and only require minor countersinking around the holes. At least that’s temporary in case an unacceptable output drops happens.
Are there still plans for a Q16?
Probably not. That was mostly an idea of the Miller, but he’s not very active anymore on the formum so I don’t think anybody is trying to pursue that.
Technically, the idea of a Q16 already exists, although only for the LEDs and modders, if we replace the stock XPLs with Luxeon MZs or XHP50.2s, since these are 4 die single package LEDs, meaning 4x4=16=Q16.
Thanks for the link, ordered 2!
No, the Q8 team does not really exists anymore. That said, what is left of us still have some mail contact with the Q8 maker and they are planning (with permission of the Q8 team but without our initiative in the design anymore) to make new versions of the Q8.
Can you say what kind of changes they’re planning? I’d love a tripod mount in the center of the tailcap so I could use an AOD-L diffuser and hang it light a lightbulb. I’d also appreciate more legit Cree emitters if the current can keep up, even to the extreme of going with an optic like the M43 and reducing the length of the head. Unfortunately that raises their cost when I suspect they’re trying to reduce it.
I know of just one plan and I’m not sure if they will be happy if I post that here at this early stage. It is nowhere as extreme though as changing the length of the head and optics.
As for forum-originating design wishes, any design alteration needs some ‘BLF-consensus’ to back it up before getting them to the manufacturer , in other words discussion time on the forum and a team that manages the discussion. And it needs the manufacturer to be willing to do as we please. With the manufacturer having their own ideas and Q8 team in retirement atm I do not see that happening.
The only involvement we have now is that the manufacturer actually informs us of new plans and asks the opinion of (what is leftover of) the Q8 team.
I’m still surprised they haven’t simply offered it with a cool white emitter. This seems like a very easy option for them to do.
I don’t think there’s anything they can do to improve the user interface or driver. Unless they want to make it cheaper and less powerful. :confounded:
With the cost and risk of developing new optics, that was a moonshot wish. It would’ve been nice to have a light more comparable in size and output to the M43 with the UI of the Q8 though. Actually, I’d be okay with a mule and shortening the head since it wouldn’t have optics, but the market for mules seems to be tiny, which makes that a nonstarter. I’d still like them to ditch the flats on the battery tube. It’d speed production on a feature that does little to nothing.
I’d love to see them come up with accessories. While the AOD-L diffuser works, a silicone diffuser would be better in a few ways. The tailcap I want could be an accessory so that all Q8 owners wouldn’t have a longer light forced on them. I’ll have to see if my injection molding machine can handle a shot big enough for a diffuser so I can get at least one of those things.
For the UI they can use NarsilM v1.3 instead of 1.0, they can adjust some times or they go with Andúril.
Today I recieved my new Q8 lighted switch to replace the stock switch that was flickering and later just stopped working. Can someone help with the wiring of the switch? The stock wires are all red and the new one have different colors can you tell me which wire goes where?
Thanks in advance for your help
’
Here is a pic of the driver, the wires go on the right on the pads named G, L, S
Here is a pic of the back side of the new Q8 lighted switch
Thanks in advance for your help.
AlexGT
This might be helpful
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I see, Thanks I’ll give it a try and report back…
It worked! Thank you so much! 
This is the correct wiring for the replacement BLF Q8 Switch…
I put a small dot of crazy glue to prevent the switch from rotating when I screw back the silicone boot
Bought one too. Maybe I’ll come back and ask how to dismantle the lamp’s head if I have some issues.
It’s easy. You just need to have some good strength.
If not, just use some carpet to help you open it.
original Q8 MCPCB is available on Aliexpres 
:person_facepalming: :person_facepalming:
Actually, I have seen that BLF Q8 MCPCB in the Sofirn AliExpress Store from several weeks ago (I often browse the Sofirn AliExpress store…), just didn’t know if it’s the original one or not. Since Tracy from Sofirn assures us that it is the original one, this would be good for those who need BLF Q8 replacement parts.
There are also a few other BLF Q8 replacement parts (BLF Q8 reflector, and switch assembly) from the Sofirn AliExpress store, in case anyone needs them:
@Tracy, I was the one who ordered 2xMCPCBs a while ago a few days ago.
And yes, it is the original one. And having messaged Sofirn, they are going to offer some other things soon, including the battery tube, and the tailcap. And a special surprise I will not tell yet.