[Review] Sofirn SC31 Pro - now with Anduril & USB-C

So… I need to come back and apologize. This is a bit embarrassing to say. I’ve had a mis-understanding about Anduril after using D4 V2 UI (“RampingIOS”) so much. I’m accustomed to “double click from off” being a shortcut to Turbo. But by default in Anduril, that is a shortcut to the top the ceiling… not Turbo. What an idiot. :person_facepalming:

I just re-ran the test using the included Sofirn battery, actually hitting TURBO, not the ceiling. Much better now! My sincere apologies everyone. :frowning:

updating the OP now

You are not the first to make this mistake.

I not only made the mistake but completely forgot that the manual, I just praised for its clarity, made it clear that a double click from off means top of ramp. Thought I discovered an undocumented feature when it got brighter on a double click :person_facepalming: That was an embarrassing post.

Thanks for the charts! The top of ramp runtime confirms my experience. I think with the thermal control this light really punches above its weight in sustained output. Much closer to something like a C8 than I would expect. Truly amazing to me how far these tube lights are able to go.

Yeah, I thought all my SP36es were just underachievers ’til I found out about the other 2click being necessary.

With my SP31pro, I did the config thing with buzz-1click-buzz-1click to ramp from min to max. So now 2click to ceiling goes right to “turbo”/max.

Nope :innocent:

Looks great, thanks for the review :beer:

I was asked by a friend today. As to just how long this SC31 Pro will go, with the switch glowing, before the battery will need charging again. I can’t seem to find that information anywhere. Does anyone here know?

I have ordered this SC31 Pro tonight now, for myself. To check the paperwork in the package when it arrives. To see if that info is in there. Just in case no one here knows. I do see Sofirn in this thread though, so maybe we can get this answer from them?

Also, while I’m thinking about it. Will Anduril firmware 2020-03-18 kill the power to the glow switch, before the battery gets terribly low? Saving some light for the user, for example. Who may have left the light in the drawer for several months, and then all of a sudden one day. They find themselves REALLY needing a light. :slight_smile:

Ummm, on low, on high, or on… “animated”? Hesitate to call it “heartbeat” unless ventricular fibrillation counts.

Don’t want it lit, turn it off. 7 clicks to cycle through off/low/high/vfib.

“with the switch glowing” – So the switch glow can be programmed? Very nice!

Not that a simple lock-out can’t be done, but my friend is a non-flashaholic. So he’s likely to leave it in a drawer long term, with the switch glowing. After laying in there for say 3 or 4 months though. He’s not likely to remember the 7-clicks programming sequence. Heck, I often do not remember either! Big Smile
He may also want the switch to glow, during that time.

I will give him some instruction, and a couple of tips and tricks, but how much will he remember? I don’t know, but for the average non-flashaholic. Who will likely just leave it in a drawer glowing. I’m looking for that approx. time frame/battery life.

Now correct me if I am wrong? My understanding of low voltage protection, is that when kicked-in. The main LED light is prevented from turning on. I have never read, or seen any talk about this also killing the power to a glowing switch. If so programmed to remain on.

Wellp, let’s put it this way… even a car’s big honkin’ battery can go dead if you let the car sit unattended a month or two, yet no one complains about that as a defect.

Anyone who’d expect a light to still have juice left after being abandoned in a drawer or closet for months should just get a cheepcheepcheep plastic D-cell light from CVS. Don’t even waste a Maglite, ’cause it’s cheaper to toss the cheap light once the alkaleaks do their thing.

I seem to remember that LVP only works when the light is in use, not when sitting in the off state. TK is the person to ask. You could use a protected cell to be sure.

Nice review!

Does the lamp charge from an USB-C power supply?
Or has it the same issues like the first version of the lantern: Only charging from USB-A sockets.

Sorry, I can’t remember if I tested that. And I let my SC31 Pro go home with a friend, so I can’t test it now. Hopefully someone else can chime in. I know some of the newer Sofirn/Wurkkos lights can indeed be charged with USB-C to USB-C.

The SC31 Pro flashlights that I have will not charge using a normal USB-C to USB-C cable from any of the USB-C ports on my chargers.

For my chargers with USB-C ports that would not charge the SC31 Pro with a USB-C to USB-C cable, I use the following USB-C to USB-A adapter with the adapter plugged into the USB-C port of the charger and a cable with USB-A to USB-C connectors plugged into the adapter and the SC31 Pro. The adapter is uni-direction and the adapter's USB-C connector must be plugged into the USB-C port supplying the charge to work correctly.

This is the adapter I use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01COOQIKU/?coliid=IV4GZ9O3TCL91&colid=1CL6JB47UP1YF&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Is the stock 18650 cell the best we can use here? or any trials with different cells? can i use high drain imr please?thanks

Yes, you could absolutely use a high-drain cell. Sorry, I don’t have any tests right now with those. I doubt you’ll see a ton of difference because Anduril’s thermal throttling will likely kick in before you have to worry much about voltage sag. Just a thought, reality could be different.

ok.thank you.i will try it:)

Thanks for this great review! :+1:

I have just ordered a SC31 Pro in 5000k. :slight_smile:

According to the review, the Sofirn-branded cell is a button top battery. Does anyone know, if flat top 18650s will work as well in the SC31 Pro without any problems?
Thanks a lot in advance!

Sofirn only sells BT versions of their cells so that they can be dropped into Q8s, SP36es, etc., which need BTs.

FTs will work, too, as the ’31 has a spring on the driver side (just looked to doublecheck).

Perfect! Thanks a lot for your quick reply! :slight_smile: