Any mods for the Surefire U2?

[Ainsley]

I recently picked up a surefire U2 from the market place and it really is an amazing light. I have searched and searched on this forum for information about mods to increase the output but havn't really found much. From what I gather Milky has done some quad rebel mods, but I can't really spend that much.

I will be bringing it on canoe and backpacking trips and really need it to be brighter to justify its size.

I am wondering if anyone has done an emitter swap on this light, or has heard of someone doing one.

 

[AlexGT]

I remember someone replacing the Luxeon for a SSC Led

 

[depusm12]

Send a PM to Scott aka (Milkyspit) he's done some modes on a U2 including IIRC a quad Rebel mod. If you can't get a hold of him via PM let me know. He does excellant work. He turned my TigerLight FBOP into a 4 led Seoul P4 Screamer.

 

[wasBlinded]

There is no emitter swap that retains the same functionality. The LuxV in the U2 has a Vf of about 6.5 volts, and there isn't anything else that really works. You can wait until an X-bin LuxV shows up (rare bird) or hope Lumileds eventually comes out with a LuxV using their updated (like Rebel) technology.

 

[Ainsley]

You can wait until an X-bin LuxV shows up (rare bird) or hope Lumileds eventually comes out with a LuxV using their updated (like Rebel) technology.

What would be the output with an X-bin LuxV?

 

[c0t0d0s0]

There is no emitter swap that retains the same functionality. The LuxV in the U2 has a Vf of about 6.5 volts, and there isn't anything else that really works. You can wait until an X-bin LuxV shows up (rare bird) or hope Lumileds eventually comes out with a LuxV using their updated (like Rebel) technology.

An SSC swap can be easily done if you're OK with the U2 becoming a 18650-only light. The light will become a thrower, run cooler, and last a long time on a 18650. It will not be a lot brighter overall than the LuxV though (I gained only 20% or so from swap to P4 USV0H), so if you have a bright U2 with no donut and good tint, I would not mess with it.

 

[Ainsley]

I think I'm going to have to get one of these single cell, super bright lights for myself and compare it to my U2, maybe that will stop my brain from wanting more out of the U2. Fenix P1D here I come!

 

[wasBlinded]

An X bin LuxV should give you form 130 to 160 lumens out the front of a U2. Those are Surefire lumens, not Chinese lumens.

How much of an improvement you get depends on what came in your U2. If your hotspot is greater than 2000 Lux, you probably wouldn't see much improvement with an X bin.