September 19, 2024

Biscotti firmware -- SST versus Cree emitters

This does not matter at all as far as the firmware, but the topic of what emitter is used in the current crop of Convoy flashlights grabbed my interest.

Current lights all seem to offer the SST20 or the SST40 chip. These are made by Luminus devices -- a company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and doing at least part of their production in China. The 4000K SST20 is renowned for high CRI (like 95). This color bin is always my choice, and I am pleased that it has a reputation for high color accuracy.

The SST40 is a bigger chip (4x4mm rather than 2x2mm). The SST20, along with having high color accuracy in the 4000K bin, is also known for being "more throwy". The SST40, being a bigger chip, will take more heat and current and can yield greater total lumen output. However I don't see it offered in a 4000K bin, so I go with the SST20.

Back in 2019 when I bought several Convoy S2+ flashlights, they were all using Cree emitters. This was the Cree XPL-HI emitter. It will be interesting when the two lights I ordered with the new SST20 arrive to compare them side by side.


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Tom's Light Info / [email protected]