VINH'S CREATIONS. Watt makes them so special?..........

[chadvone]

Dang, did I miss out on a math debate ?

Yours looks right slider, TEAM SLIDER!!!

[Jack_Kellar]

@ToyKeeper

Vinh is a really nice guy doing what he loves for a living.

He may seem a little confusing to us on BLF though, because of cultural differences. Someone mentioned that BLF is like “monkey see, monkey do” while CPF is more like “monkey see, monkey buy”. While this is massively oversimplified, I think it points toward the core of the matter.

The two forums have different values and different norms, so what makes sense on one may be confusing on the other. BLF tends to behave a lot like a makerspace, with a lot of value placed on giving, collaborating, and sharing “how”. CPF tends to behave more like a marketplace, with more value placed on having, showing, and sharing “what”. While on BLF we might say “hey check out this awesome thing I figured out”, on CPF it’s more along the lines of “hey check out this awesome thing I found”.

On CPF, “proprietary” means something is exclusive, which makes it desirable because no one else has it, and if you have your own proprietary stuff you’d have to be dumb to reveal your secrets. On BLF, “proprietary” means incompatible or secretive, which makes it undesirable, and if you make a discovery the obvious thing to do is share it with everyone.

On BLF, we may sometimes be a little suspicious of new people and new companies at first, but are generally more welcoming, and almost always ready to dive into something new and give it a try. Some of our favorite brands and vendors didn’t even exist a year or two ago… and some of our past favorites are barely even mentioned now. We welcome the new and aren’t shy about leaving the old behind. CPF tends to take a different approach though, where new brands are risky and not really worth paying attention to until they’re proven. And once established, a brand can generally count on people being pretty loyal unless the brand really messes up. It’s hard to get in, but it’s pretty stable once you’re there. They look after their own.

This is long and rambly, but I hope it helps explain about Vinh. He’s doing a very good job of what he does, but coming from a BLF perspective it may not make sense because he’s not operating in BLF’s culture. In the culture he operates in though, he’s a rockstar.

There are more than two cultures in the flashlight community though.

For example, Fonarevka is pretty different than both BLF and CPF. At first glance, the main thing which probably stands out is that people there communicate in a much more abrasive manner. Opinions are strong and claws come out frequently, and that’s just normal.

But there’s a lot more to it than that. Like, take the concept of simplicity. On BLF, simple means elegant, refined, or easy. If it’s easy to use, that means it’s well-designed. But on Fonarevka, simple means primitive, and if something is easy it’s probably not worthwhile. Sophistication is more desirable, and you have to work hard to get the good stuff.

So on BLF, we say things like “for a good result, follow these three simple steps… sorry it requires soldering; we’re working on getting it produced so more people can have it”. And on Fonarevka it’s typically more like “for a good result, carefully follow these seventeen steps and their sub-steps… and when you finish making this thing very few people have, enjoy it because you’ve earned it”. If it’s hard to do or hard to use, that means you have skills and intelligence. Simple is for simpletons.

These values are seen even in commercial offerings like Lux-RC lights and the Meteor.

I can’t fit a full cultural analysis into a single post, much less three complete cultural analyses… and I’ve no doubt oversimplified or misrepresented some things here, stereotyping to make differences more clear. But I hope the general idea is clear — different communities have different cultures and different values, so they reward different behaviors and different designs. If something on another forum doesn’t make sense, it’s probably not because it actually makes no sense… it’s probably because the person looking at it doesn’t have the cultural background to properly understand it in context.

Yep, I think this kills, buries and puts a gravestone on top of the pissing contest between those that love Vinh and those that don’t care for his work. Different AOs, different purposes, different contexts and backgrounds.

And meanwhile, I sit in the far back and admire the work every modder does to improve our hardware, Vinh and TK included B^)

[Nev]

I think VAT % works in a similar way , it depends on weather you add it or subtract it.

[vinhnguyen54]

I think there is a misconception that I run a business and thus have trade secrets or doesn’t like to share my findings. Here are several reasons why I don’t make many public posts on my builds

1) I dont think I am doing anything new/revolutionary to rave about and should show instructions so others can replicate. If I do have new findings that I think are worthwhile I do post about it on my Subforum on CPF.
2) It seems I never have enough time for emails, work and family.
3) I assume others that are more experienced than I am have already talked about their builds in detail already.
4) Anyone can send me an email to ask for anything. I always try to be as helpful as I have time for.

