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 
Looking forward to when theyre available 
How much cost could we possibly be talking about? Decent FETs are around $1 in low quantities. In bulk, there can’t be more than pennies to save there.
I know integrated boost modules are more complex, and this will be one of the critical components of this driver, but even the big one I see in the GXB172 parts list is $2 in moderate quantities.
I doubt there’s a single person interested in this driver, much less a premium light like an FW3exotic, who wants the efficiency of a boost-buck driver over a linear driver, but would trade 5 percentage points of efficiency for $1-2 in cost savings.
Basically, this driver should be popular if it is well made, but if it doesn’t have the same performance as the prototype because the manufacturer tried to save a buck by substituting parts, it will ruin the business case.
Pretty sure I read in one of Lexel’s thread the FET was changed in the FW3A after only the first batch or two. People can change components for reasons other than cost as well. I agree with zak’s sentiment. Assuming they even get the first version right it’s probably going to be the most authentic one.
Good point. I would probably really like this driver with a single emitter… Especially something with low Vf. Where’d I put those Luxeon Vs…
Boost for nothing… driver is for 3v LED
My recollection is a good buck-boost driver is still more efficient than a linear driver for intermediate and low modes. Turbo should have the same efficiency.
A boost driver to enable use of higher voltage emitters in the FW3A would be pointless. 20mm direct copper triple stars for larger than XP footprint don’t exist. And even if they did, 20mm optics for larger emitters also don’t exist. It probably wouldn’t be too hard to get a custom star made, but making a custom optic is a whole other deal.
Exactly, boost when the Vin is 4.2V and LED is 2.8Vf or 3Vf.
The driver still has high resistance in direct drive, right?