what is a spring pcb mod?
Pssst: the new LEDboard discussion is over there: Q8 Dual footprint, quad LED copper DTP LEDboard interest List
Thanks hank!
Interesting, thanks for sharing that info…. :+1:
Great info. Thanks!
That’s great. Apparently I was reading an old survey that was posted. I somehow found an old survey and didn’t realize it was last April not this April Q6/Q8 How many emitters build in it? this is a long buildup and even longer thread and hard to keep tabs on what exactly is happening when you don’t have time to read but a few of the posts here and there every month!
I’m 1300 and 1301 on the list, could you please add 2 more to the list for me. My brother and neighbor will be very happy receiving these as gifts. Thanks
yes will do!
Prototype 3, sample 7 is in!
Already in pieces, photos to come. It is absolutely remarkable value for money!
One issue with the MCPCB solder mask de-laminated on one edge (without any soldering yet).
:+1: 
:+1:
Ye-haaaa, thanks for the info DEL. :+1: …. Looking forward to the photos.
MCPCB sound like a concern to my uninformed self……… 
…………………
Edit to add: I guess it shouldn’t, but it kind of amazes me that on 1 of 7 - #3 Prototypes they would send a MCPCB with “problems” right out of the box. I’ll just stop right there without any other speculation of any type.
Yaay :sunglasses:
7 out of 7 are in! That’s the best on topic post in a while! :+1:
Regarding why one would want to have more then one Q8:
- If the production lights are as good as the latest prototypes it’s a hell of a deal for the price.
- The price is likely to go up for some time after the first group buy so a second one may cost notably more.
- If you plan to mod it you still have a stock Q8 to compare to.
- This kind of light is nice to have in several places in the house and possibly in the car(s).
- It would make a great gift - although a bit expensive with cells and charger.
- It’s a piece of BLF history.
On a more personal note:
- Whatever i like i want to have (more then) several. :heart_eyes:
Now the guessing game about when the first Q8s will ship… Mid August? September?
There is no ‘like’ button, so instead how about a :+1: ?
I hope things will progress quickly to the phase of the project, where we all get lit.
I want to get one for all of my cars, another to leave stock, a few to mod in various ways (thinking an xhp35 hi thrower version and an xhp50.2 high CRI flooder to start out with). Then a few more for gifts.
Sadly not sure I will be able to afford all of that before the GB actually happens.
:+1: :+1:
That suggests they need to tighten up both the QA and the QC systems.
Assuming they have such as part of their operation. If not we can help
http://www.onquality.info/2011/10/difference-between-qa-and-qc.html/
http://www.onquality.info/2011/10/difference-between-qa-and-qc.html/
(emphasis added; a working QA/QC system defeats the aforementioned tendency toward quality fading over time, too.
I am following this thread for longtime, until today I just be able to register in just to join the wonderful group and wish to be on the LIST for 1 light. So please put me in if possible. Please please.
This is the round #3 Q8 with bypassed springs, using the tial PCB fro proto #1 (they are an exact match):
This was with VTC6's w/boobs at 4.19V: lumens: 6,660 @start, 6,190 @30 secs, so about a 5% bump on account of the bypassed springs.
This I should have done a while ago, looking at the spring at proto #1, proto #2, and round 3.
Here's proto #2 (left) compared to round 3 (right):
Proto #2:
Round 3:
Proto #1 compared to round 3. Proto #1 was a crude prototype in several respects. They were one of the worse set of springs I've seen. With the bypasses, doesn't really matter.
Proto #1 on left, round 3 on right:
- Proto #1 springs: 11 mm high, thick, single
- Proto #2 springs: 10.5 mm high, thick, inner spring is 7 mm
- Round 3 springs: 10 mm high, thin, inner spring is 5 mm
I think the ThorFire engineers were attempting to soften up the springs in round 3 to ease the tension threading on the tube tight. I think they went a bit too far with that though.
Footnote: that pile of fur under the table in the first shot is my dog, Rex 
Some first impressions, then photos!
The good:
- Perfect fit and exterior finish. Clean and battery tube threads well lubricated.
- Pretty good interior finish for the most part
- Nice heft, weighs in at 404 g (no cells). The latest SRKs are around 300 g.
- Clean reflector, lens, LEDs, MCPCB, interior
- Looks like a good quality PCB for the driver
- Good button with crisp action
- Good thermal performance. Can sense some heat on the exterior very rapidly.
- 3D tint, or extremely close to it, as per specification
- 2 mohm FET on the driver, as per specification
- The ‘good’ type 7135 regulator on the driver
- LED wires are AWG 18 or larger
The neutral:
- More aggressive knurling than usual, but well done
- The SS bezel on mine came dirty. Some glue or similar that comes off easily though.
- The glue used for the plastic finishing rings around the brass +contact ring is a little fragile. Very easy to remove these rings.
- LED centering is OK, but not great.
The not so good:
- De-laminating MCPCB. Apart from the mask lifting at one edge, there is also an air-bubble around the -wire pad.
- Two inclusions in one of the four reflectors
- The now known issue with the tail springs. A 2 ft drop onto its tail on a soft surface interrupts the cells.
- Driver is obviously hand-soldered. Hopefully this is just a prototyping issue. It is mostly a case of too much solder and there are no signs of dry joints or bad connections.
OK, photos. These are as the light came out of the box, no clean-up, no rework of any kind.
Banggood style bag, but I am not expecting anything from BG?
Apparently we have an SKU already:
Simple but functional packaging, of course the retail version may end up improved:
Oh nice!:
Not something you will see on any other SRK light:
Less nice inside, but still pretty good:
Tail board:
Tail cap:
Tripod threads:
Some boobed flat-tops:
We would need 2-3 mm extra on those springs for a secure fit with short cells:
Plastic rings. The brass ring stands ~0.5 mm proud of both:
Cool side light:
Great tint. XPL-HI 3D on the right:
Business end:
Against two current-generation SRKs:
The good FET:
The not good reflector:
Underneath the tail board:
Back of reflector:
MCPCB:
Small screws are all the same size:
Thermal paste:
Back of MCPCB:
Shelf cleaned up, very nice finish on that one:
Its flat:
My only real complaint:
Same defect:
Now to put it back together and use it!:
WOW, now that’s a great rundown of the light :+1: Thanks a lot
Have the other proto3 lights the same issues as the one DEL received? Except for the LEDs being off-center and the spring issue I don’t remember any mention of the other issues.