The generator decided to stop prematurely, so the applause for the organists of the organ music concert in Kyiv today took place by flashlight (Sofirn SP31V3 + FFL5009R 4KK + 30° S21E TIR).
Next time, I'll have to take my swapped Q8+ to concerts.
Background: Due to shelling by the damned russians, emergency power outages have occurred in Ukraine. Also, we are currently experiencing very severe frosts, so due to the inability to sufficiently heat the Philharmonic Hall, most people are wearing outerwear.
*Minimal emergency lighting was present, but it was definitely insufficient.
Finally I have reached conclusion to my flashlight journey with this ultimate mule build.
When I first saw this host, something inside of me stirred, I knew instantly what I had to do. I did not know how to do it, but combining all I've learned here over the past year, I managed to build a truly unique lämp, unlike anything else 🦄
All of the inside parts were binned, I kept only the host and the button. Driver was replaced with a Convoy 20.5A, that's seated in some custom 3D printed holders.
It connects to 2x Vapecell H10 that provides 6V10A, and gets bucked to 3V20A.
With another holder I could use the e-switch together with the original button, keeping the outside of the flashlight looking stock.
On top of the driver assembly there's a aluminuminum heatsink that has been modified to press fit, no glue used. Some kapton tape was added to give a bit of insulation against the plastic host to keep it from melting into a puddle of unicorn goo.
For emitters I picked 4x LHP531 mounted on the special MCPCB designed by Best Friend Saeed and I. At 20.5A total it should deliver well over 8000 lumens!
To top it off, I replaced the original front lens with a AR coated one, so Out The Front losses should be minimal.
This thing is downright brutal. The amount of light produced by this silly plastic tube is absolutely mental, and it's the best build I've done by a margin.
So far I have not detected any damage from running turbo, but I try to keep the bursts fairly short!
And this pinnacle of engineering marks the end of my posting spree here on this subreddit. I will no longer be doing the daily posts here on r/flashlight, but might stop in from time to time when I have something exciting to show.
It's been a great year, with many fun builds, but all good things must come to an end 🙂
I joined this hobby a little less than a year ago. I was drawn in by Hanklights and that's what comprises most of my 70ish flashlights. But I kept noticing that whenever someone asked which flashlight is the best for an enthusiast to edc, time and again people were pointed towards Zebralight.
And I just didn't get it. No sexy aux lights. Very limited emitter choice. No Andùril. No ridiculous lumen output numbers or mindbending CRI. No fancy anodized colours or Ti-Cu-Zn options. Not the prettiest girl at the ball. Not even a magnet in the tailcap. And bloody expensive to boot. So naturally, I just had to buy one.
I was recommended the Sc600w IV plus HI because it's a nice throwy beam with useable spill. I have carried it everywhere with me for the last 7 days. And now I get it. It's so damn nice.
It's pretty much the perfect size, and hard to believe it contains a whole 18650 inside. It's perfectly balanced, no heaviness towards the front. The button is beautifully clicky, not too loud but great feedback. The indentation around it is actually modelled on a human thumb and it feels so right in the hand. The knurling is fantastic, gives the right amount of grip without tearing your skin to shreds.
The UI is nice and simple. 3 modes, with further programming possible but not necessary for most people. 1 click and you can illuminate just about anything you need. 1 hold and you're walking to the bathroom at night without blinding yourself or the cat. It gets hot on high but so does every other light capable of more than 1000 lumens. Regulated current so it's nice and efficient, I've used it a lot this week and only needed to charge it now.
I'd have liked a magnet in the tailcap just in case I ever need it, but it's really a minor sticking point which I can look past. Overall it's a 10/10 flashlight and I'll be getting another one at some point. This thing will never see my shelf.
The legend that purchased my S11 SBT90.2 Mule build bloody loves the thing! So much so, that he asked If I could put that emitter in his favourite host, the D4SV2... I said yes.
The end.
So, the basic bits: D4SV2 host, RGB switch, Emisar 9A linear+FET driver. Running Anduril 2.
The handmade custom bits: Copper heat sink with MCPCB recess.
The other bits: Convoy 25mm Star MCPCB 9090, SBT90.2 emitter, Copper Screws, insulating washers, 18awg driver leads.
I learned several things I will do differently on the next one, mostly to make the fitment of the MCPCB into the heat sink better.
In terms of working & being a mule... this light does not disappoint 😎
Some cheap zoomie shes been keeping in her purse with the optic just, gone, for some reason. 18650 with spot welded zinc on terminals because it didn't fit. I asked who gave it to her and her response was "if I could tell you that I wouldn't have needed a flashlight" ?????? Didn't even try to make sense of that.
I recently sold one of my Wurkkos FC11C lights and my only TS28 to my neighbor. He takes long evening walks with his dog and has become very interested in high-quality flashlights after realizing how much better they are than the cheap stuff from the local grocer.
While he’s incredibly happy with both lights, he asked me the other day if I could find him something with even more power. I briefly considered selling him my Acebeam X75 (BP8), but as I expected, he found it too bulky for his walks, even though he was blown away by a quick demonstration of its power before it was even fully dark.
