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

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Do you have a rough price estimate?
Will you sell drivers only?

Why are there so many people who care about alkalines? How many people here actually use/have alkaline AAA?
IMO worrying about eneloops would be more sensible. I'd think that an eneloop AAA would be able to deliver ~4A - 4.5A and hold over 1v, for six or seven minutes.

I'll add the estimate price to initial post, as mentioned, hoping to bring it in at under $65 for the first run.
Maybe I could sell some spare drivers any body wants any.

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Really interesting light. Would love a pocket rocket like this. A real fan. Price???

Thanks. I have added target price to first post.

[coolperl]

Apart from insane power output (that will be extremely hard to achieve), these two things do not match together: XM-L LED and reflector. This led is too big for such a tiny reflector, therefore this light will be plain flooder (with a lot of light loss on a small reflector). So, either give up the reflector and make it real pure flooder (like older Zebralights) or use XP-G LED that is easier to focus (and only a couple of percent less effixient than XM-L). Percieved brightness depends a lot on throw capabilities, so a properly focused 250lm light will appear much brighter than 500lm pure flooder.

Taking into account all the risks, restrictions, heat issues, trouble with circuit, wouldn't it be better to focus on the ~150lm level (which is still 2x higher than the popular manufacturers offerings)?

[pafalco]

Hi, if you are happy to ship to Italy, please count me as a sure buyer
Please mail me when you are ready to ship
(and obviously excuse my poor english....)

[IcantC]

This sounds great! Can't wait to see the final product. Will plan to get a couple!

FYI for people asking about using alkalines have clearly never run out of batteries/juice. Even if the light produces 3 lumens on aaa alkaline, that is fine. If you ever go hiking, travel to remote areas or foreign countries, you can't carry 10 backup rechargeables and might not have access to a charger. You can always find a aaa or aa somewhere.

[Gregozedobe]

I'm also interested (and subscribed to this thread).

[Acid87]

Might be worthwhile starting a buyers list that way people that have expressed interest. I would be annoyed to miss out on the first production run.
Steven

[flasherByNight]

Hope you factored in profit

[Craig K]

The torpedo tail looks cool.

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Hi, if you are happy to ship to Italy, please count me as a sure buyer
Please mail me when you are ready to ship
(and obviously excuse my poor english....)

Sure, I'd be happy to ship anywhere the postman will deliver

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Might be worthwhile starting a buyers list that way people that have expressed interest. I would be annoyed to miss out on the first production run.
Steven

Thanks Steve, thats a good idea.
I just mailed Greta to check on a few points.
I might start with just a simple mailing list where you can add your email address to stay updated,
and once my first prototype is ready with closer to final specs, I can start a sales thread.
Suggestion are most welcome.

tgwnn

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Hope you factored in profit

The profit said "move towards the light and you will be rewarded"

Seriously though, I appreciate your kind concern.
If I can get close to break-even on the first run, I'm more than happy.

I mentioned in an earlier post, my goal is to earn my stripes with this light.
I've been dreaming up designs for years and so this is the first of hopefully many,
going where no cpf'er has gone before

My profit, is the experience, the feedback & the satisfaction of creation,
and if everyone is happy, my hope is to offer some more great lights down the road,
perhaps even more mainstream as well.

For now, the valuable input everyone has been sharing with me,
in advance & with no reward promised, is worth far more than trying to make a few bucks on the first run.

Sincere Thanks,
tgwnn

[the_guy_with_no_name]

@Gregozedobe @Craig_K
Thank you!

[scottyhazzard]

I would really like one in neutral when you produce them. Subscribed & waiting...

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Apart from insane power output (that will be extremely hard to achieve), these two things do not match together: XM-L LED and reflector. This led is too big for such a tiny reflector, therefore this light will be plain flooder (with a lot of light loss on a small reflector). So, either give up the reflector and make it real pure flooder (like older Zebralights) or use XP-G LED that is easier to focus (and only a couple of percent less effixient than XM-L). Percieved brightness depends a lot on throw capabilities, so a properly focused 250lm light will appear much brighter than 500lm pure flooder.

Taking into account all the risks, restrictions, heat issues, trouble with circuit, wouldn't it be better to focus on the ~150lm level (which is still 2x higher than the popular manufacturers offerings)?

In terms of whats practical, you could well be right.
But for a lumeaniac, the obsession with more is not easy to satisfy.

