NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Overview - Lots of Pictures

[HKJ]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

I've spent the better part of an hour searching for a detailed explanation of how these rotary switches work. This is a very intriguing light and I'd like to learn more about it!

I would love to hear from anybody that has a good understanding of the tech involved (or a link to the thread if its been discussed). :wave:

Most of the lights with fixed position on the ring uses a magnet in the ring and a couple of magnetic sensors in the light (Can be reed tubes). This can easily be checked, just move a strong magnet around the flashlight, it it changes level, it is a magnet sensor.
I have seen the magnet in JetBeam, NiteCore and EagleTac lights.

 

[leon2245]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

My two IFE1s should be on their way by now; hopefully within few days I will have the possibility to evaluate and play with them.

In the meantime, I am extremely curious about the type of encoder used for the brightness control ring.

I would exclude Hall sensors because they are magnetic proximity sensors, which are good for a stepped control like the SF U2, the JB RRTs or the NC SR3.
I am more inclined to think of an optical encoder; this encoder usually requires a memory to store the last state.
The last type of encoder I am able to think of - the IFE may use a potentiometer, just like the SF T1A, which uses a 50 cents Piher resistive trimpot to adjust the brightness.

Does anybody have an idea of the type of encoder used in the IFE1?

Regards

Anthony

they actually reference the s.f. t1a controls in one of the marketing descriptions for describing the infilux control ring, but did not get that specific about if it works exactly the same. with the t1a, do you also have to be really precise while dialing in low levels, as hojobones & jackyl describe with this one? so that it turns through the lower levels too fast.

 

[7Freeman]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

I think it is a way too expensive.

I ve got a question to the owners:
... What happens before and at the moment where the low voltage protection from the aw 16340 kicks in? Is the light starting flickering and regulating the output down before it happens - or went the light just off?

(Imagine you are running downstairs and suddenly the light went off...)

 

[jhc37013]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

Got my today and I have not had a lot of time with it but first impressions in ok. First the selector ring is less than smooth, it feels and sounds like twisting a tailcap that is in desperate need of some lube and yes for me trying to get it to the lowest mode involves nifty finger work and some concentration . It's no T1A, U2 or Jet Raptor in regards to this function.

My beam is pretty good with the hotspot having just a touch of a donut or a less intense center whatever you want to call it but it's not terrible and only most obvious on the lower modes. The tint on my light is really pretty good and mostly white, way better than my RRT-0 R5 but I guess that can vary from light to light like most every other light.

Build quality is also really good, think Extreme with a much better switch and I like the clip better. The reflector and lens is really clean no dust or debris to be seen at all, it may not matter to some but I like a clean reflector and lens.

I need more time with this light to really get a better feel for it and decide how it stacks up with other single cell pocket lights I have but so far it's pretty good. I just wish the selector ring was smoother and the lower modes especially the lowest was easier to access, maybe in time I will get use to the spot I need to stop on for low but it is so close to the off position I'm not sure I will.

 

[Henk_Lu]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

I got my light yesterday!
It came in a big parcel because of that huge case, putting the light next to the parcel looked like if you took a 747F to ship a single car...

I can confirm everything that has been said about the light by other users, shortly here :

- High built quality
- Best clip ever on a Nitecore
- Smooth switch
- Not so smooth selection ring
- Bright % tight hotspot, good spill, some beam artefacts

Let's focus on the novelty, the selection ring : Surely no lube in there, I guess it wouldn't be fine with lube. To advertise the light from 0,1 Lumen to 260 Lumen is a joke! I have no idea if the lowest mode I was capable of selecting was 0,1 Lumen or not, but it's quite impossible to select it, if you have it, don't touch the ring anymore or make a fast movement, the light will switch off! 😱

In normal use, it's probably something around 5 to 10 Lumen which you'll get as Low, without fumbling around. The way to high is just too long then, but again, the light will have a rather high output quite soon and you needn't go the whole way. You can indeed action the ring with your thumb and middlefinger without loosing grip, but the whole travel of the ring is probably 3 times that long!

I don't really understand the off-position of the ring, while it makes sense to avoid strobe, it's probably a stand-bye like on the Jetbeam Raptors, I would preffer a light without strobe and without that off-position, it would allow to select low very easily. I guess the light has some parasitic drain if you just set the ring to off, without switching it off completely.