So in summary just because I am running a business I am just like any other average builders who is very chilled, easy going and love to share what I know. I am just a bit more busy as I mod/sell lights for a living.

[nottawhackjob]

@vinhnguyen54

I think there is a misconception that I run a business and thus have trade secrets or doesn’t like to share my findings. Here are several reasons why I don’t make many public posts on my builds

1) I dont think I am doing anything new/revolutionary to rave about and should show instructions so others can replicate. If I do have new findings that I think are worthwhile I do post about it on my Subforum on CPF.
2) It seems I never have enough time for emails, work and family.
3) I assume others that are more experienced than I am have already talked about their builds in detail already.
4) Anyone can send me an email to ask for anything. I always try to be as helpful as I have time for.

So in summary just because I am running a business I am just like any other average builders who is very chilled, easy going and love to share what I know. I am just a bit more busy as I mod/sell lights for a living.

Most technically oriented business owners I’ve come across that manufacture products will say that what they build have certain proprietary machining processes, finishes, circuitry, etc. Of course the proprietary depth tends to also depend on complexity and uniqueness. Then again some may be just blowin’ distracting smoke too. :laughing:

So you’re the much welcome exception to the typical in at least my experience rule. No complaints here to read about how you go about it!

And I will also say that IMO the hardest thing about doing something really well is to do it consistently well.

To Yogi Berra it, it’s dang hard to be consistently consistent.

[slowtechstef]

@ToyKeeper

I can’t fit a full cultural analysis into a single post, much less three complete cultural analyses… and I’ve no doubt oversimplified or misrepresented some things here, stereotyping to make differences more clear. But I hope the general idea is clear — different communities have different cultures and different values, so they reward different behaviors and different designs. If something on another forum doesn’t make sense, it’s probably not because it actually makes no sense… it’s probably because the person looking at it doesn’t have the cultural background to properly understand it in context.

Thanks for posting your comparative cultural flashlight communities analysis, even in its current abridged form.

So that makes me wonder about how TLF, CPFItaliaForum, the Facebook group(s), /r/flashlight (and perhaps others?) fit into the larger picture of the global flashlight communities map.

[aginthelaw]

@jon_slider

I send Vinh a High CRI light that starts out at 800 lumens, he increases the lumens by 25% (by decreasing the CRI), I receive back a light with 1000 lumens. The modded light is 25% brighter.

I send Vinh a Low CRI light that starts out at 1000 lumens, he reduces the lumens by 20% (by using an LED with higher CRI), and I get back a light with 800 lumens. The modded light is 20% less bright.

The difference in lumens in both cases is 200 lumens.
200 is 25% of 800
200 is 20% of 1000

I word my sentences very carefully
If I say the lumens increased by 25%
or if I say the lumens decreased by 20%
both are true

the formula is (Proposed new Lumens divided by Existing Lumens) –1 = percent change

Proposed new lumens 1000
existing lumens 800
(1000/800)–1=.25 = 25%

Vinh knows this, that is why in order to produce the highest lumens, he uses Low CRI LEDs.

I see we’re talking about Vinh again

[Firelight2]

I think another major factor differentiating BLF and CPF is how the forums are setup.

When I visit CPF, I typically visit the LED flashlight section. Combined with CPF’s focus on intermediate and high-end lights and in that forum I mostly see posts on unmodded lights.

CPF does have a small modding subforum, but it’s buried off in the boonies and hardly anyone visits it. It rarely gets any activity.

In contrast, when I visit BLF, the first thing I see is a listing of ALL recent posts from every forum. Threads on modded lights tend to appear front and center in this list and get lots of posts … which in turn keeps those threads on the list. Couple that with BLF’s emphasis on budget lights and you do end up with much more of a “Can do… let’s try this!” attitude.

I like both websites. CPF is a good resource for its niche. But as a modder I prefer BLF. BLF is much more active and has probably 20x as many posts from from active modders.

