SFT-42R 6500K LEDs are available

Hikelite · 2023-06-17T09:27:21.649Z

kerplunk:

lutely hate the use of PWM to control brightness in flashlights, lightbulbs, phone displays, televisions, computer monitors, car headlights, street lights, and so on…

Using my D4V2, for example, I can read PWM on everything but the top 3 brightness ramps. It may exist on the top light, but the PWM frequency is too high for my phone’s camera to see. Such a bummer. (I use an app called Illuminance Pulsation Meter.)

You can’t see any flicker whatsoever as you are trying to imply.
Even the need of a tool to “see” PWM is saying the same thing, that you don’t actually see anyting.

On the other hand smartphones using OLED at low brightness, you see the image being chopped when moving the display fast or the eye left to right because they all use 240Hz PWM, even the Iphone 14 Pro use the same low frequency.

One cannot conflate all PWM as being the same, because it is not.

Hank_Wang · 2023-06-17T10:04:48.844Z

For the M44, you can forget that it’s a dual channel light, but a single channel light with dual channel functions, since with the new UI written by TK, it can work as a single channel light competely.
IMG_4544_02_1100px

Light_Veteran · 2023-06-17T10:18:58.965Z

Hank Wang:

For the M44, you can forget that it’s a dual channel light, but a single channel light with dual channel functions, since with the new UI written by TK, it can work as a single channel light competely.

Driver can be chosen?
If I understand correctly the light work with a double LEDs but in a single channel?

Hank_Wang · 2023-06-17T10:42:49.567Z

driver can not be chosen, but you can choose the single channel mode via UI, which the light will act like a total single channel light.

Light_Veteran · 2023-06-17T10:48:08.857Z

Hank Wang:

driver can not be chosen, but you can choose the single channel mode via UI, which the light will act like a total single channel light.

So it’s like a D18?

Hank_Wang · 2023-06-17T10:54:24.460Z

M44 is a dual channel boost driver light, you can choose the single mode function via UI, so that is will act like a single channel light, you can also choose the dual channel function via UI.
D18 uses linear+FET driver, which is a total single channel light, it does not have dual channl funtion.
They are totally different lights.

ch1ir · 2023-06-17T10:57:46.680Z

No, there is not currently a d18 dual.channel

elendur · 2023-06-17T11:08:39.868Z

The new version on the anduril ui moved ramp shape (smooth vs stepped) to 6C for now.

3C is now used to switch between different modes. There’s a new menu to select the modes you want: in the case of 16x the same led, you would choose the “both channels on” mode so it acts like single channel flashlight.

Other modes include tint ramping, auto tint, ch1 only, ch2 only, and any of the aux colors (nice!).

Hikelite · 2023-06-17T11:11:59.599Z

wolfgirl42:

They feel almost proprietary in a way in how restrictive their use is.

Actually people who exemplify Sofirn as taking button top cells, well…

Because I have flat top 14500 cells I can’t turn on my Sofirn SP10 PRO, so now I have to buy button top cells, because they use a mechanical reverse polarity protection where you can Only use Button top cells and impossible to turn on the light with flat top cells.
So are they great for not allowing me to use flat top cells? Since no one else has this problem is not a problem.
Some like Fenix E09R can’t even replace the cell. Or Olight’s proprietary system of cells.
The D2 unlike Sofirn SP10 Pro has components on the bottom of the PCB, so it can’t go with the same reverse polarity protection as on the model and force to only use Button top cells, they don’t have room.

Definitely a spring in the front and a spring in the back is a good solution to not have your flashlight turn off when you shake it or you are on a bike which is highly annoying, especially for beryllium copper less “springy” springs, but the issue here is the tube is too short, that would be what the dented cells indicate.

Light_Veteran · 2023-06-17T11:53:14.602Z

I know I know, thank you

Light_Veteran · 2023-06-17T12:00:35.155Z

Hank Wang:

For the M44, you can forget that it’s a dual channel light, but a single channel light with dual channel functions, since with the new UI written by TK, it can work as a single channel light competely.

Ok now thanks to this pic I understand well how does it function. It’s like an old DT8 with E21A. And also a dual boost driver!! Hank is a very cool project.
We can use level 1 or like usual standard we have to use minimum level 10?

