Sofirn SP10B - Impact resistance issues?

Tactman · 2018-03-31T09:51:05.000Z

ahh, you guys are gonna make me regret my decision to order blue sp10b :person_facepalming: i am thinking maybe better choice was to get another sf10, it is cheaper and looks more reliable…

pennzy · 2018-03-31T13:42:37.000Z

cypherz:

I bought an SP10A and a SP10B. They both arrived today. The SP10A failed with the same symptoms as reported in the OP. The difference is I didn’t drop it. I just swapped the AA NiMH for a 14500 and the flashlight flickered and quit. It tried to start a few times but is now inert.
I’m thinking bad switch or flaky driver. This one will be going back to Amazon for replacement.

Check to see if the emitter is attached. The head has to be removed because the spacer will hold it in place with reflector in it. Mine flickered before it died. I’m guessing cold solders.

djozz · 2018-03-31T14:52:07.000Z

I have a blue and a red SP10B on order, when they arive I will do some throwarounds on the oak floor and see how they fare after that.

korkfoto · 2018-03-31T18:40:28.000Z

I took my chance and I ordered 1 red and 1 blue.
The waiting process begun.

pennzy · 2018-03-31T21:16:47.000Z

I haven’t seen many complaints.

djozz · 2018-04-12T23:00:13.000Z

djozz:

I have a blue and a red SP10B on order, when they arive I will do some throwarounds on the oak floor and see how they fare after that.

Both SP10B’s have arrived and how nice they are!

But I promised a drop test, I want to know too if my units are prone to failure. With the kind assistence of my 7-year old son, here it is. I’m happy to say that although the drops did cause mode changes and switching off, both lights kept working fine.

pennzy · 2018-04-13T01:40:14.000Z

Thanks for the test. Hardwood or laminate?

moderator007 · 2018-04-13T02:00:00.000Z

How do you like the UI Djozz?
Looks like they handled the drop test just fine. :+1:

MRsDNF · 2018-04-13T02:41:11.000Z

Wow djozz. Theres got to be a few mums worried about their daughters in your area. Glad I live over here.

Zappaman · 2018-04-13T02:53:30.000Z

I LOVE IT!!!

Now THAT is the way to perform a drop test.

And, tomorrow, let us know (after 10 more drop tests) if they both survive the night

eas · 2018-04-13T07:14:49.000Z

A couple days ago, only a day or two after I received it, I accidentally knocked my new Sofirn SF14 off the counter onto a bath mat. It stopped working. I ended up taking it apart and noticed that the LED was no longer attached to the MCPCB. I did a sloppy half-assed “reflow” so I could confirm that the disconnected emitter was the root cause, and not something like an inductor breaking loose. I confirmed the diagnosis, and in the process did an accidental dedome mod. I wrote sofirn via aliexpress. I haven’t heard back from them yet.

Sometime in the interim, I dropped the red SP10b I’ve had since ~December onto a harder surface. It still works fine.

djozz · 2018-04-13T07:31:13.000Z

pennzy:

Thanks for the test. Hardwood or laminate?

5mm solid oak on top of 16mm birch plywood, so a 21mm pretty solid wooden floor

moderator007:

How do you like the UI Djozz?
Looks like they handled the drop test just fine. :+1:

The UI is quite perfect: short clicks for switching on and mode changes, slightly longer click (just right) for switching off. No memory, start in low :laughing: . Just the low mode is off, way too low. I hope with another emitter it is a bit better. (I guess the low can not be adjusted, like with the Manker UI?)

MRsDNF:

Wow djozz. Theres got to be a few mums worried about their daughters in your area. Glad I live over here.

LOL, he is not into women yet, he finds the girls mostly boring and annoying. He loves Australia though, there was a nature series on Australia on TV and now he wants to go there. So beware of your daughter after all :smiling_imp:

Zappaman:

I LOVE IT!!!

Now THAT is the way to perform a drop test.

And, tomorrow, let us know (after 10 more drop tests) if they both survive the night

Thanks, next is not a drop test but an emitter swap, I’m going to try that high CRI Samsung led in the red one.

MRsDNF · 2018-04-13T10:34:18.000Z

If he ever comes to Australia I hope he brings his dad.

djozz · 2018-04-13T10:40:46.000Z

MRsDNF:

If he ever comes to Australia I hope he brings his dad.

I’d love to pay the Moose family and the sacked assistants a visit you if it ever comes to visiting Australia!

teacher · 2018-04-13T10:49:53.000Z

Great video djozz, your son did it right…. no mercy. :+1: …

pennzy · 2018-04-13T16:24:48.000Z

eas:

A couple days ago, only a day or two after I received it, I accidentally knocked my new Sofirn SF14 off the counter onto a bath mat. It stopped working. I ended up taking it apart and noticed that the LED was no longer attached to the MCPCB. I did a sloppy half-assed “reflow” so I could confirm that the disconnected emitter was the root cause, and not something like an inductor breaking loose. I confirmed the diagnosis, and in the process did an accidental dedome mod. I wrote sofirn via aliexpress. I haven’t heard back from them yet.

Sometime in the interim, I dropped the red SP10b I’ve had since ~December onto a harder surface. It still works fine.

I had a SP 10B emitter come off for no reason except probably cold soldered . Sofirn is very easy to deal with. Sent me a new light , reflowed the old one . Stainless steel frying pan on medium heat electric stove top burner and a little solder paste works great. Vesture of Blood video gave me confidence to do it.

Scientist · 2018-04-13T16:13:58.000Z

Dropped mine on the (wood laminate) floor after I stood up from the couch. No problems so far.

MascaratumB · 2018-04-16T13:46:48.000Z

So, after the story on the OP, I ordered a new driver for my SP10B host and a “new” SP10A!

Sofirn sent it well packed (on a cardboard box, with foam) and with soldered wires as I asked on the order message! So, THANKS SOFIRN!!! :+1:

I now have 2 x SP10 (A & B) with the same UI:

- click for ON, always on the firefly mode

- when ON, single click to change modes (FF > L > M) and “long” press for OFF;

- double click for Turbo

- triple click for Strobe

from OFF, 4 fast clicks to Lock/unlock
EDIT: Long press from OFF goes to the last regular mode used before shutting OFF

Soooo, I’m happy to have these small lights again, with this - for me - incredibly nice UI
Nice work, again, Sofirn

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention that I dropped both lights, accidentally, while they were ON and both kept working :sunglasses:

korkfoto · 2018-04-16T06:10:41.000Z

MascaratumB, you are saying that now, the UI starts always on firefly mode?

djozz · 2018-04-16T06:13:59.000Z

korkfoto:

MascaratumB, you are saying that now, the UI starts always on firefly mode?

My blue and red one also start on firefly, no memory. I like that but I know that is not everyone’s UI.