Short Review of Sofirn SP33 v2 with XHP50.2

JasonWW · 2018-11-25T03:56:06.000Z

Okay, pics are added and I think post 1 is pretty complete. I still need to get the driver out, though.

pennzy · 2018-11-25T12:55:35.000Z

Thanks Jason for the update. Sounds like a very nice light overall. Do you think high mode would overheat it if used for a long time? Does it step down from high?

JasonWW · 2018-11-25T13:00:52.000Z

pennzy:

Do you think high mode would overheat it if used for a long time? Does it step down from high?

I don’t know. I usually use it on Med for walking around and it doesn’t even get warm.

I’ll try High mode tonight and see what happens.

TexasToasted · 2018-11-25T15:09:01.000Z

What are the screws under the MCPCB holding?

PBWilson · 2018-11-25T16:10:34.000Z

Do they hold the T-shaped driver/switch board in place?

Lux-Perpetua · 2018-11-25T17:57:33.000Z

Great review JasonWW! :-)

Lately, I took some beamshots outside at 3°C / 37°F and the SP33 didn't get substantially warmer than my hand, even after quite some runtime on turbo.

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/47363/165

The tint shift is hardly noticeable when outside. You might recognize some yellowish tint on the edge of the spot, somehow identical to the SP32A V2 that uses the XP-L2. FWIW, the SP32A V2.0 heats up significantly on turbo while the SP33, being far more hefty, remains comfortable as a summer breeze.

For comparison:

Sofirn SP32A V2.0 (XP-L2)

Sofirn SP33 (XHP50.2)

cccpull · 2018-11-25T19:44:22.000Z

Any idea on US availability?

djozz · 2018-11-25T20:20:19.000Z

TexasToasted:

What are the screws under the MCPCB holding?

They could be holding nothing and just prevent the MCPCB from rotating (and shearing the ledwires) when closing the bezel.

eas · 2018-11-26T02:02:17.000Z

I noted those screws in another thread and wondered if they were doing retention duty for driver components.

Since then, I’ve removed and inspected them.

They are quite short, not long enough to retain anything on the other side of the MCPCB shelf, so they must be there to keep the MCPCB from rotating… or as conversation starters.

JasonWW · 2018-11-26T02:17:29.000Z

djozz:

TexasToasted:

What are the screws under the MCPCB holding?

They could be holding nothing and just prevent the MCPCB from rotating (and shearing the ledwires) when closing the bezel.

This is also what I think. They are just for anti rotation.

You can see in Dale’s thread where they don’t do anything as far as the driver is concerned.

Sofirn SP33 26650 e-switch flashlight 26650 Flashlights

I was asked by Tracy at Sofirn to review a couple of lights. This first one is the SP33, a new side switch light with lighted battery level indicator in the side switch, similar to some Thrunite lights and the UTorch UT02. The AliExpress store listings show it HERE in the $25 range, a good deal for this light in my opinion. [image] The AliExpress site above shows it coming with a cell and a small single cell charger… I didn’t receive those with this sample light but it did come in the nice bo…

pennzy:

Do you think high mode would overheat it if used for a long time? Does it step down from high?

I ran High mode continously for about 20 minutes walking around. It’s a slightly chilly 60°F and windy night. Heat was not even a concern and it didn’t step down. It was just barely warm. Should be fine.

If left in a hot room with no airflow it would surely get warmer, but even then I doubt it would get so hot that it would need to step down.

cccpull:

Any idea on US availability?

By this, do you mean buying it on Amazon US? I have not heard anything about it. Sorry.

cccpull · 2018-11-26T02:56:21.000Z

Yes JasonWW, that's what I meant. Thanks.

klrman · 2018-11-26T03:31:43.000Z

Thanks for the review Jason, looks like a decent all around light. Will it fit the longer protected keeppower 26650 5200 as that's the only 26650's I have at the moment.

adirus · 2018-11-26T03:27:29.000Z

I think the sp33 ver.2 is referring to the current retail version with the xhp50.2.

There was an earlier version of the sp33 using the xp-l led.

