• You must be a Supporting Member to participate in the Candle Power Forums Marketplace.

    You can become a Supporting Member.

The Q8 / Q6 A quality SRK style special flashlight

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
Old fashioned quality SRK style flashlight groupbuy


Sample of Djozz:

34483399931_a0cb9bab10_b.jpg
first look at first produced Q8
The first prototype is ready.
And it is send to Tom for a good check!
Here are some pictures:

.

.

.

.

.




OK time for a little update
We cannot show the battery tube and tail since that is Thorfire design.
Cross section

At last, the outside of the head is almost good. Check the minor problem with the button not being integrated looking from the side.
531kqr.jpg

.
Some details showing a driver retainer ring, the LEDboard.
27zdget.jpg

NOTE: the outer edges on for example the fins (left) now nice and smoothly rounded.

Yesterday the head of engineering department was very responsive.
They are going to correct the button.
Also the bezel was corrected closer to the result of the poll (though we will ask for a flatter one)

.
.
Then, DO NOT BE STARTLED BY THIS PIC, read the text below it first
wink.png


It startled me, that is for sure.
But Daniel was responsive so we could email directly and explain why copper is needed and finally got this reaction:
Quote:
OK,We will use the best LED copper base plate​
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

OK the SRK is a light that comes up very often, and well when it comes up there always are people saying how poorly they are made nowadays.
So lets force out a good one like they used to be, but with modern features.

First rough sketch of the head send to Thorfire.

Sorry I do not have high skills in graphic design and software so it is made in Kolourpaint.






Example of a SRK
35bdzwi.jpg


With the wide selection of modes this will also make an exellent camping lanterns when used with a diffuser (depicted a $8.50 camera flash difuser)
2cntllj.jpg

4 cells in parallel and LEDs with a 3535 footprint are non negotiable at this time.
All who want something else have to do modding of this light to achieve it.
The light will be worthy of modding and wherever possible the most mod friendly choice shall be made.

The Q-team
djozz .......... LED tester, general info
Tom E ........ Software and driver design
Pilotdog68 . Driverdesign
MRsDNF ... General info, communiction during China office hours
The Miller .. General info, communication

Thorfire wants to work with us!
Barry (Thorfire) is enthusiastic and willing to work with us.

Neal is enthusiastic and willing to work with us.
The current plan is to develop the light with Thorfire and sales and distribution are handled by Banggood.
Q8 BLF Special SRK inspired flashlight
.
.

