sunny_nites
Enlightened
This doesn't happen very often but I am actually ahead of schedule so, starting the fun a day early.
Alright, alright,time for some Micro ATL G5 specs!
Going to dispense with the boring stuff and jump right to the pics.
Early test prototype (and my constant pocket light for some time now) of the Micro ATL G5 in aluminum with the Moly Resin semi gloss black coating.
The charger port will be cleaner in the production versions.
The G5 will be available in the same metals as the G4. Looking good for the durability of the Moly Resin. I just need to practice a bit more toget the coating silky smooth.
So lets discuss what the pics show;
As some of you might have guessed, the G5 and G5 eX (eXtreme) are single, hi powered LED lights based on the Micro ATL G4 platform. In fact, all chassis dimensions of the G5 are exactly the same as the G4.
The G5 will sport aCree XP-E2 running around 512 mah and the G5 eX will feature a CreeXP-G2 running around 812 mah. Not going to be a lot of LED options,to help try to keep the prices and the turn around times down. The choices will be 4000k neutral or 3000k range warm. Lumens ratings per the Cree website:
XP-E2:
Neutral =approximately 150 lumens
Warm =apprxoximately 120 lumens
XP-G2:
Neutral =approximately 190 lumens
Warm =apprxoximately 175 lumens
Because of the space limitations, the Micro ATL G5 will use a Carlco optic to focus the beam, rather than a reflector. Beam shots to come.
Both versions will have a 25x charge/discharge, 250 mah lipo battery (statistically more capacity than the G4 but mostly because this particular battery fitsthe space constraints), an internal 350 mah charger with a USB micro connector jack and the same options as the G4; beacon via the front optic and magnets.
250mah! That's insane you say. Maybe but lets do some math comparing the Micro ATLG5 and G5 eX to one of my other favorite keychain lights; the Thrunite Ti3, which also uses a Cree Xp-G2.
Using a freshly charged, 1.2v (nominal, actual full charge would be 1.4v) eneloop NIMH battery, I get a reading of 1600mahs of current to run the Ti3 at its highest power setting.
Apparent power(wattage) = 1.2 x 1.6 = 1.9 watts.
That is the max that could be getting to the LED. In reality, that will be somewhat lower because the circuit has to triple the 1.2v to get the voltage up to the range that the XP-G2 needs to operate and some of that current goes to the voltage amplifier. But lets keep it simple and assume a voltage amplifier with 100% efficiency is able to supply the total 1.9 watts to the LED. Per Thrunites specs, the Ti3 on high puts out 120 lumens.
The Micro ATL G5 with a fully charged 3.7v (nominal, actual full charge would be 4.2v) lipo and 512mah (this will actually be a bit higher at full charge,the 512mah is measured with the battery around 3.8v) and the apparent power formula:
3.7 x .512 = 1.9(rounded up) watts.
With the lipo battery, the 1.9 watts is actually what is available to the LED as the lipo battery has a high enough voltage that it does not need amplification.
In reality the Ti3 does not have a 100% efficient voltage amplifier and the G5 with aCree XP-E2 is brighter. I don't have a light meter so I cant provide actual lumens measurements but to my eye, the G5 is noticeably brighter, even though it is using a Cree XP-E2 while the Ti3 driving a Cree XP-G2.
Now lets look at runtimes.
The Ti3s eneloop NIMH has a nominal voltage of 1.2v with an 800mah capacity.
On high, with a current draw of 1600mah, you could expect a run time of approximately 30 minutes.
The G5s lipo has a nominal voltage of 3.7v with a 250mah capacity.
On high with a current draw of 512mah, you could expect a run time of approximately 29 minutes and right in the range of the Ti3.
So, the G5 is brighter than a Ti3 and has a very similar run time capacity. The real world run times would be different of course, under typical keychain or EDC usage. The G5 prototype has been in my pocket for testing constantly and so far, it has never run down completely and I'm only charging it every few weeks or so, just to top it off.