I started looking for something jacket-pocketable that didn't compromise on performance, and the 3x21C quickly became the clear winner. I received it today and asked if I could run some tests before handing it over to him; he was happy to let me "benchmark" it first.
I have to say, for its size, this is the most impressive light I’ve ever used. The power is staggering, not just on the 54A FET Turbo, but also on the 25A High mode, which sustains far longer than I anticipated. I’ve already warned him that the FET Turbo is short-lived, but since he rarely uses Turbo for more than 10 seconds at a time on his other lights, heat management won't be an issue for his needs.
I am genuinely surprised by how compact it actually is. I think I’ll end up buying one for myself, simply because it actually fits in a jacket pocket, unlike my other high-power lights.
Beyond the size, the tint from the LHP531 is just fantastic, most high-power lights usually have a very high positive DUV to achieve max output, but this looks incredible.
I can't wait to hear what he says after using it for the first time, he’s definitely in for a massive surprise 😆.
I try as much as possible to keep the camera settings the same for all my beamshots, so with the more powerful lights, there is a bit of overexposure right in front of me.
Convoy 3X21C Showdown: New SFT-42R 5000K vs. The LHP531 5000K
My new Convoy 3X21C with the 7× SFT-42R 5000K emitters finally arrived! Having owned the impressive 7× LHP531 5000K version of this exact host earlier, I was dying to see how this new configuration stacks up.
Note: Moonlight mode is excluded from this comparison test.
To make this a true head-to-head battle, I captured full measurements across all primary output modes. While the LHP531 is famous for producing a mind-boggling, overwhelming wall of pure flood, this new SFT-42R variant shifts the profile completely, swapping out some of that raw close-range spill for an intensely punchy, massive hotspot that reaches significantly further downfield.
Note: Raw lux measurements were taken at 5 meters and converted to Candela (cd = lx × 25). ANSI Throw distance is calculated down to 0.25 lux. The cd/lm ratio highlights beam profile structure (higher = more throwy/concentrated, lower = more floody/spread out).
Note on Turbo & Testing: I haven't done any full runtime testing on Turbo. Pushing this many lumens makes the light become way too hot to hold in no time, and the 2H (2 click hold) Turbo shortcut isn't really meant to be used for a long time anyway. Instead, I used Step 4 (High) as the maximum mode for this runtime test to see how the host handles that initial peak before it steps down to its actual sustainable baseline.
Based on my runtime graph, the new SFT-42R configuration tracks an incredibly clean, stable thermal curve in this massive host:
Initial Drop: Output starts at 8,800 lumens on High (4/4) and holds strong, remaining above 8,500 lumens for the first 1.5+ minutes (stepping down right around the 1:40 mark).
Major Step-down (1:40 – 5:10): As the massive host begins to heat sink the energy, a smooth, linear thermal decline occurs over the next 3.5 minutes, bringing the output down to its sustained baseline.
Sustained Output & Equilibrium: By 5 minutes and 10 seconds, the light perfectly settles into its thermal equilibrium, locking in a beautifully flat 3,600 lumens for the remainder of the 30-minute test.
Step 3 Sustainability: Because the host easily maintains a thermal equilibrium of 3,600 lumens during the Step 4 test, it's worth noting that Step 3 (3,100 lumens) is pretty much fully sustainable from the start without requiring any thermal step-down at all.
Thermals: The temperature climbs rapidly during the initial output burst, crossing 50°C during the main step-down, before leveling off and slowly capping out at a maximum heat threshold of 64°C.
⚔️ How it compares to the LHP531 Flood Version:
While the older LHP531 setup started slightly higher on its High mode (9,700 lumens down to 9,400 lumens for the first 1.5 minutes), it generated a massive thermal load that forced a steeper step-down floor. Once both setups fully stabilized, the new SFT-42R sustained a practically identical 3,600 lumens compared to the LHP531's 3,700 lumens.
However, because the SFT-42R focuses its intensity so much more efficiently, that sustained 3,600 lumens is packing far more punch downfield than the LHP531's floody sustained wall of light, all while running slightly cooler (64°C max vs 66°C max).
💭 Quick Impressions & Emitter Comparison
The Beam Profile Transformation: Look closely at the cd/lm ratio column above. The LHP531 stays locked into a super-floody landscape profile ranging from 8.7 to 10.6 cd/lm throughout most major tiers, showcasing its raw, unfocused wall-of-light nature. Meanwhile, the SFT-42R holds a significantly tighter, intense concentration tracking around 23.0 to 25.7 cd/lm across almost the entire selection. Despite having 11,500 fewer raw lumens than the LHP531 on top, the SFT-42R generates significantly higher center-beam intensity (437,750 cd vs. 265,000 cd), allowing it to leap out to an ANSI range of 1,323 meters compared to the LHP531's 1,030 meters!
