Upgrading older LuxV Surefires, U2, L4

[KevinL]

I was just looking through my collectin, reminiscing about the good old days when the LuxV was the best and brightest. Well, times change and it no longer is.

I was thinking about the various options available to me - what could I do with my older lights? Ideas are welcome....

 

[RyanA]

A Cree MC-E wired 2s2p is probably the best option. Could also see if Milky will make a U2x2 for you. It uses 4 separate LEDs with separate reflectors (8mm?) also wired 2s2p. He's probably using XP-G nowadays. I'm not sure if such a setup will fit in an L4 though. I've got an L4 with an MC-E myself, it's pretty awesome.

 

[DaFABRICATA]

A Cree MC-E wired 2s2p is probably the best option. Could also see if Milky will make a U2x2 for you. It uses 4 separate LEDs with separate reflectors (8mm?) also wired 2s2p. He's probably using XP-G nowadays. I'm not sure if such a setup will fit in an L4 though. I've got an L4 with an MC-E myself, it's pretty awesome.

I believe Scott uses McR10's and also the option of McR12's in the U2X2 and I'm sure he will be using XP-G's instead of the rebels of the older builds...check with him to confirm.

As for the L4, I bored one out to use 3 x XP-G's with optics and swapped the driver. LOTS of light coming out of a tiny light! The MC-E is also a good choice.
Maybe even an SST-50...I think I saw someone do it..:shrug:

 

[KevinL]

Nice, I like the MC-E emitters a lot. (big TK40 fan here)

The new XP-G looks very impressive but I think it still trails the MC-E for single-LED implementations - 450 lumens vs 640 if I'm not wrong?

Thinking of getting one of Nailbender's D36 drop-ins using the MC-E for my M3 as well

 

[NoFair]

Nice, I like the MC-E emitters a lot. (big TK40 fan here)

The new XP-G looks very impressive but I think it still trails the MC-E for single-LED implementations - 450 lumens vs 640 if I'm not wrong?

Thinking of getting one of Nailbender's D36 drop-ins using the MC-E for my M3 as well

The MC-E is wonderful in an U2. Runs great on 18650s as well.

Milky made one for me and it is just as amazing as the U2 was when it came out. Very bright, great beam and neutral white tint

 

[KevinL]

The MC-E is wonderful in an U2. Runs great on 18650s as well.

Milky made one for me and it is just as amazing as the U2 was when it came out. Very bright, great beam and neutral white tint

Awesome. I didn't know Milky did those too...truth to be told I have another U2 with a MC-E and it is fantastic. But that one I bought off the marketplace, and I thought it was a once-off item only.

I might just have to give the old warhorse the same treatment, now that I know who to look for my original U2 was bought right at the start and it has a slightly pinkish tint which is very pleasant. I won big time with the Luxeon lottery, IMO. (not everybody might agree with the tint but I've liked it for 5.5+ years)

The U2X2 is rad, but a bit too rad for me, I like the look and feel of my old classic U2.

 

[Kestrel]

I did a short compilation of threads during my research regarding upgrading the LuxV with the MC-E:
(some of the following threads are for the L4)

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=236663
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=213775
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=237637
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=214476

There are also a few threads (easily found via search) on putting the MC-E into the U2, that will also be interesting reading for you.

There appears to be a new top bin for the MC-E as well:
Cree MC-E N0 Bin

I am definitely going to get one of these for my L2 MC-E mod. If you pursue this latest MC-E bin, please let me know, as I'd like to get at least two for myself.

 

[HarryN]

I have a few XWOS Lux Vs if you have any interest, although I am guessing not since you are after nearly 2x that much light.

 

[pistolsnipe]

i think mc-e is the way to go, it is what i have been looking at for my l2 mod as well, just need to figure out a heatsink riser. i think that maybe a copper washer cut to spec may be the cheapest way to go. did not know that there was a new mc-e bin, good looking out.

 

[KevinL]

I have a few XWOS Lux Vs if you have any interest, although I am guessing not since you are after nearly 2x that much light.

Once upon a time, we would have climbed the highest mountains in search of that elusive X-bin, but with the MC-E just so good... it's hard to resist

Thanks for your offer, it is appreciated

 

[wquiles]

Once upon a time, we would have climbed the highest mountains in search of that elusive X-bin, but with the MC-E just so good

I still remember those days. What is that long ago?

It is amazing the LED's we have access to these days

 

[KevinL]

The year was 2008 or 2009 when the MC-E came along and completely put the LuxV out of business

Once upon a time, the average LuxV put out something like 180 emitter lumens and probably 120 OTF, figures that strike me as 'ridiculous' now that I write them. The single-die Cree, and we're talking the average Cree here, already meets those figures (was it in 2006-2007 even?)...

The MC-E is now delivering 630 emitter Lu, and I know it's gonna upset a lot of folk when I whisper that it's encroaching into M6 territory...

I no longer use my ROP because of the TK40. The ROP is not happy!

 

[sp5it]

Can you recommend someone to mod my U2 with MC-E in reasonable price?
Mike

 

[lemlux]

Nailbender modded both of my early Lux5 KL4s with attractive pricing and XP-Gs with the same 1.4V 3 level driver he uses in his D26 drop-ins. I'm very happy with the result.