………….. specs ……………….. notes
BLF Q8
………….. Marking/logo "BLF Q8" for the groupbuy, manufacturer can choose own marking/logo afterwards
.
.
Pricing
………….. $40 .. including shipping …. manufacturer can decide own pricing afterwards
.
.
Emitters
………….. 4 pieces …. 3535 footprint for max versatility (Nichias 219Cs or XPL HIs can be reflowed if wanted)
.
………….. Cree XPL NW……. Yes for now it is decided the domed XPL NW for max lumens and flood (estimated at 4000 lumens minimum)
.
………….. LEDs mounted on DTP stars like Noctigon
.
.
Internals
………….. Integrated LED shelf …. for good thermal dissipation at least 4mm thick
.
………….. 20 AWG Wires ………… Wires to led not through center of integrated shelf but the sides of it
.
………….. Driver retainer ring
.
………….. Double springs with the smaller being Phosphor Bronze springs
.
………….. Threads square or trapeziod (not triangular) for battery tube
.
………….. Anodised threads part battery tube that screws into the head for lock out
.
………….. Tailap can be unscrewed to access the pcb connecting the – side of the cells
.
………….. Threads square or trapeziod (not triangular) for tail cap
.
………….. Threads bezel can be anything manufacturer chooses
.
………….. Electronic side switch
.
………….. Mounting for tripod
………………….. mounting nut hole not drilled though the whole body to ensure waterproofing placed opposite of the button
.
.
Optics
………….. Aluminium reflector ……. same top sizes as the older SRK reflectors
.
………….. Glass lens ……………. 2mm thick
.
.
Protective
………….. O-ring bezel ………. quality thus thick and perfect fit
.
………….. O-ring battery tube … quality thus thick and perfect fit
.
………….. O-ring tail cap ……. quality thus thick and perfect fit
.
………….. Aliminum alloy …….. 6061-T6
.
………….. Type II anodisation…not HA3 for the groupbuy
.
………….. Waterproof side switch
.
………….. Stainless steel bezel
.
………….. Light comes with spare o-rings in all the sizes used
.
.
Software
………….. Tom E Narsil firmware
………….. Several modes and blink modes
………….. User configurable
………….. Fixed modes and ramping
………….. Voltage check
………….. Low voltage cut off
………….. lock out
.
.
Driver design
………….. Tom E Electronic switch driver for Narsil firmware
………….. Very low parasitic drain
………….. Able to run 1,2,3 and/or 4 button top 18650 cell(s)
.
……. MCU …. Atmel ATTINY85V-10SH or ATTINY85-20SU package is important: 8S2
.
……. FET …. Manu: Vishay Siliconix, Manu PN: SIR800DP-T1-GE3, Digikey PN: SIR800DP-T1-GE3CT-ND
…………………… form factor: PPAK SO-8
.
……. Resistor ….. 0805 SMD 47K OHM 1% 1/8W
.
……. Resistor ….. 0805 SMD 220K OHM 1% 1/8W
.
……. Resistor ….. 0805 SMD 12K OHM 1% 1/8W
.
……. Diode …….. Schottky, 10v 570 kA SOD323 Manu PN: ZLLS410TA, Digi-Key PN: ZLLS410CT-ND
.
……. Capacitor…. 0805 Ceramic, 12uF 16V X7R
……………………………….. If possible 12 uF or higher instead of 10 uF — may be required
.
……. 7135 chip …. 7135 350 mA 7135 amp regulator used for low modes
.
.
Quality
……………. Samples 100% as agreed and specified
.
……………. Final production lights 100% as agreed, specified and samples
.
……………. Video of drop test shipment packaging made available before lights available for sale.
…………………. This video shows at least 10 drops of the light in packaging from at least 1 meter high
…………………. falling in different angles, the 8 corners, bottom and side hitting the ground first

.
…………….All lights tested before shipping to spot and fix problems and avoid DOA.
.
.
Driver Design Notes
…..The 47K and 220K resistors are the voltage divider, where the 220K is R1, the 47K is R2
…..The 12K resistor is a FET gate resistor (on the trace from the MCU I/O pin to the FTE Gate,
……connected to ground.)
…..Diode is for reverse polarity protection
…..The SIR800DP FET is expensive, but can easily handle the high amps we get in driving 4 parallel LED's
…….from 4 parallel cells, without any degradation or heat. It's an extraordinary performing FET for it's size
.
.
.
Here goes new info on the version 1 of the driver we aim for.
Now isn't this a thing of beauty?

Components:
Layout on board
Driver%20parts%201%20-%20800_zpsmdh3o8su.jpg

Easier to read markings
Driver%20parts%202%20-%20800_zpsdh2xdige.jpg

Board design by PD68
fpWBAEP.png

502fad632526a9f3558a6e1c61493f47.png

be6c1f98518f24eb9481f572186d4654.png

.
.
.

We aim for at least 500 interested and Thorfire sees this as absolute minimum.
Please discuss things and if you want to paticipate or just know you want one, say so ;)


The CPF interest list:

1 jabe 1
2 trouthead
3 msim
4 TheShadowGuy
5 glockboy
6 Offgridled
7 bladesmith3
8 SG Hall
9 Bdm82
10 Offgridled
11 Tejasandre
12 Wendee
13 Smegheaaad
14 KingSmono
15 96transam
16 Need a Light?
17 acruzangels
18 Smegheaaad
19 Majestic
20 Trouthead
21 GLOCKshooter
22 brighterthanthesun
23 brighterthanthesun
24 jbraman
25 MAD777

updated till post 127


List on BLF: 1324
Total 1349!


