My latest XPG-R4 mods...

[kramer5150]

Hosts
Ultrafire P60 host
TLS-TX3 + C-M adapter with a Solarforce 18650 body

1.4A drivers, reverse polarity protection diodes bypassed.

Wires attached

Spring + Pill

XPG-R4

Centered emitters and OP reflectors

Sanyo 18650 cells used for the following pics and measurements.

DX-MCE-6P, ~310L OTF, 2.4A at the tailcap

Ultrafire P60 host, 1.43A at the tailcap

TLS-TX3, 1.43A at the tailcap

These are my first XPG mods and I am pretty impressed with this emitters output, considering the current draw. The green-ish tint is a little disturbing though. It makes tree trunks look olive colored.

 

[^Gurthang]

Nice work! I like the SolarForce light.

Seems that most current XP-Gs have a green tint.

I'm waiting for SB to get some R5s in stock for another M@G mod.

How far does your SolarForce throw?

 

[kramer5150]

Yeah these two are WAY more green tinted than my camera shows. It takes some getting used to, but once my eyes adjust to the tint, its not all that bad. Brown wood-tones however have a very green-olive color, beige shades look like a brown-ish avocado color.

Not sure how far it throws, I just finished the builds last night and took some shots in my backyard. The tree is only about 35 feet away. I used ISO 1/64 on a point/shoot Nikon. The first pic for reference is about 310L (conservative estimate) from a DX-MCE drop in that measured 395L-cold start from an IMR-18650 in Garys sphere of torture.

:thumbsup:

 

[tx101]

Wow ... big difference in the hotspot between the P60 and the TX3
Looks to me, the spill is about the same.

I have a TX3 head as well but it has a Diamond Dragon and I was
wondering if an emitter swap would be worthwhile :thinking:

I still have some R5s left but like yours they have a puke green tint

 

[^Gurthang]

Thanks for the emitter info Kramer, looks like I'll wait a bit before buying any XP-Gs. I prefer neutral white or warm tint LEDs, can live w/ cold tint but GREEN is a NoGo...

OTOH, if someone handed me a SureFire w/ a frog green tint XP-G I'd take it!!!

 

[nanotech17]

why do you need to remove the diode?

 

[jasonck08]

Whats the reason for removing the diodes from the 1.4A driver? Nice work by the way. Those little XPG's are sweet little emitters. A little hard to work with though...

My XPG R4's's from nailbender don't have a green tint to them at all!

 

[bigchelis]

Whats the reason for removing the diodes from the 1.4A driver? Nice work by the way. Those little XPG's are sweet little emitters. A little hard to work with though...

My XPG R4's's from nailbender don't have a green tint to them at all!

I received 4 XP-G R4's from Nailbender and 2 are green, 1 is perfect white and cream, the other Kramer5150 is using as a P60 drop-in.

Krammer5150,

Was the other P60 drop-in XP-G R4 you did also greenish??

 

[kramer5150]

I remove the diodes from these 1.4A boards to eliminate the Vdrop through the diodes. This allows the 7135 chips to "see" the full voltage potential of the 18650 without any "obstruction". What that means is it keeps the 7135 ICs running in regulation longer for the duration of the cell charge.

The diodes only purpose is to protect the 7135 driver ICs from reverse polarity (installing the 18650 backwards). I have no idea what happens to the 7135 when it sees reversed polarity....

Its a pretty common mod for this series of DC-DC board, so I can't take credit for it. I have done a few builds with this board and I haven't had any problems following this method (knock on green tinted wood).

The green tint doesn't really bother me, not nearly as much as purple or blue.

Others were saying the XPG in an XRE reflector is too floody for all practical uses, but I completely disagree. Its a very useful beam pattern within ~45 feet. I installed the pill in a smooth reflector module and its only OK. The beam has a dark spot right in the middle, so OP P60 reflectors are my faves.

Now... if only I can get one in a warm tint

 

[kramer5150]

I received 4 XP-G R4's from Nailbender and 2 are green, 1 is perfect white and cream, the other Kramer5150 is using as a P60 drop-in.

Krammer5150,

Was the other P60 drop-in XP-G R4 you did also greenish??

Yup... green green GREEN!!

 

[nanotech17]

:thanks: for the info on the diode :thumbsup:

 

[bigchelis]

Yup... green green GREEN!!

1 out of 4 was not green, so there is still hope.


I just compared this TLS XP-G R4 vs. a stock Q5 in a Smooth reflector and the Q5 is :sick2:, but the XP-G is a ton brighter and perfect beam to boot.

 

[supasizefries]

I just compared this TLS XP-G R4 vs. a stock Q5 in a Smooth reflector and the Q5 is :sick2:, but the XP-G is a ton brighter and perfect beam to boot.

Did you modify the the smooth reflector at all? I have a few xpe p60 reflectors in OP. I have an SMO for an XRE and was thinking about boring it out to fit the xpg better.

Also, I've gotten 2 r4's from Nailbender. The one that I've used is a really nice white tint. One of the R5's I got from Cutter is really green.