This is a welcomed thread; I just purchased the Thorfire TD01 and while it is only 18650 powered, it is really has same basic setup with the rotary switch. I purchased it for the waterproof depth though I’m not a diver.
The main difference between the two appears to be the lumen outputs and the rotary levels; the Thorfire’s first “notch” is high as opposed to low with the Sofirn. I have, however, noticed a slight delay of sorts that allows me to twist all the way to low before the light actually turns on. This must be done pretty quickly though…
@Hoosh, thank you for pointing out the TD01. Yes, similar lights.
Last night when I took the beam shots, it was kind of bound to happen but it fell one time on the ground and the soil is a lot like sand. Just from that minor drop, enough got under the switch ring to bind just a bit. I washed it twice but still doesn't feel exactly the same. I noticed some instructions with the Thorfire product that mentioned lubricating the switch so I'm curious if anyone can tell me what lubricant is recommended. One concern I have is that some lubricants may eat at the anodization. Others may trap grit under the ring.
It would be great to hear from any divers on the forum.
Thanks for posting the pictures It gives a glimpse of what it does! Being a simple light, I am tempted to buy it and leave it at my parents home for them to use . I’m only afraid of heat on high mode…
You're welcome! I added a few more from a 'formal' camera and the light was mounted. The heat is something but nothing like a D4. Medium isn't too bad.
With regard to your parents (and not to spoil the fun of getting one of these SD05s), you could get them some Sofirn SC31s and replace the XP-G3 with some SST-20s. Perhaps one with a 5000K and the other with 3000K or 4000K. The low would be much lower than this dive light and the switch's so-called breathing feature could help them in locating it at night. Not much heat either. I suspect you have a number of models in mind but that's what I bought for my mom.
It seems to work like a charm. I did not manage to drive it beyond 55°C (ATR thermal threshold for stepdown) even when restarting the high-mode. It would be nice to run the SD05 without time-triggered stepdowns.
I think the problem is the ferrous composition of some sand grains that is attracted by the magnet in the switch ring.
Try compressed air, or with a more powerful magnet
Water rinsing took care of the issue but I'm still a little wary about the grit. I wish I could see the underside of the ring just to see how stuff can get stuck. Sometimes, pressurized air can push stuff further in to where you don't want it so gotta be careful. Ferrous materials could come out in that manner. Just depends on the underside of the ring.
I have been looking for a new budget light since i buy for poverty people in provinces that provide foods for their families by fishing daily and was looking into this one.
Just got a bit skeptical reading the “manual” and was wondering if anyone have the estimated time it actual manages to run? (lets say the included 4000mah 21700 battery states the below)
low 300 = 8.16h
mid 900 = 2.30h
high 2550 = 1.38h
Comparing other lights with a single battery and simular inputs this sounds to be way way off
Assume you have 15Wh of energy (4Ah x 3,7V avg)
The turbo high (~24W?) switches to medium(12W) after 3 minutes.
At the end of discharge this so called ‘high mode’ is probably only 7-8W.
So dividing 15Wh by average 10-11W gives good aproximation of ~1.5h.
Looking at the run time graph in the review, the actual is 2.2 hrs for my sample (starting from turbo). Low is approximately 300 lumens and bright enough for many tasks.
I'll set up a run on the low mode, tonight. Report to follow...
Following up, the light ran for 8 hrs 20 minutes where it dropped from 900-475 lux (300-150 lm) down to 281 lux and below. I shut it off & found voltage to be at 2.7V.
I’ve noticed and increase in shark activity in my swimming pools so I wonder…….will it repel sharks?
What is interesting about his is that I can use it in highly “wet” areas. Like if a snowblower jams at night, I can use it without worrying about water melting on it and causing a lithium bonfire. Or using and abusing it through wet work gloves. That already happened to me last winter and even though the flashlights are “waterproof” I was a bit concerned about snow melting on it. Although it did keep it cool!
I wrote on a previous post I don’t need another flashlight…….yeah, right……
I ordered the flashlight on Aliexpress. Waiting for delivery. Flashlight is simple to use rotating ring and is also suitable as a gift for the older person. You can see exactly what mode is set. It may not be easy for the elderly to select modes by pressing a button. I turn the ring and it’s done.
It gives a glimpse of what it does! Being a simple light, I am tempted to buy it and leave it at my parents home for them to use . I’m only afraid of heat on high mode…
