Verify U2 version?

LEDBE
A

adw2001xj

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 20, 2010
Messages
13
Location
Sarasota, FL
Welcome to CPF. I too lurked for quite awhile before I joined. Can not tell by your image which LED, and can not make out the four dies of the Luxeon V. However, I believe that in 2007 the Lux V was still in production.

Bill
 
:welcome: That looks like a LuxV. But to be sure check to see if you can 4 dies like Bill said.

Wonderful light, I have 2:devil:

One is stock and one has been modified and is 3 times as bright while running just as long on a set of batteries (new leds are wonderful)
 
OK, here's a new pic, should be better to see: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mTVgM6izgT-quBgX52a_NbwLrjtT5gEpgMUJzwbL5bI?feat=directlink



NoFair said:
:welcome: That looks like a LuxV. But to be sure check to see if you can 4 dies like Bill said.

Wonderful light, I have 2:devil:

One is stock and one has been modified and is 3 times as bright while running just as long on a set of batteries (new leds are wonderful)
Click to expand...

Oh :eek:oo: , nice..... how much was it for the 3 times mod?
 
adw2001xj said:
Oh :eek:oo: , nice..... how much was it for the 3 times mod?
Click to expand...

You can find member Milkyspit and send him a PM about it. It costs a bit, but imho it was very much worth it. An other option is posting in the homemade and modified forum and asking for help.

Mine has a neutral white (color closer to an incandescent light color) MC-E in it.

Sverre
 
Looks like the LuxV version to me because of the hex-shaped ring surrounding the die. My SSC P4 lights appear to have a diamond (4 sides) and a smaller die. The LuxV die goes all the way out to the edge.

I have both my original U2 and another U2 with MC-E unofficial modification. The MC-E is absolutely awesome - the tough part is finding someone who will do the customization for you, and coughing up the $$ to make it worth their while.

JMHO but I wish Surefire had gone with the MC-E instead of the SSC P4 and made the U2 one monster of a light. There is no such thing as 'too much light' especially with the U2's masterpiece of a dial. Even my MC-E can be dialed down so low as to become the perfect sneak-around-in-the-dark light, and with a quick flick of the wrist it becomes a handheld photon cannon :D


PS: Just tested. My MC-E U2 is DIMMER at lowest level than my original unmodified LuxV U2. And now looking at the original U2, "2 lumens" on low - that sure ain't 2 lumens to me, looks like a lot more. :D
 
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I just want to say :thanks: for the help in identifying which version I have!

Just a curiosity, is it like some super secret to not reveal what someone paid for a mod (even a ballpark figure), or did you guys agree to not reveal that info when your mod was ordered? :thinking: :shrug:

Alan
 
Hmm, I'm not really sure why costs are not usually discussed. I don't think it is a secret, I was just reading a thread by someone who mentioned he was selling a mod "for what he paid for it" which would give away the original price.

I bought my U2 with MC-E modification already performed for $250, as opposed to commissioning one (ie. making a request and contracting someone to do it for me). So happened I was browsing the Marketplace and someone decided to release theirs, so I snapped it up. Don't think, just :paypal: :D (or "luck works")...

Darn good deal considering that included the price of the light and the mod :D
 
KevinL said:
Hmm, I'm not really sure why costs are not usually discussed. I don't think it is a secret, I was just reading a thread by someone who mentioned he was selling a mod "for what he paid for it" which would give away the original price.

I bought my U2 with MC-E modification already performed for $250, as opposed to commissioning one (ie. making a request and contracting someone to do it for me). So happened I was browsing the Marketplace and someone decided to release theirs, so I snapped it up. Don't think, just :paypal: :D (or "luck works")...

Darn good deal considering that included the price of the light and the mod :D
Click to expand...


I think some people feel shy about it. Sort of like the taboo of talking about how much or how little you make.

Kevin,

It makes sense for you to swoop up on the light, especially if you are in not in the US.

I moved earlier this week and now I am within an hour drive of milkyspit labs so it is easy for me to get mods done. not cheaper but easier haha.
 
I think Scott (Milkyspit) gave a ballpark figure in the $100-200+ range since some U2s are very hard to open and require more work. Mine ended up in the low range since it had already been opened. Not sure about other modders prices.

I agree with Kevin that Surefire should have updated the U2 with a MC-E instead of going with the Seoul with much lower max output and longer runtimes.

Sverre
 
And even with the Milky Labs prices it makes sense :p Not dissing the work Scott does.. his modding skills are awesome and thus he can rightfully ask for a premium. You can be assured it will be done right though.

