Mini review of MINI :D

Yes, I tried to adjust the pot but it only affects to photodiode sensitivity, flickering is present mostly in lower part of intensity scale, no flickering on max…


Maybe a cap or two to smooth the flickering? Nice collection! :bigsmile:

I thought so too but since I am not electronic expert I would not know where to put it, across which component (presumably somewhere after component that controls current supplied to leds)!
Thanks :bigsmile:
P.S. If you make a short circuit across one of the 39R0 resistors this little puppy will shine even brighter on MAX, same applies for 100, 200 and/or 102 resistors on 6 LED version with TSA :stuck_out_tongue:

This ramping Mini paired with the ML-102 is honestly all I ever wanted from a Zebralight. I was always put off by the modes. Now I have a nice portable floody moonlight, and it’s modular too. Maybe I am strange but I love solutions like this. Thanks again, Sirius9!

You’re welcome Chloe and congrats on your 4K post :party:

Thank you! Maybe I need to delete one post and vanish into obscurity like so many before… :ghost:

It took me a while to find a large enough value surface mount resistor but I made the USB light from FastTech moonlight with 1.3K. It draws 0.1mA more than the Mini. >.< I do have an SMD diode but with that it is too low. Maybe changing the two diodes to slightly higher but I am not that fussed.

Here’s a small comparison pic with the Mini on the right (with Tungsten white balance the Mini looks slightly pinkish and the FT slightly green):

With auto white balance the FT looks greener while the Mini looks more neutral:

i agree with chloe()

i bought one from the 1GBP shipped seller linked before and ordered another. if you have a monitor with usb ports it’s fantastic for ambient lighting (and keeps the level in memory :/) love fade in/out on power and the reversible design too, so well built!

I just got my shipment of MINI's:

I ordered four via this ebay seller; two each of the cool white and warm white variety. Now $2.35 shipped, was higher when I bought mine (I paid $2.93/each). I do prefer the warm tint for normal use, not sure if I'll be using the Cool ones as much. Also, they seem to get quite hot when running on high-mode for an extended time. Not sure how hot, I'm planning to check the temp when I get some time to play with them more...

I do like the low-mode and the ramping function. I bought these to use with my ENB triple-18650 power bank but unfortunately, the lowest low mode seems to draw so little current that the ENB shuts off completely after a few seconds of runtime. On high, it seems to work well though, and I think this would make a nice long-runtime camping/outdoor lantern for times when a lot of light isn't needed.

I've just ordered one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271405911472

...to use with the ENB bank to allow two of the Mini-type lights to be used at once for double-light or to allow 360-degree lighting with one mini facing each direction...

These do get a bit hot if left on high.

I received the cool white version this week. I am not as impressed, it is slightly greenish white, feels a bit sickly, so I might mod it.

I tried to capture this in sunlight but my camera is biased to make the cool white look white.

Here is a comparison instead with cool white Cree XP-E (left) and cool white Mini (right). The white balance makes the Cree look more blue of the two. It may be a personal and subjective thing but I find the CW Cree is rather cool and doesn’t feel sickly.

Got my touch-sensor one recently.
I bought the 1 GBP (Great British Pound) one, warm white.
It is slightly hinting towards a mustardy greenish tint.
Touch sensor sometimes doesn’t sense my touch…
PWM noise on low…
Gets a little hot on high…
Yet, it’s a nice lil’ device.
Makes me smile.

The daylight sensor one is on it’s way to me also.

I received mine with touch sensor, WW, ordered for GBP 1. I didn’t notice PWM on highest or lowest mode. On other brightness levels I could only notice it by looking at PC fan. When powered from computer’s USB it gets warm, but not too hot to touch on high. When powered from 220v to USB adapter on max it gets much hotter, too hot to touch.
I like the tint, didn’t notice any traces of green.

Thanks for the heads up. The fact that MINI can be inserted to USB connector both ways really makes this interesting.. Ordered "some". :)

I really love these lights. First I ordered three from eBay. When they arrived, I instantly ordered three more. And then "couple more" from BG to be gifted away (the price is nice when buying 10 or more and using the BLF coupon). And then some more..

The above mentioned splitter will be handy, together with these 360 degree USB adapters.

One way to use these lights is to provide smooth flood light in ad hoc product photography, like this:

->

I’ve ordered one of these:

I hadn't thought about the swiveling USB adapter...

Whoops... I think one just got added on the DX order I was just about to make... How did that happen? Wink

<edit>

@ _the_

My wife has that same rug; unfortunately, her cat decided it would make a great alternative to the litter box. I guess she thinks it's grass???

Monitoring mine with a non-contact IR thermometer, getting temps of nearly 140 F…

A couple of additional observations on my MINI lights...

I ordered a total of four at the same time, and fromt he same eBay seller; two each of cool and warm tints:

The two cool-white lights aren't bad; they have a cool tint that's not overly offensive if you don't mind CW tints. Both of the cool white MINIs have a quiet, but noticable, whine at a mid-range brightness levels. The whine isn't audible at the lowest and highest brightness settings, but as the brightness ramps up or down, you can hear the whine fade in and then out.

The two warm-white lights don't have the same whine, but even though they were purchased together, have a vastly different tint to the LEDs. One is a pleasant creamy/warm tint. The second, even though superficially the same, has the unpleasant puke-a-tronic green tint to the light. No pics yet...

I plugged all four into a USB hub... That turns them into a mini stadium light... Cool

My warm white developed a faint whine after having it on high for a while.

I did some tinkering with the Mini but nothing exciting to report. I tried some bigger caps (100, 220 uF) but it wouldn’t hold memory of the mode for very long, and it only worked if I turned the Mini off before unplugging.

Mini + AA Emergency Charger + Clamp mount :smiley:

Btw, @Pregulla, thanks for the link for USB extension cable, orderes some :wink:
:beer: