I’m looking for a low cost, high quality light for non-flashlight friends and family.
Past experience has shown that multi-mode lights are a failure with this demographic; they end up using the light exclusively on whatever mode first turns on (either low or Turbo.)
As such, I’m looking for a single mode light that offers 5+ hours of runtime of ~200-300lm, or 10hrs ~100lm. Enough light to get the job done, but enough runtime that even with the battery 50% discharged, they will have several hours of runtime. Malkoff M61L/M61LL would be my go to, but since these will be gift lights, I’d like a cheaper option.
Looking at the C8+, it has options for 10, 20, 35% light levels - but only as part of a multi mode.
Is there someway to get a C8+ programed exclusively to a single mode? And using the XPL C8+, what do the 10/20/35% modes correlate to in lumens and runtime?
That light says its 2000lm, so 50% would be 1000lm x ~1hr runtime? That’s really unsuitable for a utility / dog walking / blackout flashlight for normal people.
Ideally I’m going for ~100-150llm xs 10hrs or 200-300lm’s x 5hrs.
350mA could be 150 lumens but that is a very rough estimate.
Output would indeed be regulated for most of the battery life.
Your order request would be for Convoy C8+ with biscotti driver with ONLY ONE 7135 (350mA).
Also led and led tint of your choice. (xpl-hi is a good option)
Setting to one mode is something you will do yourself.
So the project is a go, I ordered the C8+ XPL Clear, and Simon agreed to do the 1x7135, single mode @ 350mah.
Will report back once I know more.
If the light ends up a success, I plan on ordering 4-5x more, and pairing them with the Keepower USB rechargeable 18650, then handing them out as gift lights.
Sounds like you got a handle on things pretty good. I have some S2’s with 1 chip and a few with 2 chips. They are the wife and kid’s single mode lights. The XP-L Hi in those C8’s are pretty throwy. Are you positive they wouldn’t like something a bit more floody? I think the C8’s are awesome. The fairly throwy beam with the large smooth reflector and XP-L Hi doesn’t exactly make it the best all around light. I have a few C8’s with XP-L Hi’s and they don’t get used much around the house, the fairly narrow and intense beam make me grab the S2’s for that kind of stuff.
If throw is whats needed, those C8’s will definitely do the trick on a budget.
Seems a waste to do something like this to a throwy C8, but diffusion film works wonders.
Just used my (Xeno) E03 with DF on the front lens. Great for a nice even blanket of light, perfect for indoors and close-up. Whether lighting up a crossword puzzle to try to read smudged-newsprint clues, or lighting up the steps going down to the basement, a super-floody beam from DF is perfect, moreso than even a normally floody light.
And unless you put it on the inside surface of the front-glass, it peels off easily if you want to remove it (temporarily or otherwise).
My reasoning for the C8+ is that ‘throwier’ lights are more ‘lumen effecient.’ For example, the 150lm setting on my Armytek Predator Pro can still punch out a long ways; at 100yds its much brighter then my 780lm Quark.
So for a single mode, ~150lm light, I figured the C8 would end up punching above its lumens, especially if used outdoors (walking the dog, looking for the lost cat, dazzling tresspassers, etc.)
That said, I have been quote satisfied with the range of my Malkoff M61LL, which is a 100lm OTF light, and uses a reflector thats much smaller then the C8 / Closer to the S2. However, all the pics of the s2 seem to show a really floody beam, whereas the Malkoff has a decent spill + strong hotspot.
you cant go wrong with convoys
ive got 3 convoy c8s and a few more on te way
ive got 2 s2 on the way and a fw1a on the way
it adictive torch owning! but its fun
sand coloured c8+ that i took the gubbings out of the black c8+
running sst40 6500k 2000lm (factory specs) and standard firmware that is factory, programming is super easy and actually very good. this is my EDC ,tail cap says 4.8amps
clear c8 with xhp50.2 6500k with bistroHD firmware configured with 4 mode, .low-med-bit more then med-max (temp controlled) not sure the lumens but matt smith says the are about 3000 . tail cap test on high makes 9.65amps on my multimeter but i dont trust that so much
the convoys s2s that come are 1x sst40 5000k and one host that is a project , not sure the led or driver going in
the fw1a maybe my EDC when it comes and i ordered the xhp50.2 .not sure the tint but it has OP reflector