FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

[JaredM]

I’ll believe it when I see it. Thanks for sharing

[Azirine]

@FW3A Team

Warning to potential buyers (2021)

The FW3A design has been changed many times since launch, with quite a few downgrades. It is not the same light any more. The 2021 model appears to be downgraded so much that it is no longer compatible with the upstream FW3A firmware. It’s missing an entire power channel, as shown in the pic below.

Additionally, the FW1A has been downgraded in at least two major ways — the reflector no longer focuses correctly, and the driver no longer has the primary regulated power channel.

These are only a few of the many downgrades though. Almost every time a new batch was produced, people reported surprising new changes, and most were not for the better. Several vendors have dropped the entire product line because it had too many problems and they had to issue too many refunds.

So, be warned: If you buy a FW3A, FW1A, or any of its other derivatives, you probably won’t get the light described in this thread.

Has the HL3A been downgraded similarly or is it still a good headlamp?

[zuluwalker]

@Azirine

@FW3A Team

Warning to potential buyers (2021) The FW3A design has been changed many times since launch, with quite a few downgrades. It is not the same light any more. The 2021 model appears to be downgraded so much that it is no longer compatible with the upstream FW3A firmware. It’s missing an entire power channel, as shown in the pic below. Additionally, the FW1A has been downgraded in at least two major ways — the reflector no longer focuses correctly, and the driver no longer has the primary regulated power channel. These are only a few of the many downgrades though. Almost every time a new batch was produced, people reported surprising new changes, and most were not for the better. Several vendors have dropped the entire product line because it had too many problems and they had to issue too many refunds. So, be warned: If you buy a FW3A, FW1A, or any of its other derivatives, you probably won’t get the light described in this thread.

Has the HL3A been downgraded similarly or is it still a good headlamp?

Get a Fireflies PL47G2 instead, more flexible emitter options too.

[rjkesler]

@zuluwalker

Get a Fireflies PL47G2 instead,

They are on sale right now, too!

[idleprocess]

@zuluwalker

Get a Fireflies PL47G2 instead, more flexible emitter options too.

If only I weren’t avoiding the migration to 21700…

[LumenFanBoy]

Bit of a late reply, but yes the HL3A has also been downgraded. I bought one a few months ago and it has the FET+1 driver. I really wish the Lume1 drivers had the ability to be used in the HL3A and EDC18, let alone be available to buy anymore!

[zuluwalker]

@LumenFanBoy

Bit of a late reply, but yes the HL3A has also been downgraded. I bought one a few months ago and it has the FET+1 driver. I really wish the Lume1 drivers had the ability to be used in the HL3A and EDC18, let alone be available to buy anymore!

Thanks for saving me the hassle of finding out for myself. Taking the HL3A (and any Lumintop product) off my shortlist.

[mortuus]

it would be better if they just stopped produce the lights instead they downgraded them so badly… now they just make the lights look terrible vs how the orginal is…

[Chatika_vas_Paus]

Money…

[sp5it]

@mortuus

it would be better if they just stopped produce the lights instead they downgraded them so badly… now they just make the lights look terrible vs how the orginal is… :rage:

True.
I have FW3A from 1st batch without any engraving. That’s a keeper.
Mike

[varbos]

I wonder if they degraded everything, including the Titanium and Copper/Brass versions. I would be super pissed if I spent 100 bucks on a Ti version and got the degraded driver and crappy optic.

Lumintop are shooting themselves in the foot because I have no confidence to buy ANY Lumintop product. If they want to change the specs of product for the worse they need to use a new SKU and product name so everyone knows it is different.

[stephenk]

@varbos

I wonder if they degraded everything, including the Titanium and Copper/Brass versions. I would be super pissed if I spent 100 bucks on a Ti version and got the degraded driver and crappy optic.

Lumintop are shooting themselves in the foot because I have no confidence to buy ANY Lumintop product. If they want to change the specs of product for the worse they need to use a new SKU and product name so everyone knows it is different.

