Solarforce is closing?

acab · 2019-06-20T14:33:59.000Z

So where are we getting SF parts going forward?
What is the plan for you guys regarding P60 lights? Keep them as a memory? Get rid of them?

Starkm32 · 2019-06-20T14:37:51.000Z

Catchy name. SolarForce.

Boaz · 2019-06-20T15:08:11.000Z

Thanks Just grabbed some solarforce clips for $2 ... Very cool

oddly their prices aren't exactly giveaway in some cases

Superstocker · 2019-06-20T17:22:43.000Z

Thank you for the heads up. It looks like I got the last single CR123 host. I really like the form factor of that little host.

weklund · 2019-06-20T17:58:41.000Z

A few in my collection.

SolarForce SS L2m …

Solarforce Skyliner

acab · 2019-06-20T17:39:57.000Z

They even shut down their main website:

solarforce.hk

LED Outdoor Lighting,Commercial LED Lighting,Ceiling Lighting

It was working a while ago.

Lightbringer · 2019-06-20T18:01:28.000Z

acab:

So where are we getting SF parts going forward?
What is the plan for you guys regarding P60 lights? Keep them as a memory? Get rid of them?

Wellp, it’s not like they suddenly stopped working or anything…

I still have quite a few L2M hosts, I could open up Fasttech America with all the pills, stars, drivers, etc., that go into drop-ins, so I could still throw together quite a few drops-ins even in UV and pink if I wanted to (like my purple ’501 with 365nm UVLED).

And that’s not counting the actual good quality ’501s and ’502s I have (ie, before they turned into le chit in that race-to-the-bottom a few years ago).

Hell, I even have a few NexTorch nylon-body drop-in lights.

Y’all have to remember that we didn’t all “need” 2000lm lights barely bigger’n the cell powering it. My plumber still has his ancient battered Angry Blue™ drop-in light that squeaks out maybe 200lm with a most annoying low-voltage blink, but for him is just fine for looking behind boilers and under sinks. I even offered him a choice of lights, even with usb charging (he was using ’123s), and he just wasn’t interested. What he had was fine for him.

Of course, his assistant was floored by the bright blanket of light from my Cometa, but I wasn’t about to sell that.

So maybe new development in drop-ins (both the actual drop-in and the hosts) might be a dead-end, but the lights still live on.

texas_shooter · 2019-06-20T18:10:03.000Z

For host we still have Manta Ray M5, Manta Ray M6, KDLITKER E6. Also https://www.lumensfactory.com/en/ is still making new items.

BIV777 · 2019-06-20T19:28:43.000Z

I have one. L2i

I love the tint. I keep it on low under a lamp instead of using lousy CW light bulb. Also tail stand sometimes and use on low for romantic candle like dinners.

-P60 Drop in built by nail bender

-Custom 1.7A XPG2 NW My guess is ~ 3500K to 4000K

-About 500 lumens on High

bibihang · 2021-03-21T09:15:53.000Z

I am searching for the stainless steel bezel for my Solarforce L2T, and only come to know that it has gone out of business.

Does anyone know what’s the reason? Business was bad, or moving on to different products?

The only reason I own Solarforce light is because I appreciate the protruded switch design. I am a big fan or protruded switch because I almost never use my flashlight in tailstand, and if I need to do so I already have bunch of other lights which are capable to do so. Can’t really think of any other budget alternative to this requirement other than Solarforce, I need your recommendation if you know of any.

texas_shooter · 2021-03-21T13:27:10.000Z

bibihang:

I am searching for the stainless steel bezel for my Solarforce L2T, and only come to know that it has gone out of business.

Does anyone know what’s the reason? Business was bad, or moving on to different products?

The only reason I own Solarforce light is because I appreciate the protruded switch design. I am a big fan or protruded switch because I almost never use my flashlight in tailstand, and if I need to do so I already have bunch of other lights which are capable to do so. Can’t really think of any other budget alternative to this requirement other than Solarforce, I need your recommendation if you know of any.

Lumens Factory still makes bezels for Surefire and Solarforce. They used the same thread sizes.

lumenzilla · 2021-03-21T16:29:58.000Z

If I recall correctly, bezels for Surefire can’t be used for Solarforce and vice versa. They’re different in thread size.
I could be wrong though.

@bibihang
Go try contact lumensfactory.com and ask if their bezel can be used on L2T.
Lumens Factory

texas_shooter · 2021-03-21T21:22:59.000Z

It seems they are not, sorry. However the heads are and we also have these guys how bezels do fit. Bezels - EDC Plus

bibihang · 2021-03-25T16:06:29.000Z

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I was lucky that there is one local seller who still carry the last 2pcs of Solarforce stainless steel bezel and I just bought one of them immediately. He is clearing his Solarforce stock now.

Any idea is there still any budget host with protruded forward clicky switch? Thanks!

Boaz · 2021-03-28T07:22:20.000Z

bibihang:

I am searching for the stainless steel bezel for my Solarforce L2T, and only come to know that it has gone out of business. Does anyone know what’s the reason? Business was bad, or moving on to different products? y.

I think Foy bought them out .. the factory couldn’t keep up with production .. the machines blew up and took out the whole plant ... No more Solarforce.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.!

bibihang · 2021-03-29T16:14:24.000Z

Where is Foy now?

raccoon · 2021-03-29T17:20:54.000Z

bibihang:

Where is Foy now?

Good question.

He hasn't logged in for almost six years.

2A1 · 2021-03-29T20:56:20.000Z

Foy was one of the reviewers that I found way before signing up on BLF or any other forum. I was quite impressed with the quality of the reviews and the pictures. Without his reviews I would have never heard of Solarforce before, have an entire collection now, including the stainless steel version with serial number.

Superstocker · 2021-03-29T23:54:28.000Z

bibihang:

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I was lucky that there is one local seller who still carry the last 2pcs of Solarforce stainless steel bezel and I just bought one of them immediately. He is clearing his Solarforce stock now.

Any idea is there still any budget host with protruded forward clicky switch? Thanks!

I just saw this the other day. Can’t speak to the quality or the company in general. I might try one of those short tubes, though I wish it was 18350.

bibihang · 2021-03-30T15:46:01.000Z

Foy is definitely one of the pioneers on BLF! Just realized that it has been almost 10 years since I started this hobby and reading Foy’s review lol.