Convoy C8+ - single mode option?

Thank you! 150lm x 10hrs would be ideal performance for a general purpose, newbie proof flashlight.

Would this Clear C8+ work?

I would prefer a clear one, they are both pretty and easier to locate.

Sure, it will work perfectly, just make sure to mention it while ordering.

Thanks again. I just messaged Simon, I will report back.

I hope it works out; frankly I could see this being a popular mod for those looking for a simple 18650 light to give to friends and family.

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).

I had and am still considering the S2+ as well.

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.

Another option is M4U with 1*7135 - same Biscotti firmware, bigger battery and very important for newbies - USB charging.

some great options people have been saying

my pennys-cents worth

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

one thing missing from convoy c8s is usb charging. it would be super cool if someone made a tail tap that had some usb charging in , im sure there could be a engineer that could make one

imight even try salvage a zoomie i have and try make something

1*7135 C8+ reminds me of the old 6-cell alkaline maglites. Not a ton of overall brightness but a lot of throw that made them surprisingly useful.

Absolutely; 5D maglite was 151lm - but only for 30 minutes, after which brightness decreased by 50%.

Beyond that, the 150lm setting on my Armytek Predator (C8 sized) is surprisingly effective. And the 150lm setting on my Armytek Barracuda (64mm head) is awesome with how far it throws, can easily light up a palm tree at beyond 100yds.

For a regular person / muggle, I think a 150lm C8 would seem incredibly bright and effective; when I checked my Aunt’s 3D maglite in her drawer she keeps for emergencies, the batteries had degraded to the point that it was putting out ~1lm….

For 3D and 2D Mags, I kinda like the LED replacements. They ain’t screamers, but they’ve got more consistent output vs hotwire bulbs, and even alkaleaks last longer.

Still gotta pretty much beat people over the head with said Mag to get it to sink in that alkaleaks don’t last forever, and “emergency” or not, dead cells in a light won’t be of any use.

I hadn’t really considered them in awhile, but their newest Rechargeable light actually looks pretty solid:

Maglite Rechargeable

A USB charging version based on 2x21700’/ 2x26650 would be really promising as a ‘civilian’ light. Even moreso if they designed it to also function as a power bank.

I feel like a 150 lumen C8+ is just not going to be enough light

I’d recommend a driver with 4* 7135 chips which you could remove one at a time to get what you want. It’s going to be disappointing to receive a light that’s too dim and you have to buy another driver.

this is what i was thinking, a c8+ running 150 lumens is such underkill

ive want 2 modes , 150 and 500 at the least

c8 is such a nice torch to be running 150 lumens

but if its what he wants then its ok

I spent $100 on a Malkoff MD2 M61LL, specifically to have a single mode, 100lm light that could run 10hrs.

So by comparison, 150lm is 50% brighter, and at $25, the C8 350mah is 400% cheaper.

I’ve been around flashlights a pretty long time; I had a 65lm incan Stinger, back when that was considered ‘blindingly bright,’ and later Innova X5’s ~2003, back when that was the height of LED tech. That was pumping out ~31m (on High!)

As such, I remember that 150lm is actually really bright. And paired with a decent reflector, 150lm has plenty of effective range; my Armytek Predator on 150lm mode (44mm head) has no problem at 100yd.

That’s why real garbage C8 clones on Amazon would still appeal to some as “blindingly bright”.

Stick a cheap Angry Blue™ XP-E clone (not even a real one) behind a plastic reflector and belt out a whopping 70-80lm into a teenytiny hotspot, and it’ll be pitifully dim but still manage some decent throw. And they’ll get those 5-star “Wow! That’s BRIGHT!!” reviews on Amazon.

Can someone confirm that 350mA on the XPL HI is 150 lumens out the front not just led lumens.

You could also ask Simon to do 1*7135 S2+ with XPL HI and a smooth reflector for better distance. I used to have one and thought it was excellent.

I’m also curious what the 350mah translates to in actual lumens.

You had a 1x7135 S2?