Emisar on Ivan: Thinking

Scribble: Emisar D4V2

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 22:36:01 -0700

Scribble: Emisar D4V2 by Ivan Tse is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Hanklights: Emisar & Noctigon Flashlights by Hank Wang

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 11:27:18 -0700

On flashlight enthusiast communities like r/flashlight and Budget Light Forum, you may sometimes come upon discussions about flashlights made by someone named Hank or lights being referred to as Hanklights. When you search around, though, you may not find any flashlights branded as Hanklights but instead see a lot of mentions of Emisar and Noctigon.

Hank is the mastermind behind the flashlight brands Emisar and Noctigon sold from the website intl-outdoor.com (and noctigon.com). Because these flashlights span across multiple brands, it is easier to refer to them together as Hanklights.

Luminus SBT90.2: High-Power LED Emitter for Pocket Throwers

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:13:18 -0400

I got my hands on an SBT90.2 in the Emisar D1V2 kind of on a whim. I didn’t know too much about this emitter other than that it was large, expensive, and could throw out massive amounts of lumens.

I already had a few Noctigon KR1’s that I was happy with as pocket throwers in various colors, so I wanted something a bit different if I was going to get another small thrower. With the D1V2, I decided to go for max wow-factor of photon blasting lumens with the SBT90.2.

Emisar D4V2/D4SV2: New Blue Button

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 19:10:18 -0700

Hank’s updated his lineup of flashlights with lighted buttons with a new option: blue!

It’s now available for the following:

Emisar D4V2 Ti
Emisar D4V2 Ti Colorful Series
Emisar D4V2 Copper
Emisar D4V2 Copper Dual-channel
Emisar D4V2 Brass
Emisar D4V2 Brass Dual-channel
Emisar D4V2 Ti Dual-channel
Emisar D4SV2 Dual-channel

As far as I know, you can still special order a lighted switch button for other models of the D4V2/D4SV2 if you’d like too.

Hanklight Order #8: June 2022, Shake that Wangle

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 10:35:18 -0700

Order date	June 6, 2022
Shipped	June 9, 2022
Delivered	June 13, 2022
Hanklights	3
Accessories	4

I had a whopping 5 Hanklight orders in 2021, and I wonder if I’m on track to do the same this year or not.

Emisar DW4, Cyan, 519A 2700K domed

Hank released a new right angle worklight, the Emisar DW4, and I felt like my current collection of headlamps didn’t have Anduril, auxilary LEDs, or gave me much choice in warm emitters. So when the DW4 was announced, it was clear I needed to get my hands on it!

Emisar D4V2 Accessories

Sat, 07 May 2022 11:18:35 -0700

If your mind wasn’t in enough of a tizzy from ordering a Emisar D4V2 with options like body color, metal/material, LED, and raised vs switch button, there’s also accessories you can get for your light to customize it even more.

Stock options

These are the goodies already offered as add-ons when you order the D4V2. I make it a point to always get both the Magnetic Tailcap and the 18350 tube for all of my lights.

Emisar DW4, Anduril right angle work light, now available

Thu, 05 May 2022 16:28:35 -0700

There’s a new member to the Emisar family of lights: the Emisar DW4, a right angle work light that uses the same body as the Emisar D4V2. The new torch is available in both Single Channel and Dual-channel configurations.

The release was announced by Hank on BudgetLightForum after some of his sneak peeks and much anticipation by flashlight enthusiasts.

Why should I care?

If you’re a fan of the Emisar D4V2 and Anduril UI and have found the current line-up for headlamps in the market lacking, this may be the light for you.

Emisar D4V2: Additional Floody Optic

Tue, 03 May 2022 17:19:35 -0700

On the product page for the Emisar D4V2, you’ll now see an option for an “Additional floody optic.” This was previously worded, notoriously and confusingly, as an “Extra floody optic.”

What is this optic?

The optic is a piece of plastic that sits behind the glass and and the emitters. It helps to shape the beam of the light.

You’ll get two optics in your order: the standard optic in addition to the floody optic. You can easily swap between the two optics without needing any specialized tools or skills (although, I find that it helps to have some sticky tape to pull the optic out).

Hanklight Order #7: February 2022, Turn on the Red Light

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 17:35:18 -0700

Order date	February 9, 2022
Shipped	February 12, 2022
Delivered	February 18, 2022
Hanklights	4
Accessories	1

Emisar D4SV2, Cyan, 219B 2700K

Model	Emisar D4SV2
Color	Cyan
LED	219BT-V1, R9080 Warm White, 2700K
Switch back tint light	Cyan
Add-ons	Stainless steel bezel, magnet in the tailcap, extra tailcap without magnet, extra floody optic

Emisar D4V2, Brass, Dual-channel Amber/Deep Red

Model	Emisar D4S2 Brass
LED	W1 Amber/SST-20 Deep Red, 660nm
Switch back tint light	Red
Switch retaining ring	Raised
Add-ons	18350 tube, Magnet in the tailcap

