The Ti PD-S

[McGizmo]

I don't have the bench experience with the XP-G that others here have so I ultimately defer to their findings and comments. My impression is that the XP-G is capable of boasting the highest flux and possibly efficacy of all of the present LED's. It does have a larger die and image size so greatest throw may not be such an easy claim.

The focal point of the McR-20 S reflector is behind or below the rear of the reflector a bit as I recall. I believe the original McR-20 reflector is a better choice for mating to the XP-G but how many of those are still out there and available for use? Any original PD with luxeon could certainly see a gain in flux and throw (by virtue of greater flux and not image size) with modification to hosting a XP-G but I don't think the mod would be trivial nor do I have a feel for the geometry required.

My gut feel is that any Seoul based reflector that seats down on the face of the black case of the LED will not be an ideal reflector to use with the XP-G because there will be obvious light loss to the side and below the reflector. :shrug:

Whether there would be a net gain in converting from a Seoul to XP-G is dependent on the optic involved and I don't know enough to guess in the case of the PD-S.

 

[gswitter]

The beam shots from DaFABRICATA's A2/McR20S mod look encouraging.

 

[FrogmanM]

I'm hoping to get my Al PD upgraded with an XP-G, looks like a good match.

-Mayo

 

[da.gee]

PD+ XP-G would be an awesome combo. I have an AL PD I'd do also. Really like the XP-G.

 

[fyrstormer]

I dunno, I'd kinda like to see one with an SST-50, but I have to concede at that point you really are talking about too much brightness to be useful with only two brightness levels. An SST-50 really would require a 3S converter no matter how you slice it.

 

[Tim W]

Say you're kidding!

...talking about too much brightness to be useful ...

Such an animal exists?:duck:😱

 

[fyrstormer]

Re: Say you're kidding!

Such an animal exists?:duck:😱

Yes, I can see its eyes shining off in the distance a couple of blocks away... :devil:

Seriously though, I was speaking more about being able to adjust the brightness to something that won't blind you at the distance you need to use it.

 

[darkzero]

Didnt wanna start a new thread, so I am posting here... :thumbsup:

I am thinking of having my PD-S emitter upgraded. (Will, you listening? 😀 )

Has anyone modded their Ti PD-S to a Cree XPG?

If so, did the reflector have to be cut?

How was the outcome, noticably brighter? More throw?

:thanks:

I just finished a XP-G R5 Aleph LE for a Ti A19 style light. The beam is fair with a McR-19XR.


Left: XP-G R5 McR-19XR @1.3A, Right: K2 TFFC TVOD modified McR-20 @745ma

The hotspot of XP-G with McR-19XR is not as pronounced as it appears in the pic above, it actually has a lot of spill & the beam resembles a P4 in a McR-20S only tighter.

I haven't used the XP-G enough to comment on how I like them but I know already that I do prefer them over XR-Es. The R5s I received have no bin info & as you can see are pretty cool. I am not a warm white fan but then again I'm not a fan of extreme cool tints either. I normally don't like to use emitters without bin info for this reason. Although the XP-G is the latest & greatest IMHO they don't seem to be all that much brighter than how they are expressed to be around here. But given the size package to flux ratio they are quite impressive.

The light on the right in the above beamshot is my EDC Ti "PD-K". At this time I think I still prefer the K2 TFFC over the XP-G in this light which I always try to keep "up to date". It's not the highest available U bin but the TVOD is still my favorite as far as tint goes. At 745ma (measured) you can see that it is still impressive compared to the XP-G R5 at 1.3A. The XP-G's very cool tint makes the TVOD look very yellow in the pic. I'm using a McR-20 that I took some thousandths off the back to get very nice focus that I like. It started out as a PD-S so I turned the back of the heatsink to allow it to sit lower into the head to accept the modified McR-20 without having to shorten the top of the reflector to fit. I'm also using a UCL.

I think the XP-G should work rather well in a PD-S. Although the XP-G die is reported to be larger, this is proably in reference to the XR-E & XP-C. The XP-G should work very well in wider reflectors such as those based on Luxeons/Seoul P4s as seen in the various recent mods. Don does have a good point about the loss in light with a XP-G sitting below the edge of the reflector. The same case with the XP-G A19 style light I just did. I wonder how much is really affected though.

I dunno, I'd kinda like to see one with an SST-50, but I have to concede at that point you really are talking about too much brightness to be useful with only two brightness levels. An SST-50 really would require a 3S converter no matter how you slice it.

