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

The SST-20’s are documented by Maukka to shift from moderately green at low output to neutral or moderately rosy at high output (at least, in the FB4 bin). The appeal of SST-20’s should not rosiness, as far as I know, but the combination of high CRI and decent throw. That said, I’m under the impression that the SST-20’s Fireflies got their hands on are a rosier bin.

The LH351D seems to mostly be available in a tint that tends slightly green, but it sounds like some batches can be a lot worse than others. LH351D will be pretty floody. The limited data I’ve seen suggest the tint shift across the beam and at differing currents is relatively small, which is good.

I don’t know what to say about your XP-L HI experience, as I don’t have any. Most people seem to like the 3A and 3D bins, and the reduced amount of tint-shift in the beam compared to the HD. “Purple” is normally how below BBL tint is described for cool white emitters, not 4000K. Maybe you received a different CCT than you ordered?

My personal plan, because red rendering is important to me and I’ve found myself ok with a slight amount of green in the beam as long as the tint shift to the spill is minimal, is to order the LH351D version, and also get an SST-20 triple board from Kaidomain, and compare both to see which I prefer.

I also plan to get some loose LH351D to experiment with slicing the domes to see if I like that. Djozz has found the LH351D looses about 20% output when slicing, but the tint tends to shift below the black body locus, and warms up by about 500K. If I like the results, I might try it on my FW3A.

In for 2!

This thread was concieved over nine months ago. I think it is time to start pushing.

Put me down for another light, so I can have one of each emitter type.
2 total

I look around and see some other lights I am interested in, but say NO to them as this light offers so much for so little money. Let’s hurry up and get this light so I can buy some others :wink:

Try a year and 9 months.
But patience grasshopper, we’re all waiting and there are a select few working on this that we all have to thank for their tremendous effort and dedication to the community.

This thread was “conceived” before you were even a member of BLF. “Conceived” Thu, 05/04/2017 - 06:50

You think “it is time to start pushing”??
Pushing for what??

Hopefully all will be correct ‘whenever the light is released’…… that beats “pushing” any day.

Buying flashlights is like buying guns. Once you think you’ve found the perfect one and buy it another one will turn up in a short amount of time that promises to be the last one you’ll ever buy. I have guns that I never shoot and flashlights that I never use other than wall shots. So in the end buy whatever strikes your fancy at the moment knowing that it will soon be destined for the storage bin :slight_smile:

After you’ve been around here for a while you learn to have some patience with the development progress of these project lights. They do take a while to get things right. It’s not like the forum members or the people in China have nothing else to do and can move a project from being a glimmer in someone’s imagination to a completed-available-for-purchase project in a short period. It will all come together when everybody involved in the design and production has completed their part.

Request:

- Have it accept LiFePo4 cells, somehow.

I’m gonna crawl out on a limb here & just tell you that “request” will be denied. :wink:

A special boost driver would be required with higher LVP than normal Li-Ion. Such driver would need to handle 30W+ and probably costs as much as the entire flashlight.

LiFePo4 18650s also have low capacity which makes it impractical for such high current draw.

I know. Just planting the seed.

With regard to capacity, sure, it would be about half… That’s acceptable to me. … And they do make high-drain LiFePo4 cells (~20A continuous, 70A pulse)

As for boost drivers and such, I’m going to start a new thread and flesh this out some more. I have some ideas… I mean, I know it’s possible to do this cheaply given all the 1 x AA lights out there — though probably at a much reduced throughput (far less than 30W).

put me down for one please! :smiley:

The only reason 1 x AA boost drivers are so cheap is because they are for 1 x AA. We are just now getting some aftermarket boost drivers that are powerful - about 50w. They are still expensive, though. It might be many more months or 2020 before we get a range of sizes. So I would not hold my breath for a FW3A specific boost driver.

It will accept LiFePO4 cells no problem. The driver will not mind. You do need low voltage leds to go with it though, not the XP-L or LH351D. If you can manage fit SST-20 leds or Luxeon V’s, you are good to go. It will cost you output on turbo (that was insanely bright anyway) but the lower modes will work until the batterie is mostly drained.

It may also be a good idea to modify the low voltage threshold in the firmware, but otherwise… yeah. It should work fine with LiFePO4 if it has an appropriate emitter. For example, some color XP-E2 emitters have particularly low Vf.

I am interested !

^ had not thought about the low voltage threshhold, that will be very annoying if the value is not changed.

If only there was an option to have my FW3A made with those colours :heart_eyes:
Since its no longer “straight off the lathe” it’d be incredible to have a colourful option :innocent:

That rey light is a 100$ or something right? i prefer the cleaner look on the fw3a and since its under 40$ i dont complain.