MTN Electronics: LEDs - Batteries - Lights - Chargers - Hosts - Drivers - Components - 1-Stop-US Source

sidecross · December 24, 2015, 7:02pm

Bort:

RMM:

Firelight2:

Gunga:

Ah ok. Im just stoked about a good boost driver.

Me too. How about a 6v boost driver that would allow us to run XHP50/70 and MTG2 on a single 18650?

I used to think that a driver like that would be “the next big thing”. I spent about 80 hours last summer prototyping one. In the end I decided that it wasn’t worth the effort and cost. It would be a $30+ driver and you are limited to 10A input. Even with an awesome super-efficient synchronous converter it is still a lot of heat, and with a fresh high-drain 26650 you get about 4A output into an MT-G2 or XHP70 which falls pretty quickly to around 3A with a little voltage sag and heat (60-90 seconds is all). With an 18650 the outlook is even worse. That does get you over 3000 lumens for a little bit and a fresh battery, but it ends being much more expensive than a good triple setup and really not much more output—-at least not a noticeable amount.

You also have to heatsink the board very very well or else it will thermal throttle in no time. This means that in most 1x18650 and 1x26650 lights you’d theoretically want to use this in you are dropping output faster than you would be with a triple setup. Another serious downfall.

I never made it to the point of building one that would fit inside of most flashlights (I had one in a light, but you needed a very deep pill) because after testing the prototype board for a day or two I just couldn’t see how it was superior than what we already had that was reliable. Super hard to build, very expensive, more likely to fail long-term, and not really much of an output advantage over a lot of existing options (even less output after 60-90 seconds!). After the initial testing I came to my senses and scrapped the project. I couldn’t feel good about selling something so expensive that I honestly felt to be little more than a novelty.

I agree that blowing through a battery so quickly is pointless (plus the heat issues). I figure you would not design it for 10A, it would be designed for 3-4A, giving double an XP-L output out of our common sized lights

Thank you both Bort and RMM, this is a very good explanation.

RMM · December 25, 2015, 5:43am

Sorry for being so absent last week, but I have been trying as hard as I possibly could to get all of the orders out for the holidays, but MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Our family is SO grateful to have all of your support. We are very lucky to be able to do this business together, as a family, and we couldn't do it without all of you. Thank you for putting up with our shortcomings and being patient with our mistakes.

saypat · December 25, 2015, 6:50am

pretty AMAZING Christmas card if u ask me.

DB_Custom · December 26, 2015, 10:15pm

Christmas Card, I miss the new MTN Electronics Christmas card with Emily on it!

Dude, any announcements? New staff members in the making? Come on now, don’t be a slacker, we expect to see the business growing every year and you show us the employees and your boss at Christmas!

Merry Christmas Richard and family, thank Y’ALL for putting up with us…

(Personally, I’m a bit disappointed. I was thinking he’d pick names like Brandon and Lauren and Francis for his kids… the BLF Crew. ) hahahahaha

Bort · December 27, 2015, 3:14am

Thats awesome

NightSpy · December 27, 2015, 9:15pm

“Hey Richard!” …

Can I suggest you put the XTAR 800mah 14500 protected cells back in stock?

I just received your EVVA 14500 and they are .L.O.N.G. (52,5mm).
They won’t fit into my Lego brick conversion
…or in my modified “Flip” cam.

The XTAR fits in the camera with a bit it plastic tearing but fits with no fuss in the Lego brick.

Anyway, I just unwrapped 2 of the 4 cells so they will work for my purpose, but in the long rung, I will need protected cells.
The XTAR cells are holding up nicely.

cfy7 · December 27, 2015, 11:33pm

Richard,

When do you plan on having CREE XM-L2 U4 1C LED on Noctigon 16mm MCPCB back in stock?

Thanks! Keep up the great work!

RMM · December 28, 2015, 5:12am

I am no longer going to be carrying the XTAR 14500s, but I do have some similarly shaped and similarly priced protected Efest 14500s that I actually have but need to test more fully before listing them. I suspect that they are almost the same, if not the same, but we'll see. Should be soon. :)

RMM · December 28, 2015, 5:14am

I'm going to be getting more soon.

troisanh · December 28, 2015, 5:19am

Any idea when xpl hi v3 will be instock again?

RMM · December 28, 2015, 5:38am

I'll have to get a new one soon. We didn't take any family pictures this year, but we are going to a wedding this week so I'm sure there will be some pictures taken there. Until then, here's a few of Emily:

She's my favorite little girl! She's very sweet!

Carson, on the other hand, can be a bit of a little monster!

MRsDNF · December 28, 2015, 5:42am

Wrathbringer27 · December 28, 2015, 8:11am

Richard! I was just about to purchase the mtn max driver today and it’s OOS again hais… when will it be in stock?

THAO916 · December 29, 2015, 3:16am

Richard- any chance you’ll be getting any 20/21mm TIR lens for S2+?

DB_Custom · December 29, 2015, 3:30am

Thank you, the verdict is in. Beautiful people make beautiful children!

RMM · December 29, 2015, 4:18am

I've actually already got some, but they're pretty floody. Is that the type of beam you guys are looking for?

emarkd · December 29, 2015, 4:23am

I’d try them. Are they on the site yet?

Cousin_Elmer · December 29, 2015, 4:55am

I bought some of these 20mm TIR trying to match the TIR in the early generation Armytek XP-G2 Partners.

To my eye with an XP-G2 or Nichia emitter they produce a largish hotspot with decent spill similar to that generation of Partner. With an XP-L they produce a giant hotspot with wide spill somewhat resembling the 10511 optic. If you like that beam profile (and I do) then, IMO, this is a good way to get it.

I’ll try to get some beamshots.

I’m wondering if this 20mm optic from fasttech is the same as the one from KD.

This one produces a giant spot without much spill. Which strikes me as odd because physically it’s nearly impossible to distinguish from the Armytek TIR mentioned above. Go figure…

zoom_zoom · December 29, 2015, 5:53am

The stock convoy S lights need as much throw help as they can get but I doubt we'll get better throw from a TIR. I had one that was all flood through a TIR, and it was pretty nice. Made for an excellent work light, just did not throw at all, like less than 200' with a 7135*12 driver & xml2 on noctigon, but it lit the area up real well on high. I'd probably buy a couple TIR optics just to have around incase I did want one but anymore I'd just as soon swap in a triple setup. Add the TIR's to the site and I'll make sure to put a couple in my next order!

Btw my wife was really glad my stocking stuffers got here in time for christmas! She was more excited about getting those hosts than I was, and I've been wanting to build another S4 for a long time lol. They showed up on the 23rd!

unknown00101 · January 1, 2016, 8:13am

Are buttontop 30Q's getting restocked? If so, happening within a month?

Same questions about Efest purple 14500.