Emisar D4V2, Grey, SST-20 4000K

Model	Emisar D4V2
Color	Grey
LED	SST-20 4000K 95CRI
Switch back tint light	Cool white
Switch retaining ring	Raised
Add-ons	Magnet in the tailcap, extra tailcap without magnet

Emisar D4V2, Cyan, E21A 2700K

Model	Emisar D4V2
Color	Cyan
LED	E21A, R9080 Warm White, 2700K
Switch back tint light	Warm white
Switch retaining ring	Raised
Add-ons	18350 tube, magnet in the tailcap, extra tailcap without magnet

Accessories

Item	Model
26350 Tube	Emisar D4SV2 26350 Tube (Cyan)

Anduril Factory Reset

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 14:15:49 -0700

When playing around with an Anduril flashlight like the Emisar D4V2 or D4SV2, you’ll eventually come to a point when you’ve realized that you’ve fiddled with the configurations and no longer know what you’ve set them to.

What I do when this happens is I do a Factory Reset so I have a baseline for where I am rather than go through the different modes and menus to find out the state my light’s configuration.

Emisar D4V2: Troubleshooting Flashing Anduril with avrdude

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 17:35:18 -0700

Did you try reflashing your Emisar D4V2 but when you clicked the button… nothing happened and the light didn’t turn on? Maybe you got a little sweaty under the armpits–nervous that you may have bricked your precious light that you waited weeks to arrive from overseas.

Fear not! Just because your light doesn’t turn on right now doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve broken it. Here are some common problems that folks have reported when flashing their lights.

Emisar D4V2: Updating firmware (Anduril UI) with macOS

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 20:20:18 -0700

It can feel daunting to update the firmware on your Emisar D4V2, especially if you’ve never done it before. What if you brick your beautiful light? What if you load the wrong file?

Keeping up with new updates of Anduril is one of the great features of owning the D4V2, so this guide is here to help walk you through the process so you’ll feel more confident in updating your light.

Emisar D4V2: Extra Floody Optic

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 20:19:18 -0700

When ordering the Emisar D4V2, one of the options you’re presented with is whether to include an “Extra floody optic” at an additional price. What does this option mean?

The optic is a piece of plastic that sits behind the glass and and the emitters. It helps to shape the beam of the light.
The “extra” here means “additional” and not necessarily extra super-dooper floody.

2021: One Year of Hanklights

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:07:18 -0700

The whole family all together. So many clicks, so much joy.

Model	Body	Emitter	Usage
D4V2	Grey	XP-L 4000K	I keep this in my EDC bag.
D4V2	Sand	E21A 2000K	Gave this to my wife as a present so she can get that warm sweet incandescent glow from the E21A.
D4V2	Ti	219b 3500K	Love using this around the house in the evenings.
D4V2	Black	SST-20 4000K	The OG for me: holds a place in my heart, and enjoy seeing the black anodizing wearing away.
KR1	Black	W1 Green	makes light saber noises
KR1	Cyan	W1 White 6000K	Don’t have a good place for this right now.
KR4	Cyan	3W UV Mule	Used for checking if the puppy’s peed on rugs.

A peer down at the emitters of the whole collection.

Hanklight Order #6: December 2021, Merry Dual-channel

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 17:35:18 -0700

Order date	December 14, 2021
Shipped	December 21, 2021
Delivered	December 29, 2021
Hanklights	2

Emisar DT8, Grey, Dual-channel E21A 2000K/5000K

Dipping my toes into both a dual-channel light and the DT8. I got this with the intention of using it at home and possibly as a semi-permanent light in my closet. I wanted this light to be floody, and I’d been jealous of how warm my wife’s light was, so I got one channel with the ultra warm E21A 2000K.

Emisar D4V2/D4SV2: Switch Back Light Tint/Color Options

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:36:18 -0700

When ordering the Emisar D4V2, D4SV2, and many other Emisar/Noctigon flashlights, you have the option to choose which switch button light tint you’d like on your light.

Currently, the options are:

Cool white
Red
Amber
Warm white
Cyan
Green

What do these look like?

Backlit buttons: blue, aqua, cool white, green, warm white, amber, red

Backlit buttons in the dark: blue, aqua, cool white, green, warm white, amber, red

Emisar D4V2: Anduril 2 HEX File Selection for Flashing Firmware

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 07:26:18 -0700

One great thing about the Emisar D4V2 is that it can be flashed with newer versions of Anduril as updates come out. However, figuring out which HEX file can be confusing. This guide will give you some pointers on how to select the right HEX file.

Already running Anduril 2?

For lights that are already running Anduril 2, I highly recommend that you get a read out of the version that is currently on your light. This will give you a 12-digit number with the last 4 digits being a model number that can be used to correspond with HEX file loaded on your light.

Hanklight Order #4: October 2021, Green and Gold

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 17:35:18 -0700

Order date	October 17, 2021
Shipped	October 20, 2021
Delivered	November 2, 2021
Hanklights	3

Emisar D4V2, Grey, XP-L HI 4000K

After having explored the SST-20 and 219B from my previous orders, I was curious of what other emitters would look like. To compare, I got a D4V2 with an XP-L HI with the same CRT as my SST-20 at 4000K. It would be a great way of seeing what a difference higher CRI makes with colors. I also wanted the chance to check out the grey anodizing as well as the cyan button.

