Chop's Exe-Mod

[Kiessling]

Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Hi.

Just received this light from Chop:

It is a SF Exe-head bored out to accept an Aleph-LE driving a LuxIII with a NexGen400. The original reflector was removed and a so17xa subsequently added.
The whole thing rides comfortably on a new VG1 body where Tony has replaced the switch o-ring with a thicker one to accomodate for different battery lengths.

So ... ok ... why the hassle when one could just buy an Aleph? Well, because of this:

This thing is one of the smallest lights I got and has an enormous "cute-factor" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif, too.
It offerse a clip and tailstand-ability as well as all the advantages that come with the Aleph LE-concept ... except 2-stage and some mounting options as well as the cigar-grip.

As always ... one has to choose, and this light is the choice "small and versatile".

The build is flawless and works like a charm producing the well-known perfect beam from a LuxIII in a so17xa and puts out an astonishing amount of light for a 400mA drive level .... really sufficient for almost anything you'd want to encounter with such a small light in your hand.
The runtime of about 2h+ regulated compensates well for the lack of the 2-stage, heat is no problem.

If the switch in those new VG bodies will be up to the task on the long term, this cute little combo is a nice alternative in the E-Series realm, offering size as the main advantage coupled with the so17xa as beam characteristic.

Advantages:
- small !!!
- so17xa beam
- tailstand
- clip

Sacrifices
- no 2-stage
- no swivel-tap
- no cigar grip
- beam of larger Aleph-Reflectors

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif Tony !

bernhard

 

[BC0311]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Very well done review with excellent photos, Bernhard. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

It's cool to see one of Chop's babies reviewed.

Britt

 

[Chop]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Bernhard,

That virtual lack of heat was something that I noticed too. I had an older light of similar build that I used to carry. It too was biased for 400mA, but it had a BadBoy in it. I went with 400mA, because I was trying to avoid the heat. Well, it got hot anyway.

This new convert by Wayne Y. is great. It produces hardly any heat at all.

 

[Kiessling]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Thanx Britt ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Yeah, the lack of heat with those NexGens is staggering! Even at 750mA it sin't a problem whereas the BadBoys got noticably hot!
Wayne really did a great job on those! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

bernhard

P.S.: I can really recommend this littel light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ! It has something special to it ...

 

[JanCPF]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Bernhard,

Very nice! What would be the total cost of such a cutie pie?

Jan

 

[Kiessling]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Jan, I paid $173 shipped to Germany for the complete package.
bernhard

 

[Chop]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Jan,

I did have one left that had a couple of tiny nicks in the HA on the hex part of the bezel. I got it like that, but don't feel comfortable selling it as brand new. If you are interested, let me know. Maybe we could work something out.

 

[JanCPF]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Thanks Tony, but I'll have to decline. I'm saving up for a U2 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/santa.gif

Jan

 

[treek13]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Bernhard, Tony, or anyone else who knows the answer,
How does the beam from a SO17XA reflector compare to the beam from a McR-20 (Aleph 2) reflector?
Pat

 

[Kiessling]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Both have relatively large and soft hotspots with the so17xa being clearly present in the beam while the Aleph2's softly blends in the corona. The corona of the so17xa is wider and weaker but still adequately bright while the Aleph2 produces a dense (and smaller) corona that has a huge advantage in low-mode where it is actually very usable as opposed to say a 27mm reflector like the Aleph1 or LH.

Overall both are excellent close to medium range applications that lack in the throw department (swhere the before mentionerd 27mm reflectors will excell).

Sorry, no beamshots, waiting for better camera to actually capture coronas.

bernhard

 

[treek13]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Bernhard,

Thank you very much for your detailed description. It is exactly what I wanted to know in order to make my purchase decision.

Unfortunately for my bank account, you have convinced me that I need a light with a McR-20 (Aleph2) reflector in it.

Pat

 

[treek13]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Well after this glowing review, I bought the other one that Chop had.

He made a Light Engine for me with a NexGen400 driving a very nice T-rank LuxeonIII and put a McR-20 (Aleph2) reflector in it.

I must say that Chop does excellent work. I almost can't believe how fast he works and how high his standards are. I knew what to look for and it still took me a bit to find the pinprick 'defects' in the HA on the head. Most people would have never even considered selling it as a 'Second'.

Also, I failed to realize just how small this combo would be. I failed to take into account the fact that Bernhard show it compared to an Arc LS with the twisty pack. Compared to my Arc LSH-P with the clickie pack, Chop's Exe-Mod is actually a bit shorter. It is also much brighter with a nicer beam. I strongly recommend this mod (if Chop is willing to make more, of course).

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy14.gif,
Pat

 

[Kiessling]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ... yepp, really a great little bug!
Glad you like it, too, Pat.
bernhard

 

[akula88]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Bernhard,

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif Make me drool some more... Can you post it (Exe-VG1) together with a Exe-ROTH_adaptor-123_twisty?

 

[Kiessling]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Here you go!

bernhard

 

[Catman10]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Very nice!
Berhard,
If possible, could you also post Chop's exe mod next to an Aleph 1 or 2 with FB1?

 

[Kiessling]

Re: Chop\'s Exe-Mod

Catman, in the first post you can see it next to the Aleph2 on 1x123.
bernhard