Mind checking my work? Flashlight choices

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Hi Everyone,

Long time lurker, first-time poster. I learnt a lot from reading BLF and I think I have found a set up that meets my needs, but I would appreciate people who are more knowledgeable providing some feedback.

I’m looking for a flashlight that will be mounted to a 12 gauge shotgun forend via Magpul hardware. I broke down my requirements into “must have” and “nice to have” and went to work.

Must have

  • A high mode of of 200-300 lumens. 250 is ideal.
  • A battery compartment diameter of 0.75” to 1.04”.
  • A compatible remote switch with a momentary on feature.
  • A cost less than or equal to $45 USD.
  • Few modes or the option to hide the extra modes from operation. I’m looking for at most low/medium/high modes. I would except only 1 mode.
  • Shouldn’t catastrophically fail due to recoil.
  • Enough spill to illuminate as much of a room as possible.
  • Nothing that requires special knowledge to put together. I have never even modded a light.

Nice to have

  • Uses 18650, 16340, or 14500 batteries. These are types I already own.
  • Has an easy way to activate normal on. This could be a second button on the remote or a tail switch.
  • If there are multiple modes, a mode switch button that is easy to use with my off-hand.
  • I prefer color temperatures on the lower side.

Here is what I selected

Flashlight
-A gray Convoy S2+
->7135x3
->Biscotti firmware
->4000K
-Gray Convoy S2+ with nichia 219C,Ra>90,DTP copper plate,ar-coated glass lens,7135 biscotti firmware
-Gray Convoy S2+ with luminus SST20,DTP copper plate,ar-coated glass lens,7135 biscotti firmware

Remote switch for S2+
-Based on a Youtube video for a similar Convoy switch this gives me momentary on, normal on/off, and mode select.
-https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000004992334.html

20x12mm orange peel reflector for S2+ S3
-Both of the models I linked above have smooth reflectors. I’m assuming I can easily swap this in and get more spill.
-aliexpress.com/item/32843696779.html

Flashlight clip
-The light will probably see some EDC and around the house use.
-https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2049685616.html

Comments
I think this hits everything on my “must have” and “nice to have” lists except being slightly brighter than I would like, I’m assuming this puts out about 400 lumens on high. I guess that wasn’t really a “must have” after-all :smiley: . All in with a tracked shipping method this puts me at $34.02 USD. If you think I missed something, please let me know!

Open Question
Anything I should know about choosing between these emitters? I’m pretty ignorant here.

Edit: Based on some additional reading is sounds like the Nichia 219C will be a bit floodier. Should I be looking at lenses

Thanks for taking a look!

2

Looks good. I’d add THIS if you were wanting more flood, or a piece of DCFix on lens with a orange peel reflector. I would also pot it. It’s on a shotgun. Convoys are great lights but, electronics are still electronics. You don’t have to be a modding guru to pot a light. There are few videos on youtube about it. Potting compounds run from cheap and easy all the way to expensive and messy.

3

You might want to take a look at the Jaxman E2L with Nichia LEDs and swap the driver for a 3x7135 with biscotti from Simon/Convoy

The setup you have chosen is not bad to start with though

4

Thank’s toddcshoe. I’ll pick up a set of lens to experiment with. Now to do a bunch of research to figure out how to pot my light!

Thanks Yokiamy. What are the advantages of going for a Jaxman E2L, and swapping the driver, over my current choice?

5

I went ahead and pulled the trigger + a lens kit. Yes… I know I am incredibly inpatient :innocent:

Thank you again toddcshoe and Yokiamy!

6

If you’re in the mood for modding, there are 7135-only drivers that can provide 1.0A or 1.5A as you want. Just a few 7135s and a diode, you can pot ’em if you want, but they have minimal junk on ’em.

Then stick on a wide-angle TIR lens, swappable in 5min tops, so you could even buy a few of ’em from spot to flood and try ’em out on-site.

Eg: https://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10017778/3647303-1400ma-1-mode-led-flashlight-driver-circuit-board

Pretty much indestructible.

7

Lightbringer, I like where your head’s at… unfortunately I can’t solder to save my life.

8

due to recoil, you may want to be sure the battery connects to a spring at both ends

otherwise the recoil may cause it to lose contact at the + end, which might turn it off or cycle it to the next stage

most do not have springs at both ends

wle

9

Great point wle! I may use one of my longer 18650s to potentially mitigate that issue.

10

That’s the nice thing about a 7135-only design. No µC to go mental if power’s broken even momentarily. No unwanted mode-changes, etc., either.

11

Any suggestions for how I should mount the switch itself to the forend?

Switch

Forend side view

Forend bottom view

As you can see there are 3 M-Lok attachment points on either side and 4 on the bottom. I’m planning on mounting the light itself on the bottom at the front. I’d like the switch to be mounted around the 1/2 - 2/3 point on the forend. I have a few ideas, here they are based on how appealing they are, with a guess as to how feasible each solution is.

  1. Custom 3D printed solution - Should work but I expect it to be very expensive.
  2. M-Lok switch holder - Doubt I’ll be able to find this type of accessory that fits this specific switch.
  3. M-Lok to Picatinny to switch holder - Same as above.
  4. Some zip tie abomination - Might work, I’d be worried about normal plastic near the barrel melting or weakening.
  5. HD mounting tape to velcro - Will work. I’m thinking of using a layer of HD mounting tape since in my experience the ahesive backing on most velcro not be strong enough for this application.
  6. HD mounting tape - This will work, but will be a pain to remove.
  7. Velcro - This will be easy to remove, but I doubt it will stay put.

Thanks for all the ideas and help so far. Really appreciate it!

If this is outside of the scope of this forum, please let me know and I’ll remove this post.

Edit: Found a few leads on AliExpress for holders that might work. Waiting to hear about dimensions of the switch unit from the seller.

12

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XMGCSM6/

Strong as snot, no wiggle.

Same stuff as is used to stick on EZPass tags and the like.

Got mine at a CVS ages ago, so they can be had locally, too.

13

Thanks! That is some next-gen velcro. I love 3M.

14

The advantage is that the E2L is a littlebit shorter and lighter. (And looks better with SS bezel and it also does not suffer the blocking of the lens diameter as the S2+ does with a triple setup)
A triple gives a beautiful floody beam and is very efficient since you are not stressing the LED’s, most single emitters are more efficient on lower currents.
It uses a shelf design so better thermal path and no need for additional pills. And it comes with the triple carclo setup stock.