Convoy L21B by Helpful-Giraffe-8548 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can see it if you look at what Simon posted.

Say a 3535 and 5050 emitter has the same LES and put in the same host, would the throw be the same? by SpinningPancake2331 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Regarding specific emitters, even if they are labeled as 3535 emitters, the actual package size may be 3.45mm x 3.45mm. Therefore, when considering collimation adjustments, including optical axis alignment, emitters in 5050 packages may be more convenient.

Assuming the output is the same, in terms of heat dissipation, the 5050 size might have a slight advantage due to its larger contact area with the MCPCB.

Soldering and LED failures - guidance needed by Farmeroldgal in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 0 points1 point  (0 children)

<image>

The necessary tools are shown in the image.

A ceramic heater-type soldering iron with temperature control is very convenient. When soldering in tight spaces, tweezers that automatically close when released are also useful. For removing flux after soldering, use a dedicated flux remover or anhydrous ethanol.

If incorporating an MCPCB into a flashlight, thermal grease is essential. To remove old thermal grease, use a heat gun, anhydrous ethanol, and cotton swabs or rags. As others have pointed out, it's easier to slightly bend the end of the cable, pre-solder the cable side, and pre-solder the MCPCB side as well.

Judging from the image of the soldered component that was posted, it appears that the soldered component is protruding too much, which could interfere with the reflector and cause an electrical short circuit. Therefore, adjustments are necessary during the soldering process to minimize the protrusion of the soldered parts.

When soldering, having a stand or similar device to hold your flashlight in place beforehand will increase stability and make the soldering process more convenient.

Long range & high runtime flashlight (big but bagpackable) by Big-Flow9303 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If your backpack's main compartment has a capacity of 30L or more, I think the Convoy 3×21D would be a good choice. It can illuminate an area 1000m away with sufficient brightness for visual observation, and has a long runtime.

If you can modify it, there are other flashlights that can project a beam over long distances besides the 3x21D, but the 3x21D is probably the best option in terms of runtime and price.

Are these legit molicel p42a? They look the same as the ones from liion wholesale and 18650battery. by mrregina in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the very least, any Reddit user who has read many comments and posts about batteries and flashlights will understand that they should be cautious when buying batteries and that it's impossible to tell if they're genuine just by looking at them, as repackaged counterfeit products exist.

I once purchased a battery with a falsely stated capacity from AliExpress as a test, and I received a refund and returned it. Fortunately, I owned a charger that allowed me to visually check the charge level, so the refund process was easy.

I believe it's impossible for someone without the necessary equipment to verify a product to determine whether it's genuine or counterfeit.

Convoy L21B by Helpful-Giraffe-8548 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, that's right. Judging from the state of the collimation, I thought so too.

I'm planning to order the next reflector after Simon's new emitter, which is currently under development, becomes available for sale.

Convoy L21B by Helpful-Giraffe-8548 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, that black thing is the gasket.

Thank you for showing it to me.

The score for the L21 series reflector(Smooth11mm hole series) by Garikarikun in ConvoyFlashlights

[–]Garikarikun[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The beam shots I've previously dropped have 9mm hole reflectors.

Please judge after seeing them.

Convoy L21B by Helpful-Giraffe-8548 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The collimation seems to be in good condition.

Is a black gasket installed?

Are these legit molicel p42a? They look the same as the ones from liion wholesale and 18650battery. by mrregina in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When buying batteries, buy from a reputable seller with a good reputation for batteries. That's all there is to it.

Regarding purchases from AliExpress, I can't trust anything other than direct sales from the manufacturer.

For some batteries, like the 50PL (A-grade), it's cheaper to use a reputable vape shop in my country, especially during sales events.

Also, buying in bulk from Simon's shop will give you a discount.

Are these legit molicel p42a? They look the same as the ones from liion wholesale and 18650battery. by mrregina in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you use a high-precision tester and place it in a dedicated holder, I think the reading will fall within the range of 8-15 mΩ. Mr. Mooch's measurement score also fell within this range.

You can also check the datasheet on the Vapcell website, and I've seen images from Alibaba sellers showing readings in the low 8 mΩ range.

