DX R2 Drop in [ P60 clone ? ] sku.13658

- Features a Cree XR-E R2 LED Emitter
- Color bin: WC
- 5-mode driver circuitry: Hi (250 lumens) > Mid (150 lumens) > low (80~100 lumens) > Strobe > SOS
- 3.6V~8.4V power input
- 26.5mm diameter
- 39.5mm height with support spring, 30.5mm without support spring
- Aluminum textured reflector
- Fits into WF-501B type flashlights and flashlights with similar bezel space

I put it into my Ultrafire 501B and ran it against my Ultrafire 502B R2 - 5mode

DX - sku.13658 - 501B @ 1 meter
1. Ebay RCR1213a 5000Lux
2. Trustfire 18650 5400Lux
3. DX RCR123a 4900Lux
4. Trustfire RCR123a Protected 5000Lux
5. Ultrafire 18650 Protected 5400Lux

Ultrafire 502B R2 5 mode @ 1 meter
1. Ebay RCR123a 6600Lux
2. Trustfire 18650 6900Lux
3. DX RCR123a 6800Lux
4. Trustfire RCR123a Protected 6600Lux
5. Ultrafire 18650 Protected 7200Lux

So , the question begs , at such low readings , is it ? Cree what ?
Either way ,

I have a Q5 on order , so I may swap out this one , and see if the Q5 is brighter . I know my Q3 is certainly brighter than this one .

I don't know about that one, but the single mode version (sku.11836) is bright as hell.

I know there are probably different makes/models/manufacturers of the Single and 5 Mode R2 modules. That said, it is also my experience the single mode is much brighter than the 5 mode.

I thought id check current draw .

Both flashlights had the same current draw with the same set of Batt's .

Ebay RCR123a 3.7v Hi - o.44A , Med - o.2A , Lo - o.05A

I would never have thought a R2 could be so different .

Which makes me think , it may not be R2 . When the Q5 gets here I will swap it in and see how it goes .

It is probably the driver that gives too little current to the emitter, and not the emitter itself that is the problem.

jenskh said:

It is probably the driver that gives too little current to the emitter, and not the emitter itself that is the problem.

Click to expand...

Hmmm , I only have 4.2 Volt [ input ] drivers on order .

Old I think you should do some searching on how drivers work for LED's/CREEs in general. You'll find that it is not that battery or the emitter thats usually the choke point for lumen output or lux output in your case.

I will measure output when I swap out the emitter ...

But either way , the unit is as purchased , and whether its the LED or the driver , the output is still way down for an R2 Drop in Unit .

Im not un-soldering the positive lead right now to measure driver output .\
I will do that when the Q5 arrives , + I would need to do it to both R2 units to see what both are doing .

This was a simple test of DX's drop in , nothing more .
+ The only drivers I can get ATM are 4.2v input for 5 mode . I have several on the way so I can swap and test drivers .
Finding 3-8.4v Drivers is hard , Im still waiting for one to get to the retailer , let alone to me .

Just because it uses an R2 does not make it immediately "brighter" than Q5 or Q2 or even 5mm lights. It just makes it more efficient.

Brightness is a function of the circuit much more so than the emitter.

Marduke said:

Just because it uses an R2 does not make it immediately "brighter" than Q5 or Q2 or even 5mm lights. It just makes it more efficient.

Brightness is a function of the circuit much more so than the emitter.

Click to expand...

Well there you go , problem is both took the same amount of power mA for mA . And so there fore one would think a closer result .

But the DX drop in got its butt kicked ! Bee it Cree or controller , it does not matter , its still a butt kicking ! + The flood VS throw , both were extremely close , it was hard to tell one from the other except for the brightness .

My Solarforce has a 3.7volt R2 assembly , and its very close in output to the Ultrafire 502B ...

I will test the controllers output when parts start to arrive , I have 3 different 4.2v input 5 mode controller boards on order , one advertised to put out 3500mA , and one reviewer reporting it only puts out 1500mA , well , 1500 is a lot better than 800 or 1000 . Cant wait to get my hands on that controller board I tell you .

In anyway , I will get to the bottom of this assemblies lack of output , but for now , as supplied , it sux's . Not better than a Q3 in a SAIK .

Explain it anyway you want , it cant compete with my other R2's , it has trouble keeping up with a Q3 3xAAA , and thats just wrong , anyway you look at it .
Its supposed to do 250Lumen in High , its not doing it , I even swapped it into the 502B to see if it did better in an other body , no such luck .

old4570 said:

will test the controllers output when parts start to arrive , I have 3 different 4.2v input 5 mode controller boards on order , one advertised to put out 3500mA , and one reviewer reporting it only puts out 1500mA , well , 1500 is a lot better than 800 or 1000 . Cant wait to get my hands on that controller board I tell you .

Click to expand...

3500mA ? I want to know what driver you're talking about.

I could yank your chain about surfing KD a little more , or just provide a direct link : http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1845

- Accepts one Li-ion (e.g. 18650)
- Direct drive P7 LED
- 10% 45% 100%
- High frenqency PWM
- 17mm diameter PCB
- Gold plated PCB for superior conductivity

Dimension: Diameter 16-17mm*Height 4.5mm
Input Voltage: 3.2-4.5V
Output current: 100-3500mA
Modes: High/Mid/Low/Strobe/SOS

old4570 said:

I could yank your chain about surfing KD a little more , or just provide a direct link : http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1845

- Accepts one Li-ion (e.g. 18650)
- Direct drive P7 LED
- 10% 45% 100%
- High frenqency PWM
- 17mm diameter PCB
- Gold plated PCB for superior conductivity

Dimension: Diameter 16-17mm*Height 4.5mm
Input Voltage: 3.2-4.5V
Output current: 100-3500mA
Modes: High/Mid/Low/Strobe/SOS

Click to expand...

Not really a driver as you think. It's direct drive, and uses PWM to simply create lower output modes.

Curious...
Are you using one or two cells to test output?

Just because the manufacturer specifies functional operation at 3.6V, doesn't mean the DC-DC circuit will perform optimally at that Vin. I have no first hand experience with that particular 13658, but I own a few similar modules and all the ones I own perform poorly with a single cell.

Curious... does the 13658 perform better running at 8.4V? I know my 6090, 11836, 14442 and 17593 do for sure. IIRC they all run direct drive when Vin dips below ~4V.

I have since modded all my modules (except the 17593) to run off 3.7V, with 4x7135 driver boards

old4570 said:

I could yank your chain about surfing KD a little more , or just provide a direct link : http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1845

- Accepts one Li-ion (e.g. 18650)
- Direct drive P7 LED
- 10% 45% 100%
- High frenqency PWM
- 17mm diameter PCB
- Gold plated PCB for superior conductivity

Dimension: Diameter 16-17mm*Height 4.5mm
Input Voltage: 3.2-4.5V
Output current: 100-3500mA
Modes: High/Mid/Low/Strobe/SOS

Click to expand...

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think an XR-E will overheat if you drive it with 3500mah. Pretty sure that direct drive board is only intended for 4-die emitters.

Also you need to recalibrate your expectations. DX modules emit around 135-180 Lumens tops (depending on which one you get), 250L out the front is out of their reach.

kramer5150 said:

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think an XR-E will overheat if you drive it with 3500mah. Pretty sure that direct drive board is only intended for 4-die emitters.

Also you need to recalibrate your expectations. DX modules emit around 135-180 Lumens tops (depending on which one you get), 250L out the front is out of their reach.

Click to expand...

It is what it is ! I agree , cant argue that ! But that dont mean the output is not disappointing . And as for my expectations , I expect a R2 to perform like an R2 not a P4 . If my Solarforce and Ultrafire can do 7000Lux , then I expect a drop in to come close , not get its *** handed back on a platter !

old4570 said:

It is what it is ! I agree , cant argue that ! But that dont mean the output is not disappointing . And as for my expectations , I expect a R2 to perform like an R2 not a P4 . If my Solarforce and Ultrafire can do 7000Lux , then I expect a drop in to come close , not get its *** handed back on a platter !

Click to expand...

Have you tried running the 13658 at 8.4V? All my DX modules (mentioned above) performed noticeably better with 2x cells.

Ultrafire 501 is 18650 or 2xCR123A .

All the RCR123A batt's tested were 3.7v x 2

old4570 said:

Ultrafire 501 is 18650 or 2xCR123A .

Click to expand...

But it won't perform the same on both cells.

BTW, have you compared total brightness, not just lux? Lux is not a measure of brightness....

Really ??? Lux is not a measure of brightness ??

And Ive posted the results for the Batt's , what it all equal's is a direct comparison , if you dont understand that , then reading this is a waste of time .

This thread is getting ?? a little out there , so Im going to stop replying now . Im sorry , but ?? :tired: