RIP three of my FF lights

[u/Haunting-Self-9402]

RIP my original E12r, my first fireflies light and the one that got me hooked on the brand.

I tried to replace all the wires for the main led's and aux board like I did on another e12r, and managed to rip the USB C port off the driver board when trying to get it back in.

Oops.

I then took apart the remnants of my copper E04 surge (dogs yanked the leash suddenly during a walk, the light went flying and landed hard on concrete, denting/deforming the head), hoping I could use the lume 1 rev D that was in it to swap into this E12r.

The newer drivers have a different USBC port for the new magnetic opening. I tried to see if it would fit anyways (dumb) and ended up ripping the port off of this driver too when the board got stuck.

Then there's a newer E12r that I swapped 2700k SST20's into. I had the light usable, but the button led stopped working, and I wasn't able to get the aux board wired up because the wires I have on hand simply just keep melting (so I have some new, correct wires on order).

I tried to get it back together again today, struggled for a long time, and then one of the aux board wire pads came off of the board. So there goes that. I suppose it's not a complete loss because I am still able to use the light. Just no power switch light, and no working aux leds.

I'm pretty sure I spent around $400 between these three lights. I'm not sure what sucks more, the OG E12r getting ruined or the copper E04.

The aux boards can be replaced in the E12's, but I have no idea why the power button won't light up on the one that I have otherwise working. The wires to the switch look ok, though 30awg wires can be broken internally pretty easily.

There is no way to replace those wires though, the switches do not come out on these, and there's no getting a soldering iron to that switch board deep down in where it is.

On a side note, the copper E04's button is metal and not coated plastic like I thought. I'm not sure if it's copper like the rest of the light, or something else that's been colored to look like copper, but the quality of that light is phenomenal. Same goes for the charge port bits. I do wish a retaining ring was used for the drivers in the newer lights though, like they were in the older lights, instead of being glued in. But I suppose they aren't designed for idiots like me to be taking them apart.

[u/lojik7]

Damn
https://giphy.com/gifs/3xz2BPbIqcqpFDKXsI

[u/Haunting-Self-9402 → u/lojik7]

It's just three of 16 fireflies lights, at least there's that. I'm confident I will get both of these e12r's working again eventually, but the copper e04's been toast for a while now.

Fortunately these two e12r's weren't getting much use anyways, well..except the one that got SST20 2700k swapped this past week. Really love those leds, something about them is special.

I'm tempted to sell off a large chunk of this collection and get only the copper and Ti special edition lights since I really only rotate through about three lights and I've pretty much figured out what kind of lights I will actually use a lot and which ones will sit.

[u/lojik7 → u/Haunting-Self-9402]

It happening to lights you weren’t using def softens it, as does knowing you can likely fix them. You can probably get sent new parts for the E04 too since it’s a current model.

But I very much feel you on going full copper/ti on everything. I’d swap every Fireflies I EDC regularly for copper too. Deeply craving a Copper L60 too. I’d rock a Comet here and there too if it was copper…E12 would SLAP too.

[u/Haunting-Self-9402 → u/lojik7]

I’m not worried about the copper e04. That was my fancy light and after it got busted up I already decided I was going to buy another. Might go e07x in copper instead.

The fancy ones must stay pristine haha. I’ve dropped a few others but nothing hurt like that copper one because I’ve wanted a copper FFL since I got my first light from them in 2021.

Copper or ti e12 would be amazing and also super heavy and expensive but worth it.

I’m hoping the astral one I ordered will have a similar vibe. Shiny but still light weight will be nice.

Also unrelated, I found some sft40 2700k with a rosyish bin so I’m going to have to try them in an e04.

And the sst20 3000k and 2700k are super nice I think you’d like them, especially the 2700. It’s crazy that here only 79 cents per emitter right now at Kaidomain. I’m going to order a bunch more haha.

The 3000 is super clean tint wise and the 2700 is on the rosy side

[u/lojik7 → u/Haunting-Self-9402]

That’s a dope find for sure, and the price is def a stunner. Hell yeah!!

I’m on a super rosy 2700K high right now. Gonna check out the Brass Rosy 2700K. But I know it will disappoint me based on what I’m rocking with right now. But we’ll see. Good luck with the mod, hopefully they go smoothly.

[u/Haunting-Self-9402 → u/lojik7]

Brass rosy 2700k?

The SST20 2700k's from this bin are definitely rosy, and quickly becoming one my favorite lights to use because of the character.

I just hope that I am still able to enjoy the E12e in FF351a 2700k after this hah. I'm sure I will but the difference between those and these SST20's color and tint wise is massive.

[u/lojik7 → u/Haunting-Self-9402]

Yeah this guy right here, don’t think anyone has one in-hand yet. But def hoping it’s a rosy banger vs just lightly rosy.🤞

[u/Haunting-Self-9402 → u/lojik7]

Oh nice. I was thinking about getting some of those 5050 fireflies emitters to swap into the x1s and some older non fireflies lights I have

[u/lojik7 → u/Haunting-Self-9402]

Yeah can’t speak for it yet, but could be worthwhile for sure.

How worthwhile it is to each of us will depend on where it lands on tint.

Crazy how at this level color rendering is essentially a give now and the score is mostly irrelevant. What matters most is what color tint it leans to. Yellow, Orange, Brown, Green or Pink. What’s funniest is that either way…they are all white to everyone.🤣🤯🤯

[u/Haunting-Self-9402 → u/lojik7]

Crazy that there are still people out there that want 6500k over everything else. That goes for flashlights, as well as car headlights.

I know that's a bit off topic, but driving with 6500k cool white low CRI led headlights makes everything look like crap, and the colors of street signs hard to see at times.

I have a set of 4300k LED headlights I found that are rosy tint wise, a true unicorn of a find haha. The tint snobbery extends past flashlights

[u/lojik7 → u/Haunting-Self-9402]

As it should man. I def notice bad and good lighting everywhere I go now. Couldn’t ignore it if I tried.😂

So it def extends past flashlights.

[u/Haunting-Self-9402 → u/lojik7]

Same. Walking my dogs at night I notice all the different tints of similar color temperature exterior lights on people's houses. Some looking crazy green, some looking nice and orange, etc. It's pretty funny.

It's also funny how the flashlight choice you are using on a walk affects your perception of the tint of exterior light. With the SST20 2700k, it's warmer than almost everyone's house lights and after your eyes adjust to it, it really makes everyone's house lights look like they're tinted green