Posts like this have deterred my confidence in buying their product. I am wanting to buy 2 of their lights but they aren’t so special or amazingly better than other brands to take the risk. I can forgive any company for making a mistake, its how they deal with it thats important.
For me, it is like this: orders are fulfilled without spectacular delays, but otherwise, I could not get a reply from them. I don't remember trying elsewhere than BLF, but I can remember private messages getting ignored based on the last login time. There were a few product ideas (optic choices for given LEDs) and requests (specific tint options, like SST-20 GD2 or GD1), which I would have liked to discuss, but not any reaction on them...
Im just jumping in here, i have recently become interested in the Nov-Mu. I have not had any Mule lights before, but i have considered the D4 / KR4 before as i have multiple of each of those and like them. But, i also have the e12r, (2) e07x, and the rot66 and like them all very much. I think this Nov-Mu sounds nice as i have heard others talk highly of it (especially the emitter placement) and i like the fact that it has 21700 capability.
So it sounds like 40t is needed, or at least not the samsung 50e? Is Molicel p42a OK? I assume it is..
I was reading the last 2 pages of conversation, and it seems like there is audible noise? i havent gotten that from my e12r or e07x, but i use 40t and Molicel p42a.
Also, i like warm tints, and i have read the great things about the 2000k, but i think all 2000k might be too warm for me. i have an email out to FireFlies asking if they will mix (9) 2000k and (12) 4500k.
Has anyone had any luck with FireFlies doing this per special request? i was chatting on Reddit with an enthusiast who has (2) new E07x's with custom sst20 2700k / 4000k mixes, he told me he emailed FireFlies and they did it for him when he bought the lights. I didn't know FireFlies was so accommodating.
i have gotten responses from Jack and Oliver, but they are pretty seldom (like a response ever 2-4 weeks), which is fine, it just makes the ordering process much longer. But i will say i did do a "custom" order for 22430 bodies and batteries, and someone sent out the wrong product immediately after our conversation. a week later Jack emailed me, acknowledged they in fact sent the e12r short tubes instead of the e07x tubes, and he sent me the e07x tubes too (blue and red). so i have 4 short tubes, all different colors (blue, red, sand, black) and 4 batteries. I ultimately got the (2) e12r tubes for free. it worked out really well, but i dont know if that service is an outlier though.
D4/KR4 are a total joke, at least 2 tiers below anything FF sells… it’s just too small combined with too inefficient. If it had a buck driver, it would be more competent, but still limited by mass/area anyway. It’s a travesty that Hank won’t use buck.
Jack will do custom supposedly, but I don’t really have experience. I emailed beforehand about custom light (without ordering), he said he’d test but haven’t heard back. I don’t know. I won’t make an order for custom before a pre-approval.
Thanks for info about custom ordering, that is probably the best situation. i will wait to see if i get a response from FireFlies. if not, i will hold off on ordering this light. It's unfortunate FireFlies doesn't offer a predetermined "standard" mix (2000k/4500k) for people to choose, just one so it is not such a "custom" selection. somewhere between the two vastly different emitter cct's, that would say equal 3300k.
Yeah the buck converter makes unhappy noises with a 50E and sometimes doesn’t work properly in higher brightness levels. P42A is a good cell, just like 40T.
is there any test between the led options ? not sure which one too choose… I guess it is between 2000k and 3500k… Would be nice for something comparision with lumens also some video/photo to compare.
Never tried 2000k before.
I’m pleasantly surprised by just how efficient this light is. I used the 4500k version at max ramp (I’m guessing around 1000 lumens) off and on, and for continuous use last night, all and all lasting around 30 minutes. The light was able to sustain that output with minimal dropoff due to temperature regulation. What surprised me more is when I got home to charge its battery (because I imagined that amount of output for that time from 95cri emitters would surely drain the 40T quite a bit), I was amazed to see it only dropped down to 3.9v.
This 21 grid array of E21As is a real winner! And when it comes down to it, I don’t really mind the pure flood pattern for walking in fields and woods, but it’s not the best thing when around other people, as you can’t control your light pollution quite as well.
Hello people!
I haven’t ordered a nov-mu (yet), but since it’s November again and nov-mu seems to be out of stock, I’m thinking that fireflies may be planning to make nov-mu 2 (or they’re affected by chip shortages).
So, I thought that if Fireflies ever happen to check this thread, they could take some ideas of things to add on a possible nov-mu 2 (provided they’re interested in making one):
IPX8/IP68 (rather important)
4-8 more leds around the edges, paired with a more powerful driver (if possible)
Some more mass or a more heat conductive material, at least on some parts (maybe copper head?) or bigger surface area to help the light stabilize at higher outputs
A (lighted, rgb) rubber switch, like on the E07 2021 Version flashlight
Tint ramping would be kinda nice (but not that important), using latest anduril 2 features (kinda like how the new dual channel emisar lights work). It could be like the 3500k variant of the current nov-mu, but with 2 channels with separate drivers that would allow for 0-200% tint ramping (100% for each channel).
What I ~really like about the nov mu:
The leds are centered and placed together
The shape of the head of the light, which allows for possible modifications (the fins aren’t too deep, but still exist)
I have been using my Nov-Mu as a safety light when walking my child back from school in the evenings on snowy roads without sidewalks. The light excels in this use. I point it down on the snow and it illuminates both in front and behind us for good visibility to oncoming cars without blinding them. The snow also amplifies the light. Highly recommend this light in 4500k!
I’m very pleased with the PL09MU tint mix I bought recently. Fewer LEDs and I expect the driver is less efficient but it is more compact, plenty bright, less costly, and the QC is excellent.