500 Lumen - AAA Flashlight (photos) - Work In Progress - Part 2

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Looking forward to your work on this light, watching the progress is very enjoyable.
Be sure to keep the low mode 1 lm, this is as important to me as the 500 lm.
Thanks
Xflash

Hi XFlash,

Thanks very much.
Yes, a nice <1lm low is very useful

I assume you will send out newsletter before posting here as to availability of preorders...?

Hi flasherByNight,
Absolutely!!

WOW this looks great...just found out about this!!!

Thanks 2000xlt

Please, start the production as soon as you can! I want one!

Hi flat-ray,
that I will! as soon as everything looks good!

The pcb is very long... I presume it is just for easy(!) prototyping. The final version must be different, doesn't it?

Hi Esko,

The pcb for production will be a flex-pcb that is rolled into a tube, about 10mm diameter.
The one in the photo is to make testing and confirmation easier.
Below is one of the earlier prototypes to give you an idea of how it fits inside:

Looks to me like it's just right to wrap around a 10440 battery Roughly 34mm will do that, and I would presume there's some extra space in the head of the light to accomodate it. In the photo, on my screen, the XM-L is approx 5mm which makes the circuit board run 45mm. According to Cree, the XM-L is 5mm on the green board, so this measurement is pretty close. Which would indeed make the circuit board seem a bit long. So I'd say " Good catch Esko!" We shall see!

Hope everythings ok with Guy, haven't seen a post in a while...but then I guess he's busy anodizing CoreTi's!

Dale

Hi DBC,

Thanks for posting and very close with your guesses too.
I've been working away on the CoreTi's, trying to complete assessment and checking of all the remaining stock, a few more anodizing tests, and about 2-3 days behind my plan but planning to send out every last CoreTi this week including anodized versions.

It was a long weekend here so in between family things, I had a couple of good long quiet nights to focus on finishing CoreTi's which is great and with some modest adjustments ended up with just a couple more than expected which is great too.

Also been preparing and making lists of things to get done this week in advance of the HF's (like prepping boxes, labels, etc) and do whatever I can in advance.

Its a bit of a crazy patch at my dayjob too right now, so may not be able to post till evenings for a couple of days but hopefully back to my normal (crazy) posting routine in a week or so.

tgwnn

 

[GIR]

Here I go away for a bit and then this. Woohoo! Prototype board!

Don't forget about the blind cap for the spare battery hold... body. Maybe it could have a rounded nose, I don't know, maybe like a... TORPEDO?

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Here I go away for a bit and then this. Woohoo! Prototype board!

Don't forget about the blind cap for the spare battery hold... body. Maybe it could have a rounded nose, I don't know, maybe like a... TORPEDO?

Hi GIR,

Thanks and welcome back
Once I confirm the production is ready, I'll check on the battery cap

Somehow, I think this should be the one!

tgwnn

 

[Draven451]

Tgwnn,

Just a Monday bump to get this thread back to the top =)

Any news?

 

[Draven451]

Double post. Double the fun =)

 

[mr.lumen]

hey guy! im sure this question has been asked but i was curious as to why you were using the t6 as opposed to the u2? any specific reason besides it being a little cheaper? thanks!

 

[DBCstm]

Mr. Lumen, it's quite probable that the U2 wasn't available a year ago when Guy started the Torpedo concept. He'll probably be offering it as an option when the Torpedo get's launched.

Dale

 

[Got Lumens?]

hey guy! im sure this question has been asked but i was curious as to why you were using the t6 as opposed to the u2? any specific reason besides it being a little cheaper? thanks!

As Dale has said, the U2 did not hit the sceanes until after the initial Torpedo journey began. There are T5 and T6 NW's on the sceane now, as well as Nichia 219s too. I could see a few of those being placed within Torpedo's as well .
GL

 

[Cataract]

Guy wasn't sure about putting Nichias in the Torpedo, but it did sound like he was considering a neutral T5 or T6.

 

[SPNKr]

Guy wasn't sure about putting Nichias in the Torpedo, but it did sound like he was considering a neutral T5 or T6.

Actually I'm not sure either. According to his tests the Torpedo puts out about 600 OTF lumens on turbo, which is roughly 2.5 amps or more on an XML U2, and he did mention that the ones with different emitters will have the exact same drivers. 2.5 amps would totally fry a Nichia 219.

But the HF does come with 219s, I wonder how they're doing.

Also of note, if you go back about 10 pages you'll see that Torpedo will now come with a U2 instead of a T6 as a CW emitter.

 

[Cataract]

The HF has no driver; it's just direct drive, so any LED that can take the juice straright from the battery would do. The low is achieved by a simple resistor.

The torpedo driver is still in development, so there is still room to change the LED options, although I think you're right about the U2 (it still says T6 on the product page, though.) Guy did say he was planning on finding a Neutral LED for the torpedo, but thinking back, I don't believe there was any mention on which LED (quite frankly, if it puts out about 400 lumens I'm in for neutral no matter what.) So long as the product is in the development stage everything is fluid, that's a big part of what is making these threads so riveting (aside the crazy output of a suppository-sized light).

I'm waiting for final production of my Cu HF and now I'm already drooling for a Brass Torpedo. Hmmm.... Brass Torpedo... Brass Monkey... we'll need a brass monkey to hold all those batteries like they're the cannon balls! (and they won't freeze off since the Torp and HF can keep the monkey warm!)

 

[DBCstm]

Suppository sized? Humongous light output generating significant heat and you compare it to a suppository? Not a mental picture I'm fond of there Cataract! LOL

Dale

 

[Cataract]

Suppository sized? Humongous light output generating significant heat and you compare it to a suppository? Not a mental picture I'm fond of there Cataract! LOL

Dale

You forgot to mention the unprotected cell!