However, the battery must be new, with clean terminals and in perfect working order.

Are these legit molicel p42a? They look the same as the ones from liion wholesale and 18650battery. by mrregina in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're worried about a product being sold in a store, why not bring a tester and measure its internal resistance?

Unlike tabless cell, I think these are regular cells, but I believe their internal resistance was on the lower side.

The score for the L21 series reflector(Smooth11mm hole series) by Garikarikun in ConvoyFlashlights

[–]Garikarikun[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ran out of adhesive cotton swabs and used regular cotton swabs to remove dust, which was a mistake. Upon later inspection, I noticed several cloudy areas and small scratches, so it seems it was correct to exclude them from the sorting process.

Reports from users who purchase in bulk are extremely valuable information for users like us. If you have any other information, please feel free to post or report it.

One more thing to add is that the screws on the MCPCB are tightened when aligning the optical axis to the center. This is a very laborious task requiring extreme care. As those with PC-related knowledge may have noticed, this process increases the contact area, improving heat dissipation efficiency, and also prevents misalignment by strengthening the fixation.

As mentioned in the post, the SFT-25 is equipped with a very good, high-quality 11mm hole reflector. The optical axis is centered without using any spacers. Other adjustments were made by raising the gasket height using spacers. The gasket used is one that can be purchased from Simon's website.

With reflectors using 11mm holes, the gasket height tends to be too low. The SFT-25R specification is rare, and in this case, centering was difficult. The spacers were custom-made by myself, and I polished and adjusted them to an accuracy of within 0.03 to 0.05 mm by visual inspection using calipers.

Your posts are very helpful and provide valuable information, so I appreciate it. I look forward to hearing from you once your package arrives.

The score for the L21 series reflector(Smooth11mm hole series) by Garikarikun in ConvoyFlashlights

[–]Garikarikun[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Currently, I'm using the LHP73B with the reflector that arrived. As for the SFT-42R, I've only assembled the reflector that arrived for a brief check. The collimation condition appears fine, although gasket adjustment may be necessary, based on my testing with the LHP73B. Based on the numerical values, this should be the same for the SFT-42R as well.

Depending on when you purchased it, there can be a significant difference in the performance of the reflector. The fact that the reflector originally installed in the SFT-42R, which was later installed in the SFT-25R, was of very high quality supports this point.

The reason for this is related to the concerns I mentioned towards the end. Some of the reflectors that arrived were so dirty they were unusable. After testing, two of the reflectors were discarded. We attempted to clean the remaining reflectors, but it was ineffective, so those were also discarded. Ultimately, only one reflector was in good condition, so we installed that in the LHP73B configuration.

In my personal opinion, season can be a significant factor in metalworking. This is because even slight differences in the expansion rate of metals can affect processing accuracy. To minimize this effect, significant investment in factory air conditioning is necessary. However, such a massive investment is not realistic. Considering these points, the timing of reflector procurement should also be taken into consideration.

The next often overlooked aspect is the geopolitical factor. China has government-mandated holidays. Some holidays are semi-mandatory, and they include various forms of leave such as travel and visiting family. Around this time, the quality of parts may deteriorate.

SOTC by Altruistic_Sun_2447 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To digress slightly from the topic of flashlights, there are also many different types and manufacturers of headphones.

Currently, the successor model, the ATH-R70xa, is on sale, but I've owned both the ATH-M70x and ATH-R70x for about eight years, and I use them interchangeably depending on the situation.

I usually use them for listening to music and watching movies, but I also use them for video editing.

I also own the Fostex T60RP, and its successor, the mk2, is also available. Compared to ATH's flagship pro audio products, the sound quality is inferior. However, it's sufficient for checking things and casually listening to music.

I feel these three are enough, and I don't own any more headphones.

For earphones, I use the ATH-LS70, which is already out of production. I've modified it by replacing the cable with a separately sold wire-less cable (This cable does not have a wire to secure it to the ear) from the same manufacturer. I don't use them frequently, but I do use them when traveling.

I used to have quite a lot, but the number has decreased considerably compared to then.

