2800 Lumen EDC. Lumintop FW3A in Action!!!

ToyKeeper · 2019-06-16T00:38:08.000Z

Arcmanov:

Just ordered one from Drop (Massdrop). Is it any different to this one?

Nope. Same thing, except on MassDrop it costs more and takes longer to ship. Same as most MD items.

BOO5TED · 2019-06-16T00:48:37.000Z

Drop price is less at $44, Neals is $49.

ToyKeeper · 2019-06-16T01:11:38.000Z

BOO5TED:

Drop price is ~~less at~~ $44, Neals is ~~$49~~ $40.

FTFY.

… and that’s just the public coupon shown on his order page. There are also other coupons to get the price lower, if you can find them. Free shipping too, in most countries. And instead of two tints, he offers a choice of five, plus a copper version and some other extras.

BOO5TED · 2019-06-16T01:22:11.000Z

$4, not a big deal. I’m perfectly fine paying what I payed for what I got imo.

Omega_17 · 2019-06-16T17:05:12.000Z

How is the beam compared to Emissar D4? There should be more throw since the optic for individual LEDs are bigger.

Firelight2 · 2019-06-16T17:29:27.000Z

Omega_17:

How is the beam compared to Emissar D4? There should be more throw since the optic for individual LEDs are bigger.

The individual component optics of the Carclo 24mm quad optics are about the same size as the component optics of their 20mm triple optics.

So in general, the quad should throw further.

While I haven’t tested it, I’m fairly certain a stock D4 with XPL HI throws further than a stock FW3A with the same emitter. This is because the D4 has 1 extra optic and emitter, and because the FW3A comes with a less throwy frosted optic.

acab · 2019-06-16T18:36:14.000Z

Great review, always good to see various perspectives of a product.

Did you change your user name on youtube, by any chance? I am not actually sure, but my brain keeps telling me that in the past I have been following a different channel (maybe in name only) from you?

Either way, so happy to be a subscriber of your channel.

Omega_17 · 2019-06-16T19:01:22.000Z

Firelight2:

While I haven’t tested it, I’m fairly certain a stock D4 with XPL HI throws further than a stock FW3A with the same emitter. This is because the D4 has 1 extra optic and emitter, and because the FW3A comes with a less throwy frosted optic.

Then why using 3 emitters instead of 4? You also get better efficiency with 4 LEDs.

xevious · 2019-06-16T19:09:21.000Z

Recently found vesture of blood a little earlier this year, with his customized BLF-70 GT contender video. This guy is a little nuts, but in a good way. Very entertaining presentations. I’m glad to see he latched onto the FW3A and has given it a top review. Should help a lot with awareness and sales.

Nachtfeuerzeug · 2019-06-16T21:38:31.000Z

I enjoy all of his videos! We all have personalities. It just makes us human. I'm a college grad with engineering, chemistry and geo-science studies as a formal education... a lot of theory. I've picked up technical skills along the way so explaining concepts on what's behind the tech and successfully passing that on to others can be a real challenge.

VOB masters that challenge.

ToyKeeper · 2019-06-16T23:17:37.000Z

acab:

Did you change your user name on youtube, by any chance?

Yes, but I don’t know any of the details about why. I was wondering about this too.

Omega_17:

How is the beam compared to Emisar D4? There should be more throw …

D4 XP-L HI is more throwy than FW3A XP-L HI. It’s roughly 20 kcd vs 12.5 kcd. The D4 has more lumens and more reflector area, and the optic isn’t frosted.

Omega_17:

Then why using 3 emitters instead of 4? You also get better efficiency with 4 LEDs.

Benefits of 4 emitters in a FW4A:

More lumens
Potentially more throw

Benefits of 3 emitters in a FW3A:

Lower cost
Compatibility with popular standard optics and popular standard MCPCBs
Smaller head, without the need to make custom optics
A proven and widely-loved beam type
A bit lower power and less heat (which are both important on such a small light)
Slightly better tint in low/med modes

What a lot of people would really like to see, though, is a FW1A with just one emitter:

Much more throw
Much less heat
Lower cost
Reflector-style beam
Compatible with more types of LEDs
Better tint in low/med modes
(however, would probably be longer, and turbo might overdrive low-Vf emitters when a high-amp cell is used)

The slightly lower Vf of a 4-led light compared to a 3-led light doesn’t really improve efficiency on this type of driver. It mostly just makes more lumens and more heat. There’s a larger voltage overhead, but this isn’t converted into more light… it just gets burned off. To get a meaningful efficiency boost from extra LEDs, it would need a buck or boost driver.

Omega_17 · 2019-06-16T23:26:11.000Z

Yes a FW1A would be nice. Thanks for the very informative replies.

SamHaLeKe · 2019-06-18T18:53:03.000Z

Omega_17:

Yes a FW1A would be nice. Thanks for the very informative replies.

+1 for FW1A with Cree XP-L HI (Neutral White) and Carclo Optics 10412 (10.0mm Narrow Spot) TIR :D

:BEER:

- SAM -

cabfrank · 2019-06-18T19:00:11.000Z

That does sound good, very good.

Starkm32 · 2019-06-18T19:02:10.000Z

Bring the magical throw on (speaking of FW1A, and FWIC )!

xevious · 2019-06-19T00:40:30.000Z

SamHaLeKe:

Omega_17:

Yes a FW1A would be nice. Thanks for the very informative replies.

+1 for FW1A with Cree XP-L HI (Neutral White) and Carclo Optics 10412 (10.0mm Narrow Spot) TIR

- SAM -

An FW1A with support for Carclo 104xx optics would be terrific! I’m really digging this kind of versatility which adds a lot of value to flashlights that have it.

sb56637 · 2019-06-19T01:04:34.000Z

Awesome review as always Matt, thanks!

Rexlion · 2019-06-19T16:27:09.000Z

I keep looking at this light and wanting it. But I have to keep reminding myself that (unlike VOB!) I prefer side switches. And I fear that I’d someday forget to open the tube at the head instead of the tail, and lose some parts. So…. for now anyway…. I’m resisting.

It is fun to have that sort of output in the pocket. I’m sure it would fit my pocket much better than my VOB-modded 4-26650 Mag, which doesn’t put out much more (4000 lumens on high) than this FW3A. Amazing how tech keeps advancing.

1stein · 2019-06-19T18:24:19.000Z

I love your reviews.
Wide optics I’m using on a bike. Doesn’t blind drivers going in front.

trailhunter · 2019-06-22T02:50:53.000Z

I have a lot of respect for Matt. He makes the light community entertaining, without his videos… life would be rather dull.

He’s also very helpful, I’ve bought a few things from his storefront from his video builds. If it wasn’t for this guy, I would have never had the courage to build my first c8+ 3v xhp50.2

Thanks for lighting up my imagination!