Question regarding LED selection for 1*AA / 1*14500 lights.

Since most of these come in with a tint that is way to cool for my liking, I am asking for opinions regarding LED selection for the lights. I just finished a small mod on an Ultrafire C3 SS, removed the ancient LED and dropped in an XP-G 4C that I had around. I gained output, great tint and no heat problem.

I will be working on TG06’s old and new and 1 more C3 SS in the near future. I have a Nichia 219C on the way from Richard and will test it in a old model TG06, I suspect it will be a little cool but should improve the output on a single AA battery since the older TG06 is a little under driven and I have not been able to convince the Thorfire guys to send/sell me a new model driver.

My question is as follows… The new TG06 has a smooth reflector, I am considering an XP-G2 with the stock driver that hits 2 amps. Will that generate more or less heat than the XP-G? I do want to stay with a small footprint LED since they seem to have a great beam with good throw for a tiny light. The other option would be an XM-L2, I am a little afraid I would loose the throw if I went that route. Would this be a good use for one of the new factory de-domed XP-L Hi emitters?

Thanks Matt

xml will make more heat than xpg for sure ,another option is xp-e2 nice little thrower .i’ve build that little host with xp-g2 on copper and 2 amps driver and its fine.i have another one with 3 amps it get much hotter and if you keep it to long you cant touch it.

That is a cute little light, have not been able to find one at a good price and in stock. Will it hold a 16340?

yes its 16340 cr123 only

It’s an awesome host, but was only recently discontinued at FastTech, and I haven’t found an alternate source.

I made a product request at FastTech asking that they re-stock this product but their response wasn’t promising:


currently discontinued due to the production problem, we have been looking for alternative sources of supply these days, but we could not find it from the markets or manufacturers.

That is a bummer… A few built ones on Ebay, but not going to pay the price for a crappy emitter and driver that will just get ripped out! Honestly, I had given up on AA lights until recently and I decided I had to have one of the C3 SS lights. It was intermittent upon arrival, DX finally shipped another one after much teeth pulling! So, now I have a pair of them and really like them. I also really like the TG06’s, the first gen with a an eneloop is just right for the bedside and the second gen with the high amp driver is a good little EDC. I am dying to drop a FET driver in one of them, but will resist. Maybe a full 105c for good regulation.

I have an “old version” TG06 and it’s in my top 5 favorite lights. Mine has a 6*7135 driver (2.2amps) and a shaved-dome 219c. It’s a very useful light and at 2.2amps it’s brighter than you might think. I gave it a 45sec turbo timer. I probably could have gone with 60 or even 90 seconds at 2.2amps, but I only use it in short bursts anyways. If I’m going somewhere I know I’ll need a lot of light, I take an 18650 light. I used a 219c because they were “all the rage” at the time, but I’m slowly starting to notice the lower lumens vs an XP-G2 or XP-L. I’m taking the 219c’s out of a different light, but I think I’ll keep it in this one.

I think that the old TG06 will benefit from the lower Vf of the 219c. I am trying hard not to make any of these LiMH only lights. The older one may become the first to convert if the 219c does not get me what I am after. I love the form of the 1AA tube lights. I have an Xtar WK41 and I really do not like the side switch… it may become a give away or trade at some point. I may even try and hack in a FET with electronic switch firmware… not likely.

Yeah I wanted to customize my own driver, but I might buy another one to keep alkaleak capability

I just built one of those 602C hosts into a warm white triple. Had to file the noctigon and optics, but it is a really nice size and with a BLF A6 driver, bright…

I am also a big fan of the Thorfire TG06 and the TG05(a mini convoy S6!). I have a FET driver in the TG05 and a 15mm 6X 7135, both from RMM…

I dislike the original driver for is PWM (both old versions) so I went the 14500 route…

If you do go the 14500 route, a 4-6 x 7135 driver is more than plenty in output vs runtime. The TG05 has an XPL HI with the FET, throws a little better than my BLF A6, but not much…runtime of six minutes, if you can stand the heat…

In my TG06 the Nichia 219B gives me great service, an almost perfect tint and output, with enough runtime (guppydrv, selectable outputs…) to make it very practical…

I love FET drivers, but I think it would just be to much for these little guys! I had been thinking that a 105c with an extra 7138 on the top side for a total of 5 might just be the ticket, if I decide to go 14500 only. I have been using one of Richards Windyfire 14500’s and they work so well that I ordered 3 more of them. I have one Xtar 14500 that will not work in the new body style light, the button is not tall enough. I am hoping that the 219c works out well in one of them. The driver modes may force me to change drivers. I really like a 1-3 lumen mode in a light that small and I still want good high end performance as well. The smooth reflector in the new ones really makes an excellent beam, I did not expect, that in such a small package, one could have a baby thrower!

You could always use an FET with a very short turbo timer. In other words have Hi programmed at 50% but you have the ability of maybe 15 seconds of Turbo.

Constant current still has its place so maybe one of PD68's drivers could be in order

I also do not have to program in any level higher than I want it to run at. PD’s drivers are wonderful, I have most of them in something or waiting to go into something. Just waiting on the 22mm to get here for the Supfire I bought from Richard’s Christmas sale! I really wish someone made a good 1AA driver that was programmable. The driver in the new TG06 is pretty strong, I get between 1.96 and 2.1 amps out of it. I just am not crazy about the modes and lack of mode memory.