Q8, PMS SEND TO THOSE WITH ISSUES BLF soda can light

[djozz]

@leaftye

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.

[JasonWW]

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:

[leaftye]

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.

[joechina]

@JasonWW

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:

For the UI they can use NarsilM v1.3 instead of 1.0, they can adjust some times or they go with Andúril.

[AlexGT]

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

[g_sintornillos]

@AlexGT

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?

.

This might be helpful

.

[AlexGT]

I see, Thanks I’ll give it a try and report back…

[AlexGT]

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

[Spiderlight]

@djozz

@qandeel

Is there a way to order a new lense for my Q8? It is broken from 1.5 meter fall.

It is not listed but you can ask for it on the Sofirn aliexpress website, they will probably sell it.

And kaidomain has one that fits too, supposedly the AR coating is better than the stock Q8: http://kaidomain.com/p/S027343.55mm-x-3mm-Multi-Layer-AR-Coated-Lens

Bought one too. Maybe I’ll come back and ask how to dismantle the lamp’s head if I have some issues.

[BlueSwordM]

It’s easy. You just need to have some good strength.

If not, just use some carpet to help you open it.

[Sofirn (Sofirnlight)]

@BlueSwordM

Yeah. Just offering the Q8 MCPCB would be a huge boon.

I asked Miranda for a spare MCPCB, and they said they don’t offer it separately.

original Q8 MCPCB is available on Aliexpres :person_facepalming: :person_facepalming:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/BLF-Q8-Driver-Chip-Q8-Circuit-Board/32867355375.html?spm=2114.12010108.1000013.1.2538726bX9vIYM&scm=1007.13339.90158.0&scm_id=1007.13339.90158.0&scm-url=1007.13339.90158.0&pvid=2a05d018-a404-4259-b6eb-28f999de2e49&\_t=pvid:2a05d018-a404-4259-b6eb-28f999de2e49,scm-url:1007.13339.90158.0

[d_t_a]

@Tracy Wan—-Sofirn

@BlueSwordM

Yeah. Just offering the Q8 MCPCB would be a huge boon.

I asked Miranda for a spare MCPCB, and they said they don’t offer it separately.

original Q8 MCPCB is available on Aliexpres :person_facepalming: :person_facepalming:

Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

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:

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/BLF-Q8-Accessories-lighted-switch-assembly-Copper-DTP-MCPCB-Reflector-for-Q8/2933049_32879434650.html

[BlueSwordM]

@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.

[flashycali]

I just got the Q8 and loving it so far

Thanks to everyone that worked on this project!!!

Question: I am trying to find out if it’s worth the hassle to get a handlebar tripod mount to use the Q8 as a bike light. What do you guys think?

My concern is the weight of the Q8, although very compact for how bright it is, it does weight a bit when loaded up with all four 18650 batteries.

Just want to get some feedback on this especially from anyone who has looked into doing the same, thanks!

[Man_Without_Shadow]

I wouldn’t want to trust only a tripod mount on a bouncy, pot holed bike ride with such a heavy light. I would feel more confident with some kind of large strap(s) or circular clamp holding the body.

heres a vid of a bike mount and a thread with some pics…scroll down…

Blf q8 on bike handle bars.

BLF Q8 on the Bars? 5,000 Lumen Monster bar light!

[leaftye]

I wouldn’t do it. Maybe we can talk Sofirn into making a remote battery tube adapter.

[flashycali]

@Man Without Shadow

I wouldn’t want to trust only a tripod mount on a bouncy, pot holed bike ride with such a heavy light. I would feel more confident with some kind of large strap(s) or circular clamp holding the body.

heres a vid of a bike mount and a thread with some pics…scroll down…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVxWAdnCzGc

BLF Q8 on the Bars? 5,000 Lumen Monster bar light! | Mountain Bike Reviews Forum

From the mtbr thread: BLF Q8 on the Bars? 5,000 Lumen Monster bar light! | Mountain Bike Reviews Forum That a nice looking plate/adaptor/mount thingy

@leaftye

I wouldn’t do it. Maybe we can talk Sofirn into making a remote battery tube adapter.

That’s a good idea, a remote battery pack and while we’re at it, how about a short replacement for the battery tube with connectors for the cable going to the remote battery case. One can dream

[leaftye]

@flashycali

@leaftye

I wouldn’t do it. Maybe we can talk Sofirn into making a remote battery tube adapter.

That’s a good idea, a remote battery pack and while we’re at it, how about a short replacement for the battery tube with connectors for the cable going to the remote battery case. One can dream

That’s what I meant. It’d be two caps with contact boards and a cable to connect them. If it was used with the upcoming extendable battery tube, battery life could be made virtually limitless. I’ve seen pictures of a solution like this, but no details. It could work with 3d printed parts too, which would keep weight down further.

[goshdogit]

@flashycali

I am trying to find out if it’s worth the hassle to get a handlebar tripod mount to use the Q8 as a bike light.

I used a ‘50mm quick-release truss clamp’ to make a tripod mount for my Noctigon Meteor M43, which lacks a threaded hole. The Meteor and Q8 both fit nicely in the 50mm truss clamp. I stretched some old tubes onto my clamps to increase friction and prevent scratches.

For mounting to a bike or ATV, connect another smaller clamp to grip the handlebars. This makes the light’s angle easily adjustable.

My 35mm truss clamp above closes down to almost an inch. There are also 20mm or 3/4 inch clamps on eBay.

Be sure to use a quick-release truss for the light’s end, so you can easily detach the Q8 when you’re not riding. It seems the smaller diameter clamps aren’t widely available with quick-releases.

[flashycali]

@leaftye

That’s what I meant. It’d be two caps with contact boards and a cable to connect them. If it was used with the upcoming extendable battery tube, battery life could be made virtually limitless. I’ve seen pictures of a solution like this, but no details. It could work with 3d printed parts too, which would keep weight down further.

Sounds like a good child project to the Q8. Wish I had a workshop that I can take on these project.

@goshdogit

I used a ‘50mm quick-release truss clamp’ to make a tripod mount for my Noctigon Meteor M43, which lacks a threaded hole. The Meteor and Q8 both fit nicely in the 50mm truss clamp. I stretched some old tubes onto my clamps to increase friction and prevent scratches.

For mounting to a bike or ATV, connect another smaller clamp to grip the handlebars. This makes the light’s angle easily adjustable.

My 35mm truss clamp above closes down to almost an inch. There are also 20mm or 3/4 inch clamps on eBay.

Be sure to use a quick-release truss for the light’s end, so you can easily detach the Q8 when you’re not riding. It seems the smaller diameter clamps aren’t widely available with quick-releases.

That looks really nice. Especially how the inner tube fits on the clamp, totally look factory.

Question, do you have any issues with stability, shaking or flexing?

Thanks for your help. :+1: