Wish list for 2017

Off-topic Chatter
1

The last few years have seen increases across the board in group buys, hosts, ano color and tube size choices, upgraded driver designs and led choices. What’s missing from each category? Obviously LEDs aren’t something we can affect the design of but we can still dream. And as far as the others go imagination and determination are all that stand in the way so what’s the next big(or little) thing?

I’d personally like to see a quality but still budget version of the ubiquitous SK68 with glass lens, accurately threaded solid pill with pressed in brass solder ring for the driver, and HAII ano.

15mm buck driver with Attiny mmu. Possibly just a redesign of the AX2002 driver. Perfect for Minimag mods.

Mass production of Harleyquins 15mm boost driver with Attiny mmu.

10mm stacked buck driver with Attiny mmu. I see no way other than stacked boards to accomplish this but since current drivers already do this I don’t have a problem with it.

Short grey ano S2+ tubes. Best not black color and no shorty tube? This needs to happen. :person_facepalming:

What else?…

2

Noctigon 16000 lumen monster.

Obviously.

3

I want a Copper Convoy S series. OK will settle for Brass.

4

I’d like to see the BLF GT thrower come to fruition.

And a 1x26650 XHP-35 HI small thrower that pushes the led to 2200 + lumens.

5

RBD, do you mean like this? It has been available for a while, I think BG and RMM also stock them.

6

I would also like to see a copper s series (s2 preferred) or a copper head and pill to modify existing lights. An s2 with clear anodized or brass tube and tailcap with a copper head would be nice too.

7

Do you think this might work with the eagle eye x2r?

8

+1 :+1:
I would like to see each of these also.

And as far as the BLF GT goes, I want it to be “all that it can be” as a thrower. Something outstanding…………… :wink:

9

2S/3S (8.4V/12.6V) buck driver with variable/settable current output (not modes).

Maglite (2D/3D/4D) retrofit that doesn’t break the bank.

1×AA 1-mode version of an A01 twisty (ie: simple, stoopit, works).

Phased-plasma rifle in the 40W range.

10

Ooooh….I would like that too!!

11

Based on this post by pd it might fit, but likely won’t.

12

-XP-L2 HI
-A 10,000lm+ light
-Compact 18650 thrower (mini C8 sized but with bigger head)

13

- Flashlights should become more of a personalized lighting device, personalized for each user out of the box; they can also be adjusted in brightness, modes, programmed without the need for external firmware or cables/devices.

- IoT meets personal lighting device: bluetooth or wifi capable so they can be remotely switched on, can talk to each other, adjust each other, can be programmed as a group, can replace room/area lights in emergencies, controlled via smartphone or smart car apps

- smarter lights: lights “know” why they are switched on and automatically jump to the correct mode, brightness

- more sensors inside the lights: acceleration sensor, external lux meter

  • improved mounting accessories for bikes, cars, trucks, on the job,…

I am just dreaming out loud here… but I’m sure this will happen one day.

14

A bluetooth low energy module would be the perfect option to control the parameters of the flashlight from a mobile application. So my wish for 2017 is a flashlight with BLE capability and an open firmware.

15

The smartphone could also collect, understand and direct data about the environment, time, ambient temp/light, country, market, (…) to the IoT device, so there is no need to put all the sensors into every flashlight.
More efficient this way and BLE is all you’d need in the lights. I seriously doubt there are still people who don’t have a smartphone these days…

16

My flash light wish for 2017 is: double energy density in cells.

17

+1

18

When I started the hobby in 2012, there we flashoholics had no influence on anything, all we could do is combining existing mediocre stuff from different sellers with raw materials and ‘bare hands’ to make our ‘perfect’ flashlight.

Then came Rey who had contacts with Trustfire, we could influence firmware on a flashlight driver for the first time: 1000Hz PWM, 2%lo-med-high no blinkies on the Trustfire Mini-01 and later the A6. And get the light with a neutral led as well.

Then came Sinkpad with their DTP 20mm copper board, making easy to build hotrods possible that the leading manufacturers did not dare to make for another 2 years. We even had Sinkpad make a BLF-designed 16mm board and later a 10mm board.

Then came Simon and Convoy flashlights, which helped standardise a lot of flashlight parts (driver=17/20/22mm, ledboard=16/20mm, switch=small Omten on 16mm board, tailcap=14mm/16mm). Fasttech and intl-outdoor became the source of many reliable parts.

Then a movement started on BLF unravelling and then improving the then available budget drivers, NANJG105C and East92. Thanks to the upcoming Oshpark facility, greatly improved FET-based drivers became possible, that completed the BLF-hotrods.

Then the hosts were tackled, manufacturers were found to make redesigned hosts according to BLF-requirements (BLF-A6-X6-X5) and now the Q8.

So the only part of the flashlight we have not influenced yet (except for a failed attempt two years ago by Cereal_killer and …, to be tested by me) is the led itself, we have to passively wait what the manufacturers come up with.

So my wish for 2017 is to lure a major led manufacturer into making an awesome new best led dedicated to BLF flashlight use: compact die with maximum achievable brightness, domeless, running at low voltage and has standard 3535 footprint. Perhaps Clemence can use his contacts with Nichia to get them on to this? :innocent:

19

Heheh the Q8 for me obviously :smiley:
Higher energy density in cell also plus a lot :wink:

20

I’d love to see a 1xAA version of the BLF-348.

Same style, same electronics, same beautiful LED, same ~50lm output, just scaled up in size for an AA cell. Three times the runtime, yum yum!