SPY005
Welcome to the SPY005 sign up list thread. If you want to purchase the SPY, please post to this "sign up list" that you want a SPY or send me an email to that effect. Please indicate what country you live in, what logo you prefer and if you would be interested in a black or natural HA III finish.
I am very excited to bring this two cell LED light to CPF! This little every-day-carry light has 6 levels of buck boost regulated power controlled by a silver knob on the "front" of the light. It loads two CR-123 lithium cells, a top bin Lux3, the finest orange peel reflector and a super trick battery cap.
The SPY005's most unique feature, its side-by-side arrangement of two batteries, is made possible by the advanced CNC machined body and battery cap. The machining required to manufacture this light is extensive and it sets the SPY apart from any other light ever offered for sale. With its two primary cells, the SPY has extended run times while providing a considerable level of light.
The side-by-side arrangement of batteries also provides an optimum location for the brightness level control knob. When the user rotates the knob, it clicks from the off position and continues clicking through 6 discrete regulated output levels. The first level is a very low nightlight setting, perfect for a dark room or tent. The middle 4 levels will be the ones used most, and the highest level, intended for intermittent use only, drives the LED at 1000mA providing a very bright combination of fill and throw. Holding the light in the palm of your hand with the knob up or knob down seems natural either way. It soon becomes quite addicting to play with.
The design of this light was significantly influenced from day one by many of the top flashlight modders; dat2zip, McGizmo, DaGunn, Mr Bulk, Andrewwynn, tvodrd, Genseng, JimH, Darell and many others who have provided invaluable input from the forums. I owe you all my sincerest gratitude.
Specifications:
· Batteries: two CR123 primary lithium, run in series
· LED; Luxeon 3 Under 4Vf, premium bins only
· Six regulated light levels, high efficiency buck/boost converter by Wayne Yamaguchi
· Current levels: 1000*, 700, 400, 100, 20, 6mA, * intermittent use only
· Rotary switch is mil-spec'ed and rated for a minimum of 10,000 full cycles
· Reflector is McR-18
· Body made of 6061-T6 aluminum HA III natural finish or black.
· Head made of 2024 aluminum 0.88" in diameter and is chrome plated on outside surface
· Water resistant with o-ring seals at the head, cap and knob
· Overall dimensions: 3.03" x 1.52" x 0.88"
· 1.4% of gross sales will be donated to CPF
· Six month warranty, replacement parts and service will be available for several years
Features:
Wayne and I made it our goal from the very beginning to pack a lot of power into this little light. The converter board is a powerful 1500mA output, very efficient buck boost design that is regulated at all six of its power levels. It is designed to work with primary cells only.
We are investigating and planning to prototype a buck converter that will handle rechargeable batteries. If at all possible we will offer this as an accessory from the Sandwich Shoppe some time next year.
The highest power setting on the SPY is going to be set to around one amp. That is the maximum power a Luxeon III can take before its lifespan is unduly shortened. When you apply close to 5 W of power into this tiny light it will heat up quickly! The top power level is intended for intermittent usage only. This restriction is suggested primarily as a safety precaution because the light will get too hot to hold and its runtime will of course be quite short. When using the lower power settings on this extremely efficient converter the runtimes will prove to be quite long for an EDC light. Its lowest power setting is about 6mA.
The heart of the SPY flashlight and what makes the whole design concept possible is a very high-quality seven-position super micro military spec'ed rotary switch. When you hold this switch in your hand you can hardly believe they were able to make it so small. Grayhill manufactures the switch and to my knowledge there is no substitute available in the marketplace. For the SPY to be as small as it is, the switch had to be so tiny that it actually resides partially inside of the knob on the front of the light. This very special little switch is rated for 10,000 full actuations while carrying its full rated current. Wayne's converter board does not tax the switch and we believe it will last indefinitely.
