New Sofirn SP33 V3 !!

Hi All
I have been following this thread with interest as I had a SP33 V3 on order. It arrived a couple of days ago.

I am very happy with it. I ordered it with a battery so I’m not sure if the included battery can provde enough amps to allow LED to run at its max brightness but in Turb mode it is still very very bright, quite enought for the WOW factor :laughing: I dont have any other 26650 to test, may see what 18650s I have.
I find the switch a bit of a problem, it does need improvement. I have to click it just right otherwise it dosn’t respond. Probably as I get used to the switch it will ‘improve’. The 2 ‘ramps’ are a bonus.
I really like the built-in charging, the main reason I bought it, plus the extended run time with the big battery.
My Convoy C8 has a better throw so this complements it quite nicely.

cm64,imo the Sofirn 26650 5500mAh is a good cell but there are better.

If you want the longest run times then look for greatest capacity.The ShockLi 26650 5500mAH comes close to or goes over 6000mAH in testing the 2 I have.They offer capacity and continuous 20A to 30A

Some here on the forum recommend the Golisi Gold 26650 4300mAH for max lumens.

A Molicel 21700 4200mAh 45A in the plastic sleeve may also give some measure of higher lumens.

I don’t know if banggood sold me a fake Shockli 26650 cell or what but my orbotronics 26650 Cells blow the Shokli out of the sky . When I compare them at same voltage I get much more lumens out of orbotronics 22a continuous discharge

Which cells?
Orbtronic 5750mah and Shockli 5500mah?

Those should be the same cell, the PLB-55. Do the ends look identical? Does your charger show about the same internal resistance (clean contacts, try several times, only use the lowest few results). Have you tried measuring their capacity?

BTW, what is “22a”? Orbtronic only shows a 30A rating which is not the continuous rating. Did you measure 22 amps? If so, how did you measure and what was the amps for the Shockli?

I need to get home to check the exact batteries I used. The 30a is written on the orbotronics but the description of the cell states 30a discharge is momentary and continuous is 22a. I didn’t measure the capacity, will need to do more testing to answer the other questions, but I believe the capacity you listed is what I had. I only checked the lumen output between the two at several different voltages ( same voltages for both batteries) and the difference was striking

Banggood should only be selling legit cells. If it looks or measures to be a cell other than the Shockli 5500mah then they may have received some bogus cells. You should let them know along with how you figured it out. They should then send you some genuine cells if they have them in stock or else they may have to wait for a new shipment.

If it appears to be a genuine Shockli, make sure the ends are clean. Any sticky residue or build up can add resistance and FET powered lights are sensitive to that.

Also, how are you measuring the difference in output, just by eye or a lux meter and ceiling bounce? Judging by eye can be deceptive. Ceiling bounce can be more accurate if measured consistently.

Can you measure amp draws? This would tell you a lot right away.

I have built a light box and measuring lumen output with a lux meter in the box. Ceiling bounce would favor throwers tremendously. The contacts appeared clean. I will try to measure amp draws

Are the ShockLi 26650 green or black?

Mine was black

I purchased my black ShockLi from Mountain Electronics LLC in Utah($8.50 ea).

A discharge capacity test of both were well over 6000mAh

My Sofirn 26650 5500mAh just barely makes it to 5500mAh

“I see all their reviews are 5 stars.” — Whenever I submitted a negative review to Banggood, as I did about a seriously-defective Astrolux MF01S they shipped me, Banggood refused to post the review. All the reviews Banggood shows on the MF01S are positive yet I’m certainly not the only person who received a defective MF01S.

Yeah, might be biased.

Ceiling bounce is fine when you are comparing batteries or mods. It’s the same flashlight so the same beam angle. It’s not so great when you start comparing different models of lights. For battery tests it’s okay.

A light box is better and should be consistent enough to test differences in batteries. I would only test fully charged cells. FET lights are known for their inconsistent output, but if you did several tests, that should rule out contact issues in the battery tube and springs. The only variable is the battery and assuming they are the same length, to eliminate differences in the compressed spring height, it should be a pretty accurate test.

Make a note that heat can be a factor. A room temperature light can be brighter than one that’s been heated up. Maybe test the first battery for 10 to 15 seconds so the output has a chance to stabilize a little. Allow it to cool a bit before testing the second battery for the same duration.

If there is a decently large difference in the output then I think it has to be the battery.

Using a clamp meter to measure amp draws is a bit simpler. It eliminates the heat related output differences you get from the led.

Using a Samsung 40T 21700

Turn On - 3700
20 sec - 3500
30 - 3420

That is excellent for no mods. Very close to Sofirn’s rating, I’m very surprised

I’m not liking that in ramping you have to wait 3 seconds to ramp if starting it on the lowest level

Can anyone tell me - when you are using the smooth ramping mode - can you set it at about 800 lumen and turn off. Will I be able to access moonlight, 800 lm and Turbo? I use these 3 levels a lot. Lights using NarsilM or Anduril lose their programmed level when you access moonlight which is a bummer.

On the V2 I can access all 3 levels any time I want which is nice.

Yes, but you can’t go from moonlight (long press) to the programmed/ramped 800 lumen mode (short press), as far as I know. Turbo is double press.

From moonlight, if you start ramping that will become your new programmed mode. If you turn off from moonlight and then turn on, your previously programmed (800 lumen) mode will be there.

Yes.

Long press - Moonlight - single press - Off - single press - set ramp - double press - Turbo - single press - set ramp - single press - Off

From off the usual double press is instant Turbo

I’m absolutely loving the IF25

Nice, I think I’ll buy one.

Has anyone seen this new driver?

I was going to take pics for you but….it’s glued :frowning: the bezel isn’t though so that’s one less obstacle