Thanks for the link. That thread is from 2014, is it still relevant? I thought I remmembered hearing that there was some change to the Cree production process that affected dedoming, or am I making things up in my head again?
The XP-L HI basically combines throw with the tint of your choice. The tint of your choice is something you normally do not get when dedoming leds because the dedoming process makes the tint much warmer than it would be if it had a dome on it. Smaller die leds that are dedomed still out throw HI based leds…it’s all because of the smaller die. I can’t confirm whether or not that there was a change in the production process…there a was a thread about this plus a djozz (the master led tester) confirmed that the phosphor not only looks different but appears to be greenish when the XP-G2 S4 2B is dedomed and that the die is a little larger than the previous S4 2B. Does this mean that the production process has changed for all XP-G2 leds…don’t know…but the fact that the die is still smaller than the XP-L HI means that you’ll still get more throw. Even a dedomed XM-L2 provides more throw than a XP-L HI. It all depends on what you like better…throw…or tint. I prefer dedomed XM-L2 U4 1As over just about any other led because the tint isn’t bad after it’s dedomed and it still slings some lumens down range.
At 6 amps, my XP-L HI was really close to my dedomed XP-G2, maybe like 10-30% less lux.
Thanks, good info.
Enderman, you mention “At 6 amps… ”
Do you think the XP-L HI performs closer to dedomed XP-G2 the higher the currents? Or would the XP-L perform “better” at lower currents?
The question is more for curiosity, as my B158 with Fet and XP-L Hi is pulling right around 6 amps, so the numbers you used are highly relevant.
When you mentioned B158… Old XP-G2 S4 2B(the good one) had 340kcd performance with fet driver drawing only around 4.5A (which means that you will run longer on turbo mode and single cell configuration).
But Kabum! They disappeared… If I only knew what will happen I would bought at least 1000 of them while they were still available.
I keep hearing about the venerable old production S4 2B and it’s abnormally amazing performance. Unfortunately I never got to experience it.
The brightness curves are pretty similar, so at half the current the difference would remain the same 10-30%. The only thing is that the XP-G2 uses a lot more power than the XP-L HI, because of higher Vf at the respective current.
That means more heat, less efficiency (especially considering the fact that the XP-L HI creates more lumens despite less lux).
From my experience the dedomed XP-G2 will throw much further with less current draw as luminarium iaculator stated. In a C8 I get just shy of 100 kcd with XP-L HI at 5.8 amps. The same light with dedomed XP-G2 S4 2B shows 110 kcd at 3.4 amps. I have another C8 that shows 140 kcd at 4.5 amps. So it all comes down to the forward voltage of the particular emitter.
The difference means longer battery life and less heat to shed with the XP-G2. To me, that’s a no-brainer!
At constant current, the G2 has a much higher Vf than the XP-L HI.
The G2 creates more lux while the HI creates more lumens.
The G2 has worse efficiency, because efficiency is calculated by lumens/watt.
Yes, and that higher forward voltage means that in direct drive setups it draws less current while achieving more throw. I really don’t care about total lumens in a thrower anyway so lumens/watt is meaningless. If you can throw further with less current it is more efficient in my books.
I’d like to see you hit 750 meters in a C8 with XP-L HI at any current.
The thing about C8 are that there are many reflectors
and they perform differnt
Thorfire reflectors are reported better than convoy
my Banggood C8 which is a original from Simon
in intensity, spotsize and spotsharpness it performs with XPL HI less good
than my Klarus XT12GT with same diameter and XHP35 HI which is a larger LED
+ 1 here… I thought I was the only one on BLF who thinks like this. Emitter efficiency dropped with never emitters no matter what tables says… Especially if you are modder of single cell thrower flashlights, and having emitter that draws a lot of A out of battery to achieve max throw is big disadvantage (at least in single cell lights for fat lights they could be good).
imho “Lumens are nothing if not followed equally by intensity”
How you do a spring bypass on b158 tailcap ?
I only have pictures for one step of the process but I’ll share it and try to describe the rest.
Take the tailcap apart using snap ring pliers, and set aside the little brass “top hat” for the spring.
Desolder the spring from the switch PCB. (too much heat during the next steps will kill the switch, ask me how I know).
Prep the spring bypass by attaching one end of wire to one end of spring.
Fill top hat with some cut pieces of solder. (see pics)
Use soldering gun to melt the tiny crucible of solder, then stick the spring+wire end into the moten solder pool. Let it cool.
Strip and tin the other end of the wire, and attach wire+spring to switch PCB as usual.
Reassemble tailcap.
Profit!
OP, forget about Hi especialy in that light( i would say in any thower), S4 is your emitter here. if you use a Hi, the emitter`s profile is quite ugly, your get not more than 200k cds vs 340 (when b158 is paired with a good driver and a good s4)
Thats needs reworking m8, 140 is quite low actualy for a good s4 based C8…. 190k+/1300lm is something worth mentioning 
Yeah, but those numbers are with the legendary (and no longer available) old production S4. 
Legendary you say…hm, on second thoughts it aint a bad idea to releace those C8s in the Sell subforum…legendary ! So i do craft legendaries like every day then
Actualy my personal B158 isequipped with a dded V6 1A, gives 240k cds with a fresh vtc6 and like 1900 lumens, i have also a xpg based one but its only a shelf queen
That is because you don’t know to fit precoolimator lenses 
You yet have to learn although you are engineer :smiling_imp:
So dedomed XP-G2 goes to dedomed XM-L2 size with improved tint and lumen output and 340kcd performance with old XP-G2 S4 2B or 260kcd with new XP-G2 S4 2B (which has larger emitter die size and crappier phosphor surface than older brother).
Legendary XP-G2 S4 2B (good old one) is not available any more. At least not with commercial dealers I contacted.
I know m8, simply i use quite custom 1504 for my rifle You cant compare 1504 to a b158 : 580k vs 340k
Yet, i use it only with my larger scopes , otherwise its kinda useless, most ppl will like dded xml/xpl more i guess, like they do over here: 240k is quite serious
Actualy , as long as i can remember the highest candelas value that i have seen on a XPl Hi based b158 is like 180k….its not that i `ve modded alot, prolly 4-5 or something…
Pay attention than for a “hand use” or with a modest scope xpg based b158 wont perform that great
Mitko are you ever listen what I am saying?
I am saying that de domed XP-G2 if used with proper precoolimator lenses enlarges emitter to de domed xml/xpl size so no freaking chance that people would like them more over better performing XP-G2 light (better performing in either way like battery consumption and performance).
And this statement:
“Pay attention than for a “hand use” or with a modest scope xpg based b158 wont perform that great”
You are kidding me right?
If you are not kidding me I will say that imho that is completely nonsense.
The best hunting lights weather for classis scope or IR night vision hunting are aspherics because they perfectly cover scope fov without casting any spill to barrel or suppresor wich affects performance of your regular scope or night vision device.
Join to nightvisionforumuk.com(uk and european hunters) where 100% of members are hunters so you’ll see what they use as flashlight and illuminator host. No one uses reflector lights.
Not to mention that B158(or any other similar) is zoomie so one can regulate light wideness and have very intense and very usable flood mode even while dog walking.