Haven't gone over the G5 eX specs but it would be considerably brighter than the Ti3 with a shorter max run time, maybe on the order of 15 to 20 minutes on high. Have to look at the eX as more of a keychain spotlight. But,with the built in charger, it's easy enough to charge back up. No need to dissemble the light, pull out the battery, find a charger and let it completely charge. The lipo in the Micro ATLs are similar to the lipos in your phone, no memory affect and no need to completely discharge it before charging and no need to even completely charge itat one time.
Business end of a 464 brass G5 test light with a view of the Carlco optic.
Some sizecomparisons next to the AAA powered Thrunite TI3.
Pic of the partially machined, 1/4" (6mm) thick, G5 heat sink. The test lights used an aluminum heat sink which proved entirely adequate.
So, if aluminum was good, copper must be better, right? Likely the production G5s will have a copper heat sink rather than the aluminum, unless the extra weight proves to be an issue.
The charging indicator light displays through the optic on the test versions.
Not sure if the charge indicator through the front optic will make into the production lights or not. Running the charging light in this manner requires a lot of extra wiring inside the light as opposed to just having a charge indicator light next to the charging port.
And last but not least, milled slots for trits or GID will be available!!
Thats right, I have a much improved mill now and can do some custom slotting. The limiting factor will likely be the depth as the walls on the side ofthe lights are only around 2.5mm thick. The above pics are milled at 2.5mm wide with a depth of approximately .75mm and use Glow Incs G10 powder. Don't get too excited about the ragged interior wall on the copper example, I use scrap parts for testing and prototyping.
As far as pricing,it is honestly too early to say but just a heads up that these lights will be somewhat more expensive than the G4s because everything about them is more expensive and requires more precise machining and time to manufacture.
This thread is very much a work on process and continued development and specs will depend on the input I get from those of you that might be interested in purchasing a G5 or G5 eX.
So if you like what you see, let me know and I will continue to work on this light. I have the prototype and am absolutely satisfied with it so I'm good to go but if you would like your own Micro ATL G5 or G5 eX, it is up to you to let me know!
Thanks and stay tuned!
Alright, alright,time for some Micro ATL G5 specs!
Going to dispense with the boring stuff and jump right to the pics.
Early test prototype (and my constant pocket light for some time now) of the Micro ATL G5 in aluminum with the Moly Resin semi gloss black coating.
The charger port will be cleaner in the production versions.
The G5 will be available in the same metals as the G4. Looking good for the durability of the Moly Resin. I just need to practice a bit more toget the coating silky smooth.
So lets discuss what the pics show;
As some of you might have guessed, the G5 and G5 eX (eXtreme) are single, hi powered LED lights based on the Micro ATL G4 platform. In fact, all chassis dimensions of the G5 are exactly the same as the G4.
The G5 will sport aCree XP-E2 running around 512 mah and the G5 eX will feature a CreeXP-G2 running around 812 mah. Not going to be a lot of LED options,to help try to keep the prices and the turn around times down. The choices will be 4000k neutral or 3000k range warm. Lumens ratings per the Cree website:
XP-E2:
Neutral =approximately 150 lumens
Warm =apprxoximately 120 lumens
XP-G2:
Neutral =approximately 190 lumens
Warm =apprxoximately 175 lumens
Because of the space limitations, the Micro ATL G5 will use a Carlco optic to focus the beam, rather than a reflector. Beam shots to come.
Both versions will have a 25x charge/discharge, 250 mah lipo battery (statistically more capacity than the G4 but mostly because this particular battery fitsthe space constraints), an internal 350 mah charger with a USB micro connector jack and the same options as the G4; beacon via the front optic and magnets.
250mah! That's insane you say. Maybe but lets do some math comparing the Micro ATLG5 and G5 eX to one of my other favorite keychain lights; the Thrunite Ti3, which also uses a Cree Xp-G2.
Using a freshly charged, 1.2v (nominal, actual full charge would be 1.4v) eneloop NIMH battery, I get a reading of 1600mahs of current to run the Ti3 at its highest power setting.
Apparent power(wattage) = 1.2 x 1.6 = 1.9 watts.
That is the max that could be getting to the LED. In reality, that will be somewhat lower because the circuit has to triple the 1.2v to get the voltage up to the range that the XP-G2 needs to operate and some of that current goes to the voltage amplifier. But lets keep it simple and assume a voltage amplifier with 100% efficiency is able to supply the total 1.9 watts to the LED. Per Thrunites specs, the Ti3 on high puts out 120 lumens.
The Micro ATL G5 with a fully charged 3.7v (nominal, actual full charge would be 4.2v) lipo and 512mah (this will actually be a bit higher at full charge,the 512mah is measured with the battery around 3.8v) and the apparent power formula:
3.7 x .512 = 1.9(rounded up) watts.
With the lipo battery, the 1.9 watts is actually what is available to the LED as the lipo battery has a high enough voltage that it does not need amplification.
In reality the Ti3 does not have a 100% efficient voltage amplifier and the G5 with aCree XP-E2 is brighter. I don't have a light meter so I cant provide actual lumens measurements but to my eye, the G5 is noticeably brighter, even though it is using a Cree XP-E2 while the Ti3 driving a Cree XP-G2.
Now lets look at runtimes.
The Ti3s eneloop NIMH has a nominal voltage of 1.2v with an 800mah capacity.
On high, with a current draw of 1600mah, you could expect a run time of approximately 30 minutes.
The G5s lipo has a nominal voltage of 3.7v with a 250mah capacity.
On high with a current draw of 512mah, you could expect a run time of approximately 29 minutes and right in the range of the Ti3.
So, the G5 is brighter than a Ti3 and has a very similar run time capacity. The real world run times would be different of course, under typical keychain or EDC usage. The G5 prototype has been in my pocket for testing constantly and so far, it has never run down completely and I'm only charging it every few weeks or so, just to top it off.
Haven't gone over the G5 eX specs but it would be considerably brighter than the Ti3 with a shorter max run time, maybe on the order of 15 to 20 minutes on high. Have to look at the eX as more of a keychain spotlight. But,with the built in charger, it's easy enough to charge back up. No need to dissemble the light, pull out the battery, find a charger and let it completely charge. The lipo in the Micro ATLs are similar to the lipos in your phone, no memory affect and no need to completely discharge it before charging and no need to even completely charge itat one time.
Business end of a 464 brass G5 test light with a view of the Carlco optic.
Some sizecomparisons next to the AAA powered Thrunite TI3.
Pic of the partially machined, 1/4" (6mm) thick, G5 heat sink. The test lights used an aluminum heat sink which proved entirely adequate.
So, if aluminum was good, copper must be better, right? Likely the production G5s will have a copper heat sink rather than the aluminum, unless the extra weight proves to be an issue.
The charging indicator light displays through the optic on the test versions.
Not sure if the charge indicator through the front optic will make into the production lights or not. Running the charging light in this manner requires a lot of extra wiring inside the light as opposed to just having a charge indicator light next to the charging port.
And last but not least, milled slots for trits or GID will be available!!
Thats right, I have a much improved mill now and can do some custom slotting. The limiting factor will likely be the depth as the walls on the side ofthe lights are only around 2.5mm thick. The above pics are milled at 2.5mm wide with a depth of approximately .75mm and use Glow Incs G10 powder. Don't get too excited about the ragged interior wall on the copper example, I use scrap parts for testing and prototyping.
As far as pricing,it is honestly too early to say but just a heads up that these lights will be somewhat more expensive than the G4s because everything about them is more expensive and requires more precise machining and time to manufacture.
This thread is very much a work on process and continued development and specs will depend on the input I get from those of you that might be interested in purchasing a G5 or G5 eX.
So if you like what you see, let me know and I will continue to work on this light. I have the prototype and am absolutely satisfied with it so I'm good to go but if you would like your own Micro ATL G5 or G5 eX, it is up to you to let me know!
Thanks and stay tuned!
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cking me in yet again, you "mad" man. I definitely would be interested in some kind of real wood trimmed light if you can make that work.