It might be similar to buying a porsche capable of 220Miles p/h (350km p/h).
In reality you'll probably never, ever, ever, need all that power,
but the satisfaction of knowing that you can, brings a smile to your face,
every time you get into the car.

[Shooter21]

id be interested in an olive drab version

[scottyhazzard]

In terms of whats practical, you could well be right.
But for a lumeaniac, the obsession with more is not easy to satisfy.

It might be similar to buying a porsche capable of 220Miles p/h (350km p/h).
In reality you'll probably never, ever, ever, need all that power,
but the satisfaction of knowing that you can, brings a smile to your face,
every time you get into the car.

Copy that, guy_with_no_name.

[scottyhazzard]

Regarding flood and throw issue brought up by coolperl, I have a floody Zebra that is not matched by any other light for what it does and to me it is indispensable. Perhaps a TIR would help for those that want throw or the ability to change from a UCL to a TIR for preferences or different tasks. I am ok with either a more thowy or more floody light. I EDC my ZL 501 and a JetBeam, one for flood, one for punch/ throw. I could carry just one light and a spare optic! Oooh boy that would be cool.

[dmkatz76]

Wow!!! My keychain would very much like to have a new flashlight for Channukkah - count me in...

[Lighteous]

I'm in! Good luck with the prototype!

I also subscribed to this thread--and before now I was unaware that you can subscribe to specific threads.

[sprinkle]

I am definitely interested in this. And like others have mentioned, a neutral tint would make this even better!

[coyote]

seeing that i only purchase 1xAAA flashlights, i'm pumped.

can't wait for the first hands-on review!!!!

[leon2245]

Fully Tighten = OFF

Just be sure to let us know if that particular feature somehow reverses itself between now & production time cough DQG IIcough.

I wasn't in your feeler thread to lobby for a more moderate ~.3/3/30/300 distribution. Not that it would have mattered, because you seem to understand (& relish) the fact that 500l is beyond ridiculous! Something between 10 & 100 lumens especially would be have been nice for general use. Either way I have to fully support this project because I'm rooting for you to make it to round two: AA style. And by the way Toyota makes a nice car too, okay?


You see I ordered a torpedo from a guy with no name
Five hundred lumens is kind of insane
With the torpedo, it always tightens the same
Cause it ain't turning on in your pocket again
la la la la la la la...

[Cataract]

OH why do I keep reading new threads?

I really like the concept, even though 500 lumens is just ridiculous for a small light like that. I know I want one and also that more reasonnable 300 lumen neutral model that I'm sure you'll be forced to come up with. Lower output with alkalines sounds good, especially for people who might use it in emergencies

Will the clip be removable or very low profile??

Oh, and great interface by the way! I'm not crazy about going off/on with twisties, and the fully twisted = off par too: finally a twistie you don't need to double-check before pocketing.

[edit:] (starting to feel like a kid on a sugar rush)

OH! almost forgot: how about a TIR clip-on adapter for throw (if that's possible)... would solve the TIR issue and give us both flood AND throw with the same light!!!

[smokelaw1]

OH! almost forgot: how about a TIR clip-on adapter for throw (if that's possible)... would solve the TIR issue and give us both flood AND throw with the same light!!!

I don't THINK that's possible due to the required position of the TIR relative to the LED, but man....if it were, how cool would that be? Maybe even have it so it could slide in a pre-drilled storage compartment on the back of the light. Yeah......modular AAA 500 lumen light with alk usabilty, off to tighten, tailstanding.....ohhhhhh my........

[brembo]

If the tighten to off feature happens you can put me down for 2 units right now. Ya know, those fins on the tail are pretty nicely sized for a 1.5 x 5mm trit (hint hint).

*edit*

Looking again, with glasses on, I see that the fins are too small. Ignore the trit lust, OR make em bigger. Still jazzed about the tighten to off feature tho.

[papageorgio]

Great poem Leon! If we all start buying torpedos from a guy with no name, we might all get put on some kind of list! For those folks outside of the US, you might want to remove the word "torpedo" from the invoice for the sake of customs.

[siuba]

if $65~ i can two! thank you

[brembo]

Great poem Leon! If we all start buying torpedos from a guy with no name, we might all get put on some kind of list! For those folks outside of the US, you might want to remove the word "torpedo" from the invoice for the sake of customs.

Yeah, good point. "Torpedo with tritium" on customs papers might twist a few tails.

[the_guy_with_no_name]

seeing that i only purchase 1xAAA flashlights, i'm pumped.

can't wait for the first hands-on review!!!!

Thanks. I can't wait for the first prototype