MTN Electronics: LEDs - Batteries - Lights - Chargers - Hosts - Drivers - Components - 1-Stop-US Source

I’ll see your paper clip and raise you a spacer.

Tosses 3 BB’s into the pot. “Raise”

They are in the US, but they won't be able to ship until next week.

What spacer do you use for the s3 tripple ?

Richard had those spacers made in aluminum and copper, carries them in his mtnelectronics.com store.

As far as I am aware the spacers that he offers are only for s2 so s6 not s3 can someone confirm this? And if this is true what spacer does he use for the s3?

From what I have read you don’t need a spacer with the S3. Source: post#11 here: New batch S3 in stock( protected 18650 lithium fits),new batch C8 next week

I don't use a spacer. I fill the pill face with solder, then reflow two 3XP MCPCBs together.

I don't know about the new version with the integrated shelf, but you most definitely do need a small spacer on the old S3 or else you won't get hardly any thread engagement.

Aha, ok. How thick does it have to be?
Edit: Silly question… the answer is two posts above!

Still lurking here…waiting…drooling over the thought of EE X6 triple conversion component DIY package to make that 4k lumen monster!! When do you think you guys may have it available? :wink:

please offer this as a ‘completed light’ as well. Just post a warning “buyer beware.”

To me that will take it from a practical use light to a monster output “See my toy” light which will get very hot FAST. As I have CW, NW coming and a WW reserved I may do it to one of the three, whichever I like least, but it will be more of a demo of what can be done. At those kind of amps how well will the tail switch hold up and the light will need 20+ Amp rated unprotected batteries.

Does the S2+ 18350 need a spacer for a triple?

I now have more flashlights than Christmas Tree ornaments.
Which suggests an interesting decorating possibility ….

Do it. And post pictures.

Yes!!! A flashaholic’s Christmas…

It depends.

If you want the mod to be completely reversible then yes a spacer is needed. If you’re willing to get dirty with a handfile then you can easily mod the light to not need a spacer.

I received my first S2+ 18350 yesterday (first was not from RMM, but I have a second inbound from RMM). I immediately modded it into a triple without using a spacer.

The solid brass pill is sized for a 16mm star. It has a lip around the edges to keep the star in position. Before putting a 20mm star on top, you’ll need to flatten that lip so there’s more surface area touching the triple star.

There are two ways to do this:

  • Option 1: add disks of copper or other material, or add a spacer that has an indent at the bottom edge to go into this lip. This makes the light heavier and potentially longer, but has the advantage that it is reversible.
  • Option 2: File off the lip to make the top of the pill flat. I like making lights as small as possible and had no interest in converting this light back to a single-XML2, so I chose this option. 45 minutes of hand filing and the top was flat.

The next problem is the lack of a central hole in the top of the pill for the leadwires. Easily fixed with a drill.

Insert the driver (BLF17DD), solder up the leadwires and screw everything into the light. BUT… the threads don’t go all the way to the head so the TIR isn’t at the front of the light. The pill threads stop it from screwing up into the top position.

There are a couple ways to fix this:

  • Option 1: Add a spacer. Either a manufactured one from RMM (if he has one for S2+) or a homemade one. I usually make spacers out of copper disks hand-cut to fit, then soldered into a slug with solder paste. A spacer adds more mass for heatsinking and makes the light heavier. It can give a better thermal path than Option 2 and is also reversible.
  • Option 2: File off the top section of pill threads. If the top 3/4 of a cm or so of pill threads are filed off, the pill threads will no longer stop the pill from being screwed home. This allows the pill to screw all the way into position with the TIR firmly pressed against the edges of the bezel without the need for any spacer. It means less thermal mass for heatsinking, and potentially worse thermal path to the body tube due to less surface contact between the pill and the body. However, it also makes for a much smaller and lighter light. The pill itself is fairly long, so even if you file off 2/3 of the pill threads there are still plenty of remaining threads to make contact with the body. I chose this option. 20 minutes with a handfile and it was ready.

A note on the driver: The BLF17DD shorted when I tried using the stock driver retainer ring, probably because the bottom of the driver is not flat. This was easily fixed by ditching the retaining ring and just soldering the driver to the brass pill.

Shortening the light: If you chose both “option 2”s listed above, you gain quite a bit of extra space in the battery compartment. You can bridge this gap with long driver and tailcap springs. Or, if you want a shorter light you can simply file off part of the bottom of the head. I’ll probably do this next. I figure I can make the light maybe 7 or 8mm shorter with a bit of filing and still have plenty of room for the battery. This would shorten the light from 84mm to maybe 76 or 77 mm. Note however that this may affect waterproofing as this would remove the lip for the o-ring at the bottom of the head.

Also on my list of things I don’t need but want.

Yes. I added about 5.5mm worth on mine, in addition to filling in the 16mm pill space then sanding it flat.

You could file off the threads so that it can thread deeper, but I wanted the extra thermal mass and thread contact. Either way you need to flatten the face for the 20mm MCPCB.