I wouldn't think so. Sure the SST-50 is a high flux emitter but at 1A or less IMHO what's the point? Unless the type of beam it will produce is what one is looking for. In a small light I would rather opt for a more conservative emitter. I don't understand the point of trying to stuff a high powered emitter into such a small light (although I have been guilty of this too) & underdriving it so much. But again, this is just my personal preference. 🙂

 

[carrot]

Hey Darkzero, I don't know if you know much about the Arc6 but it seems to be putting over 1A to the LED. To my measurements it is drawing 3A at the battery and I read that it's putting at least 1.5A to the LED on level 7.

Do you think it would be worthwhile to stick an SST-50 in it? I haven't read much about the SST-50 so I don't know, but you seem familiar with them.

The Arc6 is pretty PD-like, and I would feel much more inclined to have it modded than my PD-S.

 

[darkzero]

Hey Darkzero, I don't know if you know much about the Arc6 but it seems to be putting over 1A to the LED. To my measurements it is drawing 3A at the battery and I read that it's putting at least 1.5A to the LED on level 7.

Do you think it would be worthwhile to stick an SST-50 in it? I haven't read much about the SST-50 so I don't know, but you seem familiar with them.

The Arc6 is pretty PD-like, and I would feel much more inclined to have it modded than my PD-S.

I agree as level 7 will make the P4 tint shift on every Seoul version Arc6 I've played with. As for it being worthwhile with a SST-50, I can't comment on that since it really depends on what the owner wants. I mod mainly based on what the owner is after & will be happy with regardless of what my personal preference is. 🙂 I can help with recommendations if one is not sure but I haven't had much experience at driving the SST-50 under 2A.

A K2 TFFC is a great upgrade for the production Arc6 since it even has the head milled for a K2 just like the PD-S heatsink. Cleaning up all the epoxy inside some of them is not fun though. The Arc6 generates the most heat & faster than any production light I have ever played with. IMHO this light should have a K2 TFFC.

 

[fyrstormer]

You mean like mine does? 😛

Sorry, I just had to whore out my insane modding skillz. :huh:

 

[Hodsta]

It took this topic to bring me out of hiding!!!!!


The TiPD-S is my favorite all time light - in AlTiN coating with matching trit ring, or the other two 😛

PS - hey! Bill, Jim, Brandon, Eric, Don:thumbsup:

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

:wave: 😉 :twothumbs

 

[McGizmo]

:wave:

 

[:)>]

It took this topic to bring me out of hiding!!!!!


The TiPD-S is my favorite all time light - in AlTiN coating with matching trit ring, or the other two 😛

PS - hey! Bill, Jim, Brandon, Eric, Don:thumbsup:

Howdy fella! PM inbound.

I was just thinking about you.

 

[Royal Oak]

You guys are entitled to your opinions and I am entitled to my hemorrhoids; deserved or not. :nana:

The PD-S and for that matter, the original PD is an honest light. I believe that. In their own ways, I believe the SunDrop, LunaSol and Haiku surpass the PD-S. If I didn't, I wouldn't have bothered with them. I don't think an objective case can be made for any of them being "The Best". I believe any ranking relies on subjective valuation and opinion based on preferences and applications.

Sold the Ti-PD-S, and both LS20s...

I am keeping my Sundrop, Haiku and LS27 from Don as they are perfect lights.

And no, I ain't suckin' up to the maker...lol.

:devil:

 

[easilyled]

Sold the Ti-PD-S, and both LS20s...

I am keeping my Sundrop, Haiku and LS27 from Don as they are perfect lights.

And no, I ain't suckin' up to the maker...lol.

:devil:

The Ti-PD-S is the last light I'd ever part with. (I have 2)
This is the perfect light, in my opinion, if such a thing is possible.

 

[precisionworks]

The Ti PD-S is the last light I'd ever part with. (I have 2)
This is the perfect light, in my opinion, if such a thing is possible.

+1

I have "only" one, but would pick up another if the price were right. My favorite work light, along with the SunDrop three speed. Old tech or not, it does what it needs to do, in a tough package.

 

[Scottiver]

but I have to concede at that point you really are talking about too much brightness to be useful with only two brightness levels.

I agree. The 100 or so lumens that I get out of my Ti PD-S is perfect for me for this light. I have other lights that are much brighter when I need that, but I wouldn't change a thing on my PD, and the tint is awesome. :thumbsup:

 

[souptree]

I agree. The 100 or so lumens that I get out of my Ti PD-S is perfect for me for this light. I have other lights that are much brighter when I need that, but I wouldn't change a thing on my PD, and the tint is awesome. :thumbsup:

+1