Have to agree, downgrading existing products makes me extremely reluctant to buy any of their new products. If only there was a good FW1A alternative (i.e. Anduril, Tail Switch, Head Diameter <28mm).

[ToyKeeper]

From what I’ve heard, it got downgraded again to be a FET-only driver. So I added another warning in the OP.

[mortuus]

@sp5it

@mortuus

it would be better if they just stopped produce the lights instead they downgraded them so badly… now they just make the lights look terrible vs how the orginal is… :rage:

True.
I have FW3A from 1st batch without any engraving. That’s a keeper.
Mike

metoo, the first fw3a is best hope it never dies haha.

[mortuus]

@ToyKeeper

From what I’ve heard, it got downgraded again to be a FET-only driver. So I added another warning in the OP.

wow so how terrible is the current batch ??

[BOO5TED]

@mortuus

@ToyKeeper

From what I’ve heard, it got downgraded again to be a FET-only driver. So I added another warning in the OP.

wow so how terrible is the current batch ??

From the first post.

@ToyKeeper

Warning to potential buyers (2022)
In addition to the 2021 warning below, there are now reports that all the 7135 chips are removed from the driver, and it has no power regulation at all. For example, in this thread, Lumintop turned down a request for the original driver, saying:

Lumintop wrote: Hi, now our driver is all without the 7135 because this chips can’t be ordered here this year
If this means what it looks like it means, then the current models have no moon mode, terrible low modes, low efficiency, lower sustainable output, visible steps even in smooth ramp mode, and poor performance in general. And depending on the firmware used, parts of the ramp may be completely non-functional because two of the three power channels are missing.

Warning to potential buyers (2021)
The FW3A design has been changed many times since launch, with quite a few downgrades. It is not the same light any more. The 2021 model appears to be downgraded so much that it is no longer compatible with the upstream FW3A firmware. It’s missing an entire power channel, as shown in the pic below.

Additionally, the FW1A has been downgraded in at least two major ways — the reflector no longer focuses correctly, and the driver no longer has the primary regulated power channel.

These are only a few of the many downgrades though. Almost every time a new batch was produced, people reported surprising new changes, and most were not for the better. Several vendors have dropped the entire product line because it had too many problems and they had to issue too many refunds.

So, be warned: If you buy a FW3A, FW1A, or any of its other derivatives, you probably won’t get the light described in this thread.

[geforce73]

So I found a used FW3A listing on Carousell with the original driver and Nichia 219C 4000K emitters. Curious to know what the tint looks like.

[mikelights]

I never wrapped my head around the drivers and their components so what exactly does the new fw3a with no chips on the bottom of the driver do less than my fw3a with the purple pcb and 6 chips? I assume it has to do with power delivery from battery to emitter

[Rayoui]

Your FW3A actually has eight of those chips (two are on the other side of the driver). Each one is a 350mA current regulator. The driver uses three channels. First one uses one chip, second uses all eight, and the third uses a MOSFET (direct drive). As you increase the brightness above what each channel can deliver, it will switch to the next channel (intermediate brightnesses use PWM for dimming). Using one chip allows for lower minimum brightness and (slightly) more efficient operation at lower currents.

The bigger issue is that the firmware is not written for one or two channel drivers so there may be odd behavior when ramping with the newer revs.

[mikelights]

@Rayoui

Your FW3A actually has eight of those chips (two are on the other side of the driver). Each one is a 350mA current regulator. The driver uses three channels. First one uses one chip, second uses all eight, and the third uses a MOSFET (direct drive). As you increase the brightness above what each channel can deliver, it will switch to the next channel (intermediate brightnesses use PWM for dimming). Using one chip allows for lower minimum brightness and (slightly) more efficient operation at lower currents.

The bigger issue is that the firmware is not written for one or two channel drivers so there may be odd behavior when ramping with the newer revs.

awesome I just played around with the light and I can tell there is 3 different sections indicated by the bumps when ramping! makes sense to me now so the newer light just has worse ramping not as smooth but on the high end it is still the same brightness because it is just direct drive from the cell

thanks