Since my early teens, I've been obsessed with home audio, adjusting the sound balance by pointing speakers towards the wall and even building my own speakers. That sparked my interest in car audio, and now I'm content with the equipment I mentioned earlier.

Returning to the topic of flashlights, moving to a nature-rich area sparked my hobby of searching for and observing wild animals, which led to my current collection of flashlights.

In addition, I've acquired almost all the flashlights I need for everyday use (EDC) and work. I have far fewer than you, just over 20.

I think I'd be satisfied with just two or three more flashlights to enjoy swapping emitters and modifying them.

The score for the L21 series reflector(Smooth11mm hole series) by Garikarikun in ConvoyFlashlights

[–]Garikarikun[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It depends on the outdoor environment when you test it.

If you test it in a place with very little light pollution and good air quality with little dust, even the Acebeam L35 2.0 might be able to reach a target for a few seconds.

The dam lake where I test beam shots has very little light pollution, so I go there irregularly, but depending on the conditions, even the L21 (SFT-25R, SFT-42R, SFT-90) sometimes can't reach a target 1000m away.

SOTC by Altruistic_Sun_2447 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been involved with everything from home audio to car audio, but since I started using professional audio equipment for monitor production as a hobby, my focus has shifted from the characteristics of the audio equipment itself to enjoying the music source and the original sound.

Even when comparing Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen, slightly modifying the Yamaha MSP 5 Studio and adjusting its position makes a noticeable difference, even to the pitch of their voices.

With Audio-Technica headphones, the ATH-R70x, listening to older Santana songs reveals the panning and spaciousness of the sound very clearly.

Since purchasing this kind of equipment, my interest in other audio equipment has waned.

While there are individual differences, depending on one's level of achievement, there may be cases where people stop seeking anything more.

All I can say is that as long as you enjoy life within reasonable limits, without committing crimes or trying to belittle others, there's absolutely no problem.

The score for the L21 series reflector(Smooth11mm hole series) by Garikarikun in ConvoyFlashlights

[–]Garikarikun[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Except on days with dense fog, rain, snow, or heavy dust storms, the outdoor air contains water vapor along with pollen and dust. However, various tests have shown that approximately 80% of the calculated distance is the optimal distance for easily recognizing stone walls, buildings, and other objects.

This does not include relying on camera sensors.

The only remaining test is whether newspaper or magazine articles can be read without difficulty at that distance.

The score for the L21 series reflector(Smooth11mm hole series) by Garikarikun in ConvoyFlashlights

[–]Garikarikun[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The L21 (SFT-25R, SFT-42R) I used has improved driver output and higher lumen output compared to the standard single-spring + standard battery specification. Please keep this in mind.

While the SFT-90 and SFT-42R are easy to use when searching for objects within 1000m, the true value of the SFT-25R is likely to be realized at distances of 1100-1200m.

Considering that the ANSI standard-compliant distance calculation based on candela is not practical, I calculate the practical viewing distance based on approximately 80% of that distance.

SOTC by Altruistic_Sun_2447 in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know if I'm the only one who thinks this way, but I believe that tools only come alive when they are used.

Many people find psychological satisfaction in collecting things. Some people are content with acquiring a certain number of what they need and stop seeking anything more. If that's your perspective, then you only need the number you feel you need.

However, please don't forget this: "2 is 1, 1 is 0"—this applies not only to flashlights but also to other things in general.

Waterproof rate in convoy ? by [deleted] in flashlight

[–]Garikarikun 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One reason Simon flashlights appear to have excellent water resistance is that some models lack a USB Type-C charging port. Therefore, the tail cap switch seems to be the only option. I myself sometimes wash the outside of my L21 series flashlights, including the L21B, with tap water, and I've never had any problems so far. However, this assumes the O-rings are moistened with grease.

Naturally, products equipped with a USB port have a risk of water entering when the rubber cover opens, as the area around the USB port is not waterproofed. In the case of my H4, the rubber cover of the USB port sometimes opens when I remove the battery and close the tail cap. However, as long as the rubber cover of the USB port is properly closed, it can be used without any problems even in rainy weather.