Andúril 2 coming to Sofirn - The general Sofirn development thread

I should’ve clarified - I want the tail switches as lockouts, so I don’t want the main functionality of START_AT_MEMORIZED_LEVEL. But for my lights with lit side switches, I also don’t want the power-on flash (since the switch lights up anyway).

A few issues. It would need a high-power buck driver. I’m not aware of anything that high power except maybe on some larger-diameter (soda-can) lights maybe? But 2x26650 in series would only be asked for around 10A total with a buck driver, way easier than direct-driving XHP70.2 hard. More pressing is the reflector, which Sofirn never really got fine-tuned to our satisfaction to begin with. There were also serious issues with trying to get a SMO reflector out of them, let alone getting them to focus that right either. Those issues alone would add cost, and then the SBT90.2 itself would tack on $45-ish, so we’d be seeing a $100 light minimum by my guess. Easier would be to throw a shorty tube on there, ream the reflector hole out, and let it be another generic SBT90.2 light.

Just a side note. The SMO reflector showed only a tiny increase in throw over the very light OP reflector, but it looked ugly doing it. The OP is the better choice.

I agree with all the rest. That form factor of 26650 in series just does not lend itself very well to a high powered 3 volt light.

Yeah, my recollection was that, based on other reflectors of similar diameter, they never even got the focus right. XHP70.2 donut-holes aside.

Well, I’m finally getting around to driver-swapping mine soon. I tore the old driver out in a fit of rage at the UI a long time ago. In particular, I really wanted to be able to go off > moonlight > ramp up, and I just couldn’t. My C8F is doing the same thing, and getting the same treatment here shortly (driver swap).

Yes. In anduril.c, look in setup() for the part where it says “blink at power-on”, and then comment out that part. Here’s a direct link to setup() in the latest code. I hope it makes sense.

I don’t recall seeing this anywhere but let me float an idea. How about a AA sized C01S. It could be called the C02S and would be an excellent replacement for the now far outdated infinity ultra! Man I would definitely buy a few. Especially if you could make it work as an omnivore with AAA as well in a pinch.

I would enjoy Sofirn AA / 14500 headlamp - low- med- high very simple UI, short and as lightweight as possible and with a decent head strap along the lines of the ACEBeam H40 head strap, the ACEBeam head strap is top notch.
And colors.
That would get my money.

I’d be all over this too - something similar to the H40 but in traditional angled light format so it would work better for handheld use. Sub-lumen moonlight is a must-have for any headlamp I buy though.

Good idea like moon-light or even fire fly. Also no blinking modes.

On checking Sofirn flashlights that use AA/14500 battery, I notice that only the SP10S (LH351D) is still available.

The SP10v2.0 (XP-G2), which is an update to the SP10B; or the tail-button SF14v2.0 (update of the SF14, which use XP-G2) doesn’t seem to be listed anymore — are these XP-G2 AA/14500 flashlights or tail-button-operated AA/14500 flashlights now undergoing a revamp or just plain discontinued?

When someone asks me looking for a tail-button operated AA/14500 flashlight, I used to suggest the SF14v2.0 (along with the Lumintop Tool AA). The Thorfire TG06S is very similar to the SF14/SF14v2.0, but seems to be hard to find now too, so that only leaves the Tool AA 2.0 as the currently-available (budget-priced and acceptably good quality) option for tail-button operated AA/14500 flashlight.

So, would there be any development from Sofirn for an updated tail-button operated (AA/14500) flashlight?

Yes please!

[quote=hodor]

Also interested in this. The Tool AA needs more competitors in its class.

I would like a tail button operated too.

Also would like a nice 90 angle flashlight headlamp that use AA.

This, with good tints and no PWM.

One of my favorite flashlights is the recently discontinued L11C. I have a 3-mode neutral white with Nichia 219 and a modded 2700K with SST-20. They are fantastic pocket lights.

One of my favourites also. I have the 4-mode 219C. It’s so slim and has perfect mode spacing. I don’t use it as much as I should due to all the reported durability/reliability issues (might only be for the L10/L10C but can’t remember).

I just noticed there is a new update (it may or may not be new...) for the Convoy T2 -- I ordered the Nichia 219C 4000k & 5700k to check (previous Convoy T2 only use XP-G2).

Whereas:
previous T2
- only supported AA officially (14500 not officially)
- uses slow PWM (likely visible to people sensitive to PWM) on non-max brightness levels

I notice the new T2 now:
- doesn't have PWM in all brightness levels when using AA batteries,
- it uses "fast PWM" (likely not visible) when on lower modes while using 14500 battery (max brightness has NoPWM).

This is a tail-clicky AA/14500 flashlight and the Nichia 219C (at least the sample I got looks good tint -- not as good as my rosy 219B, but appears better than some 'greenish' 219C I've previously experienced from some Convoy flashlights).

I think Sofirn has not used Nichia LEDs yet on any of their flashlights (instead going for LH351D and SST20 for their high-CRI series)... although there is talk about the C01S or is it the SP10 series to use Nichia EA-series LEDs for good high-CRI?

This, a simple UI of firefly and full power would be great. Always starts on firefly.

I'm happy to see so much response on the idea of a Sofirn AA headlamp. It seems Sofirn is also interested. I quickly drew a design how it could look like in my imagination. As always, any feedback is highly appreciated. :-)

There are plenty of possibilities, like using a dual-optic design or a single-optic design (with a multi-emitter setup underneath like Armytek's Wizard WR). Since 300lm should be fine for a AA-sized and driven headlamp, maybe Nichia's E21A 98CRI could be a viable option (provided that Sofirn can get ahold of this LED). The driver should support a constant current regulation where both red and white light is fully regulated throughout the entire battery runtime. The USB-C port is probably disputable as these rubber boots get lost too easily. OTOH, I don't think magnetic charging (like Armytek/Olight) or a port inside the threads will be better options.

I am definitely interested if the finished product is similar to the sketch here. However, if it is not as light or lighter than my SKILHUNT H04 (46 g excluding battery) then there’s not much point for me; and Sofirn hasn’t really made any truly small lights. Most of their lights seem to be a tiny bit larger than most of their competitors.

Could Sofirn offer flashlights with sliced LH351D as an option?

Slicing leads to a warmer rosier tint with 10–20 less output.

That’s likely a manual process, also error-prone (slicing crooked, taking part of the phosphor with it, killing the LED itself, etc.), so I’d seriously doubt it.