My conclusion : The ring is a nice idea, but still subject to improvement. Nevertheless, the best Nitecore I have, but the most expensive as well! :wave:

 

[ss355]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

When I first heard of this light, I couldn't wait for dealers to get it in stock so I could throw money at one. However, I remained patient to see if the reviews were as good as the light was billed. From reviews so far, it sounds as if the selection/intensity ring could use some refinement. I can live with a ring that's not as smooth turning as a Surefire T1A, but if it's difficult to select low intensities, that might be a dealbreaker for me. I look forward to more reviews to help guide my decision whether to buy.

 

[MR.A]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

fully agree

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

I just received my IFE1.

I can confirm that it uses a magnetic compass chip as encoder for the brightness ring.

The ring of my IFE1 can be easily turned with one finger. The angle of rotation is proportional to the current drive, not to the brightness. Therefore, the control of low intensity brightness is difficult - since it plays in the range where the detent start engaging. I hope that the next releases of IFE1 takes care of this "simple to solve" problem.

At the maximum brightness, the light draws 1 Amp from a primary 123 cell. A quick comparative ceiling bounce test with a calibrated light source indicates a max 150 lumen OTF.

The reflector used in the IFE1 is EXACTLY the same reflector used in the JetBeam RRT-0. The anodise of the IFE1 is of the same good quality of JetBeam. The knurling on the battery tube, with its four flats, indicates a good quality (two-pass) machining.

The clip is very good and useable, a rarity on this class of lights.

The tailswitch is of better quality than JetBeam, and definetively the best switch seen on non-SF lights.

The beam is not the best, as you may expect from an XP-G (slightly uncentered) in a smooth reflector. There is a non-uniform hotspot, a wide and bright corona, plus two rings and a lot of sidespill. This light is not a thrower, and I plan to use it for close to midrange illumination.

Regards to all

Anthony

 

[jhc37013]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

The reflector used in the IFE1 is EXACTLY the same reflector used in the JetBeam RRT-0.

Anthony

I just looked them over and your right they do use the exact same reflector, now if one of them would just make a textured reflector to buy separately I would buy one for each light to get rid of the slight donut I have with both my Infilux and RRT0.

 

[MR.A]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

i have texture reflector for RRT-0. i'm looking forward for more reviews in order to decide whether i buy the IFE1 or not.

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

i'm looking forward for more reviews in order to decide whether i buy the IFE1 or not.

The IFE1 has most of the attributes to be considered a top flashlight. The innovative use of magnetic sensors instead of a resistive trimpot is the single most important one; the adjustment ring will undergo prolonged use without any wear and tear.
The anodise and the clip are excellent.
The low battery voltage warning is a very welcome plus.
The boost-buck converter is a design finesse. It works down to 2 V, when the low voltage warning kicks in.

FIrst, the use of a smooth reflector with a XP-G is, in my opinion, a unwise choice. XP-Gs are not throwers like the XR-E R2s; a slight textured reflector would have produced a close to perfect beam - detracting very little to the throw of this light.
An AR coated lens would have been more than welcome, seen the price point of the light.

Second, there is the problem of poor management of low level brightness; this is a problem of adjustement which has been overlooked from Nitecore.

Third thing which may be improved, IMO: the mass of the light, if you compare it to the RRT-0, is noticeably lower. Therefore the IFE1, left on for a prolonged period of time, becomes uncomfortably hot to the touch. It has no thermal induced problems of any sort, from what I can see.
The low weight may not be a disvantage, since it makes it much lighter in the pocket, and this is a welcome feature for me.

There is another point that I dont' want to list as a problem. Nitecore claims compatibility with SureFire E series bodies; this is not true. The threading is compatible; not the bodies. The bezel of the IFE1 will screw on the body of an E1; but it will not work, because of the different height of the positive contact with respect to SF bezels, and because of the longer threaded area of Nitecore, and different gasket size. I can't think of why they did a compatibility job only halfway.