Light_Veteran · 2023-06-17T12:05:50.041Z

I know, I wrote to ToyKeeper about all the sub menu for choose the channels (1, 2 or both) because they are not in the manual, so its a little bit difficult to remember. I know ToyKeeper will fix all

Jeffgoldblum · 2023-06-17T14:34:24.132Z

a bear.:

My workhorse D4V2 has done that to every VTC6 that came near it, it’s the falls it takes as it unclips from my belt.

You need one of these bad boys for that light. Stop dropping it so much lol

Inexorabill:

Yeah I see modern expensive cars driving down the road and they have crappy flickery lights. If you wiggle your eyes they leave a flickery trail.

Tell them they can fix that by turning the lights to max brightness.

Inexorabill · 2023-06-17T15:43:33.906Z

Jeffgoldblum:

Tell them they can fix that by turning the lights to max brightness.

Normally it’s the taillights so they go to max brightness when the driver hits the brake.

Jeffgoldblum · 2023-06-17T16:54:38.380Z

Inexorabill:

Normally it’s the taillights so they go to max brightness when the driver hits the brake.

Yep, they can probably adjust those. They might not know how lol, but there’s a way. Might have to go to the dealership. I can adjust the brightness of my brake lights and reverse lights from 1 to 10 and they do that flicker if I have it too low.

kerplunk · 2023-06-17T17:05:06.145Z

Hikelite:

You can’t see any flicker whatsoever as you are trying to imply.
Even the need of a tool to “see” PWM is saying the same thing, that you don’t actually see anyting.

On the other hand smartphones using OLED at low brightness, you see the image being chopped when moving the display fast or the eye left to right because they all use 240Hz PWM, even the Iphone 14 Pro use the same low frequency.

One cannot conflate all PWM as being the same, because it is not.

You are simply saying that low frequency PWM is worse (and more visible to the eye) than high frequency PWM. No one is disagreeing with that.

@idleprocess posted “testing figures” that say they measured PWM frequency at 16,000Hz on turbo. I didn’t see any numbers for high, medium, low, or moonlight brightnesses, but I am sure they would not be 16,000Hz. While many people believe 3,000Hz or above is “safe”, I wholeheartedly disagree. Many people have issues with PWM even at 96,000Hz. (i.e. MacBook Pro displays.)

Just because something does not affect you (for instance, you do not get eye-strain or headaches from PWM) does not mean others are the same.

But what is better than high frequency PWM? No PWM at all.

The use of PWM–regardless of frequency–in all applications, is a “cheap” way to go. Constant current is a better alternative. I’ve researched PWM in consumer applications over the past 10 years – the conclusion is that PWM sucks.

I will not comment any further on this topic out of respect to Hank and the others on this thread, as well as this being a widespread concern applicable to many other flashlight brands.

kerplunk · 2023-06-17T17:06:21.083Z

Hank Wang:

For the M44, you can forget that it’s a dual channel light, but a single channel light with dual channel functions, since with the new UI written by TK, it can work as a single channel light competely.

This is fantastic! Thank you for posting this. I’ll be purchasing the M44 on day 1 of its release… just need to decide on LED choices.

thefreeman · 2023-06-17T17:16:04.440Z

kerplunk:

Using my D4V2, for example, I can read PWM on everything but the top 3 brightness ramps. It may exist on the top light, but the PWM frequency is too high for my phone’s camera to see. Such a bummer. (I use an app called Illuminance Pulsation Meter .)

The older FET+7135 drivers used PWM dimming, now the default drivers use analog dimming for the constant current linear power channel (up to 5-12A depending on the model. The FET channel (when used) still uses PWM dimming, but since the lights have sustained output in the linear range, and that the thermal stepdown is fairly quick, one should experience very little amount of PWM dimming with the current drivers.

The boost drivers use analog diming all the way, and so will the dual buck in the M44 as well. (edit : not sure about M44 PWM or not)

idleprocess · 2023-06-17T18:13:43.459Z

kerplunk:

@idleprocess posted “testing figures” that say they measured PWM frequency at 16,000Hz on turbo.

I’m no EE, but I’m confident that it’s a whole lot easier to vary the pulse width/count than it is to vary the base frequency so I’d expect 16Khz throughout the brightness range.

Valynor · 2023-06-17T18:25:31.910Z

I found this info in @ToyKeeper 's D4 review:

The D4 uses fast 3-level PWM at 15.6 kHz to adjust brightness. Low levels oscillate between 0 mA and ~350mA, while higher levels oscillate between ~350mA and full power. The PWM is far too fast to see during use, but a child with good hearing might be able to hear a faint high-pitched tone.