Guys, came across this : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zyntony/ra-worlds-first-strap-light/description
Basically it looks very useful, bright and durable. But on the price, is it worth it?
Very cool. The price isn’t actually as much as I was expecting. I wonder how much will be for just the light with no battery pack?
The price without batt pack and per strip is USD 35. For 5 Cree LEDs, somehow I think DIY might be a lot cheaper (without modes).
Claims TIR. Shows reflector. No-name LEDs. Neat idea but I’m not sure it’s worth it.
I wouldn’t be able to make something that compact and flexible though, it seems like a very nice design. The only thing I question is what led’s they used (I don’t recognize them) and why there isn’t a protective cover over them. They just look exposed to the elements.
They claim TIR but I don’t see any, just a non-polished reflector… One of the biggest problems I see if the reliability of the micro USB connector, by mounting these on backpacks and clothing it can easily bend and break.
I think a proprietary magnetic connector would be a better choice…
Yes idea is nice, and if USB cables connections were solid as a rock and dangling wires were a big pro during (outdoor) activities I could see this become a real winner.
Hey guys! I saw that your site was driving a lot of hits to our google analytics page and wanted to see what this site was all about. Glad I found it, seems like a lot of cool information on lights.
We designed the Ra to be used on the straps of a backpack, if you have 2 then you’ll put out roughly 1,600 lumens. Each LED produces roughly 160 Lumens of high quality warm light. Our LED’s are a wide color spectrum CREE. We are still finalizing the design work, the models you see are simply functional prototypes which is why there aren’t any coverings over the LEDs themselves. There will be TIR lenses. Actually three separate types of TIR lenses. The two outermost lenses will be a wide throw, the next two will throw a little narrower and the middle will throw even further. This configuration should give a really nice pattern of light.
The USB connection to the Ra itself is still being refined. We have a lot of options including integrating the cord directly in to the Ra itself. This will help with waterproofing but a final design has not been set in stone. The end that connects to the BatPak (our battery packs that allow you to draw low current for the dimming feature) will certainly be a standard USB because we like the versatility of decided how much power we want to carry on a given activity.
Some additional features you can potentially look forward to are red lens caps, additional lighting modes i.e. flashing, ability to dim, maybe a moonlight mode.
I make the videos and webpages for Zyntony. I know quite a bit about the light but If there are any specific technical questions that I haven’t covered I’d be glad to bring them up to my engineers. Just let me know.
Having an experienced group like this to give feedback is awesome.
Thanks guys!
Welcome to the forum!
ah I noticed the different color tints in the video, explained now that you told these are prototypes.
I assume you are going for USB C in the final product?
And check out some of the waterproof phones that are made nowadays
Especially the Sony Xperia Z5 uses tech you cold be interested in (no more rubber lids, the connector itself can handle water and dust)
Personally I think a product like this doesn’t need narrow optics. The target audience seems to be campers, hikers, etc… where peripheral light is key. For example sticking it to your shirt or backpack straps and the narrow optics shoot the light off to the side can be irritating. Also someone in that situation would take a dedicated thrower if they needed ( I would anyway). I see this product as competition for headlights and headlights are better when floody, the more floody the better in my opinion.
Aside from my mumbo jumbo, it looks like a unique product, nice.