Microfire Pioneer II sst-50 1200 lumen

[utlgoa]

This light makes the Jetbeam RRT-3 look prehistoric!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewpxhd8y5q4&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KV8Dml5TpA&feature=related

 

[flashfiend]

Interesting light. I hope instead of a fan maybe someone creates a light with a heatsink and heatpipes that extend to the back or front with fins surrounding the pipes.

 

[Ilikelite]

seems fan would lower battery life even more.

 

[sol-leks]

Theoretically could liquid cooling like in a computer work in a flashlight? Isn't liquid cooling more efficient than a fan?

 

[stallion2]

Theoretically could liquid cooling like in a computer work in a flashlight? Isn't liquid cooling more efficient than a fan?

i just stumbled across these videos last night. this is awesome, active cooling in a handheld...its finally here.

liquid cooling is way more efficient than air cooling but it still takes a lot more power to circulate liquid than it does air. so long as air cooling works sufficiently then it might as well be employeed. Porsche was able to continue using air cooled engines in their 11 series all the way up to '96.

 

[Patriot]

This light makes the Jetbeam RRT-3 look prehistoric!

While it's an interesting light, I definitely don't think it makes the RRT-3 look outclassed. They're both SST-50's running at 5A, the Microfire uses an adjustable aspheric which has it's pluses and minuses but on the downside the light is huge. It appears to be pushing the size similarities of the SR90, at least as far as overall length goes.

Without knowing the exact size of the light, I am a bit surprised that they felt obligated to install a fan. The RRT-3 didn't need a fan and it's much smaller. My single RCR123 SST-50 light from Mac's Customs is running at 2.8A and it's a fraction of the size of the Pioneer II. It's seems the same could have been achieved through the use of a good copper heat sink with a good thermal path to the body.

Interesting for sure, but not ground breaking imo. I especially have my doubts about the need, reliability and battery consumption issues relating to the fan.

 

[kengps]

liquid cooling is way more efficient than air cooling but it still takes a lot more power to circulate liquid than it does air.

No No.....It's takes much less power to move liquid, than it does to move the same amount of air volume, to effect the same amount of cooling.

 

[Noctis]

...Hmm, seems nice, but something about the obvious "Made in China" generic name of "MicroFire" turns me off before I can even give it a fair opinion.

For a mass produced light to be able to make 1200 emitter lumens is impressive, though I would hold in my excitement until bigchelis actually tests the OTF lumens.

I don't like the fan idea for just one petty reason, and that is that more moving parts means more parts that can fail. In my experience, small fans inside of complicated electronics have a tendency to fail(actually it could just be small fans in general).

First being the fan for the power source in my old desktop. Second being the portable fans of a laptop "cooler". Next being the cooling fan attachment for my brother's XBOX 360.

I don't think heat dissipation matters much when compared to the immediate thermal mass around the emitter.

Copper would be too much to ask for a production light, but I think a nice solid chunk of aluminum is still affordable.

 

[HKJ]

liquid cooling is way more efficient than air cooling

No here. Liquid cooling does not cool, but moves the heat to another place, i.e. a big heat sink, this heat sink then dissipates the heat to the air.
On the flashlight you do not have space for a big heat sink, but only have the flashlight body for dissipating the heat. Heat pipes or copper (or even a water system) might improve the transfer from the led to the flashlight body, and a larger surface on the body will improve the heat dissipating to the air.
A fan will increase the amount of air passing over the heat sink, this can give a huge boast in cooling efficiency.

 

[fishhead]

I recently bought the Microfire Pioneer I and I'm very disappointed in it. It lacks the push/pull zoom design even though the instructions mention it and the optic is filled with dust. Right now it's only being used as a cat toy and I'm strongly considering sending it back (something I hardly ever do.) Based on this flashlight there is no way I would consider a Pioneer II.

 

[kengps]

Heat pipes or copper (or even a water system) might improve the transfer from the led to the flashlight body, and a larger surface on the body will improve the heat dissipating to the air.

Transferring heat to the air is going to be secondary, to heat transfer into your hand. A liquied cooling system will move it to your hand very efficiently. No air/fan needed.

 

[HKJ]

Transferring heat to the air is going to be secondary, to heat transfer into your hand. A liquied cooling system will move it to your hand very efficiently. No air/fan needed.

For moving heat to the hand, a heat pipe or some copper is much better than an active water cooling system.
But this depends on you use of the light, the light is not always in a hand and then heat transfer to air will be very important.
There is also a limit to the amount of heat a hand can dissipate, but I do not know where that limit is.

 

[kengps]

There is also a limit to the amount of heat a hand can dissipate, but I do not know where that limit is.

It's when it starts to hurt!!

 

[HKJ]

It's when it starts to hurt!!

:laughing:

Yes, but how many watts is that?
The actual amount of watt will depends on the hand and the grip, but what range can be expected?

 

[csshih]

soooo many lumens..

...but it hurts so bad!!

 

[Patriot]

I recently bought the Microfire Pioneer I and I'm very disappointed in it. It lacks the push/pull zoom design even though the instructions mention it and the optic is filled with dust. Right now it's only being used as a cat toy and I'm strongly considering sending it back (something I hardly ever do.) Based on this flashlight there is no way I would consider a Pioneer II.

Are you able to take a picture of it next to some common or popular lights? I'm must curious about the size. Beam shots would be a bonus as well.

Thanks

 

[fishhead]

Are you able to take a picture of it next to some common or popular lights? I'm must curious about the size. Beam shots would be a bonus as well.

Thanks

I'll try, but things are very hectic this weekend and I'm hoping for a return authorization soon. I think the light I got was already a return because it had two different brands of batteries in it.

As for size: it's a bit longer and a bit larger in diameter than my Eagletac T20C2 MkII. I should be able to get some size comparison photos in a day or two.

 

[stallion2]

No No.....It's takes much less power to move liquid, than it does to move the same amount of air volume, to effect the same amount of cooling.

per unit of volume it still takes far less energy to move air than liquid. BUT per unit of volume water is far better than air at absorbing and removing heat.

No here. Liquid cooling does not cool, but moves the heat to another place, i.e. a big heat sink, this heat sink then dissipates the heat to the air.

huh? cooling literally means to remove heat through radiation via gas, liquid, solid...anything. but yes in regards to the body, it has its limits as to what rate it can radiate heat regardless of the internal components. however, unless somebody does some independent testing, how do we know that this light's body is being utilized to its full potential for transfering heat?

 

[fishhead]

Thought I should set the record straight on the Pioneer 1. It turns out that in turning the head from spot to flood I hadn't quite reached the sweet spot and the light does, in fact, zoom by pushing the bezel back and forth. So I'm a lot happier and I'll be keeping the light.

 

[stallion2]

Thought I should set the record straight on the Pioneer 1. It turns out that in turning the head from spot to flood I hadn't quite reached the sweet spot and the light does, in fact, zoom by pushing the bezel back and forth. So I'm a lot happier and I'll be keeping the light.

so this is in fact a floating-head adjustment? how is the beam quality at mid-range?

i've been looking for a well made focusable that has a consistent beam and have had only moderate success w/ the Romisens. i just received their P60 sized version which works well and has a reseasonably clean beam but only if it is focused to a very wide or very narrow angle. the mid-range focus leaves a bright, wide ring enclosing a large, dark center region and its been driving me nuts. the video i've seen of the Pioneer seems to have alleviated this problem to a large degree. just wondering what your thoughts are on this light's beam profile.