Help me decide

[webley445]

I have been considering getting one of the ebay Q5 drop ins for my SF G2.
Then I saw that the drop in's output appears to be dependant on the input voltage.

I would like to get as bright as possible. So I considered going with 2 RCR123's to power the drop in with the G2.

But then I saw some of the Ultrafire and other make lights being sold either with or without the Q5.
For the prices they are asking I could get a 3x123 or 4x123 xenon and replace with the Q5 drop in and remain in my budget (30-40$).

I currently own a Fenix P2D premium w/ Q5 and would like this light to be brighter than the Fenix's turbo setting.

Would like to hear everyone's opinions.

 

[Gunner12]

Dereelight's drop-ins are also within your price range. They should throw further and be a bit brighter then the Fenix.

 

[My3kidsfather]

I have been considering getting one of the ebay Q5 drop ins for my SF G2.
Then I saw that the drop in's output appears to be dependant on the input voltage.

I would like to get as bright as possible. So I considered going with 2 RCR123's to power the drop in with the G2.

But then I saw some of the Ultrafire and other make lights being sold either with or without the Q5.
For the prices they are asking I could get a 3x123 or 4x123 xenon and replace with the Q5 drop in and remain in my budget (30-40$).

I currently own a Fenix P2D premium w/ Q5 and would like this light to be brighter than the Fenix's turbo setting.

Would like to hear everyone's opinions.

You mention that the Vf, or input voltage, determines the output of the emitter. This may be true of the lower cost drop-ins, such as the DX/KD/Solarforce drop-ins. My Solarforce drop-in fried when driven with three AW rcr123a's after a few minutes. It was fine for the first while.

I agree with Gunner the Dereelight drop-ins are a better build and design quality and definitely brighter and better controlled beam/spill. I recommend the digital 3-mode version myself as it drives the emitter at 1.2 amps vs. the 2-mode which drives at 1.0 amps. The reports on this particular Dereelight drop-in say the low mode on this drop-in will last for days using a good 18650. It is also designed to use the 18650 and only that battery, in other words 3.7-4.2v.

In my own tests I found the Dereelight 2-mode drop-in installed in my Dereelight v3.0 using a Q5 emitter (hand-picked by Dereelight for bin tint) was brighter, reached longer, and had brighter spill than my Solarforce new R2 emitter-equipped light, even when over-driven by 3 123a's. Gunner is correct when he recommends the Dereelight drop-ins. Check out the price too. Note that the Dereelight drop-ins must have the battery installed backwards, that is with the positive end away from the emitter. Remember this.. lol.

I have a UltraFire Alpha C1 and it is proving to be a good, tough light. It would work fine with a Dereelight no doubt. So would the Solarforce L2 (pf6). It's nice to have the extra extensions from the cheaper incan version but you may find they are not needed with the Dereelight drop-in. Cabela's is still selling their XPG with a knife for $19.99 and it would be a good inexpensive host as well.

Let us know what you decide eh?

 

[webley445]

Ordered the Dereelight w/ OP. about how long do they take to ship?
Will post my impressions after I get it and test it out.

 

[Gunner12]

The are usually prett quick, so I'd say within 2 weeks.

 

[webley445]

Emailed Dereelight just to see how long responce (to email )would take. Got one in under 12 hrs.
Said it would take 10-15 days for delivery.

I chose this product not just on the reccomendations but also after looking at feedback for some of the sellers of Cree modules on ebay. Not saying all are bad, I belive the one seller "chinaqualitygoods" ( is that Dae from qualitychinagoods?) had decent feedback. But one that was a few dollars cheaper had 86 negatives in last 6 months and almost all the comments were "no reply to emails".
Figured for a few dollars more I'd go with a site that I could deal with directly if there was a problem.
Posted about mym purchase on another forum and it raised alot of interest. others are awaiting my impressions. Also pointed them to CPF.

 

[webley445]

Re: Help? Module not working

well my module arrived today and it is a dud.
First I reveresed the batts are advised in above posts.
Tried the drop in with and without the removeable spring. It appears to me that it is able to make contact either with or without it.

tightened down bezel and tailcap but no lighty light. Tried just using loose wires and touching the contacts but would not light. Finally tried reversing the batts and that didn't work either.

I have also emailed Dereelight about the issue/refund.
Any other advice?

I was also a little disenheartened that the module arrived with no instructions or indication of battery polarity as mentioned in posts. Is it because the batts go in backwards in their production lights? If so mention should be made about it if using in other lights, jmho.

 

[webley445]

Re: Help? Module not working

Unsrewed the pill from the refector and attached leads directly to the +/- contacts on the board and the Cree lit up.

Touch the + lead from batt to the side of the pill and - on the board and it lights up too. Attach the - lead to the spring contact on bottom of pill and it heats up, so appears to be a production problem [?]

 

[webley445]

Re: Help? Module not working

Dereelights trouble shooting page, apparently not on their web site

http://www.dereelight.com/toubleshooting.htm

 

[Gunner12]

Re: Help? Module not working

Sounds like a shorting problem with the reflector.

Try taping the contacts of the LED over with tape or something so no shorts would form, then the drop-in should work.

 

[webley445]

Re: Help? Module not working

too late, i sent it back for a replacement