Always high? Memory? Next level?
Is there mode memory?
Well it's an e-switch, so modes are hi-med-lo-strobe-sos, always starts on hi. No mode memory, 1st click from OFF goes to hi, them click-med, click-lo, click-strobe, click-sos, click-hi. To turn it OFF, press&hold. I took detailed pics, took output measurements, amp readings, etc. Got it fully dis-assembled - pretty quick, pretty easy (no glue, all std CCW to loosen)
On a fresh Samsung 30Q: 2.15A tail on hi (DMM meter, heavy wires)
- For zoomed in (flood), lumens hi: 690 @start, 653 @30 secs, med: 350, lo: 139
- Throw in full zoomed out focus: 11 kcd taken @5 meters
- Body length: 126.8 mm -> 138.8 mm
- Parasitic drain: 0.016 mA (very low, 7+ years to drain 1 Ah)
- If I jumper the tail, and measure lumens: 731 @start (this means you probably get a 5%-6% bump if you bypass the tail spring)
It's almost there, but I'd have to say the modes are a great disappointment, but as advertised. Shame because doing modes better adds nothing to the manufacturing costs, only a bit more up front software dev, non recurring costs. Pics being uploaded...
Sorry, what are the lumen spacing? Can’t find it on the original post.
Thanks, Tom!
690Lm / 350Lm / 139Lm … I see what you mean by disappointing. 690/170/40 would’ve been better.
With no mode memory, I’m glad the flashlight always turns on in high.
In first bullet item above
Well, it's everything - mode spacing, strobe and SOS not hidden, only one way nav thru modes, time delayed push&hold to turn OFF - could be faster, no way to get to lo to start with, etc.
Shown with a BLF A6:
Tail threads, not many, but nice:
Main assemblies:
Clean LED area, pretty darn clean resulting beam pattern:
Bottom of driver parts:
Top parts:
Not much thermal grease, but it's there:
Some not so good news, driver/pill parts:
Well, the LED driver and USB charging seem to be combined in one, and the nasty vertical board that the switch and USB port mount on does some serious blocking, preventing a typical driver sandwich mod.
But... There is 6.64 mm vertical clearance above the top edge of the vertical board to possibly fit a 17 mm driver there. Could use the new OSHPark slim boards perhaps to save some space. Now, not sure how to use the USB charging with a LED driver replacement, but might be possible. Could also jumper in wires to take over those nice look'n green and red LED's. They do look awesome lit up behind that translucent/white switch.
Photos not showing
Edit: photos is working now.
Hhmm, they are for me. It’s photobucket, I’ve been using for years. Wonder if it’s having some connectivity problems…
I got the latest A8 version. It is very usable flashlight despite the mode spacing. Nothing beats this light at this price range imo.
Where did you get the A8, and what is the A8? I think the A2 is the XM-L2 version, and the A5 is an XP-E version. Should have bought the A5 - cheaper and will be changing the LED anyway.
Isn’t the A5 non-zoom and no usb charging?
Ooops, A5 here: http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/2015-supfire-new-flashlight-a5-outdoor-3w/376183205.html
yes - non-zooming, with USB charging, and best guess at LED is XP-E
Does it zoom out pretty good (no rings)? Are you planning on putting a different emitter in it?
There’s rings, but very minimal. I looked at it in flood, and little to none artifacts outside the zone. In zoomed out focused, there’s a circle around the square LED, but again looks very uniform, but expected without a full blackout of the head.
For now, think I’d try a simple amp boost (two R500’s shown) by adding a resistor, and replace the LED with either a de-domed XP-L V6, or maybe the XP-E2 Torch, or a de-domed XP-G2. Hoping for a good 30K+ - would be nice.
A8 is 2016 summer model, rated "1100lm" XM-L2 (unknown bin) with new box package.
Well, an A8 is not on their website (http://www.supfireenglish.com/Products/led_flashlight/) - the A2, A3, and A5 are, so again, where did you get it? Where's anything describing it?
Don't mean to be a pain, but am interested in finding out more about it.
Weird, Gues here: http://www.yoycart.com/Product/525687374564/ and http://www.chinaglobalmall.com/products/525687374564
But not too helpful - don't see anything that changed, but a lot is left out or in Chinese.
It looks more or less the same. They should have named it A2 (2016). I bought it from their official store in tmall.
Tom E,
Please let us know what you did to it if you do decided to mod it.
Nothing yet - hope to get to it soon. Might go with the new 219C 320 from Richard, or maybe the new XP-G3, de-domed. Want to push it for throw though.
The one thing that is really attractive about this light is that it’s able to be used while charging.