Change list from original design ideas so you guys can see the evolution of the project so far and have an idea what is discussed already, feel fre to bring up everything you want though, I will do my best to address all you write.
Aluminium or copper pill/led shelf instead of brass
Integrated LED shelf instead of screw in copper pill/led shelf
Lockout via side switch instead of adding a new to b designed tail switch
Added low voltage cut off
Added AR coated lens
Removed AR coated lens because of tint shift.
Added DTP to stars.
Removed Quality lanyard
Added Cree XPL HI as possible LEDs
Added Nut to attach tripod negotiable
Added charging system like BD0x negotiable
12 April Refreshed specs and features, easier to read, corrected some spelling errors
Added Reflector height, diameter and support rim as the current SRK reflectors
Added Head internals support rim of the reflector
This ensures compability with the SRK reflectors so owners can mod the Q8 to use from 3 up to 10 emitters with a SRK reflector that is widely avalable.
Added Parallel max 4 cell configuration (to use 1, 2, 3 and/or 4 cells)
Added Able to take the largest of protected button top 18650 cells
Changed spring configuration to Double springs with the smaller being a Phosphor Bronze spring
Added 18 AWG Wires
Added Wires to led not through center of integrated shelf but the sides of it
Changed specslist to look more like a spreadsheet, hopefully this reads easier
Changed 20 AWG wires instead of 18, this should be thick enough
Added Light comes with spare o-rings in all the sizes used.
Changed drops from 2 meter to 1 meter
Added about droptest falling in different angles, the 8 corners, bottom and side hitting the ground first
Changed LEDs chosen emitter XPL Neutral white
Added Pilotdog68 driver design to team.
 
Last edited:

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
Reserved


It must be said that we do not gain financially from this light and the price is set pretty low for the groupbuy so even manufacturer will not be making a lot of money but can keep on selling it with own logo and pricing afterwards.

We the Q-team have looked carefully at other groupbuys and the drama some have caused.
AFAIK this is the first time a set of clear quality control aspects has been incorporated in the specs.
We strive to have everything as clear and complete as possible and we hope this can truly be a flashlight enthusiasts dream and global teamwork so feel more then free to point out missed/forgotten elements or personal preferences and ideas.
 
Last edited:

jabe1

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 25, 2008
Messages
3,091
Location
Cleveland,Oh
A picture might be of some help... Many may not know what a SRK style light is.

I would describe it as a Soda can style light. At $40, I'm in.

see if you can get a special including some decent cells too.
 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
Cool!
Will update OP later
And thanks for the tip will also add a srk pic, thanks!
 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
A picture might be of some help... Many may not know what a SRK style light is.

I would describe it as a Soda can style light. At $40, I'm in.

see if you can get a special including some decent cells too.

It will be able to take button top cells.
We try to focus on the ight itself.
Experiences have proven the cells from Thorfire are good so we will propose a deal including cells, thanks for the suggestion!
 
Last edited:

teacher

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
127
Location
NE/SW Alabama
The Miller, I am pleased to already be a part of this Group Buy .

I appreciate the clarity of your original post and the ease at which it is understood.

I also appreciate your clear and open communication.

Thank you sir! :thanks: .. :thumbsup:
 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
Thanks we do our best!

And jabe1, the question about cells is been relayed to Thorfire. Our contact is on a trip to the factory to discuss designs and plans for the Q8 among other things
So we expect some news in little over a week with input from top management and engineers!
 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
OP updated with
First rough sketch of the head send to Thorfire.



Sorry I do not have high skills in graphic design and software so it is made in Kolourpaint.




 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
After feedback we are now at V4!
If no major changes happen today this will be send in aout 12 hours from now.

313qhdf.jpg



Not send to Thorfire yet, so please comment all you want!
Lowered locations switch and tripod mount
deeper tripod mount
more alu added for better heat transfer to fins
driver retainer ring threading more accurate
clearer tripod mounting
Flat parts on fins and head where the switch and tripod mount is
better anti rol
merged a few fins to accomodate switch and tripod nut better



First driver prototype produced!
I qouto Tom E here:
All done after the hot air gun, with shiny solder:
P1030772_zps2o4bmwen.jpg


Edit/Update:
It Lives!! Ramping Nirvana! All seems to work so far, on the bench at least:
P1030773_zps1jvxfaha.jpg