Emisar D4V2: Aux LEDs Run Time

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 17:11:18 -0700

If you’re a new owner of an Emisar D4V2, you’ve likely come to love the build quality, the crazy complex interface of Anduril UI, and the power of holding a small sun in your pocket.

Eventually, you figure out how to actually turn the light Off after realizing that the Aux LEDs can still be on even when Off. This is immediately followed up with the questions:

Doesn’t leaving the Aux LEDs on all the time kill the battery? How long does the battery last with the Aux LEDs on?

Hanklight Order #3: July 2021, I am Titanium

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:35:18 -0700

Order date	July 8, 2021
Shipped	July 16, 2021
Delivered	July 23, 2021
Hanklights	1

I wanted to get a light I wouldn’t mind getting scratched up over time. I knew the black anodizing would likely wear down over time on my first D4V2, so getting the Titanium felt like a fun light to have around and not worry about it getting too beat up. I was curious about the weight, and the 219b emitter was the exciting LED that had just been made available again. I wanted to see what that warmer 3500K would be like.

Emisar D4V2: Switch Retaining Ring

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 13:55:18 -0700

What is the Switch Retaining Ring?

Around the Emisar D4V2’s button (aka, “switch”), you’ll notice a metallic ring that encompasses it. The area around the button will be how you feel for the button when interacting with the D4V2, and for many folks this can be an important ergonomic factor.

I think of these flashlights, much like pocket knives, to be fancy fidget spinners for adults. I certainly spend an obscene amount of time sliding my thumb across the knurling on the body of the light. The switch retaining ring is another part of the tactile experience of playing with the D4V2.

Anduril 1: What is Muggle Mode?

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:06:18 -0700

Muggle Mode is a safety feature of Anduril UI version 1.

Much like how a pocket knife can be unsafe to give to just anyone, it can be dangerous to hand an untrained user an Anduril flashlight like the Emisar D4V2 or D4SV2. These kinds of enthusiast lights can get incredibly bright and blind the user, but it can also get so hot so fast that it can start fires. Strobe Mode, can at the least disorient someone, but at the worst, it can trigger seizures. These torches are no joke.

Anduril 1: Setting Ramping Mode Brightness Memory

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:22:18 -0700

When you first turn on an Anduril 1 flashlight like the Emisar D4V2, the flashlight is set to the same level every time. Even after changing the brightness, after you turn it Off with a Click, when you turn it back on with another Click, you’ll be brought back to the original brightness. This is the Manual Memory setting for Ramping Mode.

Alternatively, you can also setup the ramp to remember the last brightness you used with Automatic Memory.

Emisar D4V2/D4SV2: Lockout Mode with Voltage/Battery Level

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 07:26:18 -0700

When I’m actively using my D4V2 or D4SV2, I’ll keep the flashlight in Off, and the rest of the time I’ll have it in Lockout Mode.

I like to configure the Aux LEDs in Lockout Mode to show me the flashlight’s battery level color with Low brightness.

This serves multiple purposes:

I can quickly see the status of the battery
Low brightness Aux LEDs indicates to me that I’m in Lockout Mode
I can find my flashlight in the dark
It looks cool 😎

Battery status colors

When viewing the battery status with the voltage indicator color, we can quickly get an idea of what the state of the battery is by seeing what color the Aux LEDs are showing:

Emisar D4V2/D4SV2: How to turn off the flashlight

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:04:18 -0700

To understand how to turn off the Emisar D4V2 or D4SV2, you first have to understand about the colored Aux LEDs and how they relate to Off and Lockout Mode in Anduril UI (the firmware that runs on the flashlight).

Colored Aux LEDs

If you’re seeing the colored Aux LEDs, you might think the light is still on when in fact you could actually be in Off.

Emisar D4V2: Setup, Configuration, and Usage

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 00:04:18 -0700

Here’s how I’ve setup and configured my Emisar D4V2 for my tastes and usage.

For complete instructions on how to use the D4V2 and Anduril UI, please see the formatted manual with diagrams.

Hardware configuration

This was the configuration I selected when purchasing my Emisar D4V2:

Option	Selection
Color	Black
Switch retaining ring	Flat version
LED & Tint	Neutral White: SST-20 4000K (95CRI)
Pocket clip	Yep!

If I were to order again, I’d:

Hanklight Order #1: August 2020, First Hanklight

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 17:35:18 -0700

Order date	August 21, 2020
Shipped	August 25, 2020
Delivered	September 14, 2020
Hanklights	1
Batteries	8
Chargers	2

I was looking for a new flashlight and I knew a friend of mine would have a great suggestion. He suggested the Emisar D4V2 and said that “you’re gonna love the UI on this thing.” The UI on a flashlight? My curiosity was piqued!

Usually, I’d do a bunch of research before I buy something to make sure I’m getting a good value and good quality. I’d been letting myself just go, “Oh heck with it, I’ll just trust my gut and make a choice.” I did that this time and have no regrets.