Luxeon V or XP-L2?

Hi BLF,

Need some input/advice on what LED to buy!

I have the host of a Sofirn SF10 (AA/14500) and want to use it and make it a nice flashlight for real EDC. The host is thick and durable so it will sustain some beats! Reflector is orange peel (OP).

I will probably use a driver from the Astrolux X5/X6 or another one that is single sided (no chips on the spring side) and that has a nice UI.

My doubts are about the LED to choose!
To use it with that driver + a 14500 battery (probably Efest IMR 650mAh) which one you advice: Luxeon V (4000K 70CRI) or XP-L2 (5000K)?

Which one has better tint, less sag and perform better on the above mentioned conditions?

Or, do you have other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
Best regards

You have to get get the Luxeon V just to experience it's tint and beam pattern. Even though the V is only 70% CRI, the way it picks up reds makes it feel like a higher CRI. I live in a forested area where browns dominate most of the landscape for some of the year. So that is very helpful for me. The Luxeon will be a bit floodier. Aside for that, it does have a lower Vf and better thermal performance. Here are two charts from djozz's testing. You need both to compare the V to the XPL.

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/47339

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/46170

EDIT: Fixed some typos

The low Vf is what i like about the Luxeon V
It’s even lower than the SST-40

Thanks for answering ImA4Wheeler, not only by the graphics but also from personal experience :slight_smile:

And thank you also Jerommel for the input!

For what I’ve seen, the beam and tint are indeed better on the Luxeon V than some of the XPL leds.
I have the Sofirn SP32A that has XP-L2 and it has a ‘not so good tint’ and some tint shift (even without AR coated lenses or no lenses at all). The XPL-HD from the Lumintop Tool AA also has some things I don’t like that much in terms of tint…
Those I’ve been using more from XPL are the XPL-HI.

About the more floody beam and better the thermal performance of the Luxeon, that was the most important information in needed, as the pill is not too big so I don’t want it to heat too much. And being it for an EDC flashlight, I will prefer flood over throw…

Also, the prices are better for the Luxeon, what may help, right ? :money_mouth_face:

Thank you for answering and helping on this :+1:

If I understand correctly the SST-40 is a straight fit on the XM-L2 footprint, but not the Luxeon V? I have read that the Luxeon V just barely fits a XP-L footprint. Is that all there is for the Luxeon V besides LED4POWER’s custom MCPCBs?

You're very welcome. Hope you like the emitter as much as I do. One thing I forgot to mention, you may have a hard time finding an isolator ring as the emitter is bigger than the xpl (3.45mm square) but smaller than the xml (5mm square).

Thank you!! Yup, I’ve been thinking about that too!
I guess I will have to sand a XPL-HI gasket to make it fit the luxeon! Or maybe I’ll do a DIY one :smiley:

XML2 is 5mm; Luxeon is 4mm and XPL-HI is 3.45mm.
All are different, but I guess I’ll manage to arrange a gasket for it :wink:

Thanks again :+1:

With a square diamond coated file:

Hum, that is nice!! Is that a “common gasket” or was it DIY as well?

After writing the answer above I figured out that sanding that gasket on the link won’t work as it will damage the insulation part… :person_facepalming:

Those were common Convoy C8 XP-L HI gaskets (9mm reflector hole)
I had to clip off the sides for the 16mm board solder pads, and i just pushed a square diamond coated file through it until it fits the 4040 size Luxeon V.

For 7mm reflector holes you’ll have to think of something else though.

That is pretty sweet. Got to remember that.

Oh boy :person_facepalming:
Hum, I will have to see what spare gaskets I have here or where to get something that fits the 7mm diameter hole of the reflector and the Luxeon V !

I will have to check the dimmensions when I get it to sort what solution will work to center it and to help protecting it!

Thanks for the inputs and heads up on this :wink:

I think the Luxeon V is a great emitter with very good tint and beam, no tint shift like the XP-L2

For a 7mm reflector like the X6 I used these :

With the center reamed out to fit the emitter :

I really like the Luxeon V and the MosX MCPCB’s, so far I have used them in a X6, Sofirn C8, D1 and D4, my next project is a X7 with a LD-B4 6Amp and ILC-0 Illuminated Tailcap.

Ahah, nice :smiley: My first idea (post #7) was not absolutely wrong after all :wink:
Thanks for confirming that khas!
I’ve just ordered the emitters, from led4power, so in some weeks I’ll taste that beauty beam :smiley:
Now I must get the driver for it :person_facepalming:

Thanks :+1: