Booty with the 6mm GITD (much improved!):
Compared to other common small tail-standers:
Sipik SK68 - Romisen RC-29 - New 898 - F12-A - Sipik SK73 (18650)
With the Sipiks only:
Did the mod today of swapping out the driver on the F12-A to a Nanji 105C AMC7135*8. Since this was my most complicated mod, took a little time (actually it's my 2nd mod, 1st mod was yesterday!). As scaru said, the driver was a little too big so I decided to trim the board with a dremel (actually a Harbor freight - their best). I realized the stock spring on the 105C would not due, so detached the original spring, mounted it upside down, and also, soldered in the smaller 105C spring inside the big original, keeping it flush to the battery contact - I was concerned the wide end of the big spring would not make good contact with the + terminal on the 14500 battery.
Also, it looked like the brass retaining ring that held down the original driver would not do because it would make contact with the 7135's. So, I soldered down the driver board at 3 points. I kept in the original wires - they seemed fine and I couldn't see any difference in the new replacement ones.
Fortunately the initial power test worked fine! I made the driver lo/med/hi, though I didn't see any #'s for the stars, browsing BLF and CPF, found someone noting they are numbered right to left, but it turns out they must be left to right numbered, or the doc was wrong, dunno. Anyway, had to break one star ground, and soldered the next, then the modes worked the way I wanted!!
Very happy with this new light - the tail-standing GITD button, nicely spaced modes, no flashies, plus 2.8A measured amps on a fresh charged TF flame w/a U2 in a very small and great looking package!! I now have better batteries on order (Sanyo 840 mAh from Intl-Outdoor). This thing is now as bright as my Sipik SK73 zoomy, but much better looking, higher quality, and smaller, better heat mgt. I think it's flood beam is very good - very even light distribution, but the square throw is horrible but all the zoomy's I saw and have are like that.
Sure it heats up, but I got stock lights that heat quicker. The clip is annoying as JohnnyMac, pointed out, but I'll see if I can bend the end up - should do the trick, then it will be near perfect.
Will be adding a 7135 to the F12-A, bringing it up to 3.18A (380ma chip). It handles the heat very well - great brass pill. Maybe a U3 1C?
Update: Updated to 3.14A (350 ma), looks nice, not getting too hot. Lot of pocket power for an FTT.
Whoa! I like it!
| Brand: | UniqueFire |
| Model: | F16-B |
| LED Emitter Type: | 12xCREE XM-L T6 |
| Luminous Flux: | 1300-Lumen |
Wait, what?
And you thought you were tricky squeezing just 6 on a p60 MCPCB!