P1030774_zpszohzmciz.jpg

Dang that went smooth. It doesn't always work this way...
smiley-cool.gif
 
Last edited:

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
Well, I just keep on updating and hope some people enjoy it a little bit ;)

We now have a poll about bezel designs on BLF
much can be said
all are in agreement that is should be low not to affect the beam
And all are thinking that whatever is chosen a non symmetrical design is key to avoid misalignments issues due to it always misaligning ;)

In the end there are a couple of designs
flat (clean looking, yet when placed on head no light escapes)
a tuned down version of the traditional SRK bezel with 3 flat cut outs
flat with 3 very small cut outs to let a little bit of light escape when placed on the head
flat with 3 larger cut outs (almost like an ashtray)
a waving edge with 7 very shallow waves

Also driver desing is being updated behind the ccreens
This to ake it more mod friendly, a lof of highly skilled BLFers are in the loop to gve advice via PM and it is looking good, hope to be able to give details later.

The basc shelf layout is concluded today, from DTP stars held in place with own screws we choose to present Thorfire with a single center hole in the shelf where the reflector is screwed into place.
Here is the idea:

V2




PLEASE feel free to comment, ask questions, contribute, warn etc etc.
It is a blast to get input from many people!
 

scout24

Flashaholic
Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
8,869
Location
Penn's Woods
By my reading, this does not meet CPF Groupbuy policies. I'm waiting for clarification. Thread closed for now.

Edit-Nevermind, carry on...
 
Last edited:

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
Ah man, you made me happy (YAY at last another CPFer interested, I was wondering why this is not taking off here, and comforted myself that other special groupbuys also not receive a lot of attention judging by the stats in oveview.)
The shock, closed after communicating with a mod about it before opening the thread!?!
The relief, not closed :)
interesting how two little lines of text can have this effect :)

Yes I think it does meet standards, I am keeping a list here, people on the list will receive details on ordering here.
No external links.
And if people were to ask questions or express wishes they will be answered and/or taken into account and followed up.

It just seems people here are not so interested in a completely new light build from scratch with all having the possibility to add to the design.

Personally I think this is a unique project.
Groupbuys are normally either some tweaks of an existing light, or a copy of something already around (such as the Cometa, all known parts in a copy of a known host)
or work is done behind the screens and presented as a almost finished light (such as the Kronos X5/X6 set (that btw also was based on excisting design))

We offer the flashlight community as a whole the unique possibilty to actually add to all aspects of design.
Please understand my posting it here is not to fill up the list, AFAIK the list we have and had when I started this thread here on CPF is longer then any groupbuy in the stage without a prototype/sample to show.
We are more then confident the minimum amount will be reached with ease.
I could not find a groupbuy with the sheer amount of people who are interested as in our Q8 in this early stage.
I could not find a groupbuy that takes every input serious and where the team is working really hard to get all wishes in the light.

The reason I started this thread was that I wanted people here to
1 be able to get a Q8 if they want
and
2 give CPF the chance to jump in so it really would be a light driven by the flashlight community as a whole, regardless of online homebase of the flashoholic ;)

it is taking a lot of time and work so far.
And if there would have been input from CPF and the question if CPF could be added to the name we could have discussed that (though I probably would have suggested FE instead of BLF/CPF (Flashlight Enthousiasts) Q8)
But to be honest there is no way BLF is going to be removed now with al the overwhelming response, help, input and enthousiasme we received on BLF.

We as Q-team are open to all suggestions yet as with the BLF thing above we communicate clearly and honest. If after debat and/or polls a decision has been made it is made and so there is a moment where input could be too late.
And to be fair I do not feel like all the work of setting up polls here would be appreciated nor worth it.
Yet I stand by my word so here are the POLL options for the bezel.
the CPF responses here (if any) will be added to the poll results

We will present the top 2 to Thorfire
And thanks to Thijsco we can present these all in similar manner (special credits for Lazy-R-us who made a metal looking wave bezel first )
1 I do not care about the Q8, do not want it, but I do like to vote in polls!
2 cut outs most like the SRKs have:

3 flat no light escaping head down on a real flat surface

4 flat with very small cuts to let light escape when placed head down on a flat surface

5 flat with cut outs to let light escape when placed head down on a flat surface

6 wave

7 I really do not care what bezel is put on there



 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
I'd like one.
OP updated!


