Flashlight concept #2 - the ideal Luminus SBT-90 Gen. II light

Lux-Perpetua · 2019-11-06T00:04:12.000Z

Sorry, I think we misunderstand each other completely right now. I never meant to talk about a 12V LED. Instead I was talking about a 3V LED that requires a buckdriver to convert the voltage of 12V (3x 21700 in series) down to the 3V LED voltage. I hope it makes sense now. Sorry for the confusion.

contactcr · 2019-11-06T01:24:45.000Z

Lux-Perpetua:

Sorry, I think we misunderstand each other completely right now. I never meant to talk about a 12V LED. Instead I was talking about a 3V LED that requires a buckdriver to convert the voltage of 12V (3x 21700 in series) down to the 3V LED voltage. I hope it makes sense now. Sorry for the confusion.

If that’s the case (which seems pretty slim chance of happening) you should do 3s2p 18650 and make a long tube where you can choose to put 2, 4, or 6 batteries in and scrap the idea of charging.

Even better since we are dreaming make a buck-boost driver and have either two tubes or an extension tube so people can do 3p or 3s2p or anything in between!

SKV89 · 2019-11-06T07:23:57.000Z

maukka:

Th558:

I would like to see one like this and a smaller one like the GT Mini/NI40 combined.

Maybe the Acebeam K30 GT

Wow first time I’ve heard of this new light. I was going to say I prefer a more compact 3x18650 since 3x21700 is about the same diameter as 4x18650. I also like the SP70 and L6 form factor. Maybe even a 32650 battery host would be one of a kind. I would love to have a long base ball bat like flashlight for self defense.

Tom_E · 2019-11-06T13:03:06.000Z

Lux-Perpetua:

Tom E:

I'll 2nd that! I find the easier I can carry a light in my pocket, the more use it gets.

The best flashlight is the one that you always have with you. ;-) I fully agree with you except for one thing. I have some doubts that SBT90.2 is an emitter that fits well into a pocket- / EDC- flashlight. I see following challenges here but please feel free to correct me:

Price/Size ratio:

Usually, EDC lights have a quite sensitive pricing level. With a $ 35.00 LED inside the price is likely to reach "premium" areas.

Size/Heat ratio:

SBT90.2 is a monster in terms of excess heat, being driven up to more than 20A. The smaller the flashlight gets, the more difficult it will be to transfer and dissipate the large amounts of heat. Unless driven at lower currents with more efficiency, maybe other LEDs would suit better?

LED/Reflector Size ratio:

With its die size, footprint and domeless layout the SBT90.2 seems to be best for throwers. Since these specs would collide with a small sized reflector, there might be alternative, cheaper but also brandnew LEDs like SST-70 or XM-L3 more appropriate? However, maybe with the right TIR lens the lack of a large diameter-reflector could be compensated somehow.

Realistically all true, but I don't really care - it's for me, not the general public . My problem would be fitting the 20 mm MCPCB in a small head, and getting the reflector hole to fit around this huge LED. There are XHP70 tactical lights around, little bigger maybe than pocket carry, but similar argument could be made against those but they do tend to have boost drivers that limits the amps considerably, least considerably from what we typically do with a FET driven XHP70.

I'd probably go with a larger pocket carry light like the Lumintop SD26 - takes a 26650, has a great small SMO throw reflector, etc. Vinh used to rave bout this light and for good reason. I got one all modded up runnning NarsilM - outstanding quality and performance. Shame it's apparently dropped now - great light, should have done better and been rev'd up. The craze of TIR optic multi-LED lights kind of killed it. Here's the page on it: http://www.lumintop.com/sd26.html, broken links to buy one.

hasddie293 · 2019-11-22T08:42:34.000Z

Any progress? Do You think the newest ft03 sbt90,2 will be better?

Tom_E · 2019-11-22T13:01:51.000Z

hasddie293:

Any progress? Do You think the newest ft03 sbt90,2 will be better?

I've been working on the SBT90.2 in a 1504 pill and a B158 pill. Got the MCPCB fitted in both, with clearance for 22 AWG wires.