The guts of the SPY flashlight all come out of the light without any tools. This modularity will make it very easy for upgrades to newer board designs and newer LEDs in the future.
One of the most unique features of the SPY is its battery cap with a hidden latching mechanism. This cap was designed so that the light would be only slightly larger than the two CR-123 cells that the body houses (0.070" wall thickness on body ). I believe the people in our CPF community will really appreciate its design and function. I do feel compelled to give everyone a minor note of caution. The battery cap, though it works quite well and is nearly indestructible, is not as easy to use as a standard screw on battery cap. Taking the cap off is easy; you simply press on the hidden release pin and pull the cap off. Putting the cap on is where some additional dexterity is required. You must hold the cap aligning its holes with the engagement pins protruding from the body. If you get it straight it will go right on and require only a firm push at the end to seat the o-ring right as the latching mechanism engages. Lastly, you should check that the release pin popped all the way out, that pin is the visual verification that the mechanism is fully latched. Please understand I'm not trying to scare anyone. I just want you to realize that the SPY is tiny and some level of dexterity is needed to replace the batteries. You may never see such an intricate micro mechanical device offered to the public in a common retail store because certain people would never take the time to learn to use it.
The two small setscrews in the side of the light are for the lanyard attachment point. The light will be delivered with a very simple and thin digital camera type of lanyard and a set of screws for a small metal lanyard attachment hoop. The lanyard itself has no metal parts and is thin enough to be pushed into your pocket with the light. This kind of lanyard is for your wrist only. There may be a pocket clip and cell phone button adapter available as accessories at a later date.
Changes to style:
The head and the knob of the light are going to be changed! The photograph at the top shows the old head and knob. The new design has not been machined yet but it will look like the CAD rendering below.
Delivery Estimate:
In all likelihood delivery of the SPY005 will now be first quarter 2006. Since June of this year Wayne and I have been tracking for a December 2005 delivery but recent events are giving us reason to pause. As everybody here knows I am a CPF newbie and therefore I have little to base a prediction on how many of these lights will be ordered. However, I am prepared to make enough lights for everyone who signs up in this thread. As soon as the signup thread has run for a few days I will make a delivery estimate based on those quantities. We will continue to try for the earliest possible date.
Cost:
The price of the SPY005 is $345.00 plus shipping. I will be accepting several different types of payment - personal check, certified bank check, money order or PayPal. I will be accepting credit cards for payment through Wayne's Sandwich Shoppe. There will be a 3.9% surcharge for using PayPal or credit cards. All international orders will go through the Sandwich Shoppe regardless of whether you want to use a credit card or not. All orders that go through me and are shipped to a Pennsylvania address will have a 6% sales tax surcharge. All orders that go through the Sandwich Shoppe and are shipped to a California address will have an 8.25% sales tax surcharge.
Payment Due:
I am not accepting any payments at this time. If you want to purchase the SPY, please post to this "signup list" that you want a SPY or send me an email to that effect. I will require payment for the light prior to shipment. After the production numbers are set there will be very few extra lights available and I can't promise right now that I will make more of these lights in the future. If you signup for a light and later decide you do not want it, please let us know and we will make that light available to any latecomers.
Logo:
We had a lot of fun with the logo design contest. Many superb logos were submitted. The winner was Low Worm's outline of a crow standing on the SPY letters. The first and second runner-up are also excellent logo designs. The voting showed that many of you do not want any logo on the light. I have decided to make the logo optional and in addition, allow you to pick between the top three logos. This decision is pending our tests on the usability of these three logos. Each logo requires image work and set up time in the laser-engraving tool and therefore I will not be offering any other logos for the SPY005.
logo 1
logo 2
logo 3
Thanks:
I appreciate all the support that I received throughout this project and couldn't have gotten to this point without the participation and enthusiasm from so many of you. Thank you everybody.
Sincerely
David Livingston
Cool Fall Inc.
