Now it is really weird. The parasitic drain depends on the ambient brightness.
The current of 1.88 mA drops to 40 µA after some seconds, but only in a dark environment . The light did not do this current change during my first measurement (duration 2 min). I have no idea what triggered the change in the driver’s behavior.
Anyway, if the light is stored in a brighter environment (1000 lx) the drain goes up to 0.33 mA, and in sunlight (over 100000 lx) it sometimes jumps over 1 mA. This is caused by the IR sensors. They induce a current which is generated by the ambient light.
So, practically (failing the redesign with the second dial instead of IR :-), the @AK-Adventurist’s idea of covering the IR sensor with tape makes even more sense?
Just to make double sure: that happens when the IR sensor should be definitely off, as in after breaking the circuit and never triple clicking on it since?
Yeah, but this eliminates one of the key selling points of this light.
Without IR it is just a headlamp with interesting dial switch.
To be honest, I’m not really interested in this lamp anymore. The LEDs used (tintshift is getting really annoying, Luminus should slowly get their phosphor mix ready like other manufacturers did already several years ago), the missing 660nm photo/deep red LEDs, the strange driver with the weird mode-dependent mode memory, plus the high parasitic drain, which is also brightness-dependent and drains the battery in a short time depending on where you store it (since I don’t know why the light only drew 1.88 mA in my first measurement, this could possibly happen again and drain the battery faster). IR gesture control works in principle, but in my opinion it’s more of a gimmick than a useful feature.
The idea behind the lamp is cool, but in the end Sofirn was perhaps too optimistic in what they wanted to achieve with it.
This happens right after putting the battery in and closing the tailcap. This is independent from any activation of this IR feature. I assume, this IR control feature will only be turned on via firmware. The sensors are probably always on, only when the feature is deactivated the MCU just ignore the changes in current/voltage of the IR sensor. This would explain the strange fluctuations of the parasitic drain depending on the ambient brightness without activating this control feature.
As @koef3 reported here the black sticker at the IR end partially came off - in my case without any heat application. And the curiosity took the better of me and I opened up this end to see what’s inside it :-). Here is what I’ve seen:
The surprising thing to me was that there are 4 o-ring gaskets there: one on each IR emitter and receiver, one between the plastic cover and the aluminium locking ring, and one between the aluminium locking ring and the tube. So in my mind, this end is quite waterproof. To that end, Sofirn started calling the front rotary dial ‘Hall’, so perhaps the lamp is more waterproof than stated?
Almost great flashlight ruined by a bad UI?
if I see their user guide, it seems Turbo is included in the normal brightness cycle. Is this true?
I hope they can change this in any future product. Because double click from on → red blink, I cant think such a scenario which need this functionality.
And I would suggest to offer a 5000K SFT40 version if possible.
however double clic from Off gives Red double blink then Off again. It appears to be a lockout mode. Subsequent single clic gives the same double red blink then off. To get out of the lockout, use double clic from off again, to exit lockout.
Now about the motion sensor. I recommend Not using it as it is inconsistent. Sometimes when I do triple clic from On, instead of getting the motion activated mode switching, the light just turns off after a moment, even without waving my hand past the sensor.
Other times, after doing triple clic from On, the light turns off the first time I wave my hand past the sensor… Or, at other times after doing triple clic from on, when the motion sensor Is working, an unintenional hand movement past the sensor will change modes, when I do not mean to.
Bottom line, I recommend Not using the motion sensor at all, It is sometimes activated by moving the light past an inanimate object. iow, it is not intelligent enough to recognize a warm hand as distinct from some non warm object.
Still a great headlamp with Red plus White LEDs… suggest just ignore the motion sensor feature… it is off by default, so just ignore the 3 clic from On feature.
I concur. I also think there is nothing wrong with the regular UI, supported by the ‘all channels to default’ cap twist. I covered the IR sensor with tape for this reason.
I personally think the UI is brilliant how it saves each level in memory. I run a flashlight store in New Zealand, selling mostly to hunters, and that function is the best. Set floodlight to medium and spotlight to turbo, I can walk around on floodlight and then just a simple rotation gets spotlight turbo for a brief scan, then back to floodlight medium. No longer clicking multiple times to change modes then another 2x click for turbo etc
I tested parasitic drain and it was very low on mine, after battery indicator turns off.
Tint shift has never been an issue, nor has the lack of 660nm red when 620nm is still effective on animals.
I personally enjoy the IR sensor, but am open to a rotary dial for the brightness instead.
@koef3 you mentioned high parasite drain if stored in daylight, is that with the sensor off? Must be, since it can’t be activated while off. Main thing there is that the LVP works.
I’m for the second dial but I also dig single dial memories, as they are now. The second dial could have the Memory position, but I can’t think of a way of setting those memories without an extra button, which defeats the simplicity and intuitiveness of two dials only.
Tested the parasitic drain with the Sofirn HS42 on floodlight turbo, point blank to the IR sensor and get 0.88mA. That’s barely anything to start worrying about. With the HS42 on med it was 0.30mA, that’s brighter than any room.
HS42 Flood Med: 121,200 lux (point blank)
Standard LED House Light: 112,400 lux (point blank)
Standard Room Lighting: 270 lux - 0.03mA
That would have to be stored with the sensor facing the sun though, and that’s just not going to happen. Nothing to worry about IMO. I’ve seen higher end brands with much higher parasitic drain than this here.
Got me a little worried for a bit after I have a bulk shipment arriving tomorrow. Glad it’s nothing.
A comment on IR. Just like others, I think this light is just great without it. But as I gave up on IR in regular use, I thought it could be useful when bike-riding.
I tried it, and it sort of works - as in I can change the intensity quickly and go back to holding handlebars - but I couldn’t help to wonder why I would like to keep changing the light intensity while riding If the IR could just toggle between some two modes - the High beam and Low beam, just like in cars - that could be a more promising bicycling scenario, I think.
A lot of people thoroughly enjoy the Wuben E7 with gesture control, it has all modes accessible. I find it great to use when hands are dirty out on the farm, cutting up an animal with bloody hands, and just when your hands are holding something. I think it’s a great addition for such an affordable price.
If the IR could just toggle between some two modes - the High beam and Low beam, just like in cars - that could be a more promising bicycling scenario, I think.