But $120 (VERY optimistically) to snatch up a good condition U2, +$120 (low end of the spectrum) for the customization work, plus wait time. I only had to wait for the mail to arrive and chop the top off the envelope with my Leatherman and load the light up with a precharged 18650 :D

NoFair said:
I think Scott (Milkyspit) gave a ballpark figure in the $100-200+ range since some U2s are very hard to open and require more work. Mine ended up in the low range since it had already been opened. Not sure about other modders prices.

I agree with Kevin that Surefire should have updated the U2 with a MC-E instead of going with the Seoul with much lower max output and longer runtimes.

Sverre
Click to expand...

The "longer runtime" argument, ironically, does not apply to the U2 precisely because it IS the U2. I can dial down an MC-E to achieve that runtime at similar levels of light, I cannot dial up the SSC P4 to achieve the MC-E's output when I want a max blast photonic cannon. Trust me there are situations where it's convenient (I wouldn't say "tactical", for I do not do that kind of work) to floodlight a room.
 
Is a proper MC-E modded U2 that much brighter than a P4? My second U2 head is already cracked open. So im debating to have Scott do a MCE or something more exotic.
 
Worth it? Absolutely yes.

The LuxV (and probably SSC) produce minimum 100 OTF lumens, which is about 150 emitter lumens. A MC-E isn't driven at full power in the U2 (2S2P, 700mA divided across 2 dies) but you can expect minimum 450 lumens from the upgrade. 3X the power......absolutely.

PS: Just tried a pair of strap wrenches on "Old Faithful". I swear that first-gen U2 is welded shut - I put enough force on it to injure myself and nothing budged :p at least we know it is well built....... even that miserable KL1 4th gen still ended up being opened by me...
 
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Solscud007 said:
oh wow. nice. I guess you swayed me.
Click to expand...

Did I mention my MC-E is also a brilliant pure cool white? Even compared to the pinkish tint which I like, it's perfectly white.

Whoever did this mod certainly knew what they were doing and how to get it right. BTW, it isn't a simple emitter upgrade: you need to take a bit off the reflector to achieve perfect focus.

Since my 1st-gen U2 is so hard to open (even tried using direct flame), I might save it for the NEXT generation of quad-core emitters beyond the MC-E and P7 :D since I already have a MC-E U2.....

Put it this way..... in 2006 if you asked me whether a LED would rival the Surefire M6 in terms of power, I would have told you not to hold your breath for it.

Today I'm exchanging emails about 7-XPG arrays and 9-XPG photonic cannons whose intent is to rival entry level HIDs.

In a couple of years who knows? Today an XPG delivers 135lm/W, tomorrow a quad core emitter could deliver double the output of today's MC-E (1300-1500 lumens).

I remember an old Surefire ad "Raising light to the level of a force option".

I would love a U2 capable of delivering the punch of 1K lumens some day. :) Imagine a variable-power LED Roar of the Pelican :D
 
Ok, thanks for the pricing info. Knowing my luck it'll be a real PITA to open mine up, lol.

I think I'll have the mod done by milky, after I save some more money.
Cause if I contact him I'll want to get that started soon as possible on my end. I understand he is quite busy, maybe it'll be my after Christmas present. :whistle:

Anyways, thanks to all that replied again.

Alan
 
KevinL said:
The "longer runtime" argument, ironically, does not apply to the U2 precisely because it IS the U2. I can dial down an MC-E to achieve that runtime at similar levels of light, I cannot dial up the SSC P4 to achieve the MC-E's output when I want a max blast photonic cannon. Trust me there are situations where it's convenient (I wouldn't say "tactical", for I do not do that kind of work) to floodlight a room.
Click to expand...

That is more or less why I meant the decision to go with the Seoul was a bad one for Surefire: Few people need the long runtimes of the Seoul on low in this big a light, but many would need/want the 3-400 lumens from a MC-E driven like the old LuxV.

With an MC-E you still get 50+ hours on low and about 60-90minutes with extreme brightness when needed. Never understood why Surefire didn't make it like this:whistle:

Sverre

PS! Scott's work is imho great value and considering the hours that goes into making this mod perfect I'd charge several times what he does:D
 
NoFair said:
That is more or less why I meant the decision to go with the Seoul was a bad one for Surefire: Few people need the long runtimes of the Seoul on low in this big a light, but many would need/want the 3-400 lumens from a MC-E driven like the old LuxV.

With an MC-E you still get 50+ hours on low and about 60-90minutes with extreme brightness when needed. Never understood why Surefire didn't make it like this:whistle:

Sverre

PS! Scott's work is imho great value and considering the hours that goes into making this mod perfect I'd charge several times what he does:D
Click to expand...

Yup yup, apologies if I gave you the wrong impression. We are totally in agreement here :)

I meant to note that it is ironic that Surefire was mentioning 'longer runtime' in this context :)
 
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