The longest throwing LED flashlight in the world

[saabluster]

So I'm thinking perhaps 4 LiFeP04's in series, direct drive with an MC-E. :thinking:
If the VF is low it should give some decent light.

I haven't decided yet how I will power them but it will most likely be with a driver.

Here is an update on the battery options avalable. Previously I made mention of the fact that NiMH were too fat to fit into the light without cutting the battery holder down. Well that is not entirely true. I have the Duracell low self discharge versions which if I remember right are just rebadged eneloops. They fit fine! I will make a note of the change in the first post.

 

[karlthev]

Ah ha, good news!



Karl

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Well that's just what I was thinking I'd use until you figure out a more elegant solution. :naughty: Circuits are the killer for me, I don't have a lot of experience with them and my soldering iron eats them up. Likely it's gonna have to be a 2S2P setup and a boost driver for the MC-E and NiMh/ L91.

Great to hear that Eneloops likely fit without doing anything to the holder. That's what I was planning on using anyway for big throw.

:thumbsup:

 

[choppers]

This is great news!!! I am guessing that we should see some shipments of lights soon?

 

[saabluster]

This is great news!!! I am guessing that we should see some shipments of lights soon?

Yes! LuxLuthor's and Radu1976's should be shipping by Wed. I'm just sitting here in front of the computer listening to NPR and drilling and tapping the copper.

 

[choppers]

Yes! LuxLuthor's and Radu1976's should be shipping by Wed. I'm just sitting here in front of the computer listening to NPR and drilling and tapping the copper.

Yahoo!!!!! That means I am next......I can't wait to introduce the neighborhood to the DEFT!!!!

 

[radu1976]

So, any news about the shipping of DEFT to Canada ?
If it wasn't shipped and if you can't do it even tomorrow, then cancel the shipping. Otherwise it may return to you . Even so there are small chances for that thing to happen as I am leaving Canada in around 2 weeks for one month...
Michael, I know that the light was supposed to be READY and SHIPPED 2 months ago. What in fact happened ? Besides all those pb with the AR coater guy... ?? I haven't meet EVER such a delay . Many times I was asking myself I will ever see this light finally shipped ...

 

[saabluster]

So, any news about the shipping of DEFT to Canada ?
If it wasn't shipped and if you can't do it even tomorrow, then cancel the shipping. Otherwise it may return to you . Even so there are small chances for that thing to happen as I am leaving Canada in around 2 weeks for one month...
Michael, I know that the light was supposed to be READY and SHIPPED 2 months ago. What in fact happened ? Besides all those pb with the AR coater guy... ?? I haven't meet EVER such a delay . Many times I was asking myself I will ever see this light finally shipped ...

Was not able to ship today. It will definitely be shipped tomorrow. I will expedite the shipping. These lights are just very labor intensive. Combine that with my anal retentiveness(insistance on a high standard), unforeseen manufacturing issues, supplier delays, and the fact that I only work 4 days a week and it all adds up. Trust me I'm not happy about it either. It has been two months since I went full time with this and other than the few that paid already I have had no income this entire time. I just bought more LEDs and a few other things so my debt is up to about $8500 now.. So yeah I am under a ton of pressure to get these out and I will do so just as fast as I can. You and everyone else have been unbelievably patient thus far and I thank you for it. This has been a huge learning process. Things are moving now though. Your light is done now but I did not get it done in time to ship. I'm actually about to take some beam shots with yours and Lux's light. I am testing out the new MC-E in it. Should be interesting.:naughty: I will try and get the pics up tonight if I can.

 

[saabluster]

Here are shots of the DEFT with the R2 WH, Q2 5A, and MC-E 6C. All shots in that order and with the white balance set to sun.
Edit: Just wanted to note that these shots were taken without the optic. Hence the strong flood pattern.

My son put that stuffed animal over his face himself. I can't imagine why.:thinking::shrug:

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Very interesting, I think just by those pics on my screen, I like the 5A better than the 6C. The 6C not surprisingly looks just like an incan.
Thanks for the comparisons. I've been hoping to find a cree in the 4C tint bin to see if I like those better. Sure is hard to find tint bins as an enthusiast.

Your son will undoubtedly learn to grab sunglasses and sunscreen whenever he sees you with a light and camera in hand. He's go the basics down already I see.

