Unscientific SSC P7 vs XM-L comparison

[glenda17]

I guess one of my favorite flashlights for a while now has been the 2x18650 Aurora AK-P7-3. Very bright smooth beam of excellent color and construction, it was a little more expensive than what I consider budget but the construction is excellent.

I recently recieved a 2x18650 Ultrafire WF-502D and put in a KD XM-L single mode dropin. This pulls .8A from the batteries , while the P7 draws 1.2A.

To my amazement this little XM-L setup is brighter. About a foot from the wall the difference is very noticeable, but over a few feet the XM-L turns into a flood and loses its hotspot while the Aurora holds a hotspot for a good distance.

So my curiousity is what if the XM-L were in a larger reflector, would it maintain a hotspot and give a quality smooth ring-free beam like the SSC P7?

 

[FLT MEDIC]

I guess one of my favorite flashlights for a while now has been the 2x18650 Aurora AK-P7-3. Very bright smooth beam of excellent color and construction, it was a little more expensive than what I consider budget but the construction is excellent.

I recently recieved a 2x18650 Ultrafire WF-502D and put in a KD XM-L single mode dropin. This pulls .8A from the batteries , while the P7 draws 1.2A.

To my amazement this little XM-L setup is brighter. About a foot from the wall the difference is very noticeable, but over a few feet the XM-L turns into a flood and loses its hotspot while the Aurora holds a hotspot for a good distance.

So my curiousity is what if the XM-L were in a larger reflector, would it maintain a hotspot and give a quality smooth ring-free beam like the SSC P7?

Yes, it will. At least my TD15X and Gladius do, even with their smooth reflectors.

 

[srfreddy]

My TD15X has a donut hole, but I got over it.

 

[glenda17]

I ordered am Ultrafire WF-500 host and a XML 52mm 900 lm Dropin DX SKU58481. Hopefully this will bring out the potential of the XML

 

[qwertyydude]

I ordered am Ultrafire WF-500 host and a XML 52mm 900 lm Dropin DX SKU58481. Hopefully this will bring out the potential of the XML

Heatsinking become a problem with these drop-in type lights, so you're not going to bring out the real potential of the XM-L without solving the heat issue first. Since the XM-L has a much smaller emitting area it doesn't need as big a reflector to throw as well. Comparing my Aurora AK-P7 55mm head with my Uniquefire M9 XM-L with 45 mm head, the XM-L still throws a tighter more uniform beam. And since the Uniquefire M9 XM-L doesn't use a drop in and instead a pill screwed into the flashlight body the heatsinking is much better allowing higher drive cirrents. I direct drive mine and it runs ~4.5 amps on a fresh 18650. You couldn't run those kinds of currents in a drop in module without risk of frying the led long term.

 

[zx3junglist]

My TD15X has a donut hole, but I got over it.

This might be a stupid question, but is that because of the XML die or the projector? My P7 and MC-E's have this, and it bothers me a little. I didn't think that XMLs would have the same issue.

 

[srfreddy]

This might be a stupid question, but is that because of the XML die or the projector? My P7 and MC-E's have this, and it bothers me a little. I didn't think that XMLs would have the same issue.

Its just the ribbed reflector, instead of an OP reflector.