1280 Hedgeline Dr.
Pennsburg, PA 18073
Email: [email protected]
Welcome to the SPY005 sign up list thread. If you want to purchase the SPY, please post to this "sign up list" that you want a SPY or send me an email to that effect. Please indicate what country you live in, what logo you prefer and if you would be interested in a black or natural HA III finish.
I am very excited to bring this two cell LED light to CPF! This little every-day-carry light has 6 levels of buck boost regulated power controlled by a silver knob on the "front" of the light. It loads two CR-123 lithium cells, a top bin Lux3, the finest orange peel reflector and a super trick battery cap.
The SPY005's most unique feature, its side-by-side arrangement of two batteries, is made possible by the advanced CNC machined body and battery cap. The machining required to manufacture this light is extensive and it sets the SPY apart from any other light ever offered for sale. With its two primary cells, the SPY has extended run times while providing a considerable level of light.
The side-by-side arrangement of batteries also provides an optimum location for the brightness level control knob. When the user rotates the knob, it clicks from the off position and continues clicking through 6 discrete regulated output levels. The first level is a very low nightlight setting, perfect for a dark room or tent. The middle 4 levels will be the ones used most, and the highest level, intended for intermittent use only, drives the LED at 1000mA providing a very bright combination of fill and throw. Holding the light in the palm of your hand with the knob up or knob down seems natural either way. It soon becomes quite addicting to play with.
The design of this light was significantly influenced from day one by many of the top flashlight modders; dat2zip, McGizmo, DaGunn, Mr Bulk, Andrewwynn, tvodrd, Genseng, JimH, Darell and many others who have provided invaluable input from the forums. I owe you all my sincerest gratitude.
Specifications:
· Batteries: two CR123 primary lithium, run in series
· LED; Luxeon 3 Under 4Vf, premium bins only
· Six regulated light levels, high efficiency buck/boost converter by Wayne Yamaguchi
· Current levels: 1000*, 700, 400, 100, 20, 6mA, * intermittent use only
· Rotary switch is mil-spec'ed and rated for a minimum of 10,000 full cycles
· Reflector is McR-18
· Body made of 6061-T6 aluminum HA III natural finish or black.
· Head made of 2024 aluminum 0.88" in diameter and is chrome plated on outside surface
· Water resistant with o-ring seals at the head, cap and knob
· Overall dimensions: 3.03" x 1.52" x 0.88"
· 1.4% of gross sales will be donated to CPF
· Six month warranty, replacement parts and service will be available for several years
Features:
Wayne and I made it our goal from the very beginning to pack a lot of power into this little light. The converter board is a powerful 1500mA output, very efficient buck boost design that is regulated at all six of its power levels. It is designed to work with primary cells only.
We are investigating and planning to prototype a buck converter that will handle rechargeable batteries. If at all possible we will offer this as an accessory from the Sandwich Shoppe some time next year.
The highest power setting on the SPY is going to be set to around one amp. That is the maximum power a Luxeon III can take before its lifespan is unduly shortened. When you apply close to 5 W of power into this tiny light it will heat up quickly! The top power level is intended for intermittent usage only. This restriction is suggested primarily as a safety precaution because the light will get too hot to hold and its runtime will of course be quite short. When using the lower power settings on this extremely efficient converter the runtimes will prove to be quite long for an EDC light. Its lowest power setting is about 6mA.
The heart of the SPY flashlight and what makes the whole design concept possible is a very high-quality seven-position super micro military spec'ed rotary switch. When you hold this switch in your hand you can hardly believe they were able to make it so small. Grayhill manufactures the switch and to my knowledge there is no substitute available in the marketplace. For the SPY to be as small as it is, the switch had to be so tiny that it actually resides partially inside of the knob on the front of the light. This very special little switch is rated for 10,000 full actuations while carrying its full rated current. Wayne's converter board does not tax the switch and we believe it will last indefinitely.