JasonWW · 2018-11-26T03:56:01.000Z

klrman:

Thanks for the review Jason, looks like a decent all around light. Will it fit the longer protected keeppower 26650 5200 as that’s the only 26650’s I have at the moment.

I don’t have any protected 26650 anymore to try, but 21700 fits. The springs have a lot of height to them and can compress a lot.

So even though the protected KP 5200 is a poor choice for this light in my opinion, I think it would fit.

Obviously, you can also use an 18650 as well.

adirus:

I think the sp33 ver.2 is referring to the current retail version with the xhp50.2.

There was an earlier version of the sp33 using the xp-l led.

Did someone ask about this? I thought it was well known.

klrman · 2018-11-26T03:57:38.000Z

Why would it be a poor choice since turbo only uses 5.8A and the protected KP can sustain 12A?

I asked about ver.2 as I didn't follow anything about the SP33 at all until today!

JasonWW · 2018-11-26T04:05:02.000Z

klrman:

Why would it be a poor choice since turbo only uses 5.8A and the protected KP can sustain 12A?

That is such an old cell with poor chemistry and high internal resistance. You get a lot of voltage sag with it and boost drivers need as much voltage as possible.

The protection circuitry also adds resistance and reduces voltage.

What I’m refering to is mainly in reference to turbo run times. If you are only concerned about steady output on the lower levels, then it’s an okay battery for that.

klrman:

I asked about ver.2 as I didn’t follow anything about the SP33 at all until today!

I must have missed your question.

Here is DB Custom’s thread on the first version that uses the xp-l.

Sofirn SP33 26650 e-switch flashlight 26650 Flashlights

I was asked by Tracy at Sofirn to review a couple of lights. This first one is the SP33, a new side switch light with lighted battery level indicator in the side switch, similar to some Thrunite lights and the UTorch UT02. The AliExpress store listings show it HERE in the $25 range, a good deal for this light in my opinion. [image] The AliExpress site above shows it coming with a cell and a small single cell charger… I didn’t receive those with this sample light but it did come in the nice bo…

The thread transitions to the newer version.

klrman · 2018-11-26T04:03:01.000Z

JasonWW:

klrman:

Why would it be a poor choice since turbo only uses 5.8A and the protected KP can sustain 12A?

That is such an old cell with poor chemistry and high internal resistance. You get a lot of voltage sag with it and boost drivers need as much voltage as possible. The protection circuitry also adds resistance and reduces voltage. What I’m refering to is mainly in reference to turbo run times. If you are only concerned about steady output on the lower levels, then it’s an okay battery for that.

I need to get with the times as I thought it had modern chemistry. I've replaced most of my 18650's with 30Q's but haven't replaced any 26650's as of yet.

JasonWW · 2019-01-02T01:27:29.000Z

klrman:

JasonWW:

klrman:

Why would it be a poor choice since turbo only uses 5.8A and the protected KP can sustain 12A?

That is such an old cell with poor chemistry and high internal resistance. You get a lot of voltage sag with it and boost drivers need as much voltage as possible. The protection circuitry also adds resistance and reduces voltage. What I’m refering to is mainly in reference to turbo run times. If you are only concerned about steady output on the lower levels, then it’s an okay battery for that.

I need to get with the times as I thought it had modern chemistry. I’ve replaced most of my 18650’s with 30Q’s but haven’t replaced any 26650’s as of yet.

I think the KP 5200 mah came out in 2014. They have since been replaced by the 6000 mah version which is superior. The blue Liitokala came out, I think, in 2016 and is also superior. There have been a lot of better cells that have came out since the KP 5200 mah.

klrman · 2018-11-26T04:20:58.000Z

Do you think the chemistry is any safer with the 6000 mAh?

Tally-ho · 2018-11-26T04:55:54.000Z

JasonWW:

This is also what I think. They are just for anti rotation.

They could have used screws with a bit larger head to press down the MCPCB against the shelf and use thermal paste in between instead of using thermal glue. :person_facepalming:
They abandonned the driver retaining ring, it is now glued.

Someone at sofirn has a fetish with the glue.