After a lot of busy PMs Pilotdog68 has created V2 of the driverboard.
I'll leave the V1 in the OP for now so it is easy to compare the two. In a couple of days the V1 pics are going to be replaced by the V2 version.
Here goes:






 
Last edited:

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
And Tom has made it possible to see the rampng of driver in action

Tom E wrote:
Just posted a short video on showing the ramping mode in action on a 4X LED Securitylng SRK clone I'm using for testing. It is running with the Q8 V1 board, fake LED's swapped with decent XM-L2 U2 3C's but using the stock MCPCB, springs bypassed, lens swapped with a UCLp I believe.

BLF Q8 ramping demo shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwyWLwyhBgQ(link is external)



And this is just 1 mode option next to the several mode spacing groups users can select
VERY SWEET!!!!
Also this is V1 of the Q8 Narsil driver.
Th parts for V2 are about to be ordered and V2 is more mod frendly and even though V1 has no issues and works like a charm V2 is redesigned having an even higher level of stability in mind.
 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
In the spirit of the project for creatng this new light it now time for the name.
The idea is that all aspects that can be discussed will be discussed and all input is taken as seriously as possible.

Not the latest subject is the name.
Should it be Q8 or Q6?
And overwhelming Q8
no poll needed.
 
Last edited:

msim

Enlightened
Joined
Jul 6, 2012
Messages
406
Location
Seattle, WA
Thanks for keeping us updated about this project here! I stop by BLF occasionally but don't post much.
 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
You're welcome, thank you for letting me know it is being read here ;)

it is tail pcb now:

Ah yes
We had a similar process as we had with the head design
Djozz kicked it off with some wicked (in this case hand drawn) sketches and after some debating I did a nasty rough sketch in kolourpaint.
PD68 has not found the time to translate that to board design and well that seems like a very good thing because we can discuss it here and adapt if needed so changes will not cost him extra time.
Of course we have no idea if Thorfire will actually use these designs exactly but it is good to have them and so give me some time to upload and share the design we have so far for all to check.


I really like the A and B points and text explaining.
It does not add costs and might be not needed, I mean somebody who tarts modding will already know what to disconnect, but no extra costs and more mod friendly look made me make it anyway.

and with the traces cut at the A and B points to clarify them:


Right now the topic of adding fusible traces as security mearues is heavy discussed
We abandoned it, too great of a chance they do not work OR add resistance.
But it s back on the agenda and the person who really has it in his head is asked to do some calculations on how they should be designed (thickness, length) or to quote Djozz on it:

[FONT=Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]@sharpie and emarkd: We have discussed the fusible trace idea but stopped where we could not decide on how narrow and long they should be, what effect on the performance it would give (added resistance/lowered current in the flashlight), and if it would work at all. Could one of you work out what the shape and dimensions of useful fusible traces in the tailboard should be (4 in total, one per cell, blowing at say 20A), and (because I'm lazy enough to ask instead of calculate it myself) what the added resistance would be?[/FONT]
 

The Miller

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 8, 2016
Messages
75
OP updated with

OK time for a little update
We cannot show the battery tube and tail since that is Thorfire design.
Cross section

At last, the outside of the head is almost good. Check the minor problem with the button not being integrated looking from the side.
531kqr.jpg

.
Some details showing a driver retainer ring, the LEDboard.
27zdget.jpg

NOTE: the outer edges on for example the fins (left) now nice and smoothly rounded.

Yesterday the head of engineering department was very responsive.
They are going to correct the button.
Also the bezel was corrected closer to the result of the poll (though we will ask for a flatter one)

.
.
Then, DO NOT BE STARTLED BY THIS PIC, read the text below it first
wink.png


It startled me, that is for sure.
But Daniel was responsive so we could email directly and explain why copper is needed and finally got this reaction:

Quote:
OK,We will use the best LED copper base plate​
.
.
.
---------------------


Today thes bezel pic and pic below were send to Thorfire


29xgi8z.jpg




BLF list now at 490
493 totalling, NICE!


 
Top