Titanium Sapphire "25"

[fyrstormer]

USB voltage is very tightly-filtered; from the wall, it goes through the computer's power supply and then again through the motherboard's power conditioner. If there were any 5V source that were safe to use with this driver, it would be USB.

However, I'd still wire a capacitor in-parallel with the driver just for that extra measure of safety, and to absorb even the tiniest surge when the device is first plugged in.

Alternately, though I realize it isn't as much fun, Dell sells laptops with backlit keyboards now. I've equipped a few of my coworkers with said laptops, and they've found them to be indispensable when working at night and/or on airplanes.

 

[Kiessling]

That's actually quite cool ... the 25mA constant current that is. This is a great little light. Everyone I gave one loves it

 

[mcmc]

I wanted to put in a little vote here for a future warmer tinted run. Thanks Don!

 

[Moka]

I know they were a PITA to do as you said... But a hi-cri saphire would be wicked!!!

 

[I'mGatMan!]

I know they were a PITA to do as you said... But a hi-cri saphire would be wicked!!!

I'd be ALL over that!

 

[GarageBoy]

It's about 8hrs to 50% according to your plot for runtime. Not bad at all...
I found the Arc converter inefficient as the converter from the Fenix E01 ran nearly twice as long.
If I get one, it'll compliment my Mako really nicely

 

[fyrstormer]

The converter in the Arc AAA is actually very efficient; the shorter runtime is due to the extremely-simple converter's inability to regulate current flow to the emitter, so when the battery is new the LED basically gets all the current it can handle and a little more just in case. That causes the battery to drain faster, but it also makes the converter more flexible as it's capable of driving more power-hungry LEDs than the E01 driver or the Sapphire 25 driver can.

Each has its place in the world -- I've modded my Ti Arc AAA driver with an LED from PhotonFanatic and I'm absolutely thrilled to pieces with it. I've never seen better fill from a 5mm LED. Couldn't run it on a Sapphire 25 driver though, because 25mA is barely enough to wake up the emitter in that LED. But, I'm happy to hear the Sapphire 25's casing offers similar flexibility in swapping light engines, because it means more people can have fun mixing and matching in the future.

 

[GarageBoy]

So will the Arc offer a longer tail after the 50% point compared to the Sapphire 25 circuit?

 

[wquiles]

I wanted to put in a little vote here for a future warmer tinted run. Thanks Don!

I know they were a PITA to do as you said... But a hi-cri saphire would be wicked!!!

+1 to that!

I just got my Sapphire 25 and the more I use it and carry it, the more I like it. However a warmer tint (even if it came at the expense of shorter runtimes) would make this small Ti light even better

Will

 

[run4jc]

What an awesome, awesome little light! I am not much for AAA lights, but for this one I make an exception. Sure, I know the Arc AAA is out there, too, but this is a McGizmo!!

Just a tiny little piece of functional art, and an EDC for sure. Don't know why I waited so long. It's just perfect - review and 'tiny little beam shots' posted over here.... A chance to use my fast wide angle lens...

Bravo Don - I think I may have found a new source of Christmas gifts! :thumbsup:

 

[SFfanman]

Bravo Don - I think I may have found a new source of Christmas gifts! :thumbsup:

Put me on the list. :naughty: lovecpf

 

[Darell]

Very cool, Don. I'm happy to see a properly driven emitter in these finally! Still loving my original. Tempted to retro-upgrade!

 

[tino_ale]

Don,

My understanding is that the Sapphire 25 LE, as opposed to the original Sapphire's LE, can be removed and replaced without damage since it is only held in place by the mean of a tight fit of the LED in the centering o-ring.

Did I get that right ? Then would gently pulling on the foam ring suffice ?

I'm asking because I'm chewing with the idea of bead-blasting my Sapphire when I get it, which requires disassembly.

Can't wait to receive it :naughty:

Thanks!

 

[McGizmo]

Yes tino,
You have it right. You will probably want to remove the sapphire window or mask it off as well.

 

[tino_ale]

Thanks, that is perfect!

 

[tino_ale]

Received my Sapphire 25, it's great. More output than I anticipated, works fine on Eneloop.

Great job :thumbsup:

 

[DeLionKing]

I just got my Sapphire 25 as well and I'm very satisfied. Love it!

 

[Launch Mini]

Don
Thanks for your prompt shipment of my 2 Sapphire 25GS. My daughter saw it and loved it. So got her one for her keychain as she is off to University today so she needs a nice EDC

 

[fyrstormer]

Just wanted to add a recent experience I had with my Sapphire 25 DS:

I run all my AA/AAA lights on Energizer "Ultimate Lithium" batteries, because they last forever and I don't have to worry about them leaking. I was shining my Sapphire around the walls of my bedroom last week, and the light seemed a bit dimmer than I remembered (though the Arc AAA and its derivatives always did that to me when the batteries wore down)...and then in the span of about three seconds, the light dimmed out completely and shut off. I turned the light off and turned it back on, and it dimmed out again immediately. A new battery, of course, fixed the problem.

In the case of using a lithium AAA with the Sapphire 25, the behavior seems to be: once the battery can no longer run the driver at full power, it will dim to roughly half its full-charge brightness, and then the usual "all or nothing" property of the lithium battery will kick in and the light will shut off almost instantly. I don't see this as being a bad thing, and I have no intention of risking the use of alkaline batteries anyway, but I thought people should know that there's nothing wrong if this happens to them. It's not a sign of malfunction or incompatibility, it's just the quirks of this specific driver combined with a lithium battery.

 

[Maxbelg]

I got 5 hours 58 minutes on an Eneloop until I stopped the test due to obvious reduction in output. The voltage on the Eneloop HR-4UTGA then measured exactely 1,0 Volt. This runtime is about the same as on an alkaline before output starts dropping according to this post: (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...e-quot-25-quot) Lithium should do better but nowhere close to the theoretical 48 hours!

Update:
I have done a runtime test with an Energizer Lithium primary battery. Total 11h 55 min and the last hour or so there was obvious dimming with Finaly only a faint glow the last minutes.I'm pleased with the runtime and the fact that it doesn't just cut out as was suggested in the previous post. This might be because this was a continuous runtime-test and not intermittent usage? I Love my Sapphires more than any other flashlights at present and they are truly EDC ie I always have one on me (not EDC as in when I carry a flashlight this is the one I choose).


As far as runtime goes with the AAA flashlights: For single level lights I'm happy with this type of runtime! The ARC P ran about 7hours until empty on a lithium primary. In multiple mode flashlights the runtime on low is largely irrelevant to me. Let me explain: I always use the higher levels at least sometimes, so I don't have a "guaranteed" runtime except the high level. That's also why I love these single level AAA flashlights with good runtimes. One notable exception is the Muyshondt Mako which runs more than 20 hours on high and 80 on low with a lithium primary, but the high has less total output than my Sapphire GS judged by ceiling bounce, so it's no surprise that its runtime is longer even on "high".