I believe the high price point of the IFE1 is for the innovation. The brightness adjustment ring is well tought, designed and implemented, less the imprecision in proximity of the OFF detent. The IFE1 is more than a mere concept light; IMO for it to have a wide audience, Nitecore should either perfect the three points I noted above, or price the light, as it is, more aggressively.

Hope this helps

Anthony

 

[The Coach]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

Second, there is the problem of poor management of low level brightness; this is a problem of adjustement which has been overlooked from Nitecore.

If this means the low is not as low as the Surefires (Titan and T1A), I agree 100%. The lowest on mine is nowhere near the lowest on either one. Other than that, this is a nice light for around the house chores. Plus, if I ever drop a paperclip, I can use the ring to pick it up. 😗

 

[MR.A]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

If this means the low is not as low as the Surefires (Titan and T1A), I agree 100%. The lowest on mine is nowhere near the lowest on either one. Other than that, this is a nice light for around the house chores. Plus, [SIZE="2"[COLOR="Red"]]if I ever drop a paperclip, I can use the ring to pick it up[/SIZE][/COLOR]. 😗

hahahaha, this is true from what i've seen from a german you tuber.

 

[The Coach]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

That's a true story too. The other night it was laying on my desk and when I grabbed it, it felt funny. I thought the ring was broken and when I turned on the lights, there were 3 paper clips stuck to it.

 

[Henk_Lu]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

I believe the high price point of the IFE1 is for the innovation. The brightness adjustment ring is well tought, designed and implemented, less the imprecision in proximity of the OFF detent. The IFE1 is more than a mere concept light; IMO for it to have a wide audience, Nitecore should either perfect the three points I noted above, or price the light, as it is, more aggressively.

Antony,

That's a great and very professionnal analysis! :thumbsup:

Let's hope Nitecore reads this thread ans listens to us, the volontary beta-testers of the light... :candle:

 

[Zendude]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

I just received my IFE1.

I can confirm that it uses a magnetic compass chip as encoder for the brightness ring.

I have no idea how that works.:shakehead

Do you feel it is a robust system? Can it handle some abuse(shocks from being dropped)?

Thanks for your thoughtful input.:thumbsup:

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

The magnetic chip is basically composed of two analog Hall sensors placed orthogonally. It is able to pick up the intensity, direction and versus of any magnetic vector.
You can see it is used in all digital compasses, including the compasses built-in sport wristwatches.
The chip in the IFE1 is able to detect the position of the brightness control ring - because the latter contains two miniature magnets.

The main difference between the IFE1 and the other magnetically controlled lights, like the SF U2, the Jetbeams RRT series the EagleTacs M2 series - is the fact that the latters have a digital Hall sensor which produces an output which is a 0 or a 1, depending if the magnet embedded in the control ring is in their proximity, or not.
The lights I mentioned have one digital Hall sensor for each of the brightness steps, while the IFE1 has only one chip.
The drawback of the design of the IFE1 is the fact that it is more sensible to stray magnetic fields, especially when the light is on low brightness settings, as you may note by nearing even a weak magnet to the ring.

It is a technological breaktrough in the world of flashlights; unlike the resistive trimpot used in the SF T1 or the mechanical contact switches used in the Fenix TA21, this linear setup is not subject to any wear and tear, just like the digital counterparts used in the step controlled lights.

Shall we see how this market develops,

Anthony

 

[jhc37013]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

As already discussed the reflector is the same as the RRT0 and now the Infilux has the exact same SS bezel ring as the RRT0 and previous JB models. Why are two different company using the same parts?

 

[kaichu dento]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

Well stated masked man! I was almost ready to buy one of these but the lack of a low will keep me waiting for the improved version.

 

[richardcpf]

Re: NiteCore Infilux IFE1 XPG-R5 Preview - Lots of Pictures

As already discussed the reflector is the same as the RRT0 and now the Infilux has the exact same SS bezel ring as the RRT0 and previous JB models. Why are two different company using the same parts?

Many chinese brands use generic parts or parts made by the same factory, like the case of ***fire flashlights, different brands, same model.

Personally I think these flashlight prices have gone way too high for what they deliver. For the price one could get a SF, but even if this one can outperform the lets say SF backup, it is just not on the same level. A fast mercedes is not better than a slower ferrari.