Good host for small EDC w/ 18650 w/ XPG @ 1.4a? Finished Build!

As the title says, what is a good, small host to use to build up an EDC XPG flashlight?

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

Savage,

The very short answer is..... MANY.

The longer answer is; budget? battery type? User Interface? Modes?

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

I'm looking for something pretty cheap.....even from DX or KD
Single 18650
Driven from a 3 mode driver that I already have. It's about 16mm diameter.
I prefer a clicky switch on the tailcap.
I have some 18mm aluminum reflectors on the way from DX.
I have plenty of 18650 cells.
I do have some 16mm XPG R5's as well.
I think I have everything but the host.
As I said, cheap is good, as this thing will get beatup (aesthetically) in my line of work.
Any ideas?
Whenever I look at the 2 big sites I mentioned above, it makes my head spin trying to sort through all the options.

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

if its going to be used in a rough environment a stainless light would be a good bet, I have put my stainless lights through torture and they look like new.
how about this? http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=10364

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

sku 15687 from DX is a great body with a good thermal path (pill screws into body). Only thing is the Led needs to be on a 14mm star.

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

im a fan of the akoray 106, the height of it though wont always let you get a full reflector in though

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

You may want to consider the Hugsby C5 Defender
available by the bay for about $8 + nominal freight.
HAlll, well knurled for grip, and fits several modules
such as Nailbender, Malkoff, Thrunite.
The incan model about half the price of Led and just the same
interior. Good luck!
Regards, Chuck

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

Thanx for all the help guys.
You've given me some good stuff to work with.
The DX hosts look simple, but the stainless model from KD looks really sweet.
the Akoray looks like a great small light, but I want to try and stick with an 18650 cell, as I have a trillion of them.
Had a gander at the Hugsby C5 and it looks pretty sweet too.
Why do I see myself making several lights when I only need 1?
= )

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

I went with the host from DX.
SKU 15687
I also remeasured my XPGs and they are 14mm not 16mm.
Don't know how I thought that.
I'll post up a pic when I get it all built up.
Should have it here from DX (sarcasm) pretty fast.....= )

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

I have the ultrafire p10 and upgraded the driver to 4x7135. It looks to be the same size reflector. It is very bright but gets hot.

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

I will also be using the 4x 7135 board with XPG R5.
I will most likely only be using the high mode in short bursts.
Johnnyl,
I'm interested to know how long it takes for yours to heat up to the point at which is gets uncomfortable to hold onto?

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

I have left it on high for 5 min or so and it gets toasty. It isn't uncomfortable, but it does make me want to switch to medium or low. I use high for short bursts, never really went past 5 min.

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

Not too bad on the turnaround time from DX. This is one of my faster orders I have had with them.
Ordered on 3/18, shipped on 3/23 and received yesterday 4/6.

I've never built up a flashlight before, but I have built up some bike lights and other electronics, so the soldering iron is no stranger to me.

Got home from work late, and I really had an urge to get one of these 3 hosts I ordered built, so I fired up the soldering station and let it warm up.

Unpacked the host and looked at all the parts. Took apart the tail to make sure the switch and everything was clean.

There was some little bits of swarf and stuff throughout the host so I cleaned it alll out real quick.

Grabbed my AAA, led and driver from the parts bin and looked at how everything is supposed to fit together. Seemed simple enough.

Had to file down the outside of the driver board to make it fit into the pill. Got it to where it was a very tight fit and seated it down inside.

Flooded the edge of the pill/driver with solder all the way around.

AAA'd the led board in, and cut the wires to length and soldered them in place.

I didn't have any insulators so I just cut a circle out of the cardboard the host came in...LOL. Used my leather punch to poke a perfect hole in the middle.

Put everything together and viola. I had light without releasing the magic blue smoke. The whole thing only took about 15 minutes.

It actually works great, and I'm super happy with it.

Thanx for everybodies help and recommendations.

I used the 1.4a board from shiningbeam, along with their xpg 14mm board.

I didn't have a fully charged 18650, but I think it was around 3.99v. I took a tail measurement with my dmm, and it was pulling .06a on low, .38a on med and 1.38a on high.

You can see in the bottom photo that the led is fairly centered in the reflector, but my cheapo insulator is a little off.

I have a bunch of XML's here and ordered some 14mm bare boards from KD. I'm planning on moving one of the leds to a 14mm board and building another one of these hosts up with xml, and 2.8a driver from shiningbeam. I know I'll need to take some extra measures for heat management, and not run the thing for more than a few seconds on high....but it should be a fun project.

Here are a couple pics. Sorry. no build pics as this thing went together so fast..................

Re: Good host for small XPG @ 1.4a?

Nice work. You make it sound so easy.