Interest collect for a new Sofirn design: tube style18650, magnetic ring control, USB-C charging, 500 lm max (AKA grandma light)

Put me down for one please.

I know this is getting the point that djozz and many are giving up hope, but I’d have no shame in pestering Sofirn into making this dang thing. Make it a deal with a nice box for gifting and I can’t ssee it not selling heavily around here and on Amz if marketed properly

I hope this isn’t necroposting, but if this ever materializes I’d be in for 3!

Wellp, aside from the usb charging, the SDwhatever diving light ticks most of the boxes. There’s the button type (nice enough) and the ring type (hella simple).

Imagine just modding that with a usb port shouldn’t be that traumatic, eh?

But Sofirn did the mode order wrong in their dive lights :person_facepalming: (plus that I like this to be a compact tube-style light)

So. Time for a new manufacturer here? Curious what Wildtrail would say

If this ever happens, I would be in for 3 please. :white_check_mark:

Wildtrail may not be ideal. The key part of this light is a dedicated new driver, I know that Sofirn can design magnetic ring drivers but I have not seen Wildtrail/Luckysun design their own drivers.

They at least take suggestions and iterate quickly. This driver topology can’t be that complicated to figure out. A few hall sensors that each tie into a different point in a series string of voltage divider resistors feeding one analogue input pin on an MCU could be a way to do this running a linear-mode FET.

How independent is Wurkkos?

Magnetic ring? So will this have parasitic drain?

Moot cuz……

USB-C.

Auto-disinterested. :laughing: :stuck_out_tongue:

My impression was that Wurkkos=Sofirn. But Lux perpetua had more recent contact with Sofirn than me, he may have a better idea.

I must admit that I stopped taking initiatives for this project.

Sofirn/Barry had promised in December 2019 to start the design of this light in March last year, it would be the first project of a designer that they attracted from another flashlight manufacturer. I mailed him a possible structural design to help with the start. Late februari of course the corona epidemic stopped China for a few months, but Barry did not give me an status update when everything started again. Twice last year I tried to contact him about this but I never got an answer. My interpretation is that they lost interest.

I still think that this light is relevant though…

AFAIK, Wurkkos have their own management but they are dependent on Sofirn‘s production planning and facility. Lately, they have launched a nice portfolio of new diving flashlights (DL30, DL10R, DL70, …) utilizing magnetic control rings.

See my comment above. Wurkkos, Volador, Yakorsei … all the same factory. I once had a brief chat with Barry about this project here but I did not hear anything again either.

Maybe JetBeam was interested in developing a „no frills“ budget light. I do not have any contact with them, though.

I have a Sofirn dive light with a magnetic ring control. I love the simplicity. No fiddling with X number of button presses. No concern about mode memory. Just turn the ring to what you want. I wish more lights came this way.

The only thing I don’t like is the cool white emitter. These days, I won’t buy a light unless I can get it in warm or neutral. The tint has to be pleasing to my eyes and bonus points for high CRI. Visible PWM is a deal-breaker too.

Was really interest for a rotary control light with infinite variable bright at human price.
Maybe we can try ask Convoy but they already planning new lights and that would take more time

Is it the USB-C connection or the integrated charging that puts you off?

Integrated charging seems to be a polarising feature on BLF. My main issue with the feature is that it makes driver swaps difficult, but if the if I like the stock driver I’m happy to have charging. I find integrated charging especially useful in an EDC light or one that will be gifted to a muggle.

I don’t think there’s any shortage of lights without integrated charging, or of lights with Micro USB charging. However, I haven’t seen may flashlights that can charge with a USB-C cable from a USB-C power supply. That feature is really appealing to me in a EDC light - I would love to be able to quickly top up mu flashlight cell from my phone/tablet/laptop charger (or even the laptop itself) without having to carry an extra cable or adapter.

Imho usually I don’t consider integrated charger a necessity unless you use the flashlight often and at high current.It would be nice have it on flashlights with smaller lithium battery or AA / AAA that dischage fast

In the grandma context, USB-C is a minimum requirement. EM charging through docking station would be better tho.

This light competes with the usual single mode, tail switch, 3 x AAA supermarket light. I got my mom (83yo) a Varta and she is very pleased with it. It must not be more complex than this.

I’m down for 2 if this ever happens!

If it was well made I would be fine with a higher price. I bet Hank would make a sweet one.