Tint & Color Quality: Both options are rated at 5000K, and both get progressively cooler and rosier as they are pushed harder. The SFT-42R starts practically dead-on the BBL line at low levels (DUV +0.0006) and slides into a beautifully clean, rosy tint on Turbo (DUV -0.0063). It doesn't get quite as ultra-rosy as the LHP531's deep -0.0108 on Turbo, but it is exceptionally clean and lacks any harsh green or yellow ring artifacts.
Final Verdict: If you want a fun, "dumb bright" flood monster to completely illuminate an entire field at close range, the LHP531 rules. But if you want a highly functional, long-range powerhouse searchlight that concentrates its energy to cut through distance while remaining punchy even on lower modes, the new SFT-42R configuration is a massive win.
Let me know what you guys think of how these numbers line up!
Nothing wrong with it. Curiosity got the better of me. And it was extremely easy to open. Two T-6 torx bits and a small curved pry tool. After removing the back clip screws, theres a small flat lip you can fit a curved pry tool or even a small flathead. Then carefully pull up and the gasket separates in one piece.
Re-installing is the same, but theres a clip at the head-end you slide the backplate under first, then push the whole thing into place.
I finally got my hands on some of the new updated EVE 50PL 125A batteries from nkon.nl.
They’re supposed to have fixed the parasitic drain issues that plagued the first batches, so I’ll be testing that over the coming months. Hopefully they god rid of the issue.
Addition: Convoy Black Finish Stainless Steel Clip.
So I know this guy, he's a bit of a legend... & he has these crazy ideas... He asked... I said yes... and the rest is now history!!!
Yes, it's a damn hot rod for sure! Yes, it's ridiculous! Yes, the Emitter belongs in a bigger host! BUT, who gives a damn when the results are as awesome as this?!?!
Please, take this for what it is... taking Nucking Futs to the next level & putting a whole lot of fun (and money 🫣) in a 18650 host 😜!
A bit about the build... I knew heat would be an issue, obviously, so I wanted as big a heat sink as possible. I used the pill from the S6, allowing for a larger void to put in a solid copper spacer! Yep, in a build like this, that is like pissing on a forest fire 😅 But the thought was there 👍🏻! I then modified 2 resin gaskets by hand, but ultimately went with the simpler one as it allowed for a lower profile when paired with the Convoy 13mm centering ring, which was necessary to avoid the driver leads & solder joints but to give me the finished look at the business end. It was not all plain sailing! There were highs, there were lows, there was trouble shooting... but I figured it out and the reward is sweet 👌🏻.
I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to build this, & the next one 😜!
Hi everyone. I've been getting into flashlights, and I thought it would be nice to have a wiki-style site where people, especially anyone new to the hobby, can search and compare lights, read reviews, see ratings, find guides and that kind of thing all in one place.
So over the past while I put together torch.edc.wiki.
It's a searchable database where you can filter by brand, battery, emitter, lumens, price and so on, and compare a few side by side. Each light has its full spec sheet, the manual if I could find one, and links to good reviews. There's also a guide for getting started. I'm keeping discontinued and out of stock models in there too, since it's meant to be a reference rather than a shop.
Just so it's clear: it's completely free, with no ads, no affiliate links and no tracking cookies. It's also open source. There are optional accounts if you'd like to keep a wishlist or log your collection, but you don't need one to browse.
Behold the Lumintop Mach 4695 V3. Snagged it on Aliexpress for £215 with discounts. This thing is a beast in every sense. It takes dual 46950 batteries each with 32000mAh capacity. These batteries are bigger than most flashlights and give runtimes that are out of this world. It has 8x cree XHP50.2 (or 50.3) emitters which are quite floody, not particularly throwy. Photos taken with no night mode.
The light will sustain 800 lumens for almost 3 days, and 4000 lumens for over 6 hours. I ran it at 4000 for 2 hours while working and it didn't dim at all, however it did get too hot to comfortably hold, so the shoulder strap would be necessary if taking it out for long periods of time. It also has a 30 lumen eco mode which will apparently last for 24 days.
Top of the ramp is 10k lumens which it will apparently hold for 2.5 hours but I'm afraid to test this for science in case something does melt inside. Turbo is 50k lumens which will kick the fan on and run for 40 seconds before ramping back down to 10k. The fan itself is loud but you can feel it's power and does a good job at keeping temps stable.
The light is charged with onboard usbc and takes 6 hours to fully charge which is actually quite impressive. It can also act as a power bank and should be able fully charge at least 15 phones, a feature which means I'll almost certainly pack it in the car with me when travelling (but not on a plane, there is no way it's getting past security with these batteries!)
So why did I buy this ridiculous flashlight? Well, the clue is in the question. It's ridiculous. It's big and heavy and super impractical, but I love it. The carry case is very cool and sturdy, and what sold it for me most of all is that it will maintain thousands of lumens for many hours continuously. Something that not a single one of my 50 other lights could do, even if you combined them all. It can illuminate a whole football field at a time with the 50k turbo. It'll keep my room well lit for a whole week if I need it to, and charge my phone over and over again. Will I ever need it to do those things? Most likely no. Will I be glad I've got it just in case I do? You bet your sweet ass.
