Sofirn C8F host. 21700 C8F Available

As I have suffered through a few of these C8F builds, here is some fast feedback for those cranking up their soldering stations:

1) take a drill bit (about a 3/16”) and carefully move the switch wires to the side while going in from the rear (driver side)— and ream out the wire holes from the back of the head’s heat sink. My first build was a frickin’ mess due to my 18g wires catching on the razor sharp edges left from Sofirn’s manufacturing of the host. I ALSO lightly reamed the FRONT edge of these wire holes too. I wasted my MCPCB on build #1 because the LED wires kept catching on these sharp edges, causing me to rip off one of the wires from the MCPCB trace completely— so making it unusable. I also pulled up the copper trace on the driver- but Lexel helped me with a second connect point (and… THANKS again Lexel!)

2) The tail cap bi-pass is pretty thin from the factory. I replaced mine as it came off (or shorted?) within the first few days of use. Good idea, but not well done at the factory (several others have had this failure too). So just replace it when building and be done with it!

3) Don’t forget the little plastic washer (used as a spacer) between the reflector and host’s front face— when you put that screw in— easy miss; and the face will not be square without it of course (how I figured it out— the hard way). :expressionless:

4) IF you use Lexel’s tail switch (for gun use on a pressure switch)— you’ll have to reverse the tube after modding a clicky tail switch (which you can ask for from Sofirn, and until you get it— borrow off a C8A/F or C8S host kit as I did).

Hope these few tips help for C8F builders— lots of these kits sold and they are very well made— but every build is different and these were my challenges. Good luck!

Thanks for the tips. I should have one of these in a couple weeks. I better hurry and order the SST-40 emitters I want to use.

I have built 1 of these c8 triples and agree with everything Zappaman said! I kept nodding my head as I read though the pro tips!

Well you’ll need an MCPCB that will fit the larger SST-40- but DB Custom once wrote that Richard at Mountain had them.

PS. very happy with the SST-40 DK sent (in about 10 days) too :wink:

Thanks for pointing out the MCPCB issue. I’ve been going around and around trying to find an inexpensive 26650 host for a reflector based SST-40 triple, I’d forgotten about that issue when I decided to just accept the battery size compromise.

I think I’ll probably end up cutting and drilling a copper sheet and gluing or soldering small individual XML MCPCBs to it.

I posted this in the WDYMT thread already, but has anyone else had the rotation-preventing screwhole in the reflector way off like this? It causes huge problems, had to ream the hole in the MCPCB and the cavity in the shelf to compensate for it, the build all of a sudden was not easy anymore thanks to a sloppy machinist.
(look at the bottom hole in the reflector on the right side of the picture. Already reamed the MCPCB, and because the hole is now in the trace area it was not easy to prevent internal horts to the core of the MCPCB)

Thanks for the heads up. I have six of these hosts waiting in line.

djozz I think you should contact with sofirn and they will send a replacement reflector.this is truly a big problem when assembling.

I think that they should be aware of the extensive consequences of that hole being off, but I’m not going to ask a replacement part for a host that only costed me 13 dollar shipped from the other side of the world.

Well, do what I do… let them know, then order another light and have them toss in a new reflector into the box- problem solved :wink:

I’d let them know anyway (and check your stock too).

Cissy from Sofirn asked me is it need to build triple with 26650?

“May i have a question? about C8F, did you think a 18650 battery is not enough to it? may have a need update to compatible with 26650 battery?”

What you think?

21700 in my opinion. I also wish the reflector was secured with the bezel instead of that bottom screw that makes this thing so annoying to build.

Both 26650 and 21700 are welcome 18650 is too short runtime for this Amp.

I think a 26650 model would be a very nice addition.

+1 for 26650. But the C8 design will be a bit strange with that. O think if the make a completely new design it will be better than a fat C8. I suggested to them to make a triple from SP33 but not heard anything from that.

Why only triple? :wink:
Make it 5 XP-L for 26650!

With a triple it can handle the heat for about 2-3 minutes. With 5 it will be uncomfortably hot after 10-20 seconds. And you only gain about 1500-2000 extra lumens for tgis short amount of time. I will go for 3-4000 lumens for minutes instead of 6-7000 for seconds.

A C8 with 26650 is a very nice size. It fits the hand well.

Here is Supfires new C8-X. It has the same 45mm head diameter as a C8.

It’s not a triple xpl, but it gives you an idea of the preportions.

I would like one myself, but only if it also had a tail switch. I prefer dual switch lights.

Jason I not mean the head diameter avout C8. I mean the head side design will look odd with a bigger tube this Supfire looks good.

I’m in between 21700 and 26650. The verdict: I’d be happy with 26650 but even happier with 21700. Please redesign the head to get rid of the typical C8 cutouts and add more fins.