[Available again! - BLF special edition light] new Sofirn AAA twisty high CRI 5mm LED

This weekend I did a little runtime test with some 1AAA 5mm flashlights running them on IKEA Alkalisk batteries(1.79 Euro for 10).
Results as following from LED on to completely dark:

1. Varta/Rayovac Indestructable 1AAA: 43 hours (of which the last 36 hours really dim)
2. Sofirn C01 3200K (PROTOTYPE): 34 hours (approx. 20 hours of regulated output)
3. Sofirn C01 5600K (PROTOTYPE): 33 hours
4. Fenix E01: 26.5 hours
5. GP Discovery CLE202: 24 hours
6. Gerber Infinity Ultra task light: 7:15 hours (much lower than expected)

0. Control: Zebralight H53Fc on AAA alkaline: 45 hours on 3.5 lumen (lowest M). After that 5 more hours on highest Low. Then it started to flicker. When removed battery measured 0.85 Volts. Still good enough to light a Sofirn C01.

Edit 1: added prototype clarification
Edit 2: added Zebralight result

I noticed exactly the same with my 5600K vs 3200K. If you are looking at the photophor die area, the one of the 5600K seems smaller and better defined as the one of the 3200K. Donā€™t know if there is a die area difference with same dome or a dome difference with same die area between them. Anyway, I really donā€™t care.

Somewhere earlier djozz mentioned that there were differences between the Yuji LEDs. I noticed this as well.

Left is the protoype C01; middle and right are two production run C01s from the same batch; the one on the left and right are more "rosy"; the one in the middle is more "yellow".

Still I like both better than my Zebralight H53Fc (high-CRI, 4000K, however with green tint). I guess I lost the Zebralight tint lottery :-(

Please bear in mind that these tints somehow look much more dramatic in this picture than in real life.

When using outside in real life even the Zebralight is actually quite good.

7:15 for a Gerber Infinity Ultra? That sounds awfully low, even if itā€™s with a AAA battery.

My GIU was recently ordered on Amazon.com. My goal was to experience this light as an AA form factor for a 5 mm flashlight, as according to Parametrek the GIU is the ultimate host for a Yuji LED. Perhaps my particular GIU is malfunctioning, or perhaps Gerber changed something to its driver recently in production, who knows?

The cause for the low runtime was not the IKEA AAA Alkalisk battery. After the GIU went dark, I transplanted the AAA alkaline battery into a Fenix E01 which run for 17:30 hours on moonlight. In the future I will try to repeat this test with the GIU, but first I have to acquire some new alkaleaks. Usually I only use NiMH cells.

Although I am disappointed by the low runtime of the GIU, I do like the sturdiness of the form factor, and the option to run both AAA (without adapter) as well as AA cells in this light. Perhaps it is possible to do some surgery on it and transplant a Sofirn C01 driver into it :smiley:

Why? Just have Sofirn make an AA version of the C01. :slight_smile:

That would be great!

Except in TV-remotes we donā€™t have many AAA batteries in our household, but we do have lots of AAā€™s.
Because the missus put new ones in her electric toothbrush as soon as she thinks the thing misses a beat.
The old batteries go into ā€œthe drawerā€. That has almost the hallmarks of creating a new ecosystem.
I would feel safer if we could put the more virulent ones down after they were totally drained.

Edit: and with an AAA to AA adapter you would have your own Gerbivore for a fraction of the price.

Thanks for the numbers, slowtechstef.

I was also considering putting these emitters in my two Gerber Infinity Uā€™s. Love that light. Carried one everywhere whien I was in the army. Lost at least two of them somewhere around the globe.

But with that runtime, Iā€™m not sure itā€™s worth it.

Any information on the Colored ones? I want to wait and order them together.

I cleaned up the Opening Post a bit and I added a tongue-in-cheek specifications page.

I sent Sofirn a message asking if they have a target date for availability of the red/blue version of the C01.
If/when I receive an answer, I will update.

I guess most people already know this little trick, but the cap of a (bees wax) lip balm fits nicely as diffuser for use as small (camping) lantern.

Yellow cap recommended for 5600K version of the C01.

Perfect :smiley: Great idea! I guess I was on the those that ā€œaskedā€ for a diffuser, but this seenā€¦I will withdraw my ā€œwantingsā€ :wink:
Thanks for the idea!

BTW, I guess my lights are still in Chinaā€¦ I ordered them on 11/11 :frowning: :person_facepalming:

I received the two 3200K C01ā€™s that I ordered today. Nice little lights, both 5 lumen flood, both 97CRI but one slightly rosier than the other.

The differences from the prototypes from what I can see sofar:
*unlike what slowtechstef mentioned, the clip is a bit different from the prototypes, less stiff, fits better around the light and is easier to remove and click into the groove again, I use a small screwdriver like this:

*the leds seem just a littlebit more protruded
*a magnet is perfect fit now but does not clamp, you need glue to fix one.
*the trit hole seems a bit smaller,(it was too large in the prototypes), but I canā€™t compare because Stef still has my prototypes.
*the switching on feels more firm than in the prototypes (circuitboard sits better in place)
*I have not opened up the driver/led cavity yet so have not checked the potting.

The C01 will have to proof itself over time but the signs are good sofar: we got all that the Fenix E01 already had, plus the Yuji leds, reversable clip, tailstanding, included splitring from which it hangs straight down, and a space for a magnet and tritium vial, for a better price.
And I think it looks better :slight_smile:

I ordered mine Nov. 10 and Nov. 11th. Theyā€™re still circling the China postal system.

Same thing here ! Weā€™ll wait :sunglasses:
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I still have the same payment problem.

ā€œReason: System error.
Suggestion: The system is busy. Please try again. ā€ And was told to try again later, but always the sameā€¦

So I re-ordered (this time one of each) and didnā€™t wait for discount, and the payment went through on PayPal right awayā€¦ so at least Iā€™ll getting mine sometime. :+1:

Thanks BLF ā€”- I think Iā€™m going to like this light. :slight_smile:

Ordered one of each available for now, many thanks to all involved in making it happen. Looking forward to seeing them, Iā€™ve an E01 i have always loved for itā€™s robustness but hated the tint, hopefully this will cure that!!

Had a first look at the potting, and it seems like thereā€™s good news for potting fans (and bad news for modders) : I tried poking with a needle at the side of the driver where the compound is exposed, and into the insertion hole in the driver, and on both positions I hit hard solid stuff. So at least the driver/led cavity is fully watertight separated from the battery compartment and at best the whole cavity is one hard brick of potting stuff.

Iā€™m not ready yet to break a C01 open to see which one it is.

I can confirm this as well with my production run C01s. When poking with a needle the white stuff feels hard and solid.
When comparing a Fenix E01 with a Sofirn C01 the potting material looks similarly white.

Did Sofirn ever communicate what material they actually use for potting the driver?
Some kind of epoxy, or some other material?