L2 dropin suggestions

what's the best throwing dropin for a l2 using a single 18650?

If you want what I would call good throw from a P60 your best bet would be to get Nailbender to build you one with either an XR-E run @1.5a or so, or an XP-G2 @2.1a or thereabouts.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?342254-New-Cree-XP-G2-P60-Replacement-Modules

I built one out of an XP-G2 5000k behind a SMO. Run this bad boy at 3.08a in a custom slug. It's so hot, it'll sizzle in your hands after 10min of runtime. The performance begins to sag when the light gets uncomfortable to touch. The guy who got it was quite happy with it.

i just bought a solarforce l2n host and a xm-l2 drop in from dx. this one runs at 1.8a this is my first step into a modded light, i think next ill grab one made by one of the modders on this forum and when i really get ambitious ill try and build one from scratch myself

An xm-l in a p60 @1.8 amps will not be much of a thrower.

Any xm-l in a p60 is pretty floody, to he honest.

An XP-G2 in a P60 SMO @ 3a is something else. I've made one for a hunter and he loved it. I thought it was pretty dangerous to use it in high mode for over 10min. That thing has a searing hotspot but at the same time, becomes sizzling hot after 10min. Nonetheless, the sag does not occur until after a while for a custom slug.

In terms of throw/lux a XP-G2 overdriven on a copper mcpcb is pretty decent... but it doesn't come close to beating a XP-E2 that is over driven as well. Here are some results from some dropins I've built (same SMO reflector).

XP-G2 R5 @ 3.04A , Noctigon mod
Turn on (0s): 776.1L / 20.3k Lux @ 1m
30s: 762.4L / 19.2k Lux @ 1m

XP-E2 R3 @ 1.875A , Noctigon pcb
Turn on (0s): 375.4L / 25.2k Lux @ 1m
30s: 352.1L / 23.8k Lux @ 1m

LilKevin715 said:

In terms of throw/lux a XP-G2 overdriven on a copper mcpcb is pretty decent... but it doesn't come close to beating a XP-E2 that is over driven as well. Here are some results from some dropins I've built (same SMO reflector).

XP-G2 R5 @ 3.04A , Noctigon mod
Turn on (0s): 776.1L / 20.3k Lux @ 1m
30s: 762.4L / 19.2k Lux @ 1m

XP-E2 R3 @ 1.875A , Noctigon pcb
Turn on (0s): 375.4L / 25.2k Lux @ 1m
30s: 352.1L / 23.8k Lux @ 1m

Click to expand...

The sag on the XP-E2 will continue to decrease faster than the XP-G2. Another thing to keep in mind is that the XP-G2 provides more lumen output and that's a bonus for folks who needs more spill light as opposed to a tight hotspot.

Tiresius said:

The sag on the XP-E2 will continue to decrease faster than the XP-G2.

Click to expand...

Absolutely I agree as the thermal resistance of the XP-G2 (4 degrees C/W) is lower than the XP-E2 (9 degrees C/W). The XP-E2 will initially have the advantage of higher lux depending on drive current. Hmmm now I'm thinking I should have gone with double the rated current @ 2-2.2A with the XP-E2 combined with a noctigon mod, 30k lux might be reachable without dedoming.

Back on track to answer robvulaj's question if you are after the most throw then you want higher hotspot lux. A important factor that determines throw (assuming identical reflector/optics) is emitter surface brightness. Dr.Jones did a good writeup here (a bit outdated but still a good reference) that can be used to calculate die emittance (lm/mm^2). The higher the emitter surface brightness the better throw you will have.