C8 addicts thread

The new model C8s I have with the updated tailcap does have a 20mm driver. My older ones all had 17mm.

It’s not a thrower the XP-L HI has a much tighter beam. Sorry no night time shots yet, this time of year in Denmark it gets dark very late :weary:

The driver size in the two I have is 19.6mm.

I actually don’t think the KDLITKER C8.2 is a bad deal for around $30 , I payed about $37 in total for my build.

The H1-A driver in question uses a PIC 12F683 microcontroller, so it should be programmable unless they locked it. We just need to reverse engineer the control scheme. I have been doing some testing on the new KD boost drivers, and they do live up to their claims.

Will be throwing one of these in a Convoy C8 I have modified soon.

How about the beam output on KDLITKER? I am looking forward to buy one but couldn't find any review.

What do you guys think of this (it is C8 enough, I guess)? At $4 (after $1 coupon) looks great for host, but I wanna be sure it’s not POS.

Can’t comment on the KD C8 with the XHP50.2, but I finally finished my Convoy C8 with XHP50.2 today. Running an H2 3000K 80+ CRI with a KD H1-A driver using R020 resistor mod for about 3.5A to the emitter. Beam is wonderful! I’m not a big throw guy, and the XHP50.2 makes the C8 a more general purpose light than a thrower.

Hi Jensen, is your Convoy C8 the latest version? How did you manage to fit this 20mm driver in it?

It is the latest version with integrated shelf. I had to modify the driver hole and the driver to get it in there.

For the driver I filed down the edges right up to the via holes in the ground ring, this allows it to just barely fit where the stock retaining ring sits.

From there I machined out the 17mm driver spot to the same size as the retaining ring threads, leaving just a small 1-2mm shelf for the driver to sit on. Then it just assembles as normal and everything fit perfect.

Convoy could easily modify the driver pocket in production to fit a 20mm driver, very minimal changes. Retaining ring I did not modify at all, so the center opening is already large enough.

The mod could be done with hand tools, or a dremel if you have a steady hand, but I have access to a lathe, so it was much faster and easier using that.

(My 2 cents but I’m a newbie at modding)

I have a very similar light with the same host (UltraFire C8 on gearbest), and the host is not bad (not as good as a Convoy C8) but for $4, I would say let’s go! :slight_smile:

Thanks. Is it shelf or pill? I intend to mod it to XP-L and change driver.

In mine it’s a pill. Waiting for some parts from Kaidomain (pill with driver/led, reflector, lens) to use in this host.

Here it is disassembled

Nah, chances are it’s a POS. Thin-wall tube, LatticeBrite LED, plastic reflector, thin crappy undersized Al pill, probably a generic cheap switch.

I got a bunch of C8 clones to use as hosts… not worth the ag. By the time you get done swapping out the crap, you could just buy a real genuine Convoy host and get quality.

If you’re not gonna overstress them, like pushing 1A-2A or so through UV, deep-red, etc. LEDs, no prob. But if you intend on pushing them harder and cranking out more heat, nope.

Hello, below some pictures of KDlitker C8.2, compared to Convoy C8 clear - I would describe it as C8 XML on steroids - not that much throw, but very wide hotspot.

From picture above we can see that XPL HI do not have tint shift compare to XML. Probably because XPL HI do not have silicone bome.

That is XPL-HI vs XHP50.2, the 50.2 and all the new cree emitters have tint shift, likely due to how the phosphor layer is applied.

What’s with the 2 - 3 threads on the head-end of the battery tube? Shouldn’t there be more?

For those of us who want more throw, we may need an XHP35 mod.

I wonder if an XHP50 with a larger head than the C8 will give it more throw.

Might be wrong but from what ive seen on blf, if you want more throw dedome a xpg2.
Most seem to get less throw with a xhp35.

You get more lumens but less throw.

But i wouldnt say no to a xhp35 c8.

XHP 35 with single 18650 is not good idea. Boost driver from 3,6V to 12V is expensive, low efficient, bulky, low runtime etc.
That is why at the moment best achievement with good battery is around 1600 - 1400 lumens and that for short period of time.

Armytek and zebralight uses that in alot of lights.
The KD boostdriver is at 89% unmodified.

Still waiting for a review.