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Tgwnn,

Just a Monday bump to get this thread back to the top =)

Any news?

Hi Draven,

Just a couple days away from the new circuit/pcb.....

hey guy! im sure this question has been asked but i was curious as to why you were using the t6 as opposed to the u2? any specific reason besides it being a little cheaper? thanks!

Hi mr.lumen,

As mentioned below, the U2 was not yet available when I first posted the specs but the U2 will be the default for now.

Mr. Lumen, it's quite probable that the U2 wasn't available a year ago when Guy started the Torpedo concept. He'll probably be offering it as an option when the Torpedo get's launched.

Dale

Thanks DBC.

As Dale has said, the U2 did not hit the sceanes until after the initial Torpedo journey began. There are T5 and T6 NW's on the sceane now, as well as Nichia 219s too. I could see a few of those being placed within Torpedo's as well .
GL

Thanks GL

Guy wasn't sure about putting Nichias in the Torpedo, but it did sound like he was considering a neutral T5 or T6.

Hi Cataract,
Once of the proto's had a T5 and it was nice.
Nichia's could work very nicely because the current/voltage is regulated.

Actually I'm not sure either. According to his tests the Torpedo puts out about 600 OTF lumens on turbo, which is roughly 2.5 amps or more on an XML U2, and he did mention that the ones with different emitters will have the exact same drivers. 2.5 amps would totally fry a Nichia 219.

But the HF does come with 219s, I wonder how they're doing.

Also of note, if you go back about 10 pages you'll see that Torpedo will now come with a U2 instead of a T6 as a CW emitter.

Hi SPNKr,

Just to be sure, the HF puts out 600lumens, the Torpedo was still near 500 though should be above that now with the U2.
Output was planned at 1.4A on Turbo from memory.
HF's doing nicely and the Nicha HF's will do best with some MBI Nuke 10440's.

The HF has no driver; it's just direct drive, so any LED that can take the juice straright from the battery would do. The low is achieved by a simple resistor.

The torpedo driver is still in development, so there is still room to change the LED options, although I think you're right about the U2 (it still says T6 on the product page, though.) Guy did say he was planning on finding a Neutral LED for the torpedo, but thinking back, I don't believe there was any mention on which LED (quite frankly, if it puts out about 400 lumens I'm in for neutral no matter what.) So long as the product is in the development stage everything is fluid, that's a big part of what is making these threads so riveting (aside the crazy output of a suppository-sized light).

I'm waiting for final production of my Cu HF and now I'm already drooling for a Brass Torpedo. Hmmm.... Brass Torpedo... Brass Monkey... we'll need a brass monkey to hold all those batteries like they're the cannon balls! (and they won't freeze off since the Torp and HF can keep the monkey warm!)

Hi Cataract,
Options will be available for sure, all in good time

Suppository sized? Humongous light output generating significant heat and you compare it to a suppository? Not a mental picture I'm fond of there Cataract! LOL

Dale

Hi DBC,
Well the images for the Torpedo, sure, but just don't ask Cataract to conjure an image for the Torpedo case

You forgot to mention the unprotected cell!

Cataract,
maybe time for some popcorn

tgwnn

 

[Cataract]

[...]

Hi DBC,
Well the images for the Torpedo, sure, but just don't ask Cataract to conjure an image for the Torpedo case

I thought about it, but didn't quite dare in case I'd get the oo: look

Cataract,
maybe time for some popcorn

tgwnn

oooo, you're bad!

 

[Got Lumens?]

I thought about it, but didn't quite dare in case I'd get the oo: look
oooo, you're bad!

Suppository sized? Humongous light output generating significant heat and you compare it to a suppository? Not a mental picture I'm fond of there Cataract! LOL

Dale

Hi DBC,
Well the images for the Torpedo, sure, but just don't ask Cataract to conjure an image for the Torpedo case

Cataract,
maybe time for some popcorn

tgwnn

May I be of some assistance . . .

 

[Cataract]

May I be of some assistance . . .

I think the best way to go by this is to put the popcorn inside the torpedo case, then the butter on top and then... oo: :duh2:

 

[DBCstm]

Alllllrighty then! Guy, I think we need some pics of circuit boards and diagrams of thermal circuitry or something to keep some of these folks occupied! lol

 

[Got Lumens?]

I think the best way to go by this is to put the popcorn inside the torpedo case, then the butter on top and then... oo: :duh2:

Hey that's not funny . . .
I think your on to something there . . .
How to keep to kernals from popping out the top?
Guy tell "Scotty" we'll need all the batteries have got
Gourmet popcorn in 8 mins., MmmmMMmmmm

or Perhaps "MBCSI" MatchBox Culinary Service Instruments. :thinking:

Alllllrighty then! Guy, I think we need some pics of circuit boards and diagrams of thermal circuitry or something to keep some of these folks occupied! lol

Yes, I guess I am also one of those who needs to be occupied. :shrug:

 

[Zandar]

I seem to remember this from an old "Saturday Night" Live episode. The product was called "New Shimmer" .It went something like this: It's a flashlight, no it's a popcorn machine. No, it's a flashlight that just happens to make popcorn. No really it's a flashlight and a popcorn machine combined!

Hmm! Now wait a minute, I think Cataract and Got Lumens are on to something. First it was just a flashlight(all right not just any flashlight) powered by ordinary batteries, then it was a flashlight that could be powered by a special battery called a "nuke". Suddenly it can make popcorn too. Add it all up what do you have: a "nuclear" powered flashlight that makes popcorn in it's own special case.

The secrets out now TGWNN, It's a flashlight, it's a popcorn machine. No! it's a flashlight that combined with it's case and a "nuclear" battery becomes the world's smallest microwave oven. How's that for innovation! TGWNN your a genius.