Mateminco X6S, Factory Triple

SKV89 · 2018-11-12T22:44:06.000Z

DB Custom:

Ah, but that’s where the law of averages comes in! My light box was calibrated with no less than 25 lights, not just one low powered unit.

I would love the chance to take my light box, a few dozen lights, and a big box of cells and chargers and sit down next to a big high dollar sphere for some comparison testing. Maybe a few hours of side by side would have some illuminating consequences…

Well you can always just get a set of Maukka calibration lights, which is measured using a high dollar sphere

DB_Custom · 2018-11-12T23:02:40.000Z

And what does Fenix use? And Nightcore? And Lumintop? How many times have we seen that big green ball pictured in the corner of the lab? They all use expensive equipment, much more so than our PVC P Traps. How is Maukka’s better than theirs?

I’ve been doing this here for a long time, don’t need any calibration lights, already been done. And if I only had a dollar for every time this has been discussed…

ToyKeeper · 2018-11-13T10:14:25.000Z

If it has the following traits…

4/7 mode only, no other mode groups
Only two config options
2-speed strobe
Volts+tenths style battery check

… they must have made their own version. I never made one like that.

The early version which got used on the BLF X5 / X6v2 had 8 mode groups, even though I also sent a 9-group version.

Anyone know how to contact Mateminco? They’re legally required to publish the source code for what they’re shipping in the light, so I probably need to have a talk with them about how the license works.

ToyKeeper · 2018-11-13T10:16:22.000Z

DB, did you manage to get a picture of the driver? It’d be interesting to see exactly which chips they used.

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:29:36.000Z

I cut this one out of the stock X6S just now, images straight out of the Canon 1Ds MkII with 100mm Macro Hybrid IS lens.

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:37:33.000Z

Oops! Sorry! My Bad! The first blink in configuration mode doesn’t do like I expected so I ASSUMED the second blink was for last mode memory. It in fact is not… it goes through 8 blinks for the table like the original Bistro. Sorry about that.

The first blink, if selected, changes 7 modes into 3 with no moon. I was confused there and made the assumption. Since I never engage last mode memory, I didn’t go further.

I have used the 9 level table from the beginning, since you (TK) sent it to me before the initial release.

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:40:44.000Z

The original released 8 level table called for the first blink to put it in muggle mode, an on/off mode. This one has 3 levels. (EDIT: Dang my memory! I never used the 1st blink for Muggle mode either, so I really didn’t know if it was 3 standard modes or not. More ASSuming on my part. UGH!)

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:46:47.000Z

Very sorry about the confusion. Everything seems to be in standard order for the Original Bistro Driver.

d_t_a · 2018-11-13T14:50:38.000Z

DB Custom:

d_t_a, both samples I got say 3A on the box. Pretty believable when judging the tint.

Hmm, that’s strange, the boxes I got only indicate 1A, 3B and Nichia 219C… Didn’t realize there would be a 3A and a 3B model. Will have to ask Neal if there indeed is a separate X6S “3A” and X6S “3B” model…

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:55:47.000Z

Banggood lists this driver for $8.99 as of a few seconds ago, but they list the mode groups like this…

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:59:19.000Z

d_t_a, mine has the sticker on the top right hand bottom corner of the box, not the end, and only has listed XP-L HI or Nichia 219C. Beside the XP-L HI is hand written 3A. Mine is probably from a prototype batch.

MascaratumB · 2018-11-13T15:00:16.000Z

Same driver is on sale on AliExpress, a little bit cheaper too! https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20181113070018&SearchText=astrolux+x5+driver

And the BLF A6 is also on sale there: https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20181113065951&SearchText=blf+a6+driver

Yokiamy · 2018-11-13T20:39:10.000Z

Looks like the standard astrolux driver for x5/x6 with the capacitor mod. as demonstrated by our fellow BLF member Djozz over here.

M4dm4x has a code for it which gives 2$ discount

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T21:03:06.000Z

Nope, not that mod… just a second cap on top of the C1 (10 Ohm).

Tally-ho · 2018-11-14T04:42:57.000Z

ToyKeeper:

Anyone know how to contact Mateminco?

On alibaba, Mateminco is : Dongguan Tongming Lighting Technology Co., Limited
>> Contact information <<

Bistro UI is mentionned in the X6S “detailed images”. There is also the bistro cheat sheet.

DavidEF · 2018-11-14T00:19:52.000Z

DB Custom:

And what does Fenix use? And Nightcore? And Lumintop? How many times have we seen that big green ball pictured in the corner of the lab? They all use expensive equipment, much more so than our PVC P Traps. How is Maukka’s better than theirs?

I’ve been doing this here for a long time, don’t need any calibration lights, already been done. And if I only had a dollar for every time this has been discussed…

Maukka says in his WTS thread:

maukka:

The calibration lights have been measured in a 50 cm Lisun Group integrating sphere using an X-rite i1Pro spectrophotometer.

So, his sphere is possibly a good bit smaller than that of the “Big Name” manufacturers. But, I’d trust his calibration lights to at least be the most accurate method of calibrating that we at BLF could get for less than $100. But, I’m sure your way is great too. Just a lot more expensive, a lot more time consuming, and a tiny bit more accurate. :partying_face:

hank · 2018-11-14T00:31:28.000Z

Amazon claims to offer a way to contact Mateminco:

https://www.amazon.com/sp?seller=A3NDCGQ04O865F

CheapThrills · 2018-11-26T22:06:55.000Z

Got the light today, oh boy…

For a pretty long time - this is a Good One!
Most of the things I need or prefer are done “just right”.

Big thanks for pics + review, I would say this is a great little thing considering the pricepoint

Tally-ho · 2018-11-26T22:24:35.000Z

Yes, very nice. I really appreciate my 219C one even if it is a bit on the yellow-slighlty-greenish side. Mateminco should add luminus SST-20 4000K (FA1 or FA4) to their line of products.

g_damian · 2018-12-04T07:56:17.000Z

I got mine. It came a bit dusty. Beside that it looks very nice. Ordered NW, but received the one with 1A on the box. Compared it with XPLHI V2 3A from intl-outdoor. Maybe, just maybe, they’re a bit cooler. But they are for sure a lot under BBL. Makes E21A 5000K looks ~~green~~ warmer. Only 219b sw45 are more rosy than leds installed in X6S.

Regarding the driver. It pulls ~10.5A from vtc6. Lighted tailcap is installed, although it is very dim. There must be some capacitor related issue. No mater how long the flashlight is turned off, it is interpreted as middle click. On the next turn on it switches to previous mode. The same behavior can be observed without tailcap, just with shorted battery to the tube. I tried to disable middle click in configuration. As a result, the flashlight interpreted each click as mode advance.

Edit: for cold flashlight border between middle click and full click is around 11 seconds. For hot flashlight it’s hard to make a short click, because it’s interpreted as middle.