The brass 1504 pill was designed for a 16 mm MCPCB so had to dremel out a shelf or lip to widen it out - took a lot of hand work, least for me, but think I got a fairly even surface now, widen to about 19.4 mm or so. Still need to sand down the MCPCB to fit, and it does, barely. The 22 mm wires are a tight fit right now - think'n of widening out the LED wire holes even further. Clearances between the solder pads and the brass pill wall is really close - would be risky/difficult to get 20 AWG wires in there. The plastic retainer/centering piece can't be used anymore - the threads have been completely eliminated for it, so will have to drill and tap out holes for 2 screws to hold the MCPCB down. Other option would be thermal grease/thermal epoxy combo - something I've done before, but think the screws is a better approach and I've done a lot of those too.

For drivers, right now plan on using an existing SIR800DP 17 mm, 4 mode driver I already have in the 1504. For the B158, the B158 pill I modded with the SBT90.2 takes an odd size driver of ~18 mm, so need to adapt a 20 mm to fit.

These things never go easy and haven't had much time lately to give it the hours needed.

makapuu · 2019-11-22T15:39:10.000Z

I like the concept, for me, I categorize this kind of light as “What was that noise outside” sorta light. It would sit at home or maybe go on a camping or fishing trip. A little too much size to be carrying around for extended periods, although the mass helps with the heat. I’m fine with a single cell, medium size reflector, side switch light. My wish list appears to have been answered with the Astrolux FT03 SBT90.2 that’s coming out. I just cancelled my Nightwatch NI40 because of the ongoing issues with the clicky/mode switching. The reflector of the Astrolux is about the size limit I would carry around in my pockets. (Cargo shorts) The 26650 size body calls to me because I really liked the feel/grip size of a C cell Maglight.

JordanZHP · 2019-11-22T22:44:13.000Z

Interested!

pearlriver · 2019-11-23T00:15:54.000Z

hasddie293:

mr_magoo:

pearlriver:

:sunglasses: Haikelite is doing it.

Doing what?

Lux_perpetua is Haikelite?? Or it look more alike ? Nevermind…

Have anyone try put this sbt90.2 to convoy L2? Does is fit? Just for a try with convoy driver…who know it will be much so low heat? Idk.

I’m just curious how the 20+ amp passing and where the heat will dissipated. I think most about current flow should be regulated constantly with rise with temperature. Or is there any better regulator out there for sbt90.2?

No no，haikelite is making almostly the same as Lux_perpetua showed us, 85mm head, 3*21700 batterry, type-c, fast charging and Andùril UI, pic below is raw material what the new light will be made from.

Tom_E · 2019-11-23T00:42:10.000Z

That all sounds real good, bout perfect actually, and HL tends to overuse alum in their lights which is a good thing for this LED. Just hope the finning is aggressive and the pill area beefed up.

SKV89 · 2019-11-23T00:45:43.000Z

HL host is super robust and good heat shedding with their fins. Looking forward to this especially considering it will have USB-C recharge instead of a proprietary charger.

Tom_E · 2019-11-23T00:54:00.000Z

Should blow away the FT03 in beefiness, runtime, throw. No comparison really - look'n forward to more details. I got an original MT07 engraved with my BLF name, from doing the original review. Now has a sliced XHP70.2, custom driver - it's a beast! This new SBT-90.2 sounds like it will be a very similar form factor - bout same head diameter, 4x18650 vs. 3x21700, etc.

FlashPilot · 2019-11-23T05:01:30.000Z

HL just might produce the most exciting thrower since the GT. Fingers crossed that they can produce a reliable/stable driver at the +20A power levels, while incorporating large cooling fins where they are most needed.

Haikelite, if you’re reading, we want HUGE cooling fins around the shelf/pill area that extend up the length of the head. Don’t taper the fins to follow the head contour… leave them huge and deeply finned. A 1 piece head would help facilitate heat management. Id pay more for the added cost of the larger diameter aluminum and cost to machine the head from solid round stock, just as Olight once did with their large SR series lights.

mr_magoo · 2019-11-23T08:10:59.000Z

FlashPilot:

HL just might produce the most exciting thrower since the GT. Fingers crossed that they can produce a reliable/stable driver at the +20A power levels, while incorporating large cooling fins where they are most needed.

Haikelite, if you’re reading, we want HUGE cooling fins around the shelf/pill area that extend up the length of the head. Don’t taper the fins to follow the head contour… leave them huge and deeply finned. A 1 piece head would help facilitate heat management. Id pay more for the added cost of the larger diameter aluminum and cost to machine the head from solid round stock, just as Olight once did with their large SR series lights.

I’ll second that!

Tom_E · 2019-11-24T22:53:54.000Z

Continued from post #31, I got the SBT90.2 working in the 1504. Results are not bad - I was able to do over 500 kcd, hitting a peak of about 540 kcd measured at 5 meters indoors. Measured 21.6 A max on a GOLISI but I'm using only 22 AWG LED wires on a SIR800DP based driver. Lumens was under 3,000 - low but expected low on a aspheric lens.

For comparison, in the same light with an old good dedomed XPG2 S4 2B I got 510 kcd.

I'm still not sure though the SBT90.2 is fully focused. When I hit the max at mechanical focus, the beam is still shrinking. It could be at max or close, just not sure. The light is staying fairly cool considering, but it's in a brass pill, and being a zoomie of course, the heat is somewhat hidden inside.

On a new Shockli 5500 from Neal, it hit 20 amps max - actually it seems to work as well, maybe better than the GOLISI, since the GOLISI seems to drop off fast. The Shockli tested at ~5800 mAh.

Th558 · 2019-11-24T23:36:34.000Z

What are the advantages/drawbacks of an aspheric lens vs a smooth reflector?

Tom_E · 2019-11-25T00:04:49.000Z

Aspherics:

way less spill, really no spill if done right. This could be a big advantage for some uses, like in tactical situations, not blinding animals/people out of the hot spot AOI (Area Of Interest), not bothering neighbors, etc.
for me, way easier to mount a non-standard size LED - no worry bout the LED retainer ring fitted to the reflector, etc.
if it's an adjustable zoom, when the lens is drawn in, they tend to have a real nice consistent spill/flood, way better than TIR, reflectors, multi-LED's, etc.
of course there's a price: much less lumens in either full zoom out for throw, zoom in for flood. The flood setting is higher lumens.
Adjustable zoom aspherics are really two lights in one - a flooder and thrower
hot spot tends to mimic the shape of the LED, so hot spot is typically a square

I'm not sure what throws further given same head diameter - this 1504 is a 70 mm head diam and getting 500+ kcd - not sure how that compare with true thrower reflector lights. An FT03 is rated at 69.5 mm head diam, 875 meters, 190 kcd throw for the SST-40 model. Dedomed SST-40 should be close to 400 kcd, if these numbers are legit. I assume the throw #'s between aspherics and reflectors are close, depending on the quality of the lens or reflector.

Th558 · 2019-11-25T01:06:05.000Z

Tom E:

This 1504 is a 70 mm head diam and getting 500+ kcd - not sure how that compare with true thrower reflector lights. An FT03 is rated at 69.5 mm head diam, 875 meters, 190 kcd throw for the SST-40 model. Dedomed SST-40 should be close to 400 kcd, if these numbers are legit. I assume the throw #’s between aspherics and reflectors are close, depending on the quality of the lens or reflector.

Were the measurements taken at turn on or 30s?
Either way 500Kcd is pretty impressive. Hopefully the FT03 can hit those numbers. SST40 FT03 goes from 235 to 367 after dedome according to tm07. If it’s possible for Luminus to make an LED which outthrows the XHP35 HI/SST40 whilst putting out more than twice the light, I wonder what kind of performance they could get from a smaller version with half the output.

Tom_E · 2019-11-25T01:53:41.000Z

Lumens I'll do at turn on and 30s, but throw, 540 kcd is probably taken aggressively. I did do amps measurements first, and didn't take the highest reading asap - it's all about finding that peak, so sometimes it takes a few secs. This aspheric hot spot is like other aspherics - you got to hunt for it. For this LED/light at 5 m, the brightest spot seemed to be on the edge of the square - you can actually see it change. Like at 1-2 meters, it seems the hot spot is center, but then as you go further away, the edges get hot. Probably best to take it at 10+ meters. I still don't have a clear focused image of the LED surface so I don't think it's fully focused for the best #.

the4ds9 · 2019-12-16T21:48:22.000Z

I purchased the Acebeam K30 GT from Andrew-Amanda.com
This torch is beautiful and I recommend it.

maukka:

Th558:

I would like to see one like this and a smaller one like the GT Mini/NI40 combined.

Maybe the Acebeam K30 GT