Any noticeable differences (other than the differing tint) when using the MC-E vs the XR-E?

 

[saabluster]

Any noticeable differences (other than the differing tint) when using the MC-E vs the XR-E?

I forgot to post some shots. Same order as above. The 6C looks better in person than in those pics. As a matter of fact the 6C is as big of an improvement to my eyes as the 5A was over the WH. There is quite a bit more red in the 6C. All three lights are running on the same circuitry with the MC-E being run in parallel. It puts out more light for sure but does have slightly less throw in this configuration.

 

[IcantC]

Wow the 6C looks like an incan which is great!

In the last "alley" shots, notice the garbage can. In the second 2 pics I noticed right away it being dirty inside. In the first picture, at first glance I missed this.

Have you tried a throw comparison with the aspheric on to see how much throw is lost?

Keep up the great job btw!

How soon do you think you will start offering the MC-E?:devil:

 

[saabluster]

Have you tried a throw comparison with the aspheric on to see how much throw is lost?

Keep up the great job btw!

How soon do you think you will start offering the MC-E?:devil:

Those shots were with the diffused aspheric. I assume you may mean the smooth aspheric? If so, I didn't even bother as the beam is horrible with the MC-E due to the four separate dies. I will be offering the MC-E pills as soon as I get my order in. As soon as I can find some time I will be working up a driver solution to run the MC-E nice and hard.:naughty:

 

[choppers]

Were LuxLuthor's and Radu1976's shipped out today? I can't wait to see Lux's review of these. Any ETA for my DEFT?

Thanks for all your effort and hard work,

 

[PhantomPhoton]

As soon as I can find some time I will be working up a driver solution to run the MC-E nice and hard.:naughty:

:devil:

I definitely see more light in that last shot with the MC-E. Driving that bad boy at 1A+ per die versus the ~350 that it's seeing right now should give quite a bit more oomph!

 

[saabluster]

Were LuxLuthor's and Radu1976's shipped out today? I can't wait to see Lux's review of these. Any ETA for my DEFT?

Thanks for all your effort and hard work,

I shipped Radu's. LuxLuthor's will go tomorrow. Since he is taking the time to do what I assume will be an in depth review I decided to add a little present in his package and needed an extra day to finish it. I would not expect to be shipping yours before next Wednesday. Although it will not take too long to get the internals done the CF bezel will delay me some. I have to clear-coat them and it is better if they have a couple days to dry.

 

[saabluster]

:devil:

I definitely see more light in that last shot with the MC-E. Driving that bad boy at 1A+ per die versus the ~350 that it's seeing right now should give quite a bit more oomph!

Yeah I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of light even the warm white MC-E puts out. Now if I combine the new circuit with that additional optic that get more light out the front the results should be phenomenal.

 

[choppers]

I shipped Radu's. LuxLuthor's will go tomorrow. Since he is taking the time to do what I assume will be an in depth review I decided to add a little present in his package and needed an extra day to finish it. I would not expect to be shipping yours before next Wednesday. Although it will not take too long to get the internals done the CF bezel will delay me some. I have to clear-coat them and it is better if they have a couple days to dry.

Thanks for the update. :twothumbs

 

[saabluster]

Thanks for the update. :twothumbs

And here is yet another. I just tested the MC-E with and without the secondary optic I talked about earlier in this thread. I chose a random spot about 10' from my light meter. Without registered at 104 peak and with sec. optic it peaked at 134. Not a bad increase in the light output I'd say.

 

[LuxLuthor]

I shipped Radu's. LuxLuthor's will go tomorrow. Since he is taking the time to do what I assume will be an in depth review I decided to add a little present in his package and needed an extra day to finish it. I would not expect to be shipping yours before next Wednesday. Although it will not take too long to get the internals done the CF bezel will delay me some. I have to clear-coat them and it is better if they have a couple days to dry.

W00T !

I love that variety of comparison pictures. It's always amazing how different lights look in person vs. in photots....so it's interesting to read your observations, including the MC-E.

Thanks for taking your time, persevering through a long list of problems, and having it turn out the way you wanted. Let me know what you have found to be the best battery setups, and voltage range limits. It will be fun to check this out and compare. :thumbsup: