Luminus SFT40 test

I’m waiting for the 50.3s to swap into my EC03. We’ll have a 50.3 HI if you want some more throw

It sounds like the luminance of the SFT40 is similar (but not better!) than the SBT90.2 . Think twice before swapping it into the WT90, you win runtime but maybe not throw.

Yea, thinking it's a draw at best for throw. Hard to do apples-to-apples compare with variables such as the reflector, focusing, etc. I'm sure a reflector that's good for a SBT90.2 is not always the best for a Boost HX, etc...

The more I think about it, probably the best comparison is in an aspheric, and I got a couple with SBT90.2's, the 1504 for example, with swappable pills.

I don’t mind the blue tint specially in a thrower, makes the beam look even more impressive in foggy nights :smiley:

Now I want to replace every single XPL-HI modded light with the SFT40. Anyone tried it in a C8?

Not yet in a C8, or C8 size. Gotta order more of these.

The Nitenumen TK-35 is a 52/53 mm head diam (measured), but this Ali listing has it at 46 mm, close to C8 size.

Will34 ,Well worth putting in a C8
I did like you say to upgrade from XPL HI with X5/X6 driver ,thinking a mild uplift in power/throw ,but it’s much better than I expected , now my best C8 thrower overtaking my old champ ,C8+ with a CSLNM1 @ 5amp by quite a bit ,maybe 25% better

They like 6500k because those bins are usually the brightest-lumens sell better than beam quality, remember? The majority of buyers of these are probably manufacturers of optocoupling instruments (like fiber optic stuff, optical scopes, lighting, endoscope, etc) or display illumination, automotive, and so forth. Cars mainly use cool white stuff for accent lighting (or DRLs). That’s mainly where domeless LEDs go anyway…they make the most of what they sell the most, so go figure.

The SFT40 can be pushed close to it’s limit with just one cell so it would probably outthrow the SBT90.2 in a single cell light. For multi cell light the SBT90.2 seems the better choice though it is also more expensive.

I’d expect about 180kcd from a C8+ SFT40.

TomE, how many amps on the BOSS mod? I think it’s easy to over current this emitter looking at the Vf.

And according to my calculations, SFT40 may outthrow a 90.2 by 5% when both are at their peak. In the real world, the SFT likely pulls a meaningful margin at 30s in anything but massive, multicell lights.

On the BOSS1 with just 1 GOLISI cell, I measured 9.5 amps at 4.12V. Fully charged for the test, it must be higher -- see I didn't note it, so probably didn't measure it. I backed off from using 4 26650's which the BOSS1 is capable of, afraid I'd be past the peak with amps. It's an insane light to say the least, massive, the handle is really quite handy for it, not just for heat but to hold it in one hand.

Got it. 9.5A is ideal IMO. Wouldn’t be surprised if your posted numbers are a bit overdriven w/ 4 cells.

I’m going to try and resistor mod Simon’s ramping driver to 9.5A and see if it in fact uses a TINY13A and customize a UI.

Current plans for this emitter to live in:

TN31 R-mod
Supfire M6 w/ MTNe driver
B158
Convoy M2
L21B (stock)

Anyone with a FF E01 to try this swap ? Curious how that TIR works with this emitter. Astrolux EA01 would be interesting too.

I have an FF E01, yep, might be interesting.

The #'s posted were just on the single GOLISI. Think the 4 EFEST test was slightly lower results. Yea, could have been over the top, or the old EFEST's lost some power over the years, not sure.

I found the SFT40 on a mcpcb for sale. But I can’t find a driver for it. Any recommendations for 8-9 amps? Also, where to buy? (sorry, I’m a noob) Constant current/single mode is OK. I don’t need extra features. I’m also planning to run with an off-line power supply instead of batteries, if that makes a difference.

Hmmm, thanks for the testing djozz. Maybe Nitecore will use these on their next iteration of P12 and MH series. Would certainly be amazing. Hopefully they bring back the guarded tail-switch and the amazing rubber mode button in the next P12. The P12GT was absolutely perfect and every iteration after that has sucked. Exposed tail-switches (that’s less of a gripe, I can live with a light that can’t tailstand but meh), and the part where they REALLY messed up was in the side switch (which is also the on/off button on their lights without a tail-switch). That button is nearly impossible to find in the dark. It’s the same color as the rest of the light and you can’t feel it. Anyway, this LED seems promising. Might just try modding my old P12GT with this… after I get it fixed that is. I think the P12GT uses a MOSFET driver, would this LED work with that? (I’ve never modded a light before, newbie here so be easy on me :stuck_out_tongue: ) I know Nitecore uses a lot of proprietary components and they’re a pain to get open, etc. (saw a thread once where someone opened up a P12GT, wish I had the link). Maybe I should just get a C8 and play with that first.

I see it being compared to the SBT 90.2, are they that similar? I have a Thrunite Catapult V6 and that has an XHP35 HI in it, would the SFT40 be a good upgrade for it? I can already see how modding lights can be a rabbit hole into which I could easily fall…

exact same question and scenario for me too…

Had it on my Convoy Z1, looks very bright and great laser beam!

I put SFT-40 in BLF A6 and in WildTrail D80v2. I measured almost 27kcd throw from BLF A6 with SFT-40. 116kcd from D80v2.

“Details are in ”What did you mod today” thread”:What did you mod today?

They are not that similar, except in their luminance (candela / sqaure mm), and their beam profile looks similar regarding the large hot spot. the sft40 is a great upgrade

I was comparing triple SFT-40's with a single SBT90.2, but 1:1 comparison, the SBT90.2 at 5700K has a better temp (warmer) and better tint, less green. I still think in raw throw (kcd), they are very close when both are driven hard (SFT-40 about 9 amps, SBT90.2 about 20-24 amps), and for those extra amps you get more lumens with the SBT90.2. They are both 3V, but a XHP35 HI is 12V, so a straight emitter swap in a 12V LED light is out of the question - more serious modding is needed.

Hmm not that similar how? Is there a size difference or is it just the voltage difference, being that the XHP35 HI is 12V and the SFT40 is 3V? Thanks for mentioning it’s a great upgrade :slight_smile: Now I’m even more interested. Will likely end up doing it once I learn more. I’ll of course post it on the forum if I do, so that others may do the same if they wish.

Ok, so I’d basically just have to change out the board for another one that’s 3V and install the emitter there yes? So for example, buy an SFT-40 or SBT-90.2 and also get a suitable, 3 volt board and then just install the LED on the board and solder that to my flashlight? Or do these LED’s come preinstalled in suitable boards that I could just “drop in” my flashlight? Basically remove the old one, and solder the replacement in. The SFT-40 would be easier to drive on a single cell light like my Catapult V6, but I do know of a 26650 cell that outputs crazy current (like 45 amps) that I could purchase if I did go the SBT route.