FLEX Asgard @ Fasttech

kinda funny, just ordered ZY-T08 couple days ago and now the asgard appears in the same host...

excited to see the review though :)

So we need only new driver :stuck_out_tongue:

JohnnyMac, why do you know so much? And what more do you know? 0:)

Because I’ve had some conversations with fasttech prior to this light being announced. You already know most all about this one now but if I told you what I know about the next lights I’d have to kill you. :wink: :bigsmile:

Nice light! Out of my budget though, after dropping $50+ each the last two months on lights. If there was a way to transfer my coupon code to someone else I’d do it.

I’m gonna get one. Too bad I’m still stuck on Gingerbread. Can’t believe I didn’t see the 10 coupon thread

Question: From FastTech’s website:

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10002537/1188301-small-sun-zy-t08-cree-xm-l-t6-635lm-5-mode-white-l

the T08 has 635 lumens output, whereas the Asgard is spec’ed at 1052 lumens and 3040 mA. So, other than the Bluetooth stuff, have they added more 7135s to the Asgard to get to the 1052 lumens (vs. the T08)?

they used 380mA 7135 chips vs 350, intl outdoor sells this driver

the Asgard is driven with 8*7135 at 260mA each. The original t08 was only driven at just over 2A and didn’t use 7135 chips.

12.5% increments with zero pwm means that each AMC chip can be activated one at a time directly. Modes other than 12.5% increments use pwm to control output at any level you choose. I hope this answers your question. :)

Hi,

Between your response and Bort’s, yes :)… Do you think the 7135s would be stackable then (assuming spacing available and emitter can take the current)? And then the increments would be 2x each?

+1

I thought it, you said it out loud :)

+2

If you could figure out which pad locations are used in for each mode, you could stack chips only onto the locations that will increase one particular mode... if you just doubled all of them, all the modes would be 2x original current.

(assuming there isn't any cleverness going on like randomizing which 7135s are in use on each mode change)

Your last sentence (the one in parentheses) is true. I hadn’t thought of that, that one 7135 is just the same as the others, plus they’d probably tie all the outputs together, right? But, why would they even do that?

7135 outputs in parallel wouldn't affect anything at all, no current flows in or out of the ones that are inactive. They're like solid state relays, in that they only 'open the valve' that lets electrons flow when a signal is applied to the Vdd pin. The chips themselves are the same but they have separate traces connecting their Vdd's to the microcontroller, if as claimed they control them all independently to get a 12.5% increase each time one more 7135 is switched on.

Hi

I’m a bit conflicted on this one (not unusual :(…)…

On the one hand:

Pros:

- New technology and support for innovation (be a “pre-founder” :)!)

  • More lumens (than stock T08 or even T07)

On the other hand:

Cons:

- I don’t see an obvious “need” or usage for it vs. “just another brighter light” (granted, do I really “need” any flashlight?)

  • It’s more than (almost) double the price of either the T08 or T07 - I could get both of those for the ~ price of this

Believe me, that I can understand the cost differentials, both in terms of hardware and development, but still, it’s a tough decision…

Comments?

You pretty much nailed it…I will wait until they work out the kinks and the fervor dies down a bit.

That’s the thing with ‘technology’. Of course you can wait. In the future everything is going to be better (than now) definitely. But what’s important is you get to ‘enjoy’ it now, and by ‘enjoying’ it now, you fuel the next wave of improvements, because when there’s sales, then there’s incentive for Research and Development.

Let’s say iPad just launched… decided wait for the next one cause it’s not stable… okay iPad 2 comes out… hmm still not perfect… ok let’s wait some more… iPad 3… iPad 4… iPad 5 so wait forever and never got it. (Just using iPad as example, you get the point of the ‘endless wait’ cycle)

Sure, after a few months probably something better’s gonna come out, so that’s where the dilemma comes in. To buy now or to buy in future.

I do strongly suspect that you’ll play with the bluetooth settings till you find your ideal set up, then just use it as a torch, that said, I’ve voted with my wallet as this is to me, the most interesting development in torch tech since high output led’s, yes the zy-t08 is much cheaper, I have one, driven harder than this flex is, its a very very good pocketable thrower (jacket/cargo pocket), I just see this new driver making a very good light a great light and dont want to see the idea fade into obscurity due to lack of support.

I also suspect one of the reasons for using the zy-t08 is the huge aircraft sized empty driver cavity, as I doubt this driver and its associated modules is miniaturised yet, I’m very excited to take a peek under the hood.

And I thought that having modes at all in a flashlight was already a certain sign of civilization soon ending. So now those modes are bluetooth controlled...