sofirn aa lights (sf10/sf12/sf14/etc.)

[beam0]

@MascaratumB

@beam0

Anyone know the dimensions length/diameter of the Sofirn SF14?

Not sure why that isn’t shown on their listing, unless I’m not seeing it.

In my review I made some measurements and weighting of the SP10A and Sf14: DOUBLE 1 AND ½ "REVIEW": Sofirn SP10A and Sofirn SF14 *[added night / distance shots]

Yes I read that, great review thanks, however I only saw the length measurement - not the diameters, unless I missed that? :nerd_face:

[MascaratumB]

@beam0

@MascaratumB

@beam0

Anyone know the dimensions length/diameter of the Sofirn SF14?

Not sure why that isn’t shown on their listing, unless I’m not seeing it.

In my review I made some measurements and weighting of the SP10A and Sf14: DOUBLE 1 AND ½ "REVIEW": Sofirn SP10A and Sofirn SF14 *[added night / distance shots]

Yes I read that, great review thanks, however I only saw the length measurement - not the diameters, unless I missed that? :nerd_face:

Sorry, you’re right :person_facepalming: I just read the length part!
Here it is: tail and head diameter = 19.8mm ; “base of the head” = 20.4mm

Hope this helps! And thanks for your words

@pennzy

@Tyzmon

@pennzy

Can anyone confirm their SP10a or b has short press instant access to firefly now as mine has? Also the Fenix 800mah 14500 protected has worked great in mine. If you live in the US , it ships free from a US warehouse so also comes fast.

Batteries (21700, 18650, 16340, 14500 & CR123A) – Fenix Store

I received a SP10a from the Sofirn Official Ali Store yesterday and can confirm that new lights seem to have the „new“ firmware with a single shortclick to moonlight mode.

Thanks. I have 2 , purchased about a month apart . One has this and one doesn’t. One has a true firefly and one has a moonlight.

Hum…now I don’t know what to expect from mine! I’ll tell something when mine arrives!
And… I guess lots of people here will be saying too :money_mouth_face:

[Lightbringer]

@Zappaman

But I will be using the 14500 for my personal AA lights because I like the idea of using one charger for all my lights— a lithium ion multi-sized charger- and call it good enough. So I did order the SoShine 14500 set this am (I’ll report back on them when I get and test them). I did snake my one U14500P off eBay on an auction (for $2.50 shipped- poor guy didn’t make anything on that sell :cry: ).

Nice compromise would be LFP cells. 3.2V, charges from a LK-100B, but you have to remember to always press Da Button when starting it up. Otherwise it’ll assume it’s a Li-ion cell and try charging it to 4.2V vs 3.6V. That would be a Bad Thing. But at least you’re playing with 3.2V pretty much flat over its whole discharge curve, vs 1.2V.

[Zappaman]

So dumb newbie question #146… is there a down side to the 14500 (besides cost) performance wise? I mean, yes I know a 14500 will be brighter (in this light) but run shorter. So just wondering about any other issues re. the 14500.

[Zappaman]

@Lightbringer

@Zappaman

But I will be using the 14500 for my personal AA lights because I like the idea of using one charger for all my lights— a lithium ion multi-sized charger- and call it good enough.

Nice compromise would be LFP cells. 3.2V, charges from a LK-100B, but you have to remember to always press Da Button when starting it up. Otherwise it’ll assume it’s a Li-ion cell and try charging it to 4.2V vs 3.6V. That would be a Bad Thing. But at least you’re playing with 3.2V pretty much flat over its whole discharge curve, vs 1.2V.

Myah… I saw those and I admit: I thought to myself (which ones are worth buying? - damn, this is going to take another 10 hours of research to find out!)

They seem to be pricey looking around too. Is there an “Ikea” version somewhere I might want to know about?

[beam0]

Links: (Tail switch models - flashlight only)

SF14: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Sofirn-New-SP14-Mini-Portable-LED-Flashlight-AA-Cree-XP-G2-EDC-Pocket-Light-Torch-Portable/32829677829.html

SF10: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Powerful-LED-flashlight-EDC-pocket-torcia-lamp-with-Cree-R5-400lm-3-Modes-waterproof-LED-torch/2933049_32796820396.html?spm=2114.12010612.0.0.41db5da8DYgr1Z
SF10: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Sofirn-Mini-LED-Flashlight-AA-14500-Pocket-Light-Torch-Cree-XPG-R5-Keychain-flashlight-5-Modes/2933049_32813801364.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.34bca823BJBdsG

SF12: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/SF12-LED-Flashlight-Cree-XPG2-400LM-Powerful-Flashlight-LED-Waterproof-Mini-Penlight-with-Clip-3-modes/2933049_32800935007.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.4ae81ae9wnHGvR
SF12: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Sofirn-SF12-Mini-LED-Flashlight-AA-14500-Cree-XPG2-EDC-Pocket-light-Lamp-Portable-Penlight-Waterproof/2933049_32840132241.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.4ae81ae9wnHGvR

(not sure why there’s 2 different listings for SF10/SF12? with different prices!)

