lume1 for FW3A/C/T - Constant Current Buck Boost + FET Driver with Anduril - Now for Sale!

The preorder for the mokume / Damast versions of the FW3A indicate plans to use this driver and auxiliary lights: LUMINTOP FW3A Mokume/Damast Deposit – Nealsgadgets

Does this mean Lumintop is going to manufacture these? Any impact on this potential group buy? If nothing else, I would really appreciate it if we could get a Lumintop spring attached. Ideally, loneoceans gets paid for his hard work and these become widely available at a reasonable price :slight_smile:

Hello everyone,

Many thanks to all the people who have expressed interest!

There have been some new developments which I think benefit everyone. Neal from Nealsgadgets came across this project and expressed interest, so we are now working on a collaboration for Neal and his team to produce the lume1 drivers. Because of their significantly higher volume capability, they will be able to get the drivers at a lower cost than this group buy, and probably with much better shipping logistics and cost as well!

We hadn't finalized the details, pricing etc yet, so I was planning to get those details finalized before posting. However, as asdqqq pointed out, it looks like Neal has mentioned this driver in the limited edition run of FW3 flashlights. The plan is to also for Neal to be able to offer these drivers as a standalone driver for sale. We are currently working on the details for manufacturing and so on, so please hang tight. Eventually, the idea is to be able to purchase these drivers directly from www.nealsgadgets.com, and also possibly in future flashlights.

Thanks and please look forward to more details coming up!

:+1: :+1:

Thanks for the update. Sounds like a good solution.

Awesome!

Many thanks for your efforts.

So if Neal is going to be handling this, and he has links with Lumintop, does that mean the springs will either come installed or at least available to purchase?

Sounds interesting. Hopefully they don’t cheap out on the components.

Good point Scallywag. Component quality should be maintained.

Yes, Lumintop did mention that the BOM cost was higher than preferred, which is understandable. They also have a business to run, so it makes sense for them to use the lowest cost components.

The Lume1 driver was designed with quality and performance first, and cost as a secondary priority (though I also tried to keep the cost as low as would meet the requirements I had set). I communicated to Neal and Lumintop that this driver will be more expensive, but I think will still be popular as an upgrade option over the stock driver, and people would be happy to pay a slight premium for better quality.

In addition, I highly suggested to them to use the specific components specified in my BOM, and highlighted the critical components that should not be swapped out. All these are still in discussion, but it's very useful to know that people are willing to pay a little more for a higher quality product! If members here let Neal that they are willing to pay a little more, than these cost concerns can be mitigated.

Thanks everyone for your support again!

I’m willing to pay more to get high-quality components on this driver.

IMO, there isn’t much of a point to spend say $12 on a driver that I don’t need and has cut-corners vs paying what $18 and getting what it was supposed to be.

This is a premium product designed solely to be as efficient and reliable as possible.

Want a cheap FWxx driver that works okay? Use the stock one, I say!

I totally agree with this sentiment.

While I’m glad that Lumintop building the driver might mean it’s available to purchase beyond the initial group buy, I think we’ll have to watch out for them starting to cut corners after the initial batch.

Subscribed now the list is moot.

Certainly hope it doesn’t cheap out, it’s not like the stock driver is bad, it’s just not as efficient as it could be. I want the best it can be!
Very keen to get these putting out less heat, the heat that comes off a fresh cell is insane and unnecessary.

Theres also most no limit to the amount of lights I would be willing to pay a premium for for a proper switching driver.

Now if Neal would just respond or ship out my last order I’d be happy.

Any idea of a rough time frame for these?
6 weeks? 6 months? 6 years?

Is there also any chance an arrangement could be organised whereby the original interest list get first dibs on batch 1?
Would suck to lose out to the public after all of this.

Thanks everyone with the support. I'll continue to reiterate to Neal that using the proper designated components for the driver even at a slightly higher cost is much preferred over cutting corners.

For the rough time frame, I don't have specific dates myself yet and will post updates as soon as I receive them from Neal or Lumintop. However, Neal has conveyed to me that the drivers are indeed in production at the PCB factory, and the first batch will be done in a week or two at least. The initial idea Neal has is to incorporate these drivers in the new special-edition FW3 flashlights (Mokume and Damast metal versions), and to also sell the drivers standalone. So I'm expecting the timeline to be more like 2-4 weeks instead of months. I am just as anxious as you are in getting these drivers produced! I'll convey to Neal about the original interest list, but I'm pretty sure the number of drivers produced will exceed the total number reflected in the interest list since greater production quantity = lower cost.

I can’t say it better so I’ll quote it.

This. Anyone going for a premium upgrade component like this will want premium components on it and is willing to spend a few extra $ to make that happen.

That’s great to hear that your design’s going into mass production. Be proud of it!

Can’t wait till I can get my hands on one.

I am going to get a few of these drivers with RGB boards to replace in all my FW3A lights, ONLY if they are produced with the matterials proposed by the designer. No cut corners for me please.

I have little faith that Neal and Lumintop won’t value engineer this into a lower-quality product eventually. I guess I’d best get mine early.

But to echo what’s been said, I’m content with a higher price if it means the components will be high-quality and consistent over time. I’d have been happy to pay more for my FW3A if it was better-made as well, and kind of wish the project hadn’t been trying for a $30 price point.

If anybody involved in the business side of things is reading this thread, know that the availability of this driver will cause me to buy an FW1A, and possibly more FW series lights.

In for 1

Edit: just noticed the update :person_facepalming:

Looking forward to when theyre available :smiley: