Hello everyone,
Important update [10/23/2020]:
Sofirn informed me they will work on a new AA flashlight design, replacing the SP10S design. Consequently, SP10R will be shifted onto the new AA schedule. Due to larger scale launches of other new models, SP10R will need to be postponed until further notice. Please stay tuned for any future updates.
Since Sofirn's C01R received a lot of great feedback and interest, maybe it's time for the next step and release another iteration of Sofirn's successful SP10 series, now using deep red light. I call it SP10R to follow the naming convention of its prececessors SP10A, SP10B, SP10 V2.0 and SP10S. Sofirn was able to get a bunch of Luminus SST20-DR (660nm) which are fortunately not as difficult to source as Nichia's E21A, reasonable in pricing and great in performance. For those of you who have not come into contact with photo red / deep red light, you are highly encouraged to check out Sofirn's C01R using XP-E2 photo red which is on sale already.
Here's the datasheet to Luminus's SST20-DR: https://download.luminus.com/datasheets/PDS-003040-Rev-04-SST-20-DR.pdf
A review of SP10S can be found here, if you are interested in the general look of the SP10S host design: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/70802
Sofirn SP10R
For reference only - a sample picture of SP10S, a predecessor using a white LH351D LED but similar in shape and size.
Typical applications:
- Low-light usage to maintain night vision capability
- Finding keys, stargazing, astrophotography...
- Military/outdoor use (reading maps, orientate without attracting attention, no attraction of insects)
- Ambient colorful illumination (nightstand, decoration)
Typical light color (taken from C01R using XP-E2 photo red):
Specifications:
| Emitter | Luminus SST20-DR (deep red) |
| Tint |
deep red (660nm dominant wavelength) |
| Dimensions | 88 mm (length) x 20 mm (head diameter) |
| Net weight | 38 grams |
| Output | to be assessed but brighter than C01R |
| Operating voltage | 0.9V - 4.2V |
|
Output/Modes (no actual numbers!) |
Firefly: 0.2lm (I=6-7mA) Low: 2-3lm (I=25mA) Medium: 30lm (I=250mA) High: 100lm (I=800mA) Turbo: 225lm (I=2.000mA) |
| Power |
1x 1.2V AA NiCd or 1x 1.2V AA NiMH or 1x 1.5V AA Alkaline or 1x 1.5V AA NiZn or 1x 3.2V 14500 LiFePO4 or 1x 3.7V 14500 Li-Ion |
| Switch Type | e-switch sideswitch |
| Reflector | Light OP reflector (as in SP10S) |
| Impact Resistance | 1m |
| Water Resistance | IPX-8 (2m) |
| Accessories |
Reversible clip 2x spare o-ring lanyard keyring clasp manual
14500 li-ion battery (not included) diffuser (not included) |
| UI (draft) |
Hold from OFF ► firefly mode (~0.2lm) 1 click ► ON/OFF Hold from ON ► Cycle modes low-medium-high (no mode memory from OFF) 2 clicks from ON/OFF ► Turbo ► 1 click back to turn OFF / 2 clicks to return to previous mode** 3 clicks from ON/OFF ► Strobe - SOS - Beacon* 4 clicks from OFF ► electronic lockout (on/off) * strobe modes will be removed completely ** will come into consideration |
|
Improvements over SP10S |
|
|
Further suggestions |
|
Current project status:
- Approval by Barry Lee (Sofirn) to start the project
- Interest check ongoing
Please express your interest below this post. Thank you!
Interest List:
| Forum member | Amount |
| Lux-Perpetua | 1 |
| lightdecay | 1 |
| id30209 | 1 |
| TMaxxJJ | 1 |
| MoreLumens | 1 |
| TimMc | 1 |
| nastynate | 1 |
| firstcipher | 1 |
| Blggg | 1 |
| Scientist | 1 |
| Grigio | 1 |
| Dougdimadome | 1 |
| netprince | 1 |
| casi29061965 | 1 |
| TheAuditor | 1 |
| mili111 | 2 |
| cothyhu77 | 1 |
| skinny_tie | 1 |
| Unheard | 1 |
| Marc E | 1 |
| LightintheNight (TLF) | 2 |
| Flaschenlampe (TLF) | 1 |
| Kosta(s) (TLF) | 1 |
| hypertonie (TLF) | 1 |
| t-soung (TLF) | 2 |
| Lew Zealand (TLF) | 1 |
| Dachfalter (TLF) | 1 |
| edcgermany (TLF) | 1 |
| oOFOXOo (TLF) | 1 |
| ahirshy | 1 |
| patmurris | 1 |
| wapd2 | 1 |
| rastaman (TLF) | 1 |
| Tarvandyr (TLF) | 1 |
| 0ssi1973 (TLF) | 1 |
| Genießer (TLF) | 1 |
| ibeQuint | 1 |
| 2Ace | 1 |
| sfrederik | 2 |
| d_t_a | 2 |
| GERFlash | 1 |
| ReManG | 1 |
| Lightbringer | 1 |
| Minocc | 1 |
| mountainair26 | 1 |
| goshdogit | 1 |
| Chronovore | 1 |
| Gunga | 1 |
| elbugatti (TLF) | 1 |
| Carringdon (TLF) | 1 |
| Kabukimann (TLF) | 1 |
| der_horst (TLF) | 1 |
| maildroid | 1 |
| caramba | 2 |
| SwissFlashy | 2 |
| matik42 | 1 |
| lamppu | 1 |
| Sean Ingram | 1 |
| WalkIntoTheLight | 1 |
| DaveyC | 1 |
| james0tucson | 1 |
| adam7027 | 2 |
| Sillen | 1 |
| Gr8Scott | 2 |
| rost333 | 2 |
|
Total amount (as of 09/13/2020) |
75 |
Disclaimer:
Since this plan may eventually lead into an actual sales/groupbuy thread, I have decided to put this in the commercial sellers / BLF user negotiated deals subforum.
reserved
Nice! SST-20-DR (660nm) is a great LED.
In!
WTB Titanium 4sevens 2xAA tube
Yes please!
Well why not. Interested!
I really like my C01R but I would much rather have a dual red+white LED for an AA light.
Interested
Interested in one.
Interested
Interested.
Going with the trend I guess a red led SP40 will come along with a better UI?
I will probably get another one over my wife’s objections.
Please illuminate responsibly
Part time fragmented conciousness technician
UV triple using Sofirn C8F
395nm High Power LED in Sofirn SC31b
Yes.. interested in one!
how great compared to other similar red leds?
...where Frugal meets with Flashlight!
つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
Interested
Interested, thanks!
Interested.
Like this?
Well, this would mean a complete new host and reflector design which is probably too much an effort. However, I will keep your idea in mind as it's interesting.
Alternatively, you could try looking for a flashlight like EagleTac D25LC2 Color using the (rather old) XM-L Color LED, with RGBW tints in one LED.
I'm not sure if a red SP40 would get a lot of interest. But Wurkkos's HD20 with dual emitter layout might be a good host for using both white and red light in one headlamp.
That's the right attitude!
Buying just another one exclusively for your wife might let her forget any objections. 
I am afraid there's not much to compare this LED with. Cree's XP-E2 photo red is (presumably) less powerful and smaller in die size. Luminus has its direct competitor, SST10-DR with similar characteristics. My hopes are that SST20-DR will sustain more current, have more output at slightly larger dome size and will fit better to the SP10S driver supporting li-ion batteries.
Interested
Bonum commune communitatis.
Yarp.
In for two
Interested. I hope if this project does go through some of its improvements can trickle over to the SP10S.
SOS in a red-only AA light? Really?
Pass.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
The far red light is only medically useful for people over 40 years old, according to the published research.
I’m interested, but whether or not I purchase one will depend on the UI.
I think the draft UI looks similar to the Olight Baton UI, which is one of my favourites, but I do have some concerns:
What's the matter with SOS in a red light? Actually, SOS and maybe Beacon are the only modes that make sense to me. But, it's not up to me and as stated in the OP this is a draft UI, so suggestions are always appreciated.
That would be inconsistent with any of the other Sofirn flashlight UIs. One click from Turbo always gets you back to the previous (standard) mode, if I recall correctly. So far, I did not receive or see any significant feedback that this behaviour should really be changed. I remember that we had a brief discussion about this on Wurkkos's new HD20 headlamp thread. If the majority here wants this to be changed, I will be glad to discuss it with Sofirn.
Agreed, thanks. I will update the draft UI.
I understand that the entire strobe modes are open for discussion. IMHO, I could live without any strobe modes but it seems I underestimated the demand for these modes. So, maybe let's just use the classic option of all three modes (Buzzing Strobe - SOS - Beacon).
Anyway, OP is updated accordingly.
Fortunately, I have no use case for another deep red light. Might be interested nontheless if this one has much more power.
Smile, you cannot kill them all.
Depends on what you expect as "much more".
If you want it reeeaaally bright and deep red, then Hank's Noctigon KR4 or Emisar D4v2 with 4x SST20-DR might be the right thing.
Nah, since I have no real use, it must be inexpensive
Much more power = notably brighter. I know the battery format is very limiting.
Smile, you cannot kill them all.
Actually, I was rather impressed with the maximum brightness of XP-E2 photo red in C01R. Let's see what Sofirn can squeeze out of an SST20-DR using the SP10S driver (with some adjustments, of course).
The firefly in my SP10S is absurdly low. But I guess that the modes will be made again for this version
link to djozz tests
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