I look forward to a build thread on that… perhaps I should get another TG06 to follow your build with…
looks interesting.
a replacement for my old sipik.
Don't hold your breath - dunno when I can get to it 
. Was surprised to see you went with an old style XML T6 on an aluminum star. Definite boost over stock, but an XM-L2 (U2, U3, U4, etc.) on a 16mm Noctigon would have been a better deal - roughly same cost, much more output, better heat sinking, etc.
Took me a while to get to this T10: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/27321, and this SC01 AA size light: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/26146, post #27:
The SC01 is 2nd from the right here, with some AA and 16340 size lights I've modded:
So the driver is soldered in, and it’s smaller than 17mm? Has anyone measured the original driver size?
Close to finishing of the mod of this light. The original driver is about 16 mm. I dremeled/sanded down a wight FET+1 driver to fit, and it works fine. Got custom NOINIT firmware that has first 3 modes on the 7135, then 2 more on the FET, just like I have in my e-switch firmware. I soldered the FET+1 driver at 3 places to the brass pill on the top, and seems to hold well. I aligned the back tab of the 7135 to one of the two slots cut out of the brass pill in order to get the driver to seat down properly. Sanding it down puts the 7135 tab very close to the edge, so it interfered with the pill ledge. Now it fits very well - nearly flush to the pill's edge. I took pics, will post hopefully this eve.
It's got a XP-L V6 3D on a Noctigon - looks real nice with the small OP beam pattern. I put in a 45 sec turbo timeout - should get hot. Not tested on fresh EFEST's yet, and still need to bypass the tailcap spring, etc. Should do at least 1,100 lumens.
Finished the TG06 mod - XP-L V6 3D/Noctigon, FET+1 driver sanded down to fit, 5 modes with first 3 using only the 7135
On a WindyFire 600 mAh @4.22v, 4.02A at tail, lumens: 1,387 @start, 1,234 @30 secs, 7.8 kcd (177 meters) throw
Here's some pics:
Great job Tom. Looks like I need to get one of my own.
Anybody have an SK68 they could post a side-by-side pic? And is it a 16mm button cover?
Ahhh, forgot a SK68. The one to the right of the TG06 is the slim AA zoomie - that one is from GearBest. Yes - the button is the big size, 16 mm I believe. Actually I replaced it because the stock one kind of bulged up a little. The replacement fit well and seems to have a lower profile, so I think it's tailstanding better.
It's a nice quality host for sure - I'd say same quality as a Convoy or Eagle Eye X6. It's got the small white Omten switch - decent. I went for lumens more than throw, with the XP-L, but has a nice soft hot spot with the OP reflector. The smooth knurling is like an X6. Also has the quality smooth 2 hole support for a lanyard. The 5 modes I set it up with is a bit too much maybe, but with this power, it works well. It's a NOINIT based driver, using the brown out detection for OFF time memory.
The reflector is smaller in width than the G10's, and much smaller than the SC01, in the pic to the left, but bigger than the small form factor AA lights.
If/when I get one, it will probably get a Nichia 219C (I have two sitting here that I can’t decide on a place for) and a moonlight driver with 2amp max. I think it would become my EDC.
TomE,
That is a great mod. Where did you get your parts by the way? I like the copper disks and had not seen those anywhere. Did you have to build the driver yourself, or was it pre made? Let us know your sources if you get the chance.
I can answer some of those…
The emitter on Noctigon came from either IOS or RMM
The driver is a wight driver, they aren’t sold anywhere, you build it yourself (or RMM has essentially the same thing for sale)
It looks like he got the copper discs online, maybe etsy? (or other craft supplies)
Yes, all above true. Got the copper rounds from the "bopper" on Etsy, originally recommended by O-L. I have a supply on hand of various diameter copper rounds, I believe 18 gauge is the max thickness they make. You can message Beverly, shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bopper, and ask for any custom sizes or quantity. She has the best prices I could find, but these copper rounds aren't made for what we use them for, so they aren't perfectly flat. I usually sand them down to at or near flat before installing them (basically they bulge up - one side bumps out in the middle, the other side has a center indent. Since the pill is brass, could reflow the disc to the pill. For alum pills, I use Arctic thermal epoxy.
I had the emitter bare, reflowed to a 16mm Noctigon. The Noctigon needed no trimming/sanding - fit perfect.
The driver is this: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/31102. Sanding down to 16mm gets a little hairy. The grnd tab of the 7135 was interfering with it sitting on the lip in the brass pill, but the pill has those 2 cutouts in it. So, if you align the 7135 tab to one of the cutouts, it seats down perfectly.
You’re the boss!
Bravo!!!
Can anyone help with information on Modding flashlights ?
Would like to know if the modes on a Flashlight can be changed.
Also can a light be upgraded to accept 14500 batteries ?
Thank you
Well, a 17mm replacement driver is the way to get changed modes. Once it's switched over to a standard driver, all it can run is 14500 cells. My mod described above is restricted to 14500 cells only, for example. Richard at http://www.mtnelectronics.com/ has quite a few 17mm driver options, but you really want one with a flat bottom (called single sided) - no spring, no components. Not sure what his options are, but think he has some.
The Thorfire TG06 is specified for use with AA and 14500 as well. No need for a change if it’s only to use LiIon. Most replacement drivers will be “14500 only” as Tom E said. That’s the main difference to it’s predecessor TG05 which is AA only. What was rather disappointing for me (compared to the TG05) is the lower output/performance with AA’s/Eneloops. With the TG06, it takes a 14500 to get almost as much lumen as the TG05 with AA. But as far as I’ve read here I’ve got an older revision, maybe the current ones are brighter… The mediocre performance could be the only reason I see for a mod.
Thanks for the reply. Its actually some different lights I would like to mod if its possible.
Like the nitecore MT1A was wondering if its possible to mod it so it could use 14500’s
Also have some of Nitecores newest lights but I hate all the different modes would like a more simple UI instead of 8 modes (Ridiculous)
I have the newer TG06, which states it puts out 300 lumens but the manual still has the old info of 150 lumens. I got it off amazon and they do say that in the product description which I thought was kinda funny. I’m currently running a 14500 and it runs very well.
BTW TOM E:
Crazy nice mod!
I looked briefly at the MT1A. I'm think'n it's moddable, but can't be sure. It sure looks like a spit'n image of the TG06. They tried to copy it, but minor differences I can see. Internally, could be totally different. NiteCore's in general are moddable, but some can be extreme challenges - all depends.
Only way to change modes would be a driver replacement or MCU replacement, like what Everett did with the MT1C here: CPF-Nitecore-MT1C-mod.
I much prefer high qual budget host lights, generally much more mod friendly than the big name brands.
ideas of modding a nitecore mt1a makes me wanna swap my Fenix LD12 to some XPL HI