[Agro]

@djozz

ehhm, I don’t know what the discusion is about now, but I think there is at least a misconception going on: for how bright something looks/measures it really does not matter how far you are from the object, when you move away from it, the object becomes smaller but not dimmer.

When I think about it…it doesn’t sound right.
You shine light at some object. The object reflects that light in one or more direction (usually scatters around).
Let’s pick the direction back. The object shines in that direction with intensity of X cd. So what reaches your eyes is X/distance^2 lux.

[vinhnguyen54]

No idea why but running this cell in a PL47 will permanently make it a single mode only. No burnt smell but something must have shorted…becareful!
Happened to 2 PL47 back to to back

[Lightbringer]

Ah, yes. The dreaded Vapcell “Widowmaker”…

Wonder why?

[Enderman]

That’s super weird…
Never heard of something like that happening.

[Newlumen]

I am using gold vapcell 40t on my pl47. It working fine… I will be careful and monitor.

[Tom_E]

The depressed "inny" top on those Vapcell cells are nasty. I bought one, but not happy with it - I commented in HKJ's review thread here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/54274. Mine does work fine in a C8F 21700 but still waiting on my PL47. Not sure but could be the an issue at the batt+ end if the PL47 is using a button and not a spring, or soft spring. Or the big flat tail batt- end may cause issues, depending on how that driver works with the aux LED's (I'm not sure if they are strictly MCU controlled or not).

[lionheart_2281]

I’ve got a couple of Vinh lights, started with a K40vn Fiat Lux, and bought about half a dozen after that.
Then unfortunately I had a bad warranty experience for 2 of my lights just after he brought in his Skylumen warranty cards, wasn’t interested in fixing the lights so I simply stopped buying his lights.
He is a nice guy and generally excellent at replying to emails.

Edit: bit of pub trivia for you all, Vinh once banned Wolfdog from buying any of his lights, then revoked the ban, now Wolfdog is his #1 lapdog

[ZozzV6]

Vinh:
My Flashlight fan self is started to be 5 years ago. I started with twisty pill Convoy C8 7135 stacking and XM-L2 dedoming. For the last 1-2 years I followed your work more-less and your builds inspired me a lot and in the last year if a new led came out I try to be the first who mod a flashlight with it It sometimes happen sometimes not. I also sell a few modded lights but not do it for a living. Still hard to manage time and hobby and I make a lot more than I publish also because time. So I really understand what you talking about. Nowadays so many high power stock light came out that I often suggest people to buy one stock instead of me mod one because stock have the same output or nearly the same but it is cheaper. Also I know that a one hand built light will be more precise than a mass produced one. And if I do a mod for cheap not the money I worry about but the time I take it from my family. And that not worth. So I do my mods mostly at my regular work but in free times when everything going on it’s way fine.
Keep it up and do insane mods!

[seery]

@lionheart_2281

Edit: bit of pub trivia for you all, Vinh once banned Wolfdog from buying any of his lights, then revoked the ban, now Wolfdog is his #1 lapdog

I love pub trivia!

[nottawhackjob]

@seery

@lionheart_2281

Edit: bit of pub trivia for you all, Vinh once banned Wolfdog from buying any of his lights, then revoked the ban, now Wolfdog is his #1 lapdog

I love pub trivia!

IIRC I think Vinh’s character was in a Seinfeld episode……….

“No flashlights for you!”

PS. Watt was Wolfdog doing to annoy Vinh? Hounding him?

[lionheart_2281]

@nottawhackjob

@seery

@lionheart_2281

Edit: bit of pub trivia for you all, Vinh once banned Wolfdog from buying any of his lights, then revoked the ban, now Wolfdog is his #1 lapdog

I love pub trivia!

IIRC I think Vinh’s character was in a Seinfeld episode……….

“No flashlights for you!”

PS. Watt was Wolfdog doing to annoy Vinh? Hounding him?

Flashlight Nazi hahahahaha!!!

Yeah it was many years ago, he was being his normal annoying self I guess and caught Vinh in a bad mood.
Since then he has unfortunately come to BLF to get in on our GB’s and gloat about the performance of his V54 lights.

[nottawhackjob]

Hey in Vinh’s kind of business I didn’t think it was even possible to be in a dark mood.