Just tested it. With the battery fresh off the charger at 4.20 volts, it was pull 4.75 amps (and creeping up) using a clamp meter and short, heavy wire. And that’s when I noticed my shirt was starting to smoke. Oops, you’d think I’d have learned that lesson by now, right?
The SST40 has a lower vF so the LH351D won’t be as bright or efficient. But if you’d prefer a warmer CCT and higher CRI, it might be a worthy swap for you. If you just want a warmer CCT and don’t care about CRI, grab a 5000K SST40. The SST40 is a 5050 footprint, while the LH351D is a 3535 footprint, so you might want a different centering gasket; not required but probably preferred. The LH351D beam would probably look just fine, both of these are fairly floody LEDs.
No thermal glue, just the usual white thermal paste.
Thank you so much for the info! 4000k LH351D 90 CRI would be ideal for me… Sounds like I’ll get myself a SP35 with some other components in a few days :laughing:
Yes. That screw keeps it from spinning. Pressure from the reflector holds it down. This is very common: many Sofirn’s, Convoy’s, etc all employ this design.
I like Sofirn, and have a few of their lights, but TBH these kinds of things are frustrating, and can be avoided. If the light isn’t done, then don’t start to produce and then ship them, instead of laying traps for customers who have to wonder whether their will unit fall within the batch with the bad reflector, the buggy driver, or whatever.
I have ordered the new SP35 with ATR a couple of days ago. It seems to arrive within the next days already. I try to do a comparison between the first and second revision with emphasis on the runtime/thermal analysis.
ATR now works to keep the temperatures at a safe level (54°C on mine)
The kit is now upgraded to a 5000 mAh battery (vs 4000 mAh originally)
This light has around 6% higher output than my first (non-ATR) SP35
The ATR over-reacts a bit. It’s actually fairly smooth (not jumpy) and each up-and-down cycle takes around 1 1/2 minutes so it’s somewhat gradual. You could probably tell if you stared at the beam on a white wall, but if you’re actually using the light as ya know, a flashlight, then you probably wouldn’t notice anything.
Yup. And Sofirn is now sending out 5000 mAh batteries with the SP35 (both versions I think), so runtime will be even longer. I have a lot of lights, but this one ranks up towards the top as far as value and overall usability go. I just wish the 5000K was an option when I got my lights. I see they added that recently. I might have to pick up some bare 5000K LEDs to swap in.
Nope, it is unrelated to the battery. Even though the new one came with a 5000 mAh battery, I used the original 4000 mAh battery in testing so that it wouldn’t be a factor. I feel the the longer runtime is largely due to the lower output (on average, over the course of the test).
From a safety standpoint, I think the one with ATR is better. If you feel comfortable monitoring temperatures on your own, the non-ATR version will give you more stable and predictable output.
My non-ATR unit from Amazon, the last of that version’s stock, came with the 5000mAh cell.
If there is to be a v2.0, I’d make the reflector OP, and change to a flat tail cap. Offer tint and body color options as well. And, better (or no) ATR, of course. I also think that the button can feel kind of not great, like noted on TLF, but that might be asking too much.
However, I’ve never gotten the sense that this is a popular light, at least from the level of buzz surrounding it. But, perhaps, that is due to it being more of a tool, rather than something to show off (for short bursts), like the pocket rockets.
