Was there ever a final decision made on the emitter type? I know there was a survey run on reddit that showed overwhelming support for 219Cs instead of XP-G3s.
I tend to prefer XPL HI in my triples. They’re much brighter than 219C or XP-G3.
However, I’ve also read recently that XPL2 fit into the Carclo 10507 optic without modification, making them an interesting choice.
Course the downside to these kinds of emitters is they cost more than XP-G3. Maybe just sell an XP-G3 version and if people want different emitters they can swap in their own later.
It seems unlikely given this test that the XP-L HI would be brighter than the XP-G3 in a direct-drive triple. Yes, that’s not the highest bin of XP-L HI, but the forward voltage plays a big role in how much current gets through it, and I’d be shocked if the Carclo optics have as good efficiency with the flat domes.
That’s pretty academic though; they’re close, and you’d probably need an integrating sphere to see which is closer.
I have a preference too, but I don’t care too much as I’m likely to buy several of these and swap in several different emitters. I have a shoebox and a smartphone, so I’ll make some attempt at determining which is brightest, but I don’t care much about that in practice. I care more about color quality than the peak output it can sustain for 45 seconds before it burns my hand (that peak output is a pretty good party trick though).
I also have some XP-G2 at about 2250 lm, and they’re decent, but not as nice as my others. And I haven’t tried it with 219C or XP-G3 yet.
Usually I go for a 10511 optic, sometimes stock and sometimes with the texture polished down to give it a bit more throw. For flooders the 10508 / 10509 can be nice too. But I generally don’t use the 10507 — it adds beam artifacts, catches lint, and isn’t really any throwier than a polished 10511.
I’m mainly interested in max turbo brightness. XP-G3s are good enough for me.
The extra current running to 219Cs would decrease turbo runtime because of extra heat would it not?
I agree the 10507 can have a strange beam shape, it is pretty tight and even, but I don’t have a use for such a profile because it’s like a medium-sized hot spot with no spill. 10511 is what I use, it has really nice even-colored flood and is great for photographing and lighting when I go explore abandoned buildings. Also good for general-purpose uses around the house.
It is my understanding XPG3 give a nice max lumens while still having a DTP ledboard compatible with many different LEDs.
And funny thing, reflowing the LEDs on a SRK (from LB blue to XML2 NW) was very easy, in fact I found soldering the led and switch wires to the RMM driver harder
I’m not too concerned about the turbo brightness. I find that even XP-G2 is plenty. But then, I also only use a few modes most of the time on EDC-style lights. By percent of time spent in each mode…
80% Low (~8 lm)
5% Moon (~0.2 lm)
5% Med (~50 lm)
5% Biking (~200 lm)
4% Disco
1% Turbo
Aside from blinkies and turbo bursts, I almost never use more than two digits worth of lumens. I could happily get by with a 1x7135 driver most of the time. It sure can be fun to go into OMGWTF mode once in a while though.
Please put me down for one. I really hope you take it easy with all these special edition lights, I don’t know how much more of these I can afford. (jk, keep it coming!)
I’ve got a different opinion about all these special edition lights: if you keep offering them at these super value prices, I say bring it on! I can’t afford Zebralights and Noctigon Meteors!
Lol I’m in the same boat. I love that the FW3A is cheaper than building your own Convoy triple, and the Q8 is cheaper than building your own SRK clone.