The guts of the SPY flashlight all come out of the light without any tools. This modularity will make it very easy for upgrades to newer board designs and newer LEDs in the future.
One of the most unique features of the SPY is its battery cap with a hidden latching mechanism. This cap was designed so that the light would be only slightly larger than the two CR-123 cells that the body houses (0.070" wall thickness on body ). I believe the people in our CPF community will really appreciate its design and function. I do feel compelled to give everyone a minor note of caution. The battery cap, though it works quite well and is nearly indestructible, is not as easy to use as a standard screw on battery cap. Taking the cap off is easy; you simply press on the hidden release pin and pull the cap off. Putting the cap on is where some additional dexterity is required. You must hold the cap aligning its holes with the engagement pins protruding from the body. If you get it straight it will go right on and require only a firm push at the end to seat the o-ring right as the latching mechanism engages. Lastly, you should check that the release pin popped all the way out, that pin is the visual verification that the mechanism is fully latched. Please understand I'm not trying to scare anyone. I just want you to realize that the SPY is tiny and some level of dexterity is needed to replace the batteries. You may never see such an intricate micro mechanical device offered to the public in a common retail store because certain people would never take the time to learn to use it.
The two small setscrews in the side of the light are for the lanyard attachment point. The light will be delivered with a very simple and thin digital camera type of lanyard and a set of screws for a small metal lanyard attachment hoop. The lanyard itself has no metal parts and is thin enough to be pushed into your pocket with the light. This kind of lanyard is for your wrist only. There may be a pocket clip and cell phone button adapter available as accessories at a later date.
Changes to style:
The head and the knob of the light are going to be changed! The photograph at the top shows the old head and knob. The new design has not been machined yet but it will look like the CAD rendering below.
Delivery Estimate:
In all likelihood delivery of the SPY005 will now be first quarter 2006. Since June of this year Wayne and I have been tracking for a December 2005 delivery but recent events are giving us reason to pause. As everybody here knows I am a CPF newbie and therefore I have little to base a prediction on how many of these lights will be ordered. However, I am prepared to make enough lights for everyone who signs up in this thread. As soon as the signup thread has run for a few days I will make a delivery estimate based on those quantities. We will continue to try for the earliest possible date.
Cost:
The price of the SPY005 is $345.00 plus shipping. I will be accepting several different types of payment - personal check, certified bank check, money order or PayPal. I will be accepting credit cards for payment through Wayne's Sandwich Shoppe. There will be a 3.9% surcharge for using PayPal or credit cards. All international orders will go through the Sandwich Shoppe regardless of whether you want to use a credit card or not. All orders that go through me and are shipped to a Pennsylvania address will have a 6% sales tax surcharge. All orders that go through the Sandwich Shoppe and are shipped to a California address will have an 8.25% sales tax surcharge.
Payment Due:
I am not accepting any payments at this time. If you want to purchase the SPY, please post to this "signup list" that you want a SPY or send me an email to that effect. I will require payment for the light prior to shipment. After the production numbers are set there will be very few extra lights available and I can't promise right now that I will make more of these lights in the future. If you signup for a light and later decide you do not want it, please let us know and we will make that light available to any latecomers.
Logo:
We had a lot of fun with the logo design contest. Many superb logos were submitted. The winner was Low Worm's outline of a crow standing on the SPY letters. The first and second runner-up are also excellent logo designs. The voting showed that many of you do not want any logo on the light. I have decided to make the logo optional and in addition, allow you to pick between the top three logos. This decision is pending our tests on the usability of these three logos. Each logo requires image work and set up time in the laser-engraving tool and therefore I will not be offering any other logos for the SPY005.
Thanks:
I appreciate all the support that I received throughout this project and couldn't have gotten to this point without the participation and enthusiasm from so many of you. Thank you everybody.
Sincerely
David Livingston
Cool Fall Inc.
1280 Hedgeline Dr.
Pennsburg, PA 18073
Email: [email protected]