Led4power.com : LD-4 CC linear drivers, ILC-0/1 illuminated tailcaps, optics, MOSX, copper DTP MCPCBs...

It’s the screwy new UK import rules. I am not clear on exactly how it all works, but it seems that for small sales the seller/exporter has to be registered with UK customs AND the seller must collect and submit the taxes that are due. Otherwise the UK may decide to reject the parcel and who know what happens to it then. BUT if it is a more expensive sale/package (more taxes due and worth the UK Customs bother) then the UK will accept the import and collect the taxes itself. Something screwy along those lines; I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to figure it out.

MF01 mini is not a Ledil optic. It is some proprietary part which is one reason I never bought a MF01mini.

If a few of us were to place orders that together totalled over £135 and request they all be shipped to the same address in the UK in the same parcel would that count as a single order over £135?

Some info:

https://www.globalvatcompliance.com/brexit-goods-below-135/

DPD

One "group buy" order (one invoice, one shipping address) should be ok if I understood this correctly.

I'm not against VAT charge/collection, but forcing international sellers to do that is ridiculous (and it can actually be against local tax laws), similar thing exist for US, but it becomes mandatory for quite large total sales, something like 100,000$+ (depends on state).

Regarding drivers, LD-x4 drivers are out stock because I'm waiting for some parts from Mouser, they will be in stock in a few days.

Glad your back Neven…. Order #L4P2641 :beer:

Freaking Boris Johnson! What did you get with your stupid Brexit? You are only capable of killing small and valuable UK and other Europe online store merchant community as well as their buyers! Why? You’ll not have more money in your state budget anyway… You’ve downgraded and crippled online shops you blonde freak!

C11805_ANNA-40-6-S

~15° spot beam with 6 optics

They're in stock now - although, a few less than earlier, because I ordered some ;)

Some bad news regarding shipping: there is no more cheaper non-tracked shipping option available, only more expensive registered airmail is available.

In case some buyers wonder why they have received tracking number when they chose cheaper non-tracked shipping option, I sent all such orders via registered mail for reason mentioned above without additional payment to simplify things.

They were probably thinking that they might not have enough tax collectors. I might be wrong, but I haven’t found any VAT exempts, so each and every parcel must be processed. Is that correct?

I got information that from 1st July 2021 similar rules will be valid for all EU member states - every business inside EU will have to collect VAT tax for each other EU country separately - if buyer is from EU.

This can be done by registering for VAT collection in each separate country (big no), or through OSS system.

In any case this becomes real pita for all businesses (website must support and charge VAT for each country, or take orders manually), especially small ones. Now we are at point where it's easier to export goods/services to non-EU countries, than inside of EU.

As I have mentioned before somewhere in this thread, currently I have workshop/self-employed company and LTD company, all stuff that is on my website goes through first one, and I plan to close it and leave only LTD, especially with these new VAT rules in charge after 01.07.2021.

This probably means all stuff which is currently on sale will be available until that date, or until stock is available, whichever comes first (I can't "transfer" raw materials to LTD just like that, it would be too complicated, so that's why most of stuff is on "real" clearance sale, not the fake ones like on Aliexpress etc.)

After that I'm switching to LTD only, and I will probably have only some new MCPCBs and Osram LEDs until new drivers are done.

Soon I will put "Wholesale" section on webshop for white Osram LEDs with good price breaks for larger qty's (I have CULNM1.TG too), so if someone is interested in larger qty's, I can process such orders right now.

Shame the LTD can't just place an order ;)

CULNM1 again you say? I'm not a "larger quantities" kind of guy but please update here when that's ready.

Have you posted before what the plans are for new drivers? Any plans for any of the following driver types: buck, boost, buck/boost, e-switch?

It's not that simple, and I want to get rid of "old stuff" anyway.

I have CULNM1.TG and new 16 and 20mm DTP PCBs, I'll put some in "wholesale" section (min. order 40pcs or something like that until switch to LTD-only occurs).

Regarding drivers, for start new linear drivers (clicky and e-swtich), after that we'll see.

Looking forward to your e-switch version!

In case anyone else was wondering….

Aluminum spacer for the C8 is not a drop in fit for the Sofirn C8F - 21700.

It is 13.2mm too long and will need a taper machined onto the outside.

I’m not sure if I want to machine my own spacer for a closer fit to the inside of the light or modify what I purchased. Does anyone happen to know what the thread on the brass part is? Seems to be maybe M8x0.5?

M8x0.5 tap is ~$30 :-/

On the other hand, I think the replacement spacer could probably be hacked out a 3/8” aluminum plate with a holesaw and then filed on the sides to fit.

Either way, now I’m pondering the problem and looking for a solution.

Lights have been built with spacers on here for years and most were never secured by anything but pressure from the bezel. It’s not ideal but this bolt solution is surely over engineered and severely limits what wire gauge you can use.

I built exactly what you are talking about with a prototype spacer and did not use any bolt:

If you want to eliminate rotation you could use thermal epoxy for a permanent bond to both the PCB and host. If you want a YOLO solution like me you can do this: leave driver ring off / loose, rotate MCPCB counterclockwise carefully twisting LED wires just a little so when you screw down the bezel and it rotates clockwise it will not “pull” as tight. You can also help the driver spin some with it as you tighten bezel to keep it from bunching up. If you can put pressure on glass while tightening it may help but I only have two hands personally so I never do.

That is an interesting point about how the light is assembled.

I wonder if a 10mm shim would fit… Math says it would be TIGHT when the bezel is screwed down.

3/8” will likely be a fairly loose fit so that is less than ideal.

Being a machinist without a machine shop is frustrating.

Today I made a wood shim to check dimensions and fit. Seems that 9.8mm is a pretty good size as it forces the lens into the front o-ring a little as you snug up the front bezel on the C8F.

I also did some pricing on having a batch of these made. 1-2 is kind of expensive but 10 isn’t bad at all.

I got my order of some Luxeon V LEDs and A4 drivers.

I have a triple build that had a bad driver and the driver I’m planning to use may or may not ever arrive, so I threw the 6A LD-A4 in there to try it. I really like the firmware.

I really want the LD-B4 for this triple now, but the MOSLED 3535 boards are out of stock… I assume they aren’t coming back, but is there going to be an updated version that will work with the B4 driver?

The A4 drivers are going to be paired with the mounted Luxeon Vs that I ordered, which already have the NTC onboard.