.

Link to all Sofirn 14500/AA & AAA: EDC Flashlight - Shop Cheap EDC Flashlight from China EDC Flashlight Suppliers at Sofirn Official Store on Aliexpress.com

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Sofirn 14500 batteries 900mAh: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Sofirn-2-Pieces-set-14500-900mAh-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Battery-Batteries-Baterias-Bateria-For-LED-Flashlight/2933049_32840564123.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.34bca823BJBdsG

[Lightbringer]

@Zappaman

They seem to be pricey looking around too. Is there an “Ikea” version somewhere I might want to know about?

I got some Baseline cells from Amazon. Rated 600mAH, but seem to consistently rate just a shade under 500mAH (480-490) on my almighty Miboxer.

Seem to be pretty decent otherwise.

Also, keep in mind to compare energy, not current. So 500mAH at 3.2V is 1600mWH. The equivalent of a NiMH would be 1600mWH / 1.2V or around 1300mAH (vs 2000mAH for eneloops).

So NiMH has higher energy density (and so has longer runtime), but LFPs can be (sometimes lots) cheaper.

Thing is, NiMH cells always have to work harder, converting 1.2V to the 3.whatever the LED requires. So 1A to an LED means like 2.7A minimum from the cell. With LFPs, the voltages are almost equal, so a “mild boost” is all that’s needed. 1A to the LED means only 1.1A or so from the cell.

Cheaper lights with cheaper boost drivers drive the LED proportionally from the input voltage, so what’s decent with an alkie or NiMH will be on constant turbo with an LFP cell.

I like both, so… Just pick whatever you want, or better yet, just try some of each.

[Macka17]

Second the Soshine 14500.
Bought 4 on that review. use in 3 different torches.
Triple the output of AA. with lot’s of life.
Wife had one in a cheapie AA . Left on desk for 20 mins face down NO scallops round rim.

Cooked her hand when she picked it up.
Soshine OUT. AA back in. For that one hey.
Apart from that. My single and a double are fine.

[Lightbringer]

@Macka17

Second the Soshine 14500.
Bought 4 on that review. use in 3 different torches.
Triple the output of AA. with lot’s of life.
Wife had one in a cheapie AA . Left on desk for 20 mins face down NO scallops round rim.

Cooked her hand when she picked it up.
Soshine OUT. AA back in. For that one hey.
Apart from that. My single and a double are fine.

Yeah, that’s why muggles shouldn’t be let near Li cells.

NiMH (eneloops) are usually best. Don’t leak and ruin whole lights like alkaleaks, and don’t set fire to things like Li cells.

[Zappaman]

@Lightbringer

Yeah, that’s why muggles shouldn’t be let near Li cells.

NiMH (eneloops) are usually best. Don’t leak and ruin whole lights like alkaleaks, and don’t set fire to things like Li cells.

Ya, I’m going to have to educate my wife (muggle graduate school time) about the Li cells mo’ better for sure. Because if ANYTHING gets burned— it will be my (or her father’s) fault :cowboy_hat_face:

[Zappaman]

With LFPs, the voltages are almost equal, so a “mild boost” is all that’s needed. 1A to the LED means only 1.1A or so from the cell.

Ah… I see now why you suggest them! They are an efficiency match due to the matching voltage/current— makes sense!

[Lightbringer]

@Zappaman

With LFPs, the voltages are almost equal, so a “mild boost” is all that’s needed. 1A to the LED means only 1.1A or so from the cell.

Ah… I see now why you suggest them! They are an efficiency match due to the matching voltage/current— makes sense!

Wellp, those “solar lights” you plant in the ground, used to take 1/more NiCd/NiMH cells, and a step-up converter. Now, lots of them just take a nice simple LFP cell and small resistor.

Ie, you’re running those dinky little LEDs at maybe 20mA, not 1A/2A/5A or more, so the V_f will be quite a bit lower.

[Persechini]

I recently got another SF12 that I decided to buy, for some reason.

This unit is quite different than my last one. PWM is not as bad, as the driver is different, came with a reverse clicky instead of forward, and machining and anodizing is MUCH better than my first SF12

[Lick]

Anyone know how to remove their snap rings? The holes are super small and I don’t know if its clockwise or counter clockwise. Tried with tweezers but its not sturdy enough.