[Review] 77 Outdoors D25 Headlamp (18650)

Lightbringer · 2019-03-31T18:22:34.000Z

There are 3 of ’em listed, the D10 (1 emitter/lens), the D25 (2 emitters/lenses), and a zoomie (unno).

JasonWW · 2019-04-01T05:24:55.000Z

Wow, this is a good thread. I wish I had found it earlier.

Someone said earlier that the D25 and D10 had the same driver.

Here is Tom E’s stock D25 driver.

Here is Flail’s stock D10 driver.

Note the dot on the chip.

The pcb layout looks the same. Maybe these are different chips and the dot has a different meaning for each chip? I really don’t know.

Tom_E · 2019-04-01T11:37:07.000Z

Hhmm. The dot should always be pin #1. Maybe a batch of fake MCU got it reversed? Weird...

The U3 labeling is different - maybe the PCB design is different? My pic is not so good, look'n compared, shadows are hiding a couple things

sungar · 2019-04-01T12:22:21.000Z

PCB part just under MCU (between MCU and FET Q1) is different as well. It would be nice to check PCD layout on the back side, but it look like divers are a bit different. I would rather expect the same MCU on both. Used FETs and resistors are different probably due to number of leds used, but I think that schematics might be the same for both. Maybe one of those is just an newer revision.

JasonWW · 2019-04-01T12:51:48.000Z

The pin on the upper right in the driver pics looks like it goes to Batt Neg on both drivers.

Tom’s D25

Flail’s D10

Different revisions

gchart · 2019-04-01T13:46:03.000Z

Uh oh. Glad you pointed this out, Jason. Glad I haven’t sent out too many MCU’s… they’ll need to check which version of the driver they have.

Here’s mine (D25) with the MCU removed. It appears to be the same layout as Tom_E’s

Tom_E · 2019-04-01T13:53:25.000Z

Have you guys seen how many names these things are sold under? It's crazy! Sofirn even sells them.

This one with a COB and USB charging looks interesting at under $4 shipped: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Outdoor-camping-Portable-mini-XPE-COB-LED-Headlamp

pc_light · 2019-04-01T20:32:57.000Z

gchart:

Uh oh. Glad you pointed this out, Jason. Glad I haven’t sent out too many MCU’s… they’ll need to check which version of the driver they have.

Here’s mine (D25) with the MCU removed. It appears to be the same layout as Tom_E’s

FWIW, confirming that my D25 version that worked with your pre-flashed MCU was also - T02-A VER:03.

Barry0892 · 2019-04-02T01:38:22.000Z

actually this headlamp is everywhere in China. 77outdoor purchased them to sell after tested by sofirn. That’s it.

Since the D25 has bad UI, I helped sofirn upgrade the model to make it a little bit different if not much better.

It called D25S with 2* SST40 leds 1200LM and different UI: click to turn on/off, press and hold to change brightness levels.

Will be available soon.

Maybe it still won’t be as good as you think it should be. But it’s more usable.

It officially claims 1200LM because the heat sink ability is not that good for more current. You guys can DIY it as you wish.

pc_light · 2019-04-02T02:17:46.000Z

Sounds interesting Barry0892.

When you say “press and hold to change brightness levels” are the levels the traditional increments or is it stepless/ramping style level change?

Will you be able to extend deals to BLF, many of us do not participate on FB?

gchart · 2019-04-02T02:30:40.000Z

Does sound better, look forward to seeing it

Lightbringer · 2019-04-02T02:57:19.000Z

Wellp, I just used my D25 about a half-hour ago. I still kinda warmed to the UI. It’s… different… but not necessarily bad.

Still, after also having played with my Q8 at length, and GTmicro today, and given that the D25 has an e-switch, it can very very very easily have the same UI as those.

Click to turn on, click to turn off.

Click’n’hold, or hold-when-on, to ramp up. Unclick then quickly click’n’hold to ramp back down. Unlike the micro, memorise the last level. Doubleclick for turbo. Etc., etc., etc.

Someone here can point you at the innards for the UI most people would want.

Build the D25 with that UI, and you’ll clean up, as no one will have anything like it.

Also, if at all possible, use TIR lenses instead of reflectors. Easy to swap to go from throw to flood and anywhere in-between.

The custom pcb for the LEDs is interesting (ie, 2 LEDs on 1 board), but 2 separate pcbs that “float” on thermal goop and are held in place by the TIRs would awesome.

Barry0892 · 2019-04-02T14:28:23.000Z

if too many changes, why not design a new one?

aswang · 2019-04-02T15:31:36.000Z

Barry0892:

actually this headlamp is everywhere in China. 77outdoor purchased them to sell after tested by sofirn. That’s it.

Since the D25 has bad UI, I helped sofirn upgrade the model to make it a little bit different if not much better.

It called D25S with 2* SST40 leds 1200LM and different UI: click to turn on/off, press and hold to change brightness levels.

Will be available soon.

Maybe it still won’t be as good as you think it should be. But it’s more usable.

It officially claims 1200LM because the heat sink ability is not that good for more current. You guys can DIY it as you wish.

That sounds nice. Hopefully sofirn can also improve it to be more waterproof. Maybe just add o-ring for the front cover like the nitecore hc60 and 65. I’m starting to like this headlamp after the emitter and optics swap but can not recommend it for outdoor wet season use because of its lack of waterproofing. I doubt it can survive continuous rain at it’s present state.

BlueSwordM · 2019-04-02T15:58:10.000Z

@Barry, I know this might be a bit far fatched, but why not make a 1200lm D25S SST-40s and a D25S CRI with 4000k 95CRI SST-20 LEDs?

Best of both worlds.

Barry0892 · 2019-04-03T04:14:14.000Z

pc_light:

Sounds interesting Barry0892.

When you say “press and hold to change brightness levels” are the levels the traditional increments or is it stepless/ramping style level change?

Will you be able to extend deals to BLF, many of us do not participate on FB?

I mean press and hold to cycle through modes: Low/Med1/Med2/High/Turbo.

Barry0892 · 2019-04-03T04:15:51.000Z

BlueSwordM:

@Barry, I know this might be a bit far fatched, but why not make a 1200lm D25S SST-40s and a D25S CRI with 4000k 95CRI SST-20 LEDs?

Best of both worlds.

because the size of emitters are different. XML2 and SST40 both are 5050, XPG2 and SST20 are 3535

gchart · 2019-04-03T05:04:18.000Z

Barry0892:

It called D25S with 2* SST40 leds 1200LM and different UI: click to turn on/off, press and hold to change brightness levels.

Your changes to this light sound good, Barry. I’ve seen listings for neutral CCT (around 5000K) versions of the SST-40 popping up at electronics suppliers. Any chance in sourcing some of these?

Barry0892 · 2019-04-03T15:39:52.000Z

gchart:

Barry0892:

It called D25S with 2* SST40 leds 1200LM and different UI: click to turn on/off, press and hold to change brightness levels.

Your changes to this light sound good, Barry. I’ve seen listings for neutral CCT (around 5000K) versions of the SST-40 popping up at electronics suppliers. Any chance in sourcing some of these?

SST40 5000K emitters to sell?

gchart · 2019-04-03T15:42:26.000Z

Barry0892:

SST40 5000K emitters to sell?

I would buy some, but I meant for the D25S

A product listing for example