Best Solarforce L2 drop in for throw and run time?

[Dakotabaker98]

Hey guys, new to the form here! Ive looked around at some already posted threads but i cant find exactly what im looking for. I want to order from light hound because they are in the same state as me so shipping would be quick. I want to buy a solarforce L2 or L2p. I want THE BEST THROW possible out of the light with the best run time i can get. but it also needs to be tough and reliable to. So which drop in would be best for AMAZING THROW and fair run time? Thanks and have a nice day!

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Hopefully you are doing some research on the forum in addition to asking this question on this thread. I too am looking for very good throw in a P60 dropin. Nailbender sells them, Vinh modifies them, other makers are out there as well. By nature, they are not designed for tremendous throw but there are configurations that throw much more than others. If you really need amazing throw, checkout Vinhnguyen's section. He has larger flashlights. If you want crazy, thin beam throw, a Deft X might be right up your alley.

 

[blademan]

One of the modders uses Cree Xpe 2's for throw. It may be Vinhnguyen.

 

[The Burgh]

Dakotabaker98, I hope that this thread and your question gets some traction.

I too have been searching, reading and writing thread questions to get a few simple recommendations for a drop-in-and be-pleased head unit for the Solarforce L2. Heck, I wasn't even specifying throw preference!

Come on, Gang, someone(s) must have started modding with a simple plug-'n-play solution for an L2?

 

[KITROBASKIN]

I have minuscule experience compared to some of the members here:

The XPE type LED's are smaller and therefore able to be used with a reflector to make a more concentrated beam but they have less total lumens, especially compared to an XML2 LED, or an even larger and more lumens, MTG2(?) LED which requires two Li-ion batteries(~7.5 or more volts) to perform, which is doable with an 18650 extension or two 18350 batteries.

Now, Vinhnguyen's skills at dedoming LED's are well known here. Others do it and some don't. Dedoming will make the beam a more warm cast (yellowish?) but concentrate the light for much more throw. It may make the beam have a squarish shape, depending on the LED used. I am scared of getting a green or too yellowish a tint and wonder about any longevity issues but I just don't know and will get Vinh to make a dropin for me about May of this year.

There are also aspherical set ups which use a kind of magnifying glass to concentrate the light for great throw. The beam shape takes on the same shape as the LED, and ahorten sells kits that can work in a dropin but I am still not clear with everything involved. I have seen a video of him using a reflectorless driver(?)(the brass part that holds the electronics and LED) with a threaded adaptor to adjust the lens distance from the LED and a spacer to hold the lens in the head of the flashlight. He is currently waiting on the spacers but has the lenses. I would like to try this out but am not clear on price and what driver(?) to do it with. Maybe I could use the nailbender unit I already have.

Are there other things out there? Probably. Will someone come up with a great way of getting more throw from a P60 dropin? Maybe. Will LED technology keep marching along? Certainly hope so.

 

[Kevin1322]

You don't get "amazing throw" with a P60 drop, unless you convert it to an aspheric thrower with an Ahorton's kit, in which it is "amazing throw for a P60." The kit focuses the beam to be precise and throw much further, but you lose all spill. Let me break it down a little more (and by the way, I do have Nailbender and Vinh P60 drops). XP-E gives narrowest beams and tends to have best throw, but least amount of lumens. XM-L gives the most lumen and spill. XP-G is a balance between he two. The higher amps pushing the LED the brighter it will be, but then runtime is sacrificed. So, decide what you really want and what you are willing to spend. You will spend less on a pre-made drop then custom made, but custom made usually gives you exactly what you want when it comes to options. Vinh does do this, but he also likes to push things to the limits, so if you want the best performance at a fair price (if not cheap), go with him.

 

[jorn]

For the best throw in a solarforce, get a solarforce masterpice pro 1 head. When it comes to throw, the size of the reflector matters.
If you dont want a huge head, a custom build